Mar. What trade, thou knave? thou naughty This way will I disrobe the images, knave, what trade? 2nd Cit. Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet if you be out, sir, I can mend you. Mar. What meanest thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy fellow? 2nd Cit. Why, sir, cobble you. Flav. Thou art a cobbler, art thou? 2nd 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 handy-work.' Flav. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets? 2nd Cit. Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into more work. But indeed, sir, we make holiday to see Cæsar, and to rejoice in his triumph. Mar. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? What tributaries follow him to Rome, O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome! And do you now strew flowers in his way That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood?- Run to your houses, fall upon your knees; Assemble all the poor men of your sort; [Exeunt Citizens. If you do find them decked with ceremonies. Mar. May we do so? You know it is the feast of Lupercal. Flav. It is no matter: let no images Be hung with Cæsar's trophies. I'll about, And drive away the vulgar from the streets : So do you too, where you perceive them thick. These growing feathers plucked from Cæsar's wing Will make him fly an ordinary pitch; Who else would soar above the view of men, And keep us all in servile fearfulness. [Exeunt. behaviours: Be not deceived: if I have veiled my look, Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. Tell me good Brutus, can you see your face? Bru. No, Cassius: for the eye sees not itself, But by reflection, by some other things. Cas. 'Tis just: And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you would have me seek into myself Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear: And since you know you cannot see yourself But wherefore do you hold me here so long? In awe of such a thing as I myself. I was born free as Cæsar; so were you: And bade him follow: so indeed he did. Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder Tyber Did I the tired Cæsar. And this man Is now become a god! and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body If Cæsar carelessly but nod on him! Bru. Another general shout! I do believe that these applauses are Like a Colossus; and we petty men Write them together, yours is as fair a name; Now in the names of all the gods at once, Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed, Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; What you would work me to, I have some aim: How I have thought of this, and of these times, I shall recount hereafter: for this present, Re-enter CESAR and his Train. Bru. The games are done, and Cæsar is returning. Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve; And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you What hath proceeded worthy note to day. Bru. I will do so.-But look you, Cassius, The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow, And all the rest look like a chidden train: Calphurnia's cheek is pale: and Cicero Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes As we have seen him in the Capitol, Being crossed in conference by some senators. Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is. Cæs. Antonius: Ant. Cæsar. Caes. Let me have men about me that are fat; Sleekheaded 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, Cæsar; he's not dangerous: He is a noble Roman, and well given. Cas. '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 Casca. You pulled me by the cloak: would you speak with me? Bru. Ay, Casca: tell us what hath chanced to-day, That Cæsar looks so sad? Casca. Why, you were with him, were you not? Bru. I should not then ask Casca what hath chanced. Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him : and being offered 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 offered 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? 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 't was not a crown neither, 't was 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, the rabblement hooted, and clapped their chapped hands, and threw up their sweaty nightcaps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choked Cæsar; for he swooned and fell down at it and for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air. Cas. But soft, I pray you :-what! did Cæsar swoon? Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at mouth and was speechless. Bru. 'Tis very like: he hath the falling sickness. Cas. No, Cæsar hath it not; but you and I, And honest Casca, we have the falling-sickness. Casca. I know not what you mean by that; but I am sure Cæsar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him and hiss him, according as he pleased and displeased them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no true man. Bru. What said he when he came unto himself? Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his doublet, and offered them his throat to cut:-an I had been a man of any occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell among the rogues:-and so he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, if he had done or said anything amiss, he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches, where I stood, cried, " Alas, good soul!" and forgave him with all their hearts. But there's no heed to be taken of them: if Cæsar had stabbed their mothers, they would have done no less. Bru. And after that, he came thus sad away? Cas. Did Cicero say anything? Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek. Casca. Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' the face again. But those that understood him smiled at one another, and shook their heads but for mine own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæsar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it. Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca? Casca. No, I am promised forth. Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow? Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth the eating. To-morrow, if you please to speak with me, Well, Brutus, thou art noble: yet I see In several hands, in at his windows throw, SCENE III.-The same. A Street. Enter, from opposite sides, CASCA, with his sword drawn, and CICERO. Cic. Good even, Casca: brought you Cæsar home? Why are you breathless; and why stare you so? Casca. Are not you moved, when all the sway of earth Shakes like a thing unfirm? O Cicero, I have seen tempests when the scolding winds Cic. Why, saw you anything more wonderful? Casca. A common slave (you know him well by sight) Held Cic. Indeed it is a strange-disposéd time : Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius Send word to you he would be there to-morrow. |