Flav. Thou art a cobbler, art thou? 2 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 all. I am, indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neat's-leather have gone upon my handiwork. 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, 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, 10 Made in her concave shores? Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Assemble all the poor men of your sort; [Exeunt Citizens. 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 pluck'd 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. Casca. Bid every noise be still:-Peace yet again. [Music ceases. Cas. Who is it in the press that calls on me? I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music, Cry, Cæsar: Speak; Cæsar is turn'd to hear. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cæs. What man is that? Bru. A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March. Cæs. Set him before me; let me see his face. Cas. Fellow, come from the throng: Look upon Cæsar. Cas. What say'st thou to me now? once again. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Speak Be not deceiv'd: If I have veil'd my look, Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviours: Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion; By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried Bru. No, Cassius: for the eye sees not itself, And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you might see your shadow. I have heard, That you would have me seek into myself Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar'd to hear: And, since you know you cannot see yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of. [Flourish and shout. Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear the people Choose Cæsar for their king. Cas. Ay, do you fear it! 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 Is now become a god; and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body, Bru. Another general shout! Like a Colossus; and we petty men Write them together, yours is as fair a name; Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed, flood, But it was fam'd with more than with one man? Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous Be any further mov'd: What you have said, Than to repute himself a son of Rome Is like to lay upon us. Cas. I am glad that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. Bru. The games are done, and Cæsar is returning. Re-enter CESAR, and his Train. Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve; Bru. I will do so :-But, look you, Cassius, Ant. Cæsar. Cas. 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, Cæsar, he's not dangerous; He is a noble Roman, and well given. 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 '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 loth 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 Cas. 'Would he were fatter:-But I fear him || pleased and displeased them, as they use to do the 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; Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, [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 today, That Cæsar 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 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 offer'd him thrice? 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? Cas. To what effect? 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 Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be! He was quick mettle when he went to school. Cas. So he is now, in execution Of any bold or noble enterprise, Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave you: Cas. I will do so :-till then, think of the world. Thy honourable metal may be wrought, And, after this, let Cæsar seat him sure; [Erit. |