The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar

1 Enter, in procession, with music, Caesar; Antony, for the course;
2 Calphurnia, Portia, Decius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius and Casca; a great
3 crowd following, among them a Soothsayer.
4 CAESAR.
5 Calphurnia.
6 CASCA.
7 Peace, ho! Caesar speaks.
8 [_Music ceases._]
9 CAESAR.
10 Calphurnia.
11 CALPHURNIA.
12 Here, my lord.
13 CAESAR.
14 Stand you directly in Antonius’ way,
15 When he doth run his course. Antonius.
16 ANTONY.
17 Caesar, my lord?
18 CAESAR.
19 Forget not in your speed, Antonius,
20 To touch Calphurnia; for our elders say,
21 The barren, touched in this holy chase,
22 Shake off their sterile curse.
23 ANTONY.
24 I shall remember.
25 When Caesar says “Do this,” it is perform’d.
26 CAESAR.
27 Set on; and leave no ceremony out.
28 [_Music._]
29 SOOTHSAYER.
30 Caesar!
31 CAESAR.
32 Ha! Who calls?
33 CASCA.
34 Bid every noise be still; peace yet again!
35 [_Music ceases._]
36 CAESAR.
37 Who is it in the press that calls on me?
38 I hear a tongue shriller than all the music,
39 Cry “Caesar”! Speak. Caesar is turn’d to hear.
40 SOOTHSAYER.
41 Beware the Ides of March.
42 CAESAR.
43 What man is that?
44 BRUTUS.
45 A soothsayer bids you beware the Ides of March.
46 CAESAR.
47 Set him before me; let me see his face.
48 CASSIUS.
49 Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
50 CAESAR.
51 What say’st thou to me now? Speak once again.
52 SOOTHSAYER.
53 Beware the Ides of March.
54 CAESAR.
55 He is a dreamer; let us leave him. Pass.
56 [_Sennet. Exeunt all but Brutus and Cassius._]
57 CASSIUS.
58 Will you go see the order of the course?
59 BRUTUS.
60 Not I.
61 CASSIUS.
62 I pray you, do.
63 BRUTUS.
64 I am not gamesome: I do lack some part
65 Of that quick spirit that is in Antony.
66 Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires;
67 I’ll leave you.
68 CASSIUS.
69 Brutus, I do observe you now of late:
70 I have not from your eyes that gentleness
71 And show of love as I was wont to have.
72 You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
73 Over your friend that loves you.
74 BRUTUS.
75 Cassius,
76 Be not deceived: if I have veil’d my look,
77 I turn the trouble of my countenance
78 Merely upon myself. Vexed I am
79 Of late with passions of some difference,
80 Conceptions only proper to myself,
81 Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors;
82 But let not therefore my good friends be grieved
83 (Among which number, Cassius, be you one)
84 Nor construe any further my neglect,
85 Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war,
86 Forgets the shows of love to other men.
87 CASSIUS.
88 Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion;
89 By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried
90 Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
91 Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?
92 BRUTUS.
93 No, Cassius, for the eye sees not itself
94 But by reflection, by some other thing.
95 CASSIUS.
96 ’Tis just:
97 And it is very much lamented, Brutus,
98 That you have no such mirrors as will turn
99 Your hidden worthiness into your eye,
100 That you might see your shadow. I have heard
101 Where many of the best respect in Rome,
102 (Except immortal Caesar) speaking of Brutus,
103 And groaning underneath this age’s yoke,
104 Have wish’d that noble Brutus had his eyes.
105 BRUTUS.
106 Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius,
107 That you would have me seek into myself
108 For that which is not in me?
109 CASSIUS.
110 Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear;
111 And since you know you cannot see yourself
112 So well as by reflection, I, your glass,
113 Will modestly discover to yourself
114 That of yourself which you yet know not of.
115 And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus:
116 Were I a common laugher, or did use
117 To stale with ordinary oaths my love
118 To every new protester; if you know
119 That I do fawn on men, and hug them hard,
120 And after scandal them; or if you know
121 That I profess myself in banqueting,
122 To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.
123 [_Flourish and shout._]
124 BRUTUS.
125 What means this shouting? I do fear the people
126 Choose Caesar for their king.
127 CASSIUS.
128 Ay, do you fear it?
129 Then must I think you would not have it so.
130 BRUTUS.
131 I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well,
132 But wherefore do you hold me here so long?
133 What is it that you would impart to me?
134 If it be aught toward the general good,
135 Set honour in one eye and death i’ the other,
136 And I will look on both indifferently;
137 For let the gods so speed me as I love
138 The name of honour more than I fear death.
139 CASSIUS.
140 I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus,
141 As well as I do know your outward favour.
142 Well, honour is the subject of my story.
143 I cannot tell what you and other men
144 Think of this life; but, for my single self,
145 I had as lief not be as live to be
146 In awe of such a thing as I myself.
147 I was born free as Caesar; so were you;
148 We both have fed as well, and we can both
149 Endure the winter’s cold as well as he:
150 For once, upon a raw and gusty day,
151 The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,
152 Caesar said to me, “Dar’st thou, Cassius, now
153 Leap in with me into this angry flood,
154 And swim to yonder point?” Upon the word,
155 Accoutred as I was, I plunged in,
156 And bade him follow: so indeed he did.
157 The torrent roar’d, and we did buffet it
158 With lusty sinews, throwing it aside
159 And stemming it with hearts of controversy.
160 But ere we could arrive the point propos’d,
161 Caesar cried, “Help me, Cassius, or I sink!”
162 I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor,
163 Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
164 The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber
165 Did I the tired Caesar. And this man
166 Is now become a god; and Cassius is
167 A wretched creature, and must bend his body,
168 If Caesar carelessly but nod on him.
169 He had a fever when he was in Spain,
170 And when the fit was on him I did mark
171 How he did shake: ’tis true, this god did shake:
172 His coward lips did from their colour fly,
173 And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world
174 Did lose his lustre. I did hear him groan:
175 Ay, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans
176 Mark him, and write his speeches in their books,
177 Alas, it cried, “Give me some drink, Titinius,”
178 As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me,
179 A man of such a feeble temper should
180 So get the start of the majestic world,
181 And bear the palm alone.
182 [_Shout. Flourish._]
183 BRUTUS.
184 Another general shout?
185 I do believe that these applauses are
186 For some new honours that are heap’d on Caesar.
187 CASSIUS.
188 Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
189 Like a Colossus, and we petty men
190 Walk under his huge legs, and peep about
191 To find ourselves dishonourable graves.
192 Men at some time are masters of their fates:
193 The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
194 But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
195 “Brutus” and “Caesar”: what should be in that “Caesar”?
196 Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
197 Write them together, yours is as fair a name;
198 Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well;
199 Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with ’em,
200 “Brutus” will start a spirit as soon as “Caesar.”
201 Now in the names of all the gods at once,
202 Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed,
203 That he is grown so great? Age, thou art sham’d!
204 Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!
205 When went there by an age since the great flood,
206 But it was fam’d with more than with one man?
207 When could they say, till now, that talk’d of Rome,
208 That her wide walls encompass’d but one man?
209 Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough,
210 When there is in it but one only man.
211 O, you and I have heard our fathers say,
212 There was a Brutus once that would have brook’d
213 Th’ eternal devil to keep his state in Rome,
214 As easily as a king!
215 BRUTUS.
216 That you do love me, I am nothing jealous;
217 What you would work me to, I have some aim:
218 How I have thought of this, and of these times,
219 I shall recount hereafter. For this present,
220 I would not, so with love I might entreat you,
221 Be any further mov’d. What you have said,
222 I will consider; what you have to say
223 I will with patience hear; and find a time
224 Both meet to hear and answer such high things.
225 Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this:
226 Brutus had rather be a villager
227 Than to repute himself a son of Rome
228 Under these hard conditions as this time
229 Is like to lay upon us.
230 CASSIUS.
231 I am glad that my weak words
232 Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.
233 Enter Caesar and his Train.
234 BRUTUS.
235 The games are done, and Caesar is returning.
236 CASSIUS.
237 As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve,
238 And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you
239 What hath proceeded worthy note today.
240 BRUTUS.
241 I will do so. But, look you, Cassius,
242 The angry spot doth glow on Caesar’s brow,
243 And all the rest look like a chidden train:
244 Calphurnia’s cheek is pale; and Cicero
245 Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes
246 As we have seen him in the Capitol,
247 Being cross’d in conference by some senators.
248 CASSIUS.
249 Casca will tell us what the matter is.
250 CAESAR.
251 Antonius.
252 ANTONY.
253 Caesar?
254 CAESAR.
255 Let me have men about me that are fat,
256 Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep a-nights:
257 Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
258 He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
259 ANTONY.
260 Fear him not, Caesar; he’s not dangerous;
261 He is a noble Roman and well given.
262 CAESAR.
263 Would he were fatter! But I fear him not:
264 Yet if my name were liable to fear,
265 I do not know the man I should avoid
266 So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much,
267 He is a great observer, and he looks
268 Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays,
269 As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music.
270 Seldom he smiles; and smiles in such a sort
271 As if he mock’d himself and scorn’d his spirit
272 That could be mov’d to smile at anything.
273 Such men as he be never at heart’s ease
274 Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,
275 And therefore are they very dangerous.
276 I rather tell thee what is to be fear’d
277 Than what I fear; for always I am Caesar.
278 Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,
279 And tell me truly what thou think’st of him.
280 [_Exeunt Caesar and his Train. Casca stays._]
281 CASCA.
282 You pull’d me by the cloak; would you speak with me?
283 BRUTUS.
284 Ay, Casca, tell us what hath chanc’d today,
285 That Caesar looks so sad.
286 CASCA.
287 Why, you were with him, were you not?
288 BRUTUS.
289 I should not then ask Casca what had chanc’d.
290 CASCA.
291 Why, there was a crown offer’d him; and being offer’d him, he put it by
292 with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a-shouting.
293 BRUTUS.
294 What was the second noise for?
295 CASCA.
296 Why, for that too.
297 CASSIUS.
298 They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for?
299 CASCA.
300 Why, for that too.
301 BRUTUS.
302 Was the crown offer’d him thrice?
303 CASCA.
304 Ay, marry, was’t, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than
305 other; and at every putting-by mine honest neighbours shouted.
306 CASSIUS.
307 Who offer’d him the crown?
308 CASCA.
309 Why, Antony.
310 BRUTUS.
311 Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.
312 CASCA.
313 I can as well be hang’d, as tell the manner of it: it was mere foolery;
314 I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown; yet ’twas not a
315 crown neither, ’twas one of these coronets; and, as I told you, he put
316 it by once: but, for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had
317 it. Then he offered it to him again: then he put it by again: but, to
318 my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he
319 offered it the third time; he put it the third time by; and still, as
320 he refus’d it, the rabblement hooted, and clapp’d their chopt hands,
321 and threw up their sweaty night-caps, and uttered such a deal of
322 stinking breath because Caesar refus’d the crown, that it had, almost,
323 choked Caesar, for he swooned, and fell down at it. And for mine own
324 part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips and receiving the
325 bad air.
326 CASSIUS.
327 But, soft! I pray you. What, did Caesar swoon?
328 CASCA.
329 He fell down in the market-place, and foam’d at mouth, and was
330 speechless.
331 BRUTUS.
332 ’Tis very like: he hath the falling-sickness.
333 CASSIUS.
334 No, Caesar hath it not; but you, and I,
335 And honest Casca, we have the falling-sickness.
336 CASCA.
337 I know not what you mean by that; but I am sure Caesar fell down. If
338 the tag-rag people did not clap him and hiss him, according as he
339 pleased and displeased them, as they use to do the players in the
340 theatre, I am no true man.
341 BRUTUS.
342 What said he when he came unto himself?
343 CASCA.
344 Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common herd was glad
345 he refused the crown, he pluck’d me ope his doublet, and offer’d them
346 his throat to cut. And I had been a man of any occupation, if I would
347 not have taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell among the
348 rogues. And so he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, if he
349 had done or said anything amiss, he desir’d their worships to think it
350 was his infirmity. Three or four wenches where I stood cried, “Alas,
351 good soul!” and forgave him with all their hearts. But there’s no heed
352 to be taken of them: if Caesar had stabb’d their mothers, they would
353 have done no less.
354 BRUTUS.
355 And, after that, he came thus sad away?
356 CASCA.
357 Ay.
358 CASSIUS.
359 Did Cicero say anything?
360 CASCA.
361 Ay, he spoke Greek.
362 CASSIUS.
363 To what effect?
364 CASCA.
365 Nay, and I tell you that, I’ll ne’er look you i’ the face again. But
366 those that understood him smil’d at one another and shook their heads;
367 but for mine own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news
368 too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Caesar’s images, are
369 put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could
370 remember it.
371 CASSIUS.
372 Will you sup with me tonight, Casca?
373 CASCA.
374 No, I am promis’d forth.
375 CASSIUS.
376 Will you dine with me tomorrow?
377 CASCA.
378 Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth the
379 eating.
380 CASSIUS.
381 Good. I will expect you.
382 CASCA.
383 Do so; farewell both.
384 [_Exit Casca._]
385 BRUTUS.
386 What a blunt fellow is this grown to be!
387 He was quick mettle when he went to school.
388 CASSIUS.
389 So is he now in execution
390 Of any bold or noble enterprise,
391 However he puts on this tardy form.
392 This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit,
393 Which gives men stomach to digest his words
394 With better appetite.
395 BRUTUS.
396 And so it is. For this time I will leave you:
397 Tomorrow, if you please to speak with me,
398 I will come home to you; or, if you will,
399 Come home to me, and I will wait for you.
400 CASSIUS.
401 I will do so: till then, think of the world.
402 [_Exit Brutus._]
403 Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet I see,
404 Thy honourable metal may be wrought
405 From that it is dispos’d: therefore ’tis meet
406 That noble minds keep ever with their likes;
407 For who so firm that cannot be seduc’d?
408 Caesar doth bear me hard, but he loves Brutus.
409 If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius,
410 He should not humour me. I will this night,
411 In several hands, in at his windows throw,
412 As if they came from several citizens,
413 Writings, all tending to the great opinion
414 That Rome holds of his name; wherein obscurely
415 Caesar’s ambition shall be glanced at.
416 And after this, let Caesar seat him sure,
417 For we will shake him, or worse days endure.
418 [_Exit._]