CITIZEN

IN

JULIUS CÆSAR

HE tragedy of "Julius Cæsar" is so exalted

TH

in theme, so heroic in sentiment and so noble in principle, that humor would scarcely be an appropriate factor in its composition. The magnitude of manhood that the author has brought into such striking contrast and juxtaposition is so completely sustained, and the elements of lofty patriotism and civic virtue are preserved so exclusively, that the lesser qualities and conditions of life are dwarfed into insignificance.

The characters of Marcus Brutus, Cassius, Marc Antony, Cæsar, Casca, Trebonius and the others, are cast in such "heroic mold," that they represent "the highest heaven of invention," and like Chorus, in the prologue to "Henry V," we might well ask:

A kingdom for a stage, princes to act
And monarchs to behold the swelling scene!

However, before the great personages in the drama make their appearance, Shakespeare has given us an illustration of the character of the Roman populace, and has introduced an episode that serves as a foundation for the later incidents, and at the same time furnishes an excellent example of broad comedy and wholesome humor.

It is in the first scene of the play, which is simply described as "Rome. A Street." A number of citizens are assembled; a typical crowd of mechanics, artisans, serving-men, and idlers, who are awaiting the advent of the procession to the ceremonies of the feast of the Lupercal. They are good-naturedly but somewhat boisterously jostling, and shouting, when they are interrupted by the approach of two of the tribunes, Flavius and Marullus, who in turn silence, reprove and question them.

The dialogue between the characters briefly informs us of the sumptuary laws of Rome at that period, and indicates the sentiments and relations

that existed between the patricians and the common people.

In the assemblage, two only of the citizens reply to the questions of the tribunes; they have no names in the list of characters, but are simply distinguished as "First" and "Second" citizens.

The first citizen is an ordinary mechanic, distinguished by no especial feature from the rest of the crowd; but the wit and humor of the second warrants some description.

In many places that I have visited, I have found a local wit or jester. The community is usually very proud of him, and he is brought forward on all social occasions to sustain the reputation of the town for humor, and its appreciation. These alleged wits vary in condition, but never in characteristic. They are usually fat, ruddy-faced and good-natured, with a stock of well-seasoned wit and fully matured stories which they exploit and relate much to their own satisfaction and the admiration of their local admirers, but not always to the enjoyment of the visitor. Whatever they say is supposed to be witty, and they are at all

times ready for a verbal passage at arms with any one who has the temerity to challenge them. This type is not rare, but occasionally one meets a natural wit who is both mellow and keen. Such an one I imagine the individual to be who appears under the title of the "Second Citizen" in "Julius Cæsar."

The man is a cobbler by trade, and a wit by nature; his replies to the questions of the tribunes are respectful, but each of them is accompanied by a jest which in the presentation of the play is followed by a hearty laugh from his fellows, to indicate their appreciation, and his popularity with them.

The scene, as I before observed, is brief and largely self-explanatory; I therefore give the text in full without further comment:

Flavius. Hence! home, you idle creatures, get you home.

Is this a holiday? What! know you not,
Being mechanical, you ought not walk,
Upon a laboring day, without the sign
Of your profession? Speak, what trade
art thou?

First Cit. Why, sir, a carpenter.

Marullus. Where is thy leather apron, and thy

rule?

What dost thou with thy best apparel

on?

You, sir, what trade are you?

Second Cit. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobbler.

Marullus. But what trade art thou? Answer me directly.

Second Cit. A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a safe conscience; which is indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.

Marullus. What trade, thou knave? thou naughty knave, what trade?

Second Cit. Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you. Marullus. What mean'st thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy fellow?

Second Cit. Why, sir, cobble you.

Flavius. Thou art a cobbler, art thou?

Second Cit. Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl: I meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor women's matters but with awl. I am indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I re-cover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neats-leather have gone upon my handiwork.

Flavius. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day?

Why dost thou lead these men about the

streets?