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 recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neat's 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, 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? And do you now put on your best attire? Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, That needs must light on this ingratitude. Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault, Assemble all the poor men of your sort;1 Draw them to Tyber banks, and weep your tears 1 Condition, rank. Into the channel, till the lowest stream [Exeunt Citizens. See, whe'r1 their basest metal be not moved; They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness. Go you down that way towards the Capitol; This way will I. will I. Disrobe the images, If you do find them decked with ceremonies.2 You know it is the feast of Lupercal. Flav. It is no matter; let no images 3 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. Who else would soar above the view of men, [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. A public Place. 4 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. 2 Honorary ornaments. 3 These trophies were scarfs. 4 This person was not Decius, but Decimus Brutus. The Poet (as Voltaire has done since) confounds the characters of Marcus and Decimus. Decimus Brutus was the most cherished by Cæsar of all his friends, while Marcus kept aloof. The error has its source in North's translation of Plutarch, or in Holland's Suetonius, 1606. Cæs. Stand you directly in Antonius' way,' Cas. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius, Ant. I shall remember; When Cæsar says, Do this, it is performed. Cæs. Set on; and leave no ceremony out. [Music. Sooth. Cæsar! Cæs. Ha! who calls? Casca. Bid every noise be still.-Peace yet again. [Music ceases. Cæs. Who is it in the press that calls on me? I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music, Cry, Cæsar. Speak; Cæsar is turned 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. Cæsar. Cæs. What say'st thou to me now? Speak once again. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cæs. He is a dreamer; let us leave him ;-pass. Cas. I pray you, do. Bru. I am not gamesome; I do lack some part Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires; I'll leave you. 1 The old copy reads "Antonio's way;" in other places we have Octavio, Flavio. The players were more accustomed to Italian than Latin terminations. The allusion is to a custom at the Lupercalia. 2 See King Henry VIII. Act ii. Sc. 4. Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late. I have not from your eyes that gentleness, And show of love, as I was wont to have; You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand Over your friend that loves you. Bru. Cassius, Be not deceived; if I have veiled my look, I turn the trouble of my countenance Merely upon myself. Vexed I am, Of late, with passions of some difference, Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviors; Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Čas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion,1 By means whereof, this breast of mine hath buried Cas. 'Tis just; And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you have no such mirrors, as will turn That you might see your shadow. I have heard, For that which is not in me? you lead me, Cassius, Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear; And, since you know you cannot see yourself 1 i. e. the nature of the feelings which you are now suffering. So well as by reflection, I, your glass, 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? Then must I think you would not have it so. Bru. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well.— I was born free as Cæsar; so were you. For once, upon a raw and gusty day, The troubled Tyber chafing with her shores, 1 Johnson has erroneously given the meaning of allurement to stale, in this place. "To stale with ordinary oaths my love," is "to prostitute my love." |