Julius Cæsar, ed. with a life of Shakespeare, an account of the theatre in his time, and numerous aids to the study of the play

Front matter

V w

Class.

7:^

Foreword

In revising my father's edition of '* Julius Caesar," I ^ have been influenced by changed conditions of English r^ teaching in high schools since the time when his work was j- done. The greater number of pupils, the consequent inadequacy of reference material, the more general and less specialized literary preparation, and the broader aims and ideals of the rising generation, — all these conditions demand a different type of annotation from that of twentyfive years ago.

My own recent problems in teaching '^ Julius Caesar" with college preparatory, commercial, and technical classes have led me to include in the present edition the following six features not found in my father's work : a fuller and more informational array of notes ; a study of the structural elements of the play ; a discussion of the sources of the tragedy, withnumerous quotations from North's " Plutarch " ; a list of famiUar quotations from '' Julius Caesar " ; an account of Shakespeare, the man, — his life, work, reputation, and the theatre for which he wTote ; and finally a list of practical, usable topics for oral and written composition. These six new features will be found in the appendix following the text of the play.

It is hoped that this additional material will not only increase the interest of the student, but that it will also lighten the labor of the teacher.

Samuel Thurber, Jr. iii

Contents

PAGE

List of Illustrations '. v

Milton's "Shakespeare" vii

Scene I. Rome. A Street. Enter Flavius, Marullus, and certain Commoners

Flav. Hence ! home, you idle creatures, get you home : Is this a holiday ? what ! know you not, Being mechanical, you ought not walk Upon a laboring day without the sign Of your profession ? Speak, what trade art thou ? 5

Speak, what trade art thou ?

— Act I. Scene I.

First Com, Why, sir, a carpenter.

Mar, Where is thy leather apron and thy rule ? What dost thou with thy best apparel on ? You, sir, what trade are you ?

I

Sec. Com. 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.

Sec, Com, 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 ?

Sec, Com. 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 !

Sec. Com, Why, sir, cobble you. 20

Flav. Thou art a cobbler, art thou ?

Sec, Com, 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 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 ?

Sec, Com. Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into more work. But indeed, sir, we make holiday to see Caesar 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 ? 35

You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things ! O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft Have you climbed up to walls and battlements,

Act I, Scene 1. Julius Caesar.

To towers and windows, yea, to chimney-tops, 40

Your infants in your arms, and there have sat

The Hve-long day, with patient expectation,

To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome :

And when you saw his chariot but appear,

Have you not made an universal shout, 45

That Tiber trembled underneath her banks.

To hear the replication of your sounds

Made in her concave shores ?

And do you now put on your best attire ?

And do you now cull out a holiday ? 50

And do you now strew flowers in his way

That comes in triumph over Pompey 's blood?

Be gone !

Run to your houses, fall upon your knees.

Pray to the gods to intermit the plague 55

That needs must light on this ingratitude.

Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault. Assemble all the poor men of your sort ; Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears Into the channel, till the lowest stream 60

Do kiss the most exalted shores of all.

\_Exeunt all the Commoners, See, whether 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 : disrobe the images, 65

If you do find them decked wdth 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 Caesar's trophies. I'll about, 70

And drive away the vulgar from the streets : So do you too, where you perceive them thick. >^hese growing feathers plucked from Caesar's wing Will make him fly an ordinary pitch,

Who else would soar above the view of men 75

And keep us all in servile fearfulness. [Exeunt,

Scene II. A public place

Flourish. Enter Caesar; Antony, /(^r the course; Cal- PURNIA, Portia, Decius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, and Casca ; a great crowd following^ among them a Soothsayer.

Cces. Calpurnia !

Casca. Peace, ho ! Caesar speaks.

Cces. Calpurnia !

CaL Here ! my lord.

Cces. Stand you directly in Antonius' way. When he doth run his course. Antonius !

Ant. Caesar, my lord ?

Cces. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius, To touch 'Calpurnia ; for our elders say. The barren, touched in this holy chase. Shake off their sterile curse.

Ant. I shall remember :

When Caesar says " do this," it is performed. 10

Cces. Set on ; and leave no ceremony out. [Flourish,

Sooth. Caesar I •

Cces. Ha ! who calls ?

Casca. Bid every noise be still : peace yet again !

Cces. Who is it in the press that calls on me ? 15

Act I, Scene 2. Julius Caesar.

I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,

Cry " Caesar ! " Speak ; Caesar is turned to hear.

Sooth. Beware the ides of March.

CcEs. What man is that ?

Bru. A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.

Cces, Set him before me ; let me see his face. 20

Cas. Fellow, come from the throng ; look upon. Caesar.

CcEs, What say'st thou to me now ? speak once again.

Sooth. Beware the ides of March.

Cces, He is a dreamer ; let us leave him : pass.

\_Sennet. Exeimt all but Brutus and Cassius.

Cas. Will you go see the order of the course ? 25

Bru. Not I.

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 ; 30

I'll leave you.

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 35

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, 40

Conceptions only proper to myself.

Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors ; But let not therefore my good friends be grieved — . Among which number, Cassius, be you one —

Nor construe any further my neglect, 45

Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war. Forgets the shows of love to other men.

Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion ; By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. 50

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, 'T is just : And it is very much lamented, Brutus, 55

That you have no such mirrors as will turn Your hidden worthiness into your eye.

That you might see your shadow. I have heard, Where many of the best respect in Rome, Except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus 60

And groaning underneath this age's yoke, Have wished that noble Brutus had his eyes.

Brti. Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, That you would have me seek into myself For that which is not in me ? 65

Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear : And since you know you cannot see yourself So well as by reflection, I, your glass. Will modestly discover to yourself

That of yourself which you yet know not of. 70

And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus : Were I a common laugher, or did use To stale with ordinary oaths my love To every new protester ; if you know

That I do fawn on men and hug them hard, 75

And after scandal them ; or if you know

Act I, Scene 2. JuHus Caesar.

That I profess myself in banqueting To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.

\Flourish and shout.

Bru. What means this shouting ? I do fear, the people Choose Caesar for their king.

Cas. Ay, do you fear it ? 80

Then must I think you would not have it so.

Brti, I would not, Cassius ; yet I love him well. But wherefore do you hold me here so long ? What is it that you would impart to me ? If it be ought toward the general good, 85

Set honor in one eye and death i' the other, And I will look on both indifferently : For let the gods so speed me as I love The name of honor more than I fear death.

Cas, I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, 90

As well as I do know your outward favor. Well, honor is the subject of my story. I cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life ; but, for my single self, I had as lief not be as live to be 95

In awe of such a thing as I myself.

I was born free as Caesar ; so were you : We both have fed as well, and we can both Endure the winter's cold as well as he : For once, upon a raw and gusty day, 100

The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores, Caesar said to me, " Barest thou, Cassius, now Leap in with me into this angry flood, And swim to yonder point ? " Upon the word. Accoutred as I was, I plunged in 105

And bade him follow ; so indeed he did.

The torrent roared, and we did buffet it

With lusty sinews, throwing it aside

And stemming it with hearts of controversy ;

But ere we could arrive the point proposed,

Caesar cried, ^' Help me, Cassius, or I sink 1 "

I, as Tineas, our great ancestor.

Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder

The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber

Did I the tired Caesar : and this man 115

Is now become a god, and Cassius is

A wretched creature and must bend his body.

If Caesar carelessly but nod on him.

He had a fever when he was in Spain,

And when the fit was on him, I did mark 120

How he did shake : 'tis true, this god did shake :

His coward lips did from their color fly.

And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world

Did lose his lustre : I did hear him groan :

Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans 125

Mark him and write his speeches in their books,

Alas, it cried, ^' Give me some drink, Titinius,"

As a sick girl. Ye gods ! it doth amaze me

A man of such a feeble temper should

So get the start of the majestic world 130

And bear the palm alone. {^Shout. Flourish.

Bru. Another general shout 1 I do believe that these applauses are For some new honors that are heaped on Caesar.

Cas, Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world 135 Like a Colossus, and we petty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about To find ourselves dishonorable graves.

Act I, Scene 2. JuIius Caesar.

Men at some time are masters of their fates :

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, 140

But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

Brutus and Caesar : what should be in that " Caesar" ?

Why should that name be sounded more than yours ?

Write them together, yours is as fair a name ;

Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well ; 145

Weigh them, it is as heavy ; conjure with 'em,

Brutus will start a spirit soon as Caesar.

Now, in the names of all the gods at once,-

Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed,

That he is grown so great ? Age, thou art shamed ! 150

Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods !

When went there by an age, since the great flood.

But it was famed with more than with one man ?

When could they say till now, that talked of Rome,

That her wide walls encompassed but one man ? 155

Now is it Rome indeed and room enough.

When there is in it but one only man.

O, you and I have heard our fathers say,

There was a Brutus once that would have brooked

The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome 160

As easily as a king.

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, 165

I would not, so with love I might entreat you. Be any further moved. What you have said I will consider ; what you have to say I will with patience hear, and find a time Both meet to hear and answer such high things. 170

Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this :

Brutus had rather be a villager

Than to repute himself a son of Rome

Under these hard conditions as this time

Is like to lay upon us. 175

Cas, I am glad that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.

Bi'u, The games are done and Caesar is returning.

Cas, As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve ; And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you 180

What hath proceeded worthy note to-day.

Re-enter Caesar and his Train.

Bru. I will do so. But, look you, Cassius, The angry spot doth glow on Caesar's brow, And all the rest look like a chidden train : Calpurnia's cheek is pale ; and Cicero 185

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.

Cces. Antonius ! 190

Ant. Caesar ?

Cces, 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. 195

Ant, Fear him not, Caesar ; he's not dangerous ; He is a noble Roman and well given.

C(£s. 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 200

Act I, Scene 2. JuHus Caesar.

So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much ;

He is a great observer, and he looks

Quite through the deeds of men ; he loves no plays,

As thou dost, Antony ; he hears no music ;

Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort 205

As if he mocked himself and scorned his spirit

That could be moved to smile at any thing.

Such men as he be never at heart's ease

Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,

And therefore are they very dangerous. 210

I rather tell thee what is to be feared

Than what I fear ; for always I am Caesar.

Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf.

And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.

\_Sennet, Exeunt Ccesar and all his Train but Casca,

Casca. You pulled me by the cloak ; would you speak with me ?

Bru, Ay, Casca ; tell us what hath chanced to-day. That Caesar looks so sad.

Casca, Why, you were with him, were you not ? 218

Bru, I should not then ask Casca what had 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 ?

Casca, Why, for that too.

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 neighbors shouted. 230

II

Cas. Who offered him the crown ?

Casca. Why, Antony.

Brii, 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 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 shouted and clapped their chopt hands and threw up their sweaty nightcaps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Caesar refused the crown, that it had almost choked Caesar; for he swounded 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. 249

Cas, But, soft, I pray you : what, did Caesar swound ?

Casca, He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at mouth, and was speechless.

B^u, 'Tis very like: he hath the falling-sickness.

Ccus. No, Caesar hath it not ; but you, and I, And honest Casca, we have the falling-sickness. 255

Casca, I know not what you mean by that ; but, I am sure Caesar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him and hiss him, according as he pleased and displeased them, as they used to do the players in the theatre, I am no true man. 260

Bru, What said he when he came unto himself ?

Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived

Act I, Scene 2. Julius Caesar.

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 any thing 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 Caesar had stabbed their mothers, they would have done no less. 273

Bru, And after that, he came, thus sad, away ?

Casca. Ay.

Cas, Did Cicero say any thing ?

Casca, Ay, he spoke Greek.

Cas, To what effect 1 278

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: MaruUus and Flavins, for pulling scarfs off Caesar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it. 285

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. 290

Cas, Good : I will expect you.

Casca. Do so. Farewell, both. \^Exit,

Bru, What a blunt fellow is this grown to be ! He was quick mettle when he went to school.

Cas. So is he now in execution 295

Of any bold or noble enterprise, However he puts on this tardy form.

This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit, Which gives men stomach to digest his words With better appetite. 300

Bru, And so it is. For this time I will leave you : To-morrow, if you please to speak with me, I will come home to you ; or, if you wall, Come home to me, and I will wait for you.

Cas, I will do so : till then, think of the world. 305

[Exit Brutus, Well, Brutus, thou art noble ; yet, I see, Thy honorable metal may be wrought From that it is disposed : therefore it is meet That noble minds keep ever with their likes ; For who so firm that cannot be seduced ? 310

Caesar doth bear me hard ; but he loves Brutus : If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius, He should not humor me. I will this night, In several hands, in at his windows throw. As if they came from several citizens, 315

Writings all tending to the great opinion That Rome holds of his name ; wherein obscurely Caesar's ambition shall be glanced at : And after this let Caesar seat him sure ; 319

For we will shake him, or worse days endure. [Exit.

H

Act I, Scene 3. Julius Caesar.

Scene III. The same. A street

Thunder and lightning. Enter ^ from opposite sides ^ Casca, with his sword drawn^ and Cicero.

Cic. Good even, Casca : brought you Caesar 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 5

Have rived the knotty oaks, and I have seen The ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam, To be exalted with the threatening clouds : But never till to-night, never till now.

Did I go through a tempest dropping fire. 10

Either there is a civil strife in heaven. Or else the world, too saucy with the gods. Incenses them to send destruction.

Cic. Why, saw you anything more wonderful ?

Casca, A common slave — you know him well by sight — Held up his left hand, w^hich did flame and burn Like twenty torches joined, and yet his hand. Not sensible of fire, remained unscorched. Besides — I ha' not since put up my sword — Against the Capitol I met a lion, 20

Who glared upon me, and went surly by.

Without annoying me: and there were drawn Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women.

Transformed with their fear, who swore they saw Men all in fire walk up and down the streets. 25

And yesterday the bird of night did sit Even at noon-day upon the market place,

Julius Caesar.

Act I, Scene 3.

Hooting and shrieking. When those prodigies

Do so conjointly meet, let not men say,

" These are their reasons ; they are natural ; "

Against the Capitol I met a lion,

Who glared upon me, and went surly by.

— Act I. Scene 3.

For, I believe, they are portentous things Unto the climate that they point upon.

Cic, Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time : But men may construe things after their fashion. Clean from the purpose of the things themselves. Comes Caesar to the Capitol to-morrow ?

Casca. He doth ; for he did bid Antonius Send word to you he would be there to-morrow.

Act I, Scene 3. JuHus Caesar.

Cic. Good night, then, Casca : this disturbed sky Is not to walk in.

Casca. Farewell, Cicero. \Exit Cicero. 40

Enter Cassius.

Cas, Who's there ?

Casca. A Roman.

Cas. Casca, by your voice.

Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this 1

Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men.

Casca. Who ever knew the heavens menace so ?

Cas, Those that have known the earth so full of faults. For my part, I have walked about the streets, Submitting me unto the perilous night, And thus unbraced, Casca, as you see.

Have bared my bosom to the thunder-stone ; And when the cross blue lightning seemed to open 50

The breast of heaven, I did present myself Even in the aim and very flash of it. [heavens ?

Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the It is the part of men to fear and tremble, When the most mighty gods by tokens send 55

Such dreadful heralds to astonish us.

Cas ^r,Yow are dull, Casca, and those sparks of life That should be in a Roman you do want, Or else you use not. You look pale and gaze And put on fear and cast yourself in wonder, 60

To see the strange impatience of the heavens : But if you would consider the true cause Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts. Why birds and beasts from quality and kind, Why old men fool and children calculate, 65

Why all these things change from their ordinance

Their natures and preformed faculties,

To monstrous quality, why, you shall find

That heaven hath infused them with these spirits,

To make them instruments of fear and warning 70

Unto some monstrous state.

Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man

Most like this dreadful night.

That thunders, Hghtens, opens graves, and roars

As doth the lion in the Capitol ; 75

A man no mightier than thyself or me

In personal action, yet prodigious grown

And fearful, as these strange eruptions are.

Casca. 'Tis Caesar that you mean ; is it not, Cassius ?

Cas, Let it be who it is : for Romans now 80

Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors; But, woe the while ! our fathers' minds are dead, And we are governed with our mothers' spirits ; Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish.

Casca. Indeed, they say the senators to-morrow 85

Mean to establish Caesar as a king ; And he shall wear his crown by sea and land. In every place save here in Italy.

Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then ; Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius : 90

Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat : No stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass, Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit ; 95

But life, being weary of these worldly bars. Never lacks power to dismiss itself.

Act I, Scene 3. JuHus Caesar.

If I know this, know all the world besides,

That part of tyranny that I do bear

I can shake off at pleasure. \Thunder stilL

Casca. So can I : loo

So every bondman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his captivity.

Cas. And why should Caesar be a tyrant then ? Poor man ! I know he would not be a wolf, But that he sees the Romans are but sheep : 105

He were no lion, were not Romans hinds. Those that with haste will make a mighty fire Begin it with weak straws : what trash is Rome, What rubbish and what offal, when it serves For the base matter to illuminate no

So vile a thing as Caesar ! But, O grief. Where hast thou led me ? I perhaps speak this Before a willing bondman ; then I know My answer must be made. But I am armed, And dangers are to me indifferent. 115

Casca. You speak to Casca, and to such a man That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold, my hand : Be factious for redress of all these griefs. And I will set this foot of mine as far As who goes farthest.

Cas. There's a bargain made. 120

Now know you, Casca, I have moved already Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans To undergo with me an enterprise Of honorable-dangerous consequence ; And I do know, by this they stay for me 125