JULIUS CESAR. INTRODUCTION. HAKESPEARE himself has left us evidence that he knew SH of at least one tragedy based upon the conspiracy against Julius Cæsar earlier than his own. For in Hamlet (Act III. Sc. 2) Polonius says that he "did enact Julius Cæsar," and was killed in the Capitol" by Brutus. And as he also says that he did this"in the University," and Steevens cites a passage in an Appendix to Peck's Memoirs of Oliver Cromwell, which shows that a Latin tragedy upon this subject was written by Richard Eedes, and played at Oxford in 1582, we know almost with absolute certainty the play that Shakespeare had in mind. The allusions to the story of Julius Cæsar in our early literature are very numerous, and early English plays were doubtless written upon it; but it appears that Shakespeare was indebted for his materials only to the lives of Cæsar, Brutus, Antony, and Cicero in North's Plutarch. Selecting the events to be dramatized with admirable judgment, and arranging them with consummate skill, he followed his authority even to the detail of the little Scene in which Cinna the poet is slain for his name and his bad verses, and often adopted its very language. As to the time when Julius Cæsar was written, we are without any other evidence than that of its style, which ranges it with Antony and Cleopatra, Coriolanus, and Cymbeline.* It was probably brought out between 1605 and 1608. — It was first printed in the folio of 1623, and with remarkable accuracy.— - The period of its action is from the feast of Lupercal, B. C. 45, to the battle of Philippi, B. C: 42. * See the last Note upon this play. (311) PINDARUS, Servant to Cassius. CALPURNIA, Wife to Cæsar. PORTIA, Wife to Brutus. Senators, Citizens, Guards, Attendants, &c. SCENE, during the greater part of the Play, at Rome: afterwards at Sardis, and near Philippi. (312) THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CESAR. ACT I. SCENE I. - Rome. A Street. Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and a rabble of Citizens. FLAVIUS. ENCE! home, you idle creatures, get you Hhome. Is this a holiday? What! know you not, Being mechanical, you ought not walk Upon a labouring day without the sign Of your profession?-Speak, what trade art thou? 1 Citizen. Why, sir, a carpenter. Marullus. Where is thy leather apron, and thy rule? What dost thou with thy best apparel on? 2 Cit. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobbler. Mar. But what trade art thou? Answer me directly. 2 Cit. A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a safe conscience; which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles. 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 out, sir, I can mend you. Mar. What mean'st thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy fellow? 2 Cit. Why, sir, cobble you. 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 withal 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 handywork. Flav. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day? Why do'st 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, To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels? things! cruel men of Rome, O, you hard hearts, you To hear the replication of your sounds And do you now put on your best attire? And do you now strew flowers in his way Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Flav. Go, go, good countrymen; and for this fault Assemble all the poor men of your sort: Draw them to Tyber banks, and weep your tears [Exeunt Citizens. See, whe'r their basest metal be not mov'd; You know, it is the feast of Lupercal. Who else would soar above the view of men, [Exeunt. |