ABOUT the middle of February, A.U.C. 709, a riotous festival sacred to Pan, and called Lupercalia, was hel¿ ja honour of Cesar, when the regal crown was offered him by Antony. In the middle of the following March he was assassinated. November 27, 710, the Triumvirs, Antony, Lepidus, and Octavius, met at a small island formed by the river Rhenus, near Bouonia, and there agreed upon the cruel proscription introduced in Act IV.---In 711, Brutus and Cassius were totally defeated at Philippi.---Shakspeare appears to have produced this play about the year 1607: one, upon the same subject, had been written by a young Scotch Nobleman, the Earl of Sterline; and in many passages of each, a strong similarity may be traced :---this was probably occasioned by both authors drawing their materials from the same source.---A Latin play on this subject, by Dr. Eedes, of Oxford, who is enumerated amongst the best tragic authors of that ara, was published in 1582.---Dr. Johnson says of this tragedy :---“ Many particular passages deserve regard, and the contention and reconcilement of Brutus and Cassius are universally celebrated, but I have never been strongly agitated in perusing it, and think it somewhat cold and unaffecting, compared with some other of Shakspeare's plays : his adherence to the real story, and to Roman manners, seems to have impeded the natural vigour of his genius." JULIUS CESAR. OCTAVIUS CESAR, MARCUS ANTONIUS, M. EMIL. LEPIDUS, DRAMATIS PERSONE. ARTEMIDORUS, a Sophist of Cnidos. Triumvirs after the A SOOTHSAYER. CINNA, a Poet,-Another Poet. CICERO, PUBLIUS, POPILIUS LENA, Senators. MARCUS BRUTUS, CASSIUS, LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, MESSALA, Young CATO, VARRO, CLITUS, CLAUDIUS, STRATO, LUCIUS, CALPHURNIA, Wife to Cesar. Senators, Citizens, Guards, Attendants, &c. SCENE: the first three acts at Rome: afterwards at an Island near Mutina, at Sardis; and near Philippi. ACT I. SCENE 1.-Rome.-A Street. Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and a Rabble of Flav. Hence! home, you idle creatures, get Is this a holiday? What! know you not, Of your profession ?-Speak, what trade art thou? Mar. Where is thy leather apron, and thy rule ? 2 Cit. Truly, Sir, all that I live by is, with the awl I meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor woman's matters, but with awl. I am, are in great danger, I recover them. indeed, Sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they As proper men as ever trod upon neats-leather, have gone upon my handy-work. Flav. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets? 2 Cit. Truly, Sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into more work. But, indeed, SM, we make holiday to see Cesar, and to rejoice in his triumph. Mar. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? What tributaries follow him to Rome, 2 Cit. Truly, Sir, in respect of a fine workman ? To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels? I am but, as you would say, a cobler. Mar. But what trade art thou? Answer De directly. You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things? 2 Cit. A trade, Sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience; which is, indeed, Sir, a mender of bad soals. Mar. What trade, thou knave! thou naughty knave, what trade? 2 Cit. Nay, I beseech you, Sir, be not out with me yet, if you be ont, Sir, I can mend you. Mar. What meanest thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy fellow? 2 Cit. Why, Sir, cobble you. O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, And do you now put on your best attire ? Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, [Exeunt CITIZENS. You know it is the feast of Lupercal. Flav. It is no matter; let no images [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same.-A public Place. Enter, in Procession, with Music, CESAR ; ANTONY, for the course; CALPHURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and CASCA, a great Crowd following, among them a SOOTHSAYER. Ces. Calphurnia,- Casca. Peace, ho! Cesar speaks. Ces. Calphurnia,- Ces. Stand you directly in Antonius' way, When he doth run his course. -Antonius. Ant. Cesar, my lord. Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late: Bru. Cassius, Be not deceiv'd': if I have veil'd my look, But let not therefore my good friends be gricv'd: Cus. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your By means whereof, this breast of mine hath Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you would have me seek into myself Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, he prepar'd to Ces. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius, To touch Calphurnia: for our elders say, The barren touched in this holy chase, Shake off their steril curse. Ant. I shall remember: When Cesar says, Do this, it is perform'd. Sooth. Cesar! Ces. Ha! who calls? [Music. But wherefore do you hold me here so long! Cas. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, I was born free as Cesar; so were you: • Discordant opinions. + The nature of your feelings. To nauseate by repetition. And swim to yonder point? Upon the word, And bade him follow: so, indeed, he did, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder Did I the tired Cesar: And this man Is now become a god; and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body, Did lose its lustre: I did hear him groan : mans Mark him, and write his speeches in their books, I do believe that these applauses are For some new honours that are heap'd on Cesar. Cas. Why, man he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus; and we petty men Why should that name be sounded more than yours? Write them together, yours is as fair a name ; Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well; Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure them, Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cesar. [Shout. That her wide walks encompass'd but one man? The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome, Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous: What you would work me to, I have some aim: • Temperament, constitution. + Lucius Junius Brutus. Not a citizen of Rome Cas. I am glad, that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. Re-enter CESAR, and his train. Bru. The games are done, and Cesar is returning. Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve; And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you Bru. I will do so :-But, look you, Cassius, Ces. Let me have men about me that are fat; Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o'nights: Yond' Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much such men are dangerous. Ant. Fear him not, Cesar, he's not dangerous; He is a noble Roman, and well given. Ces. 'Would he were fatter:-But I fear him not: Yet if my name were liable to fear, I do not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much; As thon dost, Antony; he hears no music: [Exeunt CESAR and his Train. CASCA Casca. You pull'd me by the cloak; Would you speak with me? Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanc'd to-day, That Cesar looks so sad. Casca. Why you were with him, were you not? Bru. I should not then ask Casca what had chanc'd. Casca. Why, there was a crown offer'd him: and, being offer'd him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a shouting. Bru. What was the second noise for? Cas. They shouted thrice; What was the last cry for ? Casca. Why, for that too. Bru. Was the crown offer'd him thrice? Casca. Ay' marry, was't; and he put it by thrice: every time gentler than other; and at every putting by, mine honest neighbours shouted. Cas. Who offered him the crown? Casca. Why, Antony. Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. Casca. I can as well be hanged, as tell the manner of it: it was mere foolery. I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown; -yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of these coronets ;-and, as I told you, he put it by once but, for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again; then he put it by again: but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by and still, as he refused it, A ferret has red eyes. |