Act V, Scene I — The woods. Before Timon's cave.[2644]…

Act V, Scene I — The woods. Before Timon's cave.[2644]

Enter Poet and Painter; TIMON watching them from his cave.[2645]

Pain. As I took note of the place, it cannot be far[2646][2647] where he abides.[2646]

Poet. What's to be thought of him? does the rumour[2648] hold for true, that he's so full of gold?[2648]

Pain. Certain: Alcibiades reports it; Phrynia and Timandra[2648][2649] 5 had gold of him: he likewise enriched poor straggling[2648] soldiers with great quantity: 'tis said he gave unto[2648] his steward a mighty sum.[2648]

Poet. Then this breaking of his has been but a try for[2648][2650] his friends.[2648] 10

Pain. Nothing else: you shall see him a palm in Athens[2648] again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore 'tis not amiss[2648] we tender our loves to him in this supposed distress of his:[2648] it will show honestly in us, and is very likely to load our[2648] purposes with what they travail for, if it be a just and true[2648][2651] 15 report that goes of his having.[2648]

Poet. What have you now to present unto him?[2648]

Pain. Nothing at this time but my visitation: only I[2648] will promise him an excellent piece.[2648]

Poet. I must serve him so too, tell him of an intent[2648] 20 that's coming toward him.[2648]

Pain. Good as the best. Promising is the very air o' the[2648][2652] time: it opens the eyes of expectation: performance is ever[2648] the duller for his act; and, but in the plainer and simpler[2648] kind of people, the deed of saying is quite out of use. To[2648][2653] 25 promise is most courtly and fashionable: performance is a[2648] kind of will or testament which argues a great sickness in[2648] his judgement that makes it.[2648][2654]

[Timon comes from his cave, behind.

Tim. [Aside] Excellent workman! thou canst not[2648] paint a man so bad as is thyself.[2648][2655] 30

Poet. I am thinking what I shall say I have provided[2648] for him: it must be a personating of himself; a satire against[2648] the softness of prosperity, with a discovery of the infinite[2648] flatteries that follow youth and opulency.[2648]

Tim. [Aside] Must thou needs stand for a villain in[2648] 35 thine own work? wilt thou whip thine own faults in other[2648] men? Do so, I have gold for thee.[2648]

Poet. Nay, let's seek him:[2656] Then do we sin against our own estate,[2656] When we may profit meet, and come too late.[2656] 40

Pain. True;[2656] When the day serves, before black-corner'd night,[2656][2657] Find what thou want'st by free and offer'd light.[2656] Come.[2656][2658]

Tim. [Aside] I'll meet you at the turn. What a god's gold,[2659] 45 That he is worshipp'd in a baser temple[2659][2660] Than where swine feed![2659][2661] 'Tis thou that rigg'st the bark and plough'st the foam,[2662] Settlest admired reverence in a slave: To thee be worship! and thy saints for aye[2663][2664] 50 Be crown'd with plagues, that thee alone obey![2664] Fit I meet them.[2665] [Coming forward.

Poet. Hail, worthy Timon!

Pain. Our late noble master!

Tim. Have I once lived to see two honest men?[2666]

Poet. Sir, 55 Having often of your open bounty tasted,[2667] Hearing you were retired, your friends fall'n off, Whose thankless natures--O abhorred spirits!--[2668] Not all the whips of heaven are large enough--[2669] What! to you,[2670] 60 Whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence To their whole being! I am rapt, and cannot cover[2671][2672] The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude[2672] With any size of words.

Tim. Let it go naked, men may see't the better:[2673] 65 You that are honest, by being what you are, Make them best seen and known.[2674]

Pain. He and myself Have travail'd in the great shower of your gifts,[2675] And sweetly felt it.

Tim. Ay, you are honest men.[2676]

Pain. We are hither come to offer you our service.[2677] 70

Tim. Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you?[2678] Can you eat roots, and drink cold water? no.

Both. What we can do, we'll do, to do you service.[2679]

Tim. Ye're honest men: ye've heard that I have gold;[2679][2680] I am sure you have: speak truth; ye're honest men.[2681] 75

Pain. So it is said, my noble lord: but therefore Came not my friend nor I.[2682]

Tim. Good honest men! Thou draw'st a counterfeit[2683] Best in all Athens: thou'rt indeed the best;[2684] Thou counterfeit'st most lively.

Pain. So, so, my lord. 80

Tim. E'en so, sir, as I say. And, for thy fiction,[2685] Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth That thou art even natural in thine art. But, for all this, my honest-natured friends,[2686] I must needs say you have a little fault: 85 Marry, 'tis not monstrous in you; neither wish I[2687] You take much pains to mend.

Both. Beseech your honour To make it known to us.

Tim. You'll take it ill.

Both. Most thankfully, my lord.

Tim. Will you, indeed?

Both. Doubt it not, worthy lord. 90

Tim. There's never a one of you but trusts a knave[2688] That mightily deceives you.

Both. Do we, my lord?

Tim. Ay, and you hear him cog, see him dissemble,[2689] Know his gross patchery, love him, feed him,[2690] Keep in your bosom: yet remain assured[2691] 95 That he's a made-up villain.

Pain. I know none such, my lord.

Poet. Nor I.[2692]

Tim. Look you, I love you well; I'll give you gold,[2693] Rid me these villains from your companies: Hang them or stab them, drown them in a draught,[2694] 100 Confound them by some course, and come to me, I'll give you gold enough.

Both. Name them, my lord, let's know them.

Tim. You that way, and you this, but two in company:[2695] Each man apart, all single and alone,[2696] 105 Yet an arch-villain keeps him company. If, where thou art, two villains shall not be,[2697] Come not near him. If thou wouldst not reside[2698] But where one villain is, then him abandon. Hence, pack! there's gold; you came for gold, ye slaves:[2699] 110 [To Painter] You have work for me, there's payment: hence![2700] [To Poet] You are an alchemist, make gold of that: Out, rascal dogs!

[Beats them out, and then retires into his cave.[2701]

Enter FLAVIUS and two Senators.

Flav. It is in vain that you would speak with Timon;[2702] For he is set so only to himself 115 That nothing but himself which looks like man Is friendly with him.

First Sen. Bring us to his cave: It is our part and promise to the Athenians[2703] To speak with Timon.

Sec. Sen. At all times alike Men are not still the same: 'twas time and griefs 120 That framed him thus: time, with his fairer hand, Offering the fortunes of his former days, The former man may make him. Bring us to him, And chance it as it may.[2704]

Flav. Here is his cave. Peace and content be here! Lord Timon! Timon![2705] 125 Look out, and speak to friends: the Athenians By two of their most reverend senate greet thee: Speak to them, noble Timon.[2706]

TIMON comes from his cave.

Tim. Thou sun, that comfort'st, burn! Speak, and be hang'd:[2707] For each true word, a blister! and each false 130 Be as a cauterizing to the root o' the tongue,[2708] Consuming it with speaking!

First Sen. Worthy Timon,--

Tim. Of none but such as you, and you of Timon.[2709]

First Sen. The senators of Athens greet thee, Timon.

Tim. I thank them, and would send them back the plague,[2710] 135 Could I but catch it for them.

First Sen. O, forget What we are sorry for ourselves in thee. The senators with one consent of love Entreat thee back to Athens; who have thought On special dignities, which vacant lie 140 For thy best use and wearing.

Sec. Sen. They confess Toward thee forgetfulness too general, gross:[2711] Which now the public body, which doth seldom[2712] Play the recanter, feeling in itself A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal[2713] 145 Of its own fail, restraining aid to Timon;[2714] And send forth us, to make their sorrowed render.[2715] Together with a recompense more fruitful[2716] Than their offence can weigh down by the dram;[2717][2718] Ay, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth,[2718] 150 As shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs,[2718] And write in thee the figures of their love,[2719] Ever to read them thine.

Tim. You witch me in it, Surprise me to the very brink of tears: Lend me a fool's heart and a woman's eyes, 155 And I'll beweep these comforts, worthy senators.

First Sen. Therefore, so please thee to return with us, And of our Athens, thine and ours, to take The captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks, Allow'd with absolute power, and thy good name[2720] 160 Live with authority: so soon we shall drive back[2721] Of Alcibiades the approaches wild;[2722] Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up His country's peace.

Sec. Sen. And shakes his threatening sword Against the walls of Athens.

First Sen. Therefore, Timon,--[2723] 165

Tim. Well, sir, I will; therefore, I will, sir; thus:[2724] If Alcibiades kill my countrymen, Let Alcibiades know this of Timon, That Timon cares not. But if he sack fair Athens,[2725] And take our goodly aged men by the beards, 170 Giving our holy virgins to the stain Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain'd war; Then let him know, and tell him Timon speaks it, In pity of our aged and our youth, I cannot choose but tell him, that I care not,[2726] 175 And let him take 't at worst; for their knives care not, While you have throats to answer: for myself, There's not a whittle in the unruly camp,[2727] But I do prize it at my love before[2728] The reverend'st throat in Athens. So I leave you[2729] 180 To the protection of the prosperous gods,[2730] As thieves to keepers.

Flav. Stay not; all's in vain.

Tim. Why, I was writing of my epitaph;[2731] It will be seen to-morrow: my long sickness Of health and living now begins to mend, 185 And nothing brings me all things. Go, live still; Be Alcibiades your plague, you his, And last so long enough!

First Sen. We speak in vain.

Tim. But yet I love my country, and am not One that rejoices in the common wreck,[2732] 190 As common bruit doth put it.[2733]

First Sen. That's well spoke.

Tim. Commend me to my loving countrymen,--[2734]

First Sen. These words become your lips as they pass thorough them.[2735]

Sec. Sen. And enter in our ears like great triumphers In their applauding gates.

Tim. Commend me to them; 195 And tell them that, to ease them of their griefs, Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses,[2736] Their pangs of love, with other incident throes[2737] That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them:[2738][2739] 200 I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath.[2739][2740]

First Sen. I like this well; he will return again.[2741]

Tim. I have a tree, which grows here in my close, That mine own use invites me to cut down, And shortly must I fell it: tell my friends, 205 Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree[2742] From high to low throughout, that whoso please To stop affliction, let him take his haste,[2743] Come hither ere my tree hath felt the axe, And hang himself: I pray you, do my greeting. 210

Flav. Trouble him no further; thus you still shall find him.[2744]

Tim. Come not to me again: but say to Athens, Timon hath made his everlasting mansion Upon the beached verge of the salt flood; Who once a day with his embossed froth[2745] 215 The turbulent surge shall cover: thither come, And let my grave-stone be your oracle. Lips, let sour words go by and language end:[2746] What is amiss, plague and infection mend! Graves only be men's works, and death their gain! 220 Sun, hide thy beams! Timon hath done his reign.[2747]

[Retires to his cave.

First Sen. His discontents are unremoveably[2748][2749] Coupled to nature.[2748][2750]

Sec. Sen. Our hope in him is dead: let us return, And strain what other means is left unto us 225 In our dear peril.[2751]

First Sen. It requires swift foot. [Exeunt.

Act V, Scene II — Before the walls of Athens.[2752]

Enter two Senators and a Messenger.[2753]

First Sen. Thou hast painfully discover'd: are his files As full as thy report?[2754]

Mess. I have spoke the least: Besides, his expedition promises[2755] Present approach.[2755]

Sec. Sen. We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon. 5

Mess. I met a courier, one mine ancient friend;[2756] Whom, though in general part we were opposed,[2757] Yet our old love made a particular force,[2758] And made us speak like friends: this man was riding[2759] From Alcibiades to Timon's cave, 10 With letters of entreaty, which imported His fellowship i' the cause against your city, In part for his sake moved.[2760]

First Sen. Here come our brothers.

Enter Senators from TIMON.

Third Sen. No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect.[2761] The enemies' drum is heard, and fearful scouring[2762] 15 Doth choke the air with dust: in, and prepare: Ours is the fall, I fear, our foes the snare.[2763] [Exeunt.

Act V, Scene III — The woods. Timon's cave, and a rude tomb seen.[2764]

Enter a Soldier, seeking TIMON.[2765]

Sold. By all description this should be the place. Who's here? speak, ho! No answer! What is this?[2766] Timon is dead, who hath outstretch'd his span:[2767] Some beast read this; there does not live a man.[2768] Dead, sure; and this his grave. What's on this tomb[2769] 5 I cannot read; the character I'll take with wax:[2769] Our captain hath in every figure skill, An aged interpreter, though young in days: Before proud Athens he's set down by this, Whose fall the mark of his ambition is. [Exit. 10

Act V, Scene IV — Before the walls of Athens.[2770]

Trumpets sound. Enter ALCIBIADES with his powers.[2771]

Alcib. Sound to this coward and lascivious town Our terrible approach.[2772] [A parley sounded.

Enter Senators upon the walls.[2773]

Till now you have gone on and fill'd the time With all licentious measure, making your wills The scope of justice; till now myself and such 5 As slept within the shadow of your power Have wander'd with our traversed arms and breathed Our sufferance vainly: now the time is flush, When crouching marrow in the bearer strong[2774] Cries of itself 'No more:' now breathless wrong 10 Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease, And pursy insolence shall break his wind With fear and horrid flight.

First Sen. Noble and young, When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit, Ere thou hadst power or we had cause of fear,[2775] 15 We sent to thee, to give thy rages balm, To wipe out our ingratitude with loves[2776] Above their quantity.[2777]

Sec. Sen. So did we woo Transformed Timon to our city's love By humble message and by promised means:[2778] 20 We were not all unkind, nor all deserve The common stroke of war.

First Sen. These walls of ours Were not erected by their hands from whom You have received your griefs: nor are they such[2779] That these great towers, trophies and schools should fall 25 For private faults in them.

Sec. Sen. Nor are they living Who were the motives that you first went out;[2780] Shame, that they wanted cunning, in excess Hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord,[2781] Into our city with thy banners spread: 30 By decimation and a tithed death-- If thy revenges hunger for that food Which nature loathes--take thou the destined tenth, And by the hazard of the spotted die Let die the spotted.[2782]

First Sen. All have not offended;[2782][2783] 35 For those that were, it is not square to take,[2784] On those that are, revenges: crimes, like lands,[2785] Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman, Bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage: Spare thy Athenian cradle and those kin 40 Which, in the bluster of thy wrath, must fall With those that have offended: like a shepherd Approach the fold and cull the infected forth, But kill not all together.[2786]

Sec. Sen. What thou wilt, Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile 45 Than hew to 't with thy sword.

First Sen. Set but thy foot Against our rampired gates, and they shall ope; So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before, To say thou'lt enter friendly.[2787]

Sec. Sen. Throw thy glove, Or any token of thine honour else, 50 That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress And not as our confusion, all thy powers Shall make their harbour in our town, till we Have seal'd thy full desire.

Alcib. Then there's my glove; Descend, and open your uncharged ports:[2788] 55 Those enemies of Timon's, and mine own,[2789] Whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof, Fall, and no more: and, to atone your fears With my more noble meaning, not a man Shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream 60 Of regular justice in your city's bounds, But shall be render'd to your public laws[2790] At heaviest answer.

Both. 'Tis most nobly spoken.

Alcib. Descend, and keep your words.

[The Senators descend, and open the gates.[2791]

Enter Soldier.

Sold. My noble general, Timon is dead; 65 Entomb'd upon the very hem o' the sea; And on his grave-stone this insculpture, which[2792] With wax I brought away, whose soft impression Interprets for my poor ignorance.[2793]

Alcib. [Reads] 'Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft:[2794] 70 Seek not my name: a plague consume you wicked caitiffs left![2795] Here lie I, Timon; who, alive, all living men did hate:[2796] Pass by and curse thy fill; but pass and stay not here thy gait.'[2797] These well express in thee thy latter spirits: Though thou abhorr'dst in us our human griefs,[2798] 75 Scorn'dst our brain's flow and those our droplets which[2799] From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit Taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for aye On thy low grave, on faults forgiven. Dead[2800] Is noble Timon: of whose memory 80 Hereafter more. Bring me into your city, And I will use the olive with my sword,[2801] Make war breed peace, make peace stint war, make each Prescribe to other as each other's leech. Let our drums strike. [Exeunt. 85

FOOTNOTES:

[2644] ACT V. SCENE I.] Capell. ACT V. SCENE II. Pope. See note (XIV).

The woods ... cave.] Capell, substantially.

[2645] Enter ...] Dyce. Enter Poet and Painter. Ff. Enter ... Timon behind unseen. Capell.

[2646] As ... abides.] Prose in F1. Two lines, the first ending farre, in F2 F3 F4.

[2647] cannot] can't Pope.

[2648] What's ... thee?] Prose in Pope. Irregular lines in Ff.

[2649] Phrynia] Rowe (ed. 2). Phrinica F1. Phrinia F2 F3 F4.

Timandra] Timandylo F1.

[2650] try for] tryal for Pope. tryal of Theobald (ed. 2).

[2651] purposes ... they] purses ... we Collier (Collier MS.). purses ... they Keightley conj.

[2652] best. Promising] best. Promising, F1. best Promising, F2 F3. best, Promising F4.

[2653] of saying] om. Pope. of paying Anon. conj.

quite] quiet F2.

[2654] [Timon ... behind.] Edd. Enter Timon from his Cave. Ff. Re-enter Timon from his cave, unseen. Pope. Re-enter ... unseen, but overhearing him. Hanmer. The stage direction of Ff transferred to the beginning of the scene by Capell, who first marks Timon's speeches as 'Aside.'

[2655] is] om. Pope.

[2656] Poet. Nay ... late. Pain. True; ... Come.] Ff. Pain. Nay ... late. Poet. True; ... Come. Hanmer. Poet. Nay ... late. Pain. True. Poet. While the day ... Come. Theobald.

[2657] When] While Pope.

black-corner'd] black-corneted Hanmer. black-cornette Warburton conj. black-coroned Farmer conj. MS. black-coned Anon. ap. Steevens conj. black-crowned Mason conj. black correned Becket conj. dark-horned Jackson conj. black-cover'd Collier, ed. 2 (Anon. ap. Steevens conj.). black-curtain'd Singer conj. black-garner'd or black 'coutred Anon. conj.

[2658] Come] om. Capell.

[going towards to the Cave. Capell.

[2659] I'll ... feed!] As in Capell. The lines end turne: ... worshipt ... feede? in Ff.

[2660] worshipp'd ... temple] worshipped In baser temples Pope.

[2661] feed] do feed Pope.

[2662] foam] wave Theobald.

[2663] worship] Rowe. worshipt F1 F2 F3. worship't F4.

[2664] aye Be] Rowe (ed. 2). aye: Be Ff.

[2665] Fit I] 'Tis fit I Rowe. 'Fit I do Capell.

[Coming forward.] Puts himself in their way. Capell. Advancing. Malone. om. Ff.

[2666] Have ... men?] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[2667] open] om. Rowe, reading Sir, ... tasted as one line.

tasted] tested F2.

[2668] Whose ... spirits!--] For whose most thankless natures (abhorr'd spirits!) Hanmer.

[2669] enough--] Rowe. enough, F2 F3 F4. enough: Dyce. See note (XV).

[2670] to you] even to you Hanmer, ending lines 60-64 nobleness ... I'm rapt ... this ... words.

[2671] whole] om. Hanmer.

I am] I'm Pope.

[2672] cover ... ingratitude] As in Ff. One line in Pope.

[2673] Let ... better] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

go naked, men] Theobald. go, Naked men Ff.

[2674] them] men Theobald conj.

[2675] travail'd] F1 F2. travel'd F3 F4.

great] om. Hanmer.

[2676] you are] you're Pope.

men] man F1.

[2677] We ... service] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

We are] We're Pope.

[2678] Most ... you] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[2679] What ... gold] Two lines in Pope. Four in Ff.

[2680] Ye're] Dyce. Y'are Ff. You're Capell. You are Steevens.

ye've] Dyce. Y'have Ff. You've Rowe. you have Steevens.

[2681] I am] I'm Pope.

ye're] Dyce. y'are Ff. you're Capell. you are Steevens.

[2682] nor] and Capell.

[2683] men] F1. man F2 F3 F4.

[2684] thou'rt] Rowe. th'art F1 F2. tha'rt F3 F4.

[2685] [To the Poet. Hanmer.

[2686] honest-natured] Hyphened by Rowe.

[2687] 'tis] om. Pope.

[2688] never] Ff. ne'er Pope.

[2689] Ay, ... dissemble,] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[2690] love] yet love Capell.

feed him] and feed him Pope. feed him, and Keightley.

[2691] Keep] Keep him Heath conj.

[2692] Nor I] Nor I, my lord Steevens conj.

[2693] Look ... gold,] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[2694] a draught] F1. draught F2 F3 F4. the draught Rowe.

[2695] You ... company:] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

but] not Hanmer. both Jackson conj.

in] is Collier MS.

[2696] apart] F3 F4. a part F1 F2.

[2697] two villains] four villains Seymour conj.

[To the Painter. Pope.

[2698] reside] Rowe. recide Ff.

[To the Poet. Pope.

[2699] you] F1. ye F2 F3 F4.

[2700] [To Painter] Edd. (Globe ed.). om. Ff.

You have work] F3 F4. You have worke F1 F2. You have work'd Hanmer. You have done work Malone. You've worked Steevens conj. You have worked Keightley.

there's] Ff. there's your Pope. there is your Johnson. there is Capell.

payment] payment for ye Anon. conj.

hence] F1. thence F2 F3 F4.

[To Poet] Edd. (Globe ed.). om. Ff.

[2701] [Beats....] Staunton. Beating and driving 'em out. Rowe. Exeunt. Ff. Exit beating and driving 'em out. Hanmer.

[2702] SCENE III. Pope. SCENE II. The same. Capell.

in] F3 F4. om. F1 F2.

[2703] part] pact Dyce ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2704] chance] F3 F4. chanc'd F1. chanc'e F2.

[2705] Peace ... here!] Spoken by one of the Senators. Staunton conj.

Lord] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[2706] Timon....] Enter Timon out of his Cave. Ff.

[2707] Thou ... hang'd] One line in Hanmer. Two in Ff.

comfort'st] Pope. comforts F1. comfort F2 F3 F4.

[2708] as a cauterizing] Rowe. as a Cantherizing F1. as a catherizing F2 F3 F4. cauterizing Pope. cancerizing Capell. as a cancering Steevens conj. as a cancerizing Rann (Steevens conj.). as a cauter Lettsom conj. See note (XVI).

cauterizing to the] cancer in the Anon. apud Rann conj.

[2709] Of ... Timon.] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[2710] I thank ... plague,] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[2711] general, gross] Pope. generall grosse Ff. general-gross Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2712] Which now] And now Hanmer. But now Capell.

[2713] sense] sence Rowe. since Ff.

[2714] its] it's Rowe. it Ff.

fail] Capell. fall Ff. fault Hanmer.

restraining] refraining Johnson conj.

[2715] send] Ff. sends Rowe.

sorrowed render] Ff. sorrowed tender Pope. sorrow's tender Hanmer. sorrows' tender Capell. sorrow'd render. Dyce.

[2716] Together with] Rowe. Together, with Ff.

[2717] weigh ... dram;] weigh. Down by the dram, Johnson.

[2718] down ... As] ay, ev'n such heaps And sums of love and wealth, down by the dram, As Johnson conj.

[2719] in thee] instead Anon. conj.

[2720] Allow'd] Pope. Allowed Ff. Hallow'd Warburton.

[2721] so] om. Pope.

[2722] the approaches] th' approaches F1. h'approaches F2 F3 F4.

[2723] Timon,--] Timon-- Rowe. Timon. Ff.

[2724] sir; thus:] sir; thus-- Theobald. sir thus: Ff. sir, thus-- Rowe.

[2725] But] om. Pope.

[2726] him,] him,-- Hanmer.

[2727] whittle] whistle Becket conj.

[2728] at] in Hanmer.

[2729] reverend'st] reverends F1.

[2730] prosperous] phosphorus Jackson conj.

[2731] Why, I ... epitaph:] Why, I ... epitaph, Pope. Why I ... epitaph, Ff.

[2732] wreck] Hanmer. wracke F1 F2. wrack F3 F4.

[2733] bruit] F3 F4. bruite F1 F2. brute Rowe.

[2734] countrymen,--] Capell. countreymen. Ff.

[2735] These ... them.] One line in Pope. Prose in Ff.

thorough] thorow Ff. thro' Rowe.

them] om. Anon. conj.

[2736] aches, losses] F4. aches losses F1 F2 F3.

[2737] throes] F4. throwes F1 F2 F3.

[2738] voyage] voyages Pope.

I will] say, I will S. Walker conj., ending the lines will ... prevent ... well.

do them] om. Steevens conj. do 'em S. Walker conj.

[2739] some ... teach] do Some kindness to them, teach Pope, ending the lines do ... prevent.

[2740] I'll ... to] I will ... How to Anon. conj., ending the lines voyage, ... them ... wrath.

[2741] he ... again.] Omitted by Hanmer, reading Wild ... well as one line.

[2742] sequence] F1. frequence F2 F3 F4.

[2743] take his] make Long MS. make his Staunton conj.

haste] taste Pope. tatch Warburton conj. MS. halter Collier (Collier MS.).

[2744] Trouble ... him] One line in Pope. Two, the first ending shall, in Ff.

Trouble] Vex Pope.

[2745] Who] F1. Which F2 F3 F4. Whom Malone.

[2746] sour] Rowe. foure F1 F2. four F3 F4. your S. Walker conj.

[2747] [Retires ...] Dyce. Exit Timon. Ff.

[2748] His ... nature.] Arranged as in Capell. Prose in Ff. One line in Pope.

[2749] unremoveably] om. Pope.

[2750] nature] his nature Pope.

[2751] dear] F4. deere F1 F2. deer F3. dead Rowe. dread Hanmer. near Anon. conj.

[2752] SCENE II.] Dyce. SCENE IV. Pope. SCENE III. Capell.

Before....] Edd. The walls.... Rowe. Athens. A Council-Chamber. Capell.

[2753] two ... and....] two other ... with.... Ff.

[2754] thy] they F2.

I have] I've Dyce (ed. 2).

[2755] Besides ... approach.] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[2756] courier] Rowe. currier Ff.

one] once Upton conj.

[2757] Whom] Ff. Who Pope. And Hanmer. When Singer (ed. 2).

in general] on several Singer (ed. 2).

[2758] made ... force] had ... force Hanmer. took ... truce Staunton conj.

[2759] made] bade Jackson conj.

[2760] Enter....] Capell. Enter the other Senators. Ff, after moved.

[2761] Third. Sen.] 1. S. Capell.

[2762] enemies'] Theobald (ed. 2). enemies Ff. enemy's Delius.

[2763] foes] foe's Johnson.

[2764] SCENE III.] Dyce. SCENE V. Johnson. SCENE IV. Capell. Warburton continues the Scene. Pope puts the whole in the margin.

[2765] The woods.... Enter....] The woods. A rude Tomb seen. Enter.... Capell. Enter a Souldier in the Woods, seeking Timon. Ff.

[2766] Who's] F3 F4. Whose F1. Whos F2.

[spying the Tomb. Capell.

[2767] See note (XVII).

who] he Capell.

[2768] read] F3 F4. reade F1 F2. rear'd Theobald (Warburton). did Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. Vol. LX. p. 127). made Delius.

there does] here does Theobald (Warburton). here did Capell (MS. correction).

not live] no live F2. not lye Capell conj.

[2769] Dead ... wax] As in Ff. Three lines in Capell, ending tomb ... take ... wax. Three lines in Singer (ed. 1), ending grave ... character ... wax.

[2770] SCENE IV.] Dyce. SCENE II. Rowe. SCENE V. Pope.

Before....] Theobald.

[2771] Enter....] Enter Alcibiades with his Powers before Athens. Ff.

[2772] [A parley....] Parley sounded. Capell. Sounds a Parly. Ff.

[2773] Enter Senators....] Enter Senators &c.... Capell. The Senators appeare.... Ff.

[2774] strong] stung S. Walker conj.

[2775] of] F1. to F2 F3 F4.

[2776] ingratitude] ingratitudes Capell.

[2777] their] its Hanmer.

[2778] means] 'mends Theobald.

[2779] griefs] Theobald. greefe F1 F2. grief F3 F4.

[2780] Shame ... excess] Theobald. (Shame that they wanted, cunning in excesse) F1. Shame (that they wanted cunning in excesse) F2 F3 F4. Shame that they wanted coming in excess Johnson conj.

[2781] March,] March on, oh Pope.

[2782] And ... spotted.] Put in the margin by Pope.

[2783] All] We all Hanmer.

[2784] it is ... take,] is't not severe to take? Collier (Collier MS.).

[2785] revenges ... like] Steevens (1778). revenge ... like Ff. revenge ... like to Pope.

[2786] all together] F3 F4. altogether F1. al together F2.

[2787] thou'lt] thoul't F4. thou't F1 F2 F3.

[2788] Descend] Defend F1.

[2789] Timon's] Timon Hanmer.

[2790] render'd to your] Dyce (Chedworth conj.). remedied to your F1. remedied by your F2 F3 F4. remedied by Pope. remedied to Johnson. remedy'd, to your Malone. remitted to your Singer (ed. 2.). See note (XVIII).

[2791] [The Senators....] Malone. Senators come from the Walls, and deliver their keys to Alcibiades. Capell. om. Ff.

Enter Soldier.] Capell. Enter a Soldier. Theobald. Enter a Messenger. Ff.

[2792] his] the Pope (ed. 2).

[2793] Interprets] Interpreteth Pope.

poor] poorer S. Walker conj. (withdrawn).

[2794] Alcib. [Reads] Alcibiades reades the Epitaph. Ff.

[2795] wicked] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[2796] alive] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[2797] pass and] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.]

gait] Johnson. gate Ff. gaite Pope.

[2798] abhorr'dst] abhorred'st Rowe.

human] Rowe. humane Ff.

[2799] brain's] Steevens. braines F1 F2 F3. brains F4. brine's Hanmer. brains' Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2800] grave ... Dead] Ff. grave.--On: faults forgiven.--Dead Theobald. grave our faults--forgiv'n, since dead Hanmer. grave.--One fault's forgiven.--Dead Tyrwhitt conj.

[2801] use] twine S. Walker conj. prune Anon. conj.

NOTES.

NOTE I.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. In the list given in the Folio PHRYNIA, TIMANDRA, and others are omitted. 'Timon's creditors' are termed 'usurers.' VENTIDIUS is called VENTIGIUS, PHILOTUS, PHILO, and HORTENSIUS, HORTENSIS. VARRO and LUCIUS occur among the names of the servants, and the latter has been retained by all editors except Mr Dyce in his second edition. In the play the servants address each other by the names of their respective masters: hence the confusion. Perhaps all the names assigned to the servants should be considered as names of their masters. 'Hortensius,' for instance, has not a servile sound. Flaminius and Servilius may be regarded rather as gentlemen in waiting than menials.

Sidney Walker suggests that CAPHIS should be CAPYS.

The list as given by modern editors contains successive additions and alterations made by Rowe, Johnson and Capell, which it is unnecessary to specify further.

With the exception of 'Actus Primus. Scæna Prima' at the beginning, there is in the Folios no indication of a division into Act or Scene throughout the play.

NOTE II.

I. 1. 1, 2. This conjecture of Farmer's is given from his own MS. in the copy of Johnson's Shakespeare which belonged to him, now in the library of Emmanuel College. In a note found in the Variorum edition, ad loc., he makes a different suggestion:

'Poet. Good day.

Pain. Good day, sir: I am glad you're well.'

NOTE III.

I. 2. 1-3. We have left this corrupt passage as it stands in the Folios. Rowe made no change. Pope altered it to:

'Most honour'd Timon, it hath pleas'd the gods To call my father's age unto long peace.'

In this reading he was followed by Theobald, Hanmer and Warburton. Johnson read:

'Most honour'd Timon, it hath pleas'd the Gods To remember my father's age, And call him to long peace.'

Capell has:

Most honour'd Timon, 'T hath pleas'd the gods in kindness to remember My father's age, and call him to long peace.'

Steevens (1773) has:

'Most honour'd Timon, it hath pleas'd the Gods to remember My father's age, and call him to long peace.'

In his edition of 1793 he read 'remember' for 'to remember.'

NOTE IV.

I. 2. 53-58. The Folios print Apemantus's speech as prose down to 'Timon'; then as four lines of verse:

'Heere's that which is too weake to be a sinner, Honest water, which nere left man i' th' mire: This &c.'

The second has 'mird' for 'mire.' The third and fourth follow the first. Pope, whose arrangement we follow, prints as prose down to 'mire.' Capell prints the whole as verse thus:

'Flow this way! A most brave fellow! he keeps his tides well. Timon, Those healths will make thee, and thy state, look ill,'

following the Folios in the next four lines.

Steevens adopts this arrangement omitting 'most' in the second line. Sidney Walker would divide the lines thus:

'Flow this way! a brave fellow! He keeps his tides well. Timon, these healths will make Thee, and thy state, look ill. Here's that which is Too weak to be a sinner, honest water, Which ne'er left man i' th' mire: &c.'

NOTE V.

I. 2. 89-91. Mr Staunton suggests that one of the two clauses 'if we should ne'er have need of 'em' and 'should we ne'er have use for 'em' was intended to be cancelled.

NOTE VI.

I. 2. 113-118. The first Folio, followed substantially by the rest, has:

'Cap. Haile to thee worthy Timon and to all that of his Bounties taste: the fiue best Sences acknowledge thee their Patron, and come freely to gratulate thy plentious bosome.

There tast, touch all, pleas'd from thy Table rise: They onely now come but to Feast thine eies.'

Rowe made no material alteration except that he put a comma after 'touch' in the last line but one.

Pope arranged thus:

'Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all That of his bounties taste: The five best senses acknowledge thee their patron, and come freely To gratulate thy plenteous bosom. There &c.'

Theobald:

'Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all That of his bounties taste! the five best Senses Acknowledge thee their patron; and do come Freely to gratulate thy plenteous bosom: Th' Ear, Taste, Touch, Smell, pleas'd from thy Table rise, These only now come but to feast thine eyes.'

and he adds in a note: 'The incomparable Emendation, with which the Text is here supply'd, I owe to my ingenious Friend Mr Warburton.' It was adopted by Hanmer and Johnson. Capell altered 'do come' in line 3 to 'are come;' Steevens (1785) restored 'They' for 'These' in the last line, and Malone changed 'pleas'd' in the last line but one to 'all pleas'd.'

Rann introduced the change which we have adopted in the text, placing 'th' ear' at the end of the fourth line, and reading 'Taste, touch and smell' in the fifth. Steevens, in his edition of 1793, followed this arrangement, reading in the fifth line, 'Taste, touch, smell, all pleas'd, &c.'

NOTE VII.

I. 2. 171, 172. We have printed this passage as prose, as it is difficult to say from the arrangement of the lines in the first and second Folios, whether or not it was intended to be read as two lines of verse, the first ending 'thee,' as it certainly is in the third and fourth Folios. Pope printed it as prose. Capell eked out the metre thus:

'Me near? why, then another time I'll hear thee: I pr'ythee, let us be provided now To shew them entertainment.'

Steevens suggested 'provided straight' in the second line.

In many parts of this play it is difficult to say whether the lines are intended to be read as irregular verse, or as rhythmical prose, and we have therefore left them as they stand in the Folios.

NOTE VIII.

II. 2. 89-96. This and many other passages are printed in the Folio as if they were intended to be irregular verse, where it is evident that they can only be read as prose. In such cases it is not always worth while to record how the lines were divided by the caprice or negligence of the printer. Seymour has endeavoured throughout the play to complete imperfect lines by the insertion of words, and imperfect hemistichs by the addition of entire clauses, but he has in this so far exceeded the license of conjecture that, except in the first scene of the play, we have not recorded all his proposed alterations.

NOTE IX.

III. 2. 60-64. Pope altered these lines as follows:

'Why, this is the world's soul; Of the same piece, is every flatterer's sport: Who can call him his friend That dips in the same dish? for in my knowing, Timon has been to this lord as a father, And kept his credit with his bounteous purse.'

Theobald follows Pope's arrangement, but reads 'spirit' for 'sport' in the second line, an emendation which he first suggested in a letter to Warburton, still unpublished, in the British Museum. Warburton's conjecture 'coat,' which he made no allusion to in his own edition, is mentioned by Theobald in the same letter. Hanmer gives the whole passage thus:

'Why, this is the world's soul; Of the same piece is every flatterer's spirit: Who can call him his friend that dips with him In the same dish? for even in my knowing, Timon has been to this Lord as a father, And kept his credit with his bounteous purse.'

Johnson follows the Folios except that he gives the first lines thus:

'Why, this is the world's soul; And just of the same piece is every flatterer's spirit: Who can call him his friend, That &c.'

Steevens, in the edition of 1773, followed Johnson's arrangement, but adopted in the first lines a transposition proposed by Upton:

'Why, this is the world's sport; And just of the same piece is every flatterer's soul.'

In his edition of 1793 he read as follows:

'Why this Is the world's soul; and just of the same piece Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him His friend, &c.'

Following, in the rest, Capell's arrangement.

Malone arranged as follows:

'Why this is the world's soul, and just of the same piece Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him his friend, That dips in the same dish? for in my knowing Timon has been this lord's father, and kept His credit with his purse.'

In a note, however, he says, 'I do not believe this speech was intended by the authour for verse.'

NOTE X.

III. 3. 8. Hanmer made here one of his audacious alterations:

'How? deny'd him? Have Lucius and Ventidius and Lucullus Deny'd him all? and does he send to me? It shews &c.'

Capell emulated him thus:

'How! have they deny'd him? Has Lucius, and Ventidius, and Lucullus, Deny'd him, say you? and does he send to me? Three? hum! It shews &c.'

NOTE XI.

III. 3. 19. Hanmer altered the passage thus:

'That I'll requite it last? so it may prove An argument of laughter to the rest, And amongst Lords I shall be thought a fool.'

Capell follows Hanmer, except that he replaces 'no' in the first line.

Steevens (1793) follows Capell in the first two lines, reading in the third:

'And I amongst the Lords be thought a fool.'

Mr. Staunton suggests that the passage once stood:

'So I may prove An argument of laughter to the rest, And amongst lords be thought a fool.'

Mr. Dyce, in his second edition proposes the following arrangement:

'That I'll requite it last? No: so it may prove An argument of laughter to the rest, And amongst lords I be thought a fool.'

NOTE XII.

III. 5. 14-18. The first Folio, followed substantially by the rest, has:

'He is a Man (setting his Fate aside) of comely Vertues, Nor did he soyle the fact with Cowardice, (And Honour in him, which buyes out his fault) But &c.'

Rowe arranged the lines as follows:

'He is a Man, setting his Fate aside, of comely Virtues, And Honour in him, which buys out his Fault; Nor did he soil the Fact with Cowardise, But &c.'

Pope read:

'He is a man, setting his fault aside, Of virtuous honour, which buys out his fault; Nor did he soil the fact with cowardise, But &c.'

Theobald follows Pope verbatim, and so Hanmer, except that he reads 'setting this fact aside.' Warburton proposed 'setting this fault aside.' Johnson read:

'He is a man, setting his fault aside, Of comely virtues; Nor did he soil the fact with cowardise, An honour in him which buys out his fault, But, &c.'

Steevens, in his edition of 1773, restored 'his fate' from the Folios in the first line, giving the reading we have adopted in the text.

NOTE XIII.

III. 5. 49-51. The first Folio has here:

'And the Asse, more Captaine then the Lyon? The fellow loaden with Irons, wiser then the Iudge? If Wisedome be in suffering, Oh my Lords, &c. &c.'

The second Folio:

'And the Asse, more Captaine then the Lyon? the fellow Loaden with Irons, wiser then the Iudge? If Wisedome be in suffering. Oh my Lords, &c. &c.'

The third and fourth Folios, spelling apart, follow the second.

Rowe placed a comma after 'Judge,' and this punctuation was adopted by all subsequent editors.

Pope altered the passage thus:

'The ass, more than the lion; and the fellow Loaden with irons, &c.'

He was followed by Theobald, Hanmer and Warburton, and by Johnson in his text; the last named however proposed a different arrangement of the preceding line and the substitution of 'felon' for 'fellow' in line 49, thus:

'what make we Abroad, why then the women are more valiant That stay at home; If bearing carry it, then is the ass More captain than the lion, and the felon Loaden with irons &c.'

This suggestion was adopted substantially by Rann. The reading 'felon' had been independently proposed by Theobald (Nichols's Illustrations, II. 475).

Capell and Steevens (1773) followed Pope. Steevens (1778) read:

'The ass, more captain than the lion; and the fellow, Loaden &c.'

In 1793 he read:

'And th' ass, more captain than the lion; the felon, Loaden &c.'

This was followed in the Variorum Editions of 1803 and 1813.

Malone (1790) read:

'And the ass, more captain than the lion; the fellow, Loaden &c.'

and was followed by Boswell (1821).

Mr Knight (1839) returned to the arrangement and readings of the first Folio. Singer (ed. 2) adopted this arrangement, but read 'felon' for 'fellow.' In his first edition he followed the arrangement of the second Folio, reading 'felon.'

Mitford suggests:

'The ass more than the lion, and the felon Loaden &c.'

or:

'And th' ass more than the lion, the felon Loaden &c.'

NOTE XIV.

V. 1. Johnson calls attention to the impropriety of placing the entry of the Banditti in one act and that of the Poet and Painter in another, when the latter were mentioned as within view when Apemantus parted from Timon. 'It might be suspected,' he says, 'that some scenes are transposed, for all these difficulties would be removed by introducing the Poet and Painter first, and the thieves in this place. Yet I am afraid the scenes must keep their present order, for the Painter alludes to the Thieves, when he says, he likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers with great quantity.'

NOTE XV.

V. 1. 59. After the word 'enough' in the first Folio a space has slipped up, but there is no trace of any stop. The punctuation, as Mr Dyce observes, is important to the sense of the preceding line.

NOTE XVI.

V. 1. 131. The word 'canterisynge' for 'cauterizing,' is found very frequently in an old surgical work, printed in 1541, of which the title is 'The questyonary of Cyrurgyens.' The heading of one of the chapters is, 'Here foloweth the fourthe partycle, where as be moued and soyled other dyffycultees touchyng the maner of canterisynge or searynge.' The instrument with which the operation is performed is in the same book called a 'cantere.' The form of the word may have been suggested by the false analogy of 'canterides,' i.e. cantharides, which occurs in the same chapter.

NOTE XVII.

V. 3. 3, 4. Mr Staunton prints as follows:

[Reads.] _TIMON IS DEAD!--who hath outstretch'd his span,-- Some beast--read this; there does not live a man._

He regards these lines as the only part of the inscription which the soldier could read, the rest being in some different language. But this explanation introduces a fresh difficulty. The difficulty would be lessened by supposing the legible lines to be inscribed not on the tomb but on the rock beside it, and the epitaph proper to be written not in a different language but in a different character: a notion which might be suggested to the author by the Gothic letters commonly found on ancient monuments.

In the Globe edition we adopted the emendation 'rear'd' because, with the change of a single letter, it yields something approaching to a satisfactory sense. But we incline to think that the words were originally intended as an epitaph to be read by the soldier. The author may have changed his mind and forgotten to obliterate what was inconsistent with the sequel, or the text may have been tampered with by some less accomplished playwright. Anyhow the close of the play bears marks of haste, or want of skill, and the clumsy device of the wax cannot have been invented and would scarcely be adopted by Shakespeare.

In the epitaph given in the next scene two inconsistent couplets are combined into a quatrain.

NOTE XVIII.

V. 4. 62. Some editors attribute the conjecture 'render'd' to Mason; but the earliest mention of it which we have remarked is in Lord Chedworth's volume of Notes (1805).

JULIUS CÆSAR.

Dramatis Personæ

JULIUS CÆSAR. OCTAVIUS CÆSAR, } MARCUS ANTONIUS, } triumvirs after the death of Julius Cæsar. M. ÆMIL. LEPIDUS, } CICERO, } PUBLIUS, } senators. POPILIUS LENA, } MARCUS BRUTUS, } CASSIUS, } CASCA, } TREBONIUS, } conspirators against Julius Cæsar. LIGARIUS, } DECIUS[2803] BRUTUS, } METELLUS CIMBER, } CINNA, } FLAVIUS and MARULLUS, tribunes. ARTEMIDORUS of Cnidos, a teacher of Rhetoric[2804]. A Soothsayer. CINNA, a poet. Another Poet. LUCILIUS, } TITINIUS, } MESSALA, } friends to Brutus and Cassius. Young CATO, } VOLUMNIUS, } VARRO, } CLITUS, } CLAUDIUS, } servants to Brutus. STRATO, } LUCIUS, } DARDANIUS, } PINDARUS, servant to Cassius.

CALPURNIA[2805], wife to Cæsar. PORTIA, wife to Brutus.

Senators, Citizens, Guards, Attendants, &c.

SCENE: Rome; the neighbourhood of Sardis; the neighbourhood of Philippi.

THE TRAGEDY OF

JULIUS CÆSAR.

FOOTNOTES:

[2802] First given imperfectly by Rowe: more fully by Theobald.

[2803] DECIUS] DECIMUS Hanmer.

[2804] See note (1).

[2805] CALPURNIA] Grant White. CALPHURNIA Rowe.

Act I, Scene I — Rome. A street.[2806]

Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and certain Commoners.[2807]

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 labouring day without the sign Of your profession? Speak, what trade art thou? 5

First Com. Why, sir, a carpenter.[2808]

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

Sec. Com. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I[2809] 10 am but, as you would say, a cobbler.[2810]

Mar. But what trade art thou? answer me directly.

Sec. Com. A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a[2811] safe conscience; which is indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.[2812]

Mar. What trade, thou knave? thou naughty knave, what trade?[2813] 15

Sec. Com. Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with[2809] me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you.[2814]

Mar. What mean'st thou by that? mend me, thou[2815] 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[2816] meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor women's matters,[2817] but with awl. I am indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when[2818] they are in great danger, I re-cover them. As proper men as[2819] 25 ever trod upon neats-leather have gone upon my handiwork.

Flav. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day?[2820] Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?[2820]

Sec. Com. Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into more work. But indeed, sir, we make holiday, to 30 see Cæsar and to rejoice in his triumph.

Mar. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?[2821] What tributaries follow him to Rome, To grace in captive bonds his chariot-wheels? You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! 35 O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft[2822] Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements,[2822] To towers and windows, yea, to chimney-tops,[2823] Your infants in your arms, and there have sat 40 The live-long day with patient expectation To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome:[2824] And when you saw his chariot but appear, Have you not made an universal shout, That Tiber trembled underneath her banks[2825] 45 To hear the replication of your sounds Made in her concave shores?[2825][2826][2827] And do you now put on your best attire?[2826] And do you now cull out a holiday?[2826][2828] And do you now strew flowers in his way[2826] 50 That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood?[2826][2829] Be gone![2826] Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Pray to the gods to intermit the plague That needs must light on this ingratitude. 55

Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault,[2830] Assemble all the poor men of your sort; Draw them to Tiber banks and weep your tears[2831] Into the channel, till the lowest stream Do kiss the most exalted shores of all.[2832] 60

[Exeunt all the Commoners.

See, whether their basest metal be not moved;[2833] They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness.[2834] Go you down that way towards the Capitol;[2835] This way will I: disrobe the images, If you do find them deck'd with ceremonies. 65

Mar. May we do so?[2836] You know it is the feast of Lupercal.[2836]

Flav. It is no matter; let no images[2837] Be hung with Cæsar's trophies. I'll about,[2838] And drive away the vulgar from the streets: 70 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. [2839] 75

Act I, Scene II — A public place.[2840]

Flourish. Enter CÆSAR; ANTONY, for the course; CALPURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and CASCA; a great crowd following, among them a Soothsayer.

Cæs. Calpurnia![2841]

Casca. Peace, ho! Cæsar speaks.

[Music ceases.[2842]

Cæs. Calpurnia!

Cal. Here, my lord.

Cæs. Stand you directly in Antonius' way,[2843] When he doth run his course. Antonius![2844]

Ant. Cæsar, my lord?[2845] 5

Cæs. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius,[2844] To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say,[2841] The barren, touched in this holy chase, Shake off their sterile curse.[2846]

Ant. I shall remember: When Cæsar says 'do this,' it is perform'd. 10

Cæs. Set on, and leave no ceremony out. [Flourish.[2847]

Sooth. Cæsar!

Cæs. Ha! who calls?

Casca. Bid every noise be still: peace yet again![2848][2849]

Cæs. Who is it in the press that calls on me? 15 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.[2850]

Cæs. Set him before me; let me see his face. 20

Cas. Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Cæsar.[2851]

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.

[Sennet. Exeunt all but Brutus and Cassius.[2852]

Cas. Will you go see the order of the course?[2853] 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.[2854]

Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late:[2855] 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.[2856]

Bru. Cassius, Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look,[2857] 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 behaviours;[2858] But let not therefore my good friends be grieved-- Among which number, Cassius, be you one-- Nor construe any further my neglect[2859] 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;[2860] 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?[2861]

Bru. No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself[2862][2863] But by reflection, by some other things.[2862][2864]

Cas. 'Tis just:[2865] And it is very much lamented, Brutus, 55 That you have no such mirrors as will turn[2866] Your hidden worthiness into your eye, That you might see your shadow. I have heard[2867] Where many of the best respect in Rome, Except immortal Cæsar, speaking of Brutus, 60 And groaning underneath this age's yoke, Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes.

Bru. Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius,[2868] That you would have me seek into myself For that which is not in me? 65

Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear:[2869] 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.[2870] 70 And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus:[2871] Were I a common laugher, or did use[2872] 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 That I profess myself in banqueting[2873] To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.

[Flourish and shout.

Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear, the people[2874] Choose Cæsar for their king.[2874]

Cas. Ay, do you fear it? 80 Then must I think you would not have it so.

Bru. 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 aught toward the general good, 85 Set honour in one eye and death i' the other, And I will look on both indifferently,[2875] For let the gods so speed me as I love The name of honour more than I fear death.

Cas. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, 90 As well as I do know your outward favour. Well, honour is the subject of my story. I cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life, but, for my single self,[2876] 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 Cæsar; 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,[2877] Cæsar said to me 'Darest thou, Cassius, now[2878] Leap in with me into this angry flood, And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word, Accoutred as I was, I plunged in[2879] 105 And bade him follow: so indeed he did.[2880] The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it[2881] With lusty sinews, throwing it aside And stemming it with hearts of controversy; But ere we could arrive the point proposed,[2882] 110 Cæsar cried 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink!' I, as Æneas our great ancestor[2883] Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder[2884] The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber[2884][2885] Did I the tired Cæsar: and this man 115 Is now become a god, and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body If Cæsar carelessly but nod on him. He had a fever when he was in Spain,[2886] 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 colour fly, And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world Did lose his lustre: I did hear him groan:[2887] Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans 125 Mark him and write his speeches in their books,[2888] Alas, it cried, 'Give me some drink, Titinius,'[2889] 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.[2890]

Bru. Another general shout![2891] I do believe that these applauses are For some new honours that are heap'd on Cæsar.

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 dishonourable graves. Men at some time are masters of their fates:[2892] The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, 140 But in ourselves, that we are underlings. Brutus, and Cæsar: what should be in that Cæsar?[2893] Why should that name be sounded more than yours? Write them together, yours is as fair a name;[2894] Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well; 145 Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with 'em,[2895] Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar.[2896] Now, in the names of all the gods at once, Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar 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 talk'd of Rome That her wide walls encompass'd but one man?[2897] 155 Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough,[2898] When there is in it but one only man.[2898] O, you and I have heard our fathers say There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome[2899] 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:[2900] How I have thought of this and of these times,[2901] I shall recount hereafter; for this present, 165 I would not, so with love I might entreat you,[2902] Be any further moved. What you have said[2903] 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.[2904] 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[2905] Is like to lay upon us. 175

Cas. I am glad that my weak words[2906][2907] Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.[2907]

Bru. The games are done, and Cæsar is returning.[2908][2909]

Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve;[2909] And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you 180 What hath proceeded worthy note to-day.

Re-enter CÆSAR and his Train[2910]

Bru. I will do so: but, look you, Cassius, The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow,[2911] 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 cross'd in conference by some senators.[2912]

Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is.

Cæs. Antonius![2913] 190

Ant. Cæsar?

Cæs. Let me have men about me that are fat,[2914] Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights:[2915] Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;[2916] He thinks too much: such men are dangerous. 195

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

Cæs. Would he were fatter! but I fear him not:[2917] Yet if my name were liable to fear, I do not know the man I should avoid 200 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 mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit That could be moved to smile at any thing. Such men as he be never at heart's ease[2918] Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,[2919] And therefore are they very dangerous. 210 I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd Than what I fear; for always I am Cæsar. Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf, And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.

[Sennet. Exeunt Cæsar and all his Train but Casca.[2920]

Casca. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me?[2921] 215

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

Casca. Why, you were with him, were you not?[2922]

Bru. I should not then ask Casca what had chanced.

Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him: and being 220 offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus: and then the people fell a-shouting.[2923]

Bru. What was the second noise for?

Casca. Why, for that too.[2924]

Cas. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for? 225

Casca. Why, for that too.[2924]

Bru. Was the crown offered him thrice?[2925]

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. 230

Cas. Who offered him the crown?

Casca. Why, Antony.

Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.

Casca. I can as well be hang'd as tell the manner of it: it was mere foolery; I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony[2926] 235 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. 240 And then he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by: and still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted[2927] and clapped their chopped hands and threw up their sweaty[2928] night-caps and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choked 245 Cæsar; for he swounded and fell down at it: and for mine[2929] 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 swound?[2930]

Casca. He fell down in the market-place and foamed at 250 mouth and was speechless.

Bru.'Tis very like: he hath the falling-sickness.[2931]

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 255 sure Cæsar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him and hiss him according as he pleased and displeased them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no[2932] true man.

Bru. What said he when he came unto himself? 260

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[2933] 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[2934] 265 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[2935] 270 taken of them; if Cæsar had stabbed their mothers, they[2936] would have done no less.

Bru. And after that, he came, thus sad, away?[2937]

Casca. Ay.

Cas. Did Cicero say any thing? 275

Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek.

Cas. To what effect?

Casca. Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' the[2938] face again: but those that understood him smiled at one another and shook their heads; but for mine own part, it 280 was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus[2939] and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæsar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it.

Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca? 285

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[2940] dinner worth the eating.[2941]

Cas. Good; I will expect you. 290

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.[2942]

Cas. So is he now in execution Of any bold or noble enterprise, 295 However he puts on this tardy form. This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit, Which gives men stomach to digest his words[2943] With better appetite.[2944]

Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave you:[2945] 300 To-morrow, if you please to speak with me,[2946] I will come home to you, or, if you will,[2947] Come home to me and I will wait for you.[2948]

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

[Exit Brutus.

Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see,[2949] 305 Thy honourable metal may be wrought[2950] From that it is disposed: therefore it is meet[2951] That noble minds keep ever with their likes; For who so firm that cannot be seduced? Cæsar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus: 310 If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius, He should not humour me. I will this night,[2952] In several hands, in at his windows throw, As if they came from several citizens, Writings, all tending to the great opinion 315 That Rome holds of his name, wherein obscurely Cæsar's ambition shall be glanced at: And after this let Cæsar seat him sure; For we will shake him, or worse days endure. [Exit.

Act I, Scene III — A street.[2953]

Thunder and lightning. Enter, from opposite sides, CASCA, with his sword drawn, and CICERO.[2954]

Cic. Good even, Casca: brought you Cæsar 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.[2955] 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 any thing more wonderful?

Casca. A common slave--you know him well by sight--[2956] 15 Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn Like twenty torches join'd, and yet his hand Not sensible of fire remain'd unscorch'd. Besides--I ha' not since put up my sword--[2957] Against the Capitol I met a lion, 20 Who glared upon me and went surly by[2958] Without annoying me: and there were drawn Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women[2959] 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, Hooting and shrieking. When these prodigies[2960] Do so conjointly meet, let not men say 'These are their reasons: they are natural:'[2961] 30 For, I believe, they are portentous things Unto the climate that they point upon.

Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time:[2962] But men may construe things after their fashion, Clean from the purpose of the things themselves. 35 Comes Cæsar to the Capitol to-morrow?[2963]

Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius[2964] Send word to you he would be there to-morrow.

Cic. Good night then, Casca: this disturbed sky[2965] Is not to walk in.[2965]

Casca. Farewell, Cicero. [Exit Cicero. 40

Enter CASSIUS.[2966]

Cas. Who's there?

Casca. A Roman.

Cas. Casca, by your voice.

Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this![2967]

Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men.

Casca. Who ever knew the heavens menace so?[2968]

Cas. Those that have known the earth so full of faults. 45 For my part, I have walk'd 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 seem'd to open 50 The breast of heaven, I did present myself Even in the aim and very flash of it.

Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens? 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. You are dull, Casca, and those sparks of life[2969] That should be in a Roman you do want,[2969][2970] Or else you use not. You look pale and gaze[2969] And put on fear and cast yourself in wonder,[2969][2971] 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,[2972] Why old men fool and children calculate,[2973] 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[2974] To make them instruments of fear and warning 70 Unto some monstrous state.[2975] Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man[2975][2976] Most like this dreadful night,[2975] That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars[2977] As doth the lion in the Capitol,[2978] 75 A man no mightier than thyself or me In personal action, yet prodigious grown And fearful, as these strange eruptions are.[2979]

Casca. 'Tis Cæsar that you mean; is it not, Cassius?[2980]

Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now 80 Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors;[2981] But, woe the while! our fathers' minds are dead And we are govern'd with our mothers' spirits; Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish.

Casca. Indeed they say the senators to-morrow[2982] 85 Mean to establish Cæsar 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:[2983] Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius. 90 Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat: Nor 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. 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:[2984] 100 So every bondman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his captivity.

Cas. And why should Cæsar 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 110 So vile a thing as Cæsar! 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 arm'd, 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:[2985] 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[2986] To undergo with me an enterprise Of honourable-dangerous consequence;[2987] And I do know, by this they stay for me[2988] 125 In Pompey's porch: for now, this fearful night, There is no stir or walking in the streets, And the complexion of the element[2989] In favour's like the work we have in hand,[2990] Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.[2991] 130

Enter CINNA.[2992]

Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste.

Cas. 'Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait;[2993] He is a friend. Cinna, where haste you so?

Cin. To find out you. Who's that? Metellus Cimber?

Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate 135 To our attempts. Am I not stay'd for, Cinna?[2994]

Cin. I am glad on't. What a fearful night is this![2995] There's two or three of us have seen strange sights.

Cas. Am I not stay'd for? tell me.

Cin. Yes, you are.[2996][2997] O Cassius, if you could[2997][2998] 140 But win the noble Brutus to our party--[2997][2998]

Cas. Be you content: good Cinna, take this paper, And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, Where Brutus may but find it, and throw this[2999] In at his window; set this up with wax 145 Upon old Brutus' statue: all this done,[3000] Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us. Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there?[3001]

Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie, 150 And so bestow these papers as you bade me.[3002]

Cas. That done, repair to Pompey's theatre. [Exit Cinna. Come, Casca, you and I will yet ere day See Brutus at his house: three parts of him Is ours already, and the man entire[3003] 155 Upon the next encounter yields him ours.

Casca. O, he sits high in all the people's hearts; And that which would appear offence in us His countenance, like richest alchemy, Will change to virtue and to worthiness. 160

Cas. Him and his worth and our great need of him You have right well conceited. Let us go, For it is after midnight, and ere day We will awake him and be sure of him. [Exeunt.

FOOTNOTES:

[2806] ACT I. SCENE I.] Actus Primus. Scæna Prima. Ff.

Rome. A street.] Capell. Rome. Rowe. A Street in Rome. Theobald.

[2807] Enter ...] Enter a Rabble of Citizens; Flavius, and Murellus, driving them. Capell. Enter Flavius, Marullus, a Carpenter, a Cobler, and certain other Commoners. Jennens.

Marullus,] Theobald, from Plutarch. Murellus, Ff.

certain Commoners.] certaine Commoners over the Stage. Ff. certain Plebeians. Hanmer.

[2808] First Com.] 1. C. Capell. Car. Ff. 1 Pleb. Hanmer.

[2809] Sec. Com.] 2. C. Capell. Cobl. Ff. 2 Pleb. Hanmer.

[2810] you] who Anon. conj.

[2811] Sec. Com.] Edd. Cob. Ff. 2 Pleb. Hanmer. 2. C. Capell. First Cit. Dyce (ed. 1).

[2812] soles] soals F4. soules F1 F2. souls F3.

[2813] Mar.] Mur. Capell. Fla. Ff.

[2814] if you be] if you should be Keightley.

[2815] Mar.] Mur. Ff. Flav. Theobald.

thou] om. Steevens conj., reading as verse.

[2816] with] om. Rowe.

[2817] no tradesman's] no man's Hanmer. no tradesmen's Warburton. no trade,--man's Steevens, 1778 (Farmer conj.). trades, man's Staunton conj.

women's] womens F1. womans F2 F3 F4.

[2818] with awl. I] Steevens, 1778 (Farmer conj.). withal I F1. withall I F2 F3. withal, I F4. with all. I Capell.

[2819] re-cover] Pope. recover Ff.

[2820] But ... streets?] As in Ff. Prose in Theobald (ed. 2).

[2821] Wherefore ... home?] One line in Rowe. Two lines in Ff.]

conquest] conquests Pope (ed. 2).

[2822] Pompey? Many ... oft Have] Rowe (ed. 2). Pompey many ... oft? Have Ff.

[2823] windows,] Rowe. windowes? Ff.

[2824] Rome:] Ff. Rome? Rowe.

[2825] her] his Rowe.

[2826] Made ... Be gone!] Arranged as in Ff. Five lines in Hanmer, ending now ... now ... now ... Rome ... gone.

[2827] shores] shotes F2.

[2828] a] an F4.

[2829] comes] comes to Rome Hanmer.

[2830] this] that Theobald (ed. 2).

[2831] Tiber banks] Tyber bank Rowe. Tyber's bank Theobald (ed. 2).

[2832] [Exeunt ...] Ff. Exeunt Commoners. Rowe. Exeunt Plebeians. Hanmer. Exeunt Citizens. Capell.

[2833] whether] where Ff. whe're Theobald. whe'r Hanmer. whêr Dyce.

metal] Johnson. mettle Ff.

[2834] vanish] vanish'd Pope.

[2835] ceremonies] ceremony Grant White.

[2836] May ... Lupercal] As in Ff. Capell ends the first line at feast.

[2837] It is] 'Tis Capell.

let no] let on F2. let not Long MS.

[2838] with] F1. with the F2 F3 F4.

[2839] [Exeunt.] Ff. Exeunt severally. Theobald.

[2840] SCENE II.] Pope. om. Ff.

A public place.] Capell. Flourish. Enter ...] Capell, substantially. Enter Cæsar, Antony for the Course, Carphurnia, ... Cassius, Caska, a Soothsayer: after them Murellus and Flavius. Ff.

[2841] Calpurnia] Grant White (Craik conj.). Calphurnia Ff.

[2842] [Music ceases.] Capell. om. Ff.

[2843] Antonius'] Pope. Antonio's Ff.

[2844] Antonius] Pope. Antonio Ff.

[2845] Cæsar,] om. Anon. conj.

[2846] curse] course Rowe (ed. 2).

[2847] [Flourish.] Musick; and the Procession moves. Capell om. Ff.

[2848] Bid ... again!] continue to Cæsar, or thus: Casc. Bid ... peace yet! Cæs. Again! Who is it ... Staunton conj.

[2849] [Musick ceases. Capell.

[2850] soothsayer bids] soothsayer, bids Craik.

you] om. Capell.

[2851] Cas.] Casca. Johnson.

[2852] [Sennet. F1 F2 F3. Senate. F4. om. Rowe. Musick. Capell.

Exeunt ...] Exeunt. Manent Brut. & Cass. Ff (Manet F1).

[2853] SCENE III. Pope.

[2854] I'll leave you] om. Seymour. conj.

[2855] you now] om. Steevens conj.

[2856] friend ... loves] F1. friends ... loves F2 F3. friends ... love F4.

[2857] veil'd] vail'd Seymour conj.

[2858] behaviours] behaviour Rowe.

[2859] further] Ff. farther Pope (ed. 2).

[2860] mistook] mista'en Seymour conj.

[2861] face] eye Upton conj.

[2862] No ... things] As in Rowe. Three lines, ending Cassius ... reflection, ... things, in Ff.

[2863] itself] it selfe: F1. himselfe F2. himself F3 F4.

[2864] by some] from some Pope. of some Staunton conj.

things] thing Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2865] 'Tis just:] om. Seymour conj.

[2866] mirrors] mirror Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2867] That ... heard] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[2868] Into ... Cassius] One line in Rowe. Two, the first ending you, in Ff.

[2869] Therefore] Nay, it is, Therefore Seymour conj.

[2870] you yet] F1 F2. yet you F3 F4.

[2871] on] Ff. of Rowe.

[2872] Were] Where F2.

laugher] Rowe. laughter Ff.

[2873] myself] my selfe F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[2874] What ... king] As in Rowe. Three lines, ending showting?... Cæsar ... king, in Ff.

[2875] both] death Theobald (Warburton).

[2876] for] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[2877] chafing] F1 F4. chasing F2 F3.

her] Ff. his Rowe.

[2878] said] saide F1. saies F2 F3. says F4.

[2879] Accoutred] F1. Accounted F2 F3 F4.

[2880] bade] bid Pope (ed. 2).

[2881] we] he Pope (ed. 2).

[2882] See note (III).

[2883] I] Then Seymour conj.

[2884] shoulder ... bear] shoulders bear The old Anchises Seymour conj.

[2885] the waves of Tiber] Tyber's waves Seymour conj.

[2886] fever] Feaher F2.

[2887] his] its Pope.

[2888] write] writ F3 F4.

[2889] Alas] 'Alas' Staunton.

[2890] [Shout. Flourish.] Ff. Shout again. Capell.

[2891] general] om. Seymour conj.

[2892] some time] F3 F4. sometime F1 F2. some times Rowe. sometimes Warburton.

[2893] that] om. Seymour conj.

[2894] yours is] yours' S. Walker conj.

[2895] 'em] 'em man F3 F4. them Capell.

[2896] spirit] sprite Seymour conj.

[Shout. Jennens.

[2897] walls] Rowe (ed. 2). walkes F1 F2 F3. walks F4.

[2898] Now ... man.] Put in the margin by Pope.

[2899] eternal] infernal Grey conj.

[2900] See note (III).

aim] aim of Keightley.

[2901] thought] though F2.

[2902] not, so ... you] not (so ... you) Theobald. not so (with ... you) Ff.

[2903] further] farther Collier.

[2904] See note (III).

[2905] these] such Rowe. those Craik conj.

as] which Singer conj.

[2906] that ... words] my words Ritson conj.

[2907] I ... Brutus.] S. Walker proposes to end the lines glad ... show ... Brutus.

[2908] SCENE IV. Pope.

[2909] The ... sleeve;] Two lines in Rowe. Four in Ff.

[2910] Re-enter ...] Capell (after line 177). Transferred by Collier to follow line 178, by Dyce to follow line 181. Enter ... Ff (after line 177).

[2911] glow] F1. hlow F2. blow F3 F4.

[2912] by] with Rowe.

senators] senator Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2913] Antonius] Pope. Antonio Ff.

[2914] [To Ant. apart. Johnson.

[2915] o'nights] Capell. a-nights F1 F2. a nights F3 F4.

[2916] Yond] Yon Capell.

[2917] him] m F4.

[2918] be] are Seymour conj.

[2919] Whiles] Whilst Rowe.

[2920] [Sennet. Exeunt ...] Sennit. Exeunt Cæsar and his Traine. Ff. Exeunt Cæsar, and Train: Casca stays. Capell.

[2921] SCENE V. Pope.

[2922] Why ... not?] Were you not with him? Seymour conj.

[2923] a-shouting] Dyce. a shouting Ff. a' shouting Capell.

[2924] Why] om. Seymour conj.

[2925] him] om. Seymour conj.

[2926] was] F1. were F2 F3 F4.

[2927] hooted] Johnson. howted F1 F2 F3. houted F4. shouted Hanmer.

[2928] chopped] chopt Ff. chapped Knight.

[2929] swounded] swoonded Ff. swooned Rowe.

[2930] swound] Ff. swoon Rowe.

[2931] like: he] like; he Theobald. like he Ff. like, he Rowe.

[2932] use] used Theobald.

[2933] An] An' Theobald. And Ff. If Pope.

[2934] a word] his word Hanmer.

[2935] no] om. F2.

[2936] stabbed] stabb'd F2.

[2937] away? Theobald. away. Ff.

[2938] an] an' Theobald, and Ff. if Pope.

[2939] Marullus] Theobald. Murrellus F1. Murellus F2 F3 F4.

[2940] your mind] my mind S. Walker conj.

[2941] worth] be worth Rowe.

[2942] quick mettle] quick-mettl'd Capell conj. quick metal Collier conj.

[2943] digest] F3 F4. disgest F1 F2.

[2944] appetite] F1. appetites F2 F3 F4.

[2945] And ... you] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

For this time] om. Seymour conj.

you] you, Cassius Capell, reading For ... Cassius as one line.

[2946] you] yon F2.

with] with with F2.

[2947] come] go Seymour conj.

[2948] to] with Seymour conj.

[2949] art noble; yet] art: noble yet F2.

[2950] metal] F3 F4. mettle F1 mettall F2.

[2951] that] what Pope.

disposed] disposed to Keightley (Seymour conj.).

therefore] so Seymour conj.

it is] F1. tis F2. 'tis F3 F4.

[2952] He should not humour] Cæsar should not love Hanmer.

[2953] SCENE III.] Capell. SCENE VI. Pope. ACT II. SCENE I. Warburton conj. (withdrawn).

A street.] Capell.

[2954] Enter ...] Capell, substantially. Enter Caska, and Cicero. Ff. Enter Caska, with his Sword drawn, and Cicero. Rowe. Enter Casca, his sword drawn; and Cicero, meeting him. Theobald.

[2955] tempest dropping fire] Rowe. tempest-dropping-fire Ff.

[2956] you know] you'd know Dyce conj. you knew Craik conj.

[2957] ha'] have Capell.

[2958] glared] glar'd Rowe (ed. 2). glaz'd Ff. gaz'd Malone (Grey conj.).

surly] F1 F4. surely F2 F3.

[2959] Upon] Up on Mason conj.

[2960] Hooting] Johnson. Howting F1 F2 F3. Houting F4.

[2961] reasons] seasons Collier MS.

[2962] strange-disposed] Theobald. strange disposed Ff.

[2963] to] F1 F2. up F3 F4.

[2964] Antonius] Pope. Antonio Ff.

[2965] Good ... in.] As in Rowe. The first line ends Caska: in Ff.

[2966] SCENE VII. Pope.

[2967] Your ... this!] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

what night] what a night Craik.

this!] Dyce. this? Ff.

[2968] heavens] heaven's Warburton.

[2969] You ... wonder,] As in Rowe. Five lines, ending Caska: ... Roman, ... not ... feare, ... wonder, in Ff.

[2970] That] Which Capell.

[2971] cast] case Grant White (Jervis conj.).

[2972] Why ... kind,] Johnson would place this after ordinance, line 66: Mitford, after faculties, line 67.

[2973] old men fool and] Grant White (Mitford conj.). Old men, Fooles, and F1 F2. Old men, Fools, and F3 F4. old men fools, and Steevens, 1778 (Blackstone conj.).

[2974] heaven] nature Capell.

hath] has Theobald.

[2975] Unto ... night,] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending Casca, in Hanmer.

[2976] to] om. Capell, following Hanmer's arrangement.

[2977] roars] roares F1. teares F2. tears F3 F4.

[2978] lion in] lion, in Craik.

[2979] these strange] theser stange F2.

[2980] 'Tis ... Cassius?] As in Rowe. Two lines in Ff.

[2981] thews] sinews F3 F4.

[2982] say] See note (III).

[2983] dagger then] Ff. dagger, then Craik.

[2984] [Thunder still.] Ff. om. Rowe.

[2985] Hold, my] Ff. Hold my Theobald.

[2986] noblest-minded] Rowe. Noblest minded Ff.

[2987] honourable-dangerous] Hyphened first by Capell.

[2988] know, by this they] Rowe. know by this, they Ff.

[2989] element] elements Warburton.

[2990] In favour's like] In favour's, like Johnson. Is Fauors, like F1 F2. Is Favours, like F3 F4. Is feav'rous, like Rowe. Is favour'd like Capell. It favours, like Steevens (1773). It favours like Steevens (1778).

[2991] bloody, fiery] bloody-fiery Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

Enter Cinna.] Transferred by Dyce to follow friend, line 133.

[2992] SCENE VIII. Jennens.

[2993] gait] Johnson. gate Ff.

[2994] attempts] attempt Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2995] I ... this!] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

I am] I'm Pope.

night is this!] Rann. night is this? F1. night? F2 F3 F4.

[2996] for?] for, Cinna? Capell, ending the line Yes.

[2997] Yes ... party--] Arranged as in Singer (ed. 2). Three lines, ending Cassius, ... Brutus ... party--, in Ff. The lines end are ... Brutus ... party-- in Rowe. Two lines, the first ending could, in Johnson. Three, ending Yes, ... win ... party--, in Capell.

[2998] if you could But win] could you win Pope, following Rowe's arrangement.

[2999] but] best Craik conj.

[3000] Brutus'] Pope. Brutus Ff.

[3001] Decius] Decimus Hanmer (and throughout).

[3002] bade] Theobald (ed. 2). bad Ff.

[3003] Is] Are Hanmer.

Act II, Scene I — Rome. Brutus's orchard.[3004]

Enter BRUTUS.[3005]

Bru. What, Lucius, ho! I cannot, by the progress of the stars, Give guess how near to day. Lucius, I say! I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly. When, Lucius, when? awake, I say! what, Lucius![3006] 5

Enter LUCIUS.

Luc. Call'd you, my lord?

Bru. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius: When it is lighted, come and call me here.

Luc. I will, my lord. [Exit.

Bru. It must be by his death: and, for my part, 10 I know no personal cause to spurn at him, But for the general. He would be crown'd: How that might change his nature, there's the question: It is the bright day that brings forth the adder; And that craves wary walking. Crown him?--that;--[3007] 15 And then, I grant, we put a sting in him, That at his will he may do danger with. The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of Cæsar, I have not known when his affections sway'd 20 More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof, That lowliness is young ambition's ladder, Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;[3008] But when he once attains the upmost round,[3009] He then unto the ladder turns his back, 25 Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he did ascend: so Cæsar may; Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel[3010] Will bear no colour for the thing he is, Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented, 30 Would run to these and these extremities: And therefore think him as a serpent's egg Which hatch'd would as his kind grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell.

Re-enter LUCIUS.[3011]

Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, sir. 35 Searching the window for a flint I found This paper thus seal'd up, and I am sure It did not lie there when I went to bed.

[Gives him the letter.[3012]

Bru. Get you to bed again; it is not day. Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March?[3013] 40

Luc. I know not, sir.

Bru. Look in the calendar and bring me word.

Luc. I will, sir. [Exit.

Bru. The exhalations whizzing in the air Give so much light that I may read by them. 45

[Opens the letter and reads.

'Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake and see thyself. Shall Rome, &c. Speak, strike, redress.[3014] Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake.' Such instigations have been often dropp'd Where I have took them up.[3015] 50 'Shall Rome, &c.' Thus must I piece it out:[3015] Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What, Rome?[3016] My ancestors did from the streets of Rome[3017] The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king. 'Speak, strike, redress.' Am I entreated[3018] 55 To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise,[3019] If the redress will follow, thou receivest[3020] Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!

Re-enter LUCIUS.

Luc. Sir, March is wasted fifteen days.[3021]

[Knocking within.

Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks.[3022] 60

[Exit Lucius.

Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar I have not slept. Between the acting of a dreadful thing And the first motion all the interim is Like a phantasma or a hideous dream: 65 The Genius and the mortal instruments[3023] Are then in council, and the state of man[3024] Like to a little kingdom suffers then The nature of an insurrection.

Re-enter LUCIUS.[3025]

Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, 70 Who doth desire to see you.

Bru. Is he alone?

Luc. No, sir, there are moe with him.[3026]

Bru. Do you know them?

Luc. No, sir; their hats are pluck'd about their ears,[3027] And half their faces buried in their cloaks,[3028] That by no means I may discover them 75 By any mark of favour.[3029]

Bru. Let 'em enter. [Exit Lucius. They are the faction. O conspiracy, Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night, When evils are most free? O, then, by day Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough 80 To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy;[3030] Hide it in smiles and affability:[3031] For if thou path, thy native semblance on,[3032] Not Erebus itself were dim enough To hide thee from prevention.[3033] 85

Enter the conspirators, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, CINNA, METELLUS CIMBER, and TREBONIUS.[3034]

Cas. I think we are too bold upon your rest: Good morrow, Brutus; do we trouble you?

Bru. I have been up this hour, awake all night. Know I these men that come along with you?[3035]

Cas. Yes, every man of them; and no man here 90 But honours you; and every one doth wish You had but that opinion of yourself Which every noble Roman bears of you. This is Trebonius.

Bru. He is welcome hither.

Cas. This, Decius Brutus.

Bru. He is welcome too. 95

Cas. This, Casca; this, Cinna; and this, Metellus Cimber.[3036]

Bru. They are all welcome.[3037] What watchful cares do interpose themselves[3038] Betwixt your eyes and night?

Cas. Shall I entreat a word? [They whisper.[3039] 100

Dec. Here lies the east: doth not the day break here?

Casca. No.

Cin. O, pardon, sir, it doth, and yon grey lines That fret the clouds are messengers of day.

Casca. You shall confess that you are both deceived. 105 Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises; Which is a great way growing on the south, Weighing the youthful season of the year. Some two months hence up higher toward the north He first presents his fire, and the high east 110 Stands as the Capitol, directly here.

Bru. Give me your hands all over, one by one.

Cas. And let us swear our resolution.

Bru. No, not an oath: if not the face of men,[3040] The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse,--[3041] 115 If these be motives weak, break off betimes, And every man hence to his idle bed; So let high-sighted tyranny range on[3042] Till each man drop by lottery. But if these, As I am sure they do, bear fire enough 120 To kindle cowards and to steel with valour The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen,[3043] What need we any spur but our own cause To prick us to redress? what other bond Than secret Romans that have spoke the word,[3044] 125 And will not palter? and what other oath[3045] Than honesty to honesty engaged That this shall be or we will fall for it?[3046] Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous, Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls 130 That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear[3047] Such creatures as men doubt: but do not stain[3048] The even virtue of our enterprise, Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits, To think that or our cause or our performance 135 Did need an oath; when every drop of blood[3049] That every Roman bears, and nobly bears, Is guilty of a several bastardy If he do break the smallest particle[3050] Of any promise that hath pass'd from him. 140

Cas. But what of Cicero? shall we sound him? I think he will stand very strong with us.

Casca. Let us not leave him out.

Cin. No, by no means.

Met. O, let us have him, for his silver hairs Will purchase us a good opinion 145 And buy men's voices to commend our deeds: It shall be said his judgement ruled our hands; Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear, But all be buried in his gravity.

Bru. O, name him not; let us not break with him, 150 For he will never follow any thing That other men begin.

Cas. Then leave him out.

Casca. Indeed he is not fit.[3051]

Dec. Shall no man else be touch'd but only Cæsar?[3051]

Cas. Decius, well urged: I think it is not meet 155 Mark Antony, so well beloved of Cæsar, Should outlive Cæsar: we shall find of him A shrewd contriver; and you know his means, If he improve them, may well stretch so far As to annoy us all: which to prevent, 160 Let Antony and Cæsar fall together.

Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, To cut the head off and then hack the limbs, Like wrath in death and envy afterwards; For Antony is but a limb of Cæsar: 165 Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.[3052] We all stand up against the spirit of Cæsar, And in the spirit of men there is no blood:[3053] O, that we then could come by Cæsar's spirit,[3054] And not dismember Cæsar! But, alas, 170 Cæsar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends, Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods, Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds: And let our hearts, as subtle masters do,[3055] 175 Stir up their servants to an act of rage And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make[3056] Our purpose necessary and not envious: Which so appearing to the common eyes, We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers.[3057] 180 And for Mark Antony, think not of him; For he can do no more than Cæsar's arm When Cæsar's head is off.[3058]

Cas. Yet I fear him, For in the ingrafted love he bears to Cæsar--[3059]

Bru. Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him: 185 If he love Cæsar, all that he can do Is to himself, take thought and die for Cæsar:[3060] And that were much he should, for he is given To sports, to wildness and much company.[3061]

Treb. There is no fear in him; let him not die; 190 For he will live and laugh at this hereafter.[3062]

[Clock strikes.

Bru. Peace! count the clock.

Cas. The clock hath stricken three.[3063]

Treb. 'Tis time to part.

Cas. But it is doubtful yet Whether Cæsar will come forth to-day or no;[3064] For he is superstitious grown of late, 195 Quite from the main opinion he held once[3065] Of fantasy, of dreams and ceremonies:[3066] It may be these apparent prodigies, The unaccustom'd terror of this night And the persuasion of his augurers, 200 May hold him from the Capitol to-day.

Dec. Never fear that: if he be so resolved, I can o'ersway him; for he loves to hear That unicorns may be betray'd with trees[3067] And bears with glasses, elephants with holes,[3067] 205 Lions with toils and men with flatterers:[3068] But when I tell him he hates flatterers, He says he does, being then most flattered. Let me work;[3069] For I can give his humour the true bent, 210 And I will bring him to the Capitol.

Cas. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him.

Bru. By the eighth hour: is that the uttermost?[3070]

Cin. Be that the uttermost, and fail not then.

Met. Caius Ligarius doth bear Cæsar hard,[3071] 215 Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey: I wonder none of you have thought of him.

Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along by him:[3072] He loves me well, and I have given him reasons;[3073] Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him. 220

Cas. The morning comes upon's: we'll leave you, Brutus:[3074] And, friends, disperse yourselves: but all remember What you have said and show yourselves true Romans.

Bru. Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily; Let not our looks put on our purposes; 225 But bear it as our Roman actors do, With untired spirits and formal constancy: And so, good morrow to you every one.[3075]

[Exeunt all but Brutus.

Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep! It is no matter; Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber:[3076] 230 Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies, Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.

Enter PORTIA.[3077]

Por. Brutus, my lord!

Bru. Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now? It is not for your health thus to commit 235 Your weak condition to the raw cold morning.[3078]

Por. Nor for yours neither. You've ungently, Brutus,[3079] Stole from my bed: and yesternight at supper[3080] You suddenly arose and walk'd about, Musing and sighing, with your arms across; 240 And when I ask'd you what the matter was, You stared upon me with ungentle looks: I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head[3081] And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot: Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not, 245 But with an angry wafture of your hand[3082] Gave sign for me to leave you: so I did, Fearing to strengthen that impatience Which seem'd too much enkindled, and withal Hoping it was but an effect of humour, 250 Which sometime hath his hour with every man. It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep, And, could it work so much upon your shape As it hath much prevail'd on your condition, I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord,[3083] 255 Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.

Bru. I am not well in health, and that is all.

Por. Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health, He would embrace the means to come by it.

Bru. Why, so I do: good Portia, go to bed. 260

Por. Is Brutus sick, and is it physical To walk unbraced and suck up the humours Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick,[3084] And will he steal out of his wholesome bed, To dare the vile contagion of the night 265 And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus;[3085] You have some sick offence within your mind, Which by the right and virtue of my place I ought to know of: and, upon my knees,[3086] 270 I charm you, by my once commended beauty,[3087] By all your vows of love and that great vow Which did incorporate and make us one, That you unfold to me, yourself, your half, Why you are heavy, and what men to-night 275 Have had resort to you; for here have been Some six or seven, who did hide their faces Even from darkness.

Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia.[3088]

Por. I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus. Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,[3089] 280 Is it excepted I should know no secrets That appertain to you? Am I yourself But, as it were, in sort or limitation, To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,[3090] And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs[3091] 285 Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.

Bru. You are my true and honourable wife, As dear to me as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart. 290

Por. If this were true, then should I know this secret. I grant I am a woman, but withal A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife: I grant I am a woman, but withal A woman well reputed, Cato's daughter.[3092] 295 Think you I am no stronger than my sex, Being so father'd and so husbanded? Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em:[3093] I have made strong proof of my constancy, Giving myself a voluntary wound 300 Here in the thigh: can I bear that with patience And not my husband's secrets?[3094]

Bru. O ye gods, Render me worthy of this noble wife! [Knocking within.[3095] Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in awhile; And by and by thy bosom shall partake 305 The secrets of my heart: All my engagements I will construe to thee, All the charactery of my sad brows. Leave me with haste. [Exit Portia.] Lucius, who's that knocks?[3096]

Re-enter LUCIUS with LIGARIUS.

Luc. Here is a sick man that would speak with you. 310

Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of. Boy, stand aside. Caius Ligarius! how?[3097]

Lig. Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue.

Bru. O, what a time have you chose out, brave Caius, To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick! 315

Lig. I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand Any exploit worthy the name of honour.

Bru. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Had you a healthful ear to hear of it.[3098]

Lig. By all the gods that Romans bow before,[3099] 320 I here discard my sickness! Soul of Rome! Brave son, derived from honourable loins! Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjured up My mortified spirit. Now bid me run, And I will strive with things impossible, 325 Yea, get the better of them. What's to do?[3100]

Bru. A piece of work that will make sick men whole.[3101]

Lig. But are not some whole that we must make sick?

Bru. That must we also. What it is, my Caius,[3102] I shall unfold to thee, as we are going[3103] 330 To whom it must be done.[3103]

Lig. Set on your foot, And with a heart new-fired I follow you, To do I know not what: but it sufficeth That Brutus leads me on.

Bru. Follow me then. [Exeunt.[3104]

Act II, Scene II — Cæsar's house.[3105]

Thunder and lightning. Enter CÆSAR, in his night-gown.[3106]

Cæs. Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night:[3107] Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out, 'Help, ho! they murder Cæsar!' Who's within?

Enter a Servant.

Serv. My lord?

Cæs. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice, 5 And bring me their opinions of success.

Serv. I will, my lord. [Exit.

Enter CALPURNIA.

Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day.

Cæs. Cæsar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me[3108] 10 Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see The face of Cæsar, they are vanished.

Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet now they fright me. There is one within, Besides the things that we have heard and seen, 15 Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. A lioness hath whelped in the streets; And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead; Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds,[3109] In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, 20 Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol; The noise of battle hurtled in the air,[3110] Horses did neigh and dying men did groan,[3111] And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.[3112] O Cæsar! these things are beyond all use, 25 And I do fear them.

Cæs. What can be avoided Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods? Yet Cæsar shall go forth; for these predictions Are to the world in general as to Cæsar.

Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen; 30 The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

Cæs. Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; 35 Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come.[3113]

Re-enter Servant.

What say the augurers?

Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to-day.[3114] Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, They could not find a heart within the beast.[3115] 40

Cæs. The gods do this in shame of cowardice: Cæsar should be a beast without a heart If he should stay at home to-day for fear. No, Cæsar shall not: danger knows full well[3116] That Cæsar is more dangerous than he:[3116] 45 We are two lions litter'd in one day,[3116][3117] And I the elder and more terrible:[3116] And Cæsar shall go forth.[3116]

Cal. Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consumed in confidence. Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear 50 That keeps you in the house and not your own. We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house, And he shall say you are not well to-day:[3118] Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.

Cæs. Mark Antony shall say I am not well, 55 And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.

Enter DECIUS.[3119]

Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.

Dec. Cæsar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Cæsar: I come to fetch you to the senate-house.

Cæs. And you are come in very happy time, 60 To bear my greeting to the senators And tell them that I will not come to-day: Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser: I will not come to-day: tell them so, Decius.

Cal. Say he is sick.

Cæs. Shall Cæsar send a lie? 65 Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far, To be afeard to tell graybeards the truth?[3120] Decius, go tell them Cæsar will not come.

Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so. 70

Cæs. The cause is in my will: I will not come; That is enough to satisfy the senate. But, for your private satisfaction, Because I love you, I will let you know. Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home: 75 She dreamt to-night she saw my statua,[3121][3122][3123] Which like a fountain with an hundred spouts[3121][3123][3124] Did run pure blood, and many lusty Romans[3121] Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it:[3121] And these does she apply for warnings and portents[3121][3125][3126] 80 And evils imminent, and on her knee[3126] Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day.

Dec. This dream is all amiss interpreted; It was a vision fair and fortunate: Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, 85 In which so many smiling Romans bathed, Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck[3127] Reviving blood, and that great men shall press[3128] For tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance.[3129] This by Calpurnia's dream is signified. 90

Cæs. And this way have you well expounded it.

Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can say: And know it now: the senate have concluded To give this day a crown to mighty Cæsar. If you shall send them word you will not come, 95 Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock Apt to be render'd, for some one to say[3130] 'Break up the senate till another time, When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams.' If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper 100 'Lo, Cæsar is afraid'?[3131] Pardon me, Cæsar, for my dear dear love To your proceeding bids me tell you this, And reason to my love is liable.

Cæs. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia! 105 I am ashamed I did yield to them.[3132] Give me my robe, for I will go.[3133]

Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS, CASCA, TREBONIUS, and CINNA.[3134]

And look where Publius is come to fetch me.[3135]

Pub. Good morrow, Cæsar.

Cæs. Welcome, Publius. What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too? 110 Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius,[3136] Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy As that same ague which hath made you lean. What is't o'clock?

Bru. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight.[3137]

Cæs. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. 115

Enter ANTONY.

See! Antony, that revels long o' nights,[3138] Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.

Ant. So to most noble Cæsar.

Cæs. Bid them prepare within:[3139] I am to blame to be thus waited for.[3140] Now, Cinna: now, Metellus: what, Trebonius! 120 I have an hour's talk in store for you; Remember that you call on me to-day: Be near me, that I may remember you.

Treb. Cæsar, I will. [Aside] And so near will I be,[3141] That your best friends shall wish I had been further. 125

Cæs. Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me; And we like friends will straightway go together.

Bru. [Aside] That every like is not the same, O Cæsar,[3142] The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon![3143] [Exeunt.

Act II, Scene III — A street near the Capitol.[3144]

Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a paper.[3145]

Art. 'Cæsar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius;[3146] come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna; trust not[3146] Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber: Decius Brutus[3146] loves thee not: thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There[3146][3147][3148] is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against[3146][3148][3149] 5 Cæsar. If thou beest not immortal, look about you: security[3146][3150] gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend[3146] thee![3146]

Thy lover, ARTEMIDORUS.'

Here will I stand till Cæsar pass along, 10 And as a suitor will I give him this. My heart laments that virtue cannot live Out of the teeth of emulation.[3151] If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou mayst live;[3152] If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.[3153] [Exit. 15

Act II, Scene IV — Another part of the same street, before the house of Brutus.[3154]

Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS.

Por. I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house; Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone. Why dost thou stay?

Luc. To know my errand, madam.

Por. I would have had thee there, and here again, Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there. 5 O constancy, be strong upon my side![3155] Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue![3155] I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.[3155][3156] How hard it is for women to keep counsel![3155] Art thou here yet?[3155]

Luc. Madam, what should I do? 10 Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? And so return to you, and nothing else?

Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,[3157] For he went sickly forth: and take good note What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him. 15 Hark, boy! what noise is that?

Luc. I hear none, madam.

Por. Prithee, listen well: I heard a bustling rumour like a fray,[3158] And the wind brings it from the Capitol.

Luc. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.

Enter the Soothsayer.

Por. Come hither, fellow:[3159][3160] 20 Which way hast thou been?[3160][3161]

Sooth. At mine own house, good lady.

Por. What is't o'clock?[3162]

Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady.

Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol?

Sooth. Madam, not yet: I go to take my stand, To see him pass on to the Capitol. 25

Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not?

Sooth. That I have, lady: if it will please Cæsar[3163] To be so good to Cæsar as to hear me, I shall beseech him to befriend himself.[3164]

Por. Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him?[3165] 30

Sooth. None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance.[3166] Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: The throng that follows Cæsar at the heels, Of senators, of prætors, common suitors, Will crowd a feeble man almost to death: 35 I'll get me to a place more void and there Speak to great Cæsar as he comes along. [Exit.

Por. I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing[3167] The heart of woman is! O Brutus,[3168] The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise! 40 Sure, the boy heard me. Brutus hath a suit That Cæsar will not grant. O, I grow faint. Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord; Say I am merry: come to me again, And bring me word what he doth say to thee.[3169] 45

[Exeunt severally.

FOOTNOTES:

[3004] ACT II. SCENE I.] Rowe. Actus Secundus. Ff.

[3005] Rome.... Enter Brutus.] Malone. Enter Brutus in his Orchard. Ff. A garden. Enter Brutus. Rowe. Brutus's Garden.... Theobald.

[3006] when?] Ff. when! Delius.

[3007] him?--that;--] him--that-- Rowe. him that, Ff. him!--that! Delius.

[3008] climber-upward] Hyphened first by Warburton.

[3009] upmost] topmost Anon. conj.

[3010] lest] F2 F3 F4. least F1.

may] do Seymour conj.

[3011] Enter....] Re-enter.... Capell.

[3012] Gives....] Ff. om. Capell.

[3013] ides] Theobald (Warburton). first Ff.

[3014] Rome, &c.] Ff. Rome,-- Rowe.

[3015] took] ta'en Seymour conj.

[3016] What, Rome?] Rowe. What Rome? Ff.

[3017] ancestors] ancestor Dyce (ed. 2).

[3018] Speak, ... entreated] Printed as two lines by Craik.

entreated] entreated then Pope.

[3019] thee] F1 F4. the F2 F3.

[3020] receivest] Ff. receiv'st Rowe.

[3021] fifteen] Ff. fourteen Theobald (Warburton). now, full fourteen Seymour conj.

Knocking within.] Collier. Knocke within. F1 F2. Knock within F3 F4. Knocking without. Staunton.

[3022] [Exit Lucius.] Theobald. om. Ff.

[3023] instruments] instrument Smith conj. ap. Grey.

[3024] man] F2 F3 F4. a man F1.

[3025] Re-enter....] Capell. Enter.... Ff.

[3026] moe] Ff. more Rowe.

[3027] See note (II).

[3028] cloaks] cloakes F1. cloathes F2. cloaths F3 F4.

[3029] 'em] F1 F2 F3. them F4.

[3030] Seek] om. Seymour conj.

[3031] it in] in it Reed (1803).

[3032] path, thy ... on,] F2. path thy ... on, F1 F3 F4. hath thy ... on, Quarto (1691). march, thy ... on, Pope. put thy ... on, Dyce, ed. 2 (Southern MS., Long MS., and Coleridge conj.). put'st thy ... on, Singer conj. hadst thy ... on, Grant White conj. pall thy ... o'er, Heraud conj. walk, thy ... on, Sawyer conj. pass, thy ... on, Anon. conj. ('Footsteps of Shakspere', p. 32). parle, thy ... on, Nicholson conj. pace, thy ... on, Anon. conj.

[3033] the conspirators] om. Rowe.

[3034] SCENE II. Pope.

[3035] [Aside. Rowe.

[3036] This ... Cimber.] Two lines in Rowe.

This ... Cinna] This valiant Casca; Cinna, this Seymour conj.

this, Cinna] Cinna, this, Capell.

[3037] all welcome] welcome, all Seymour conj.

[3038] themselves] om. Steevens conj., ending the line betwixt.

[3039] [They whisper.] Ff. Converse apart. Capell.

[3040] if not the face] if that the face Theobald. if that the fate Warburton. if not the faith Mason conj. if not the faiths Malone conj. if not the fate Keightley.

[3041] abuse,--] Theobald. abuse; Ff.

[3042] high-sighted] high-sieged Warburton conj. (withdrawn). high-seated Theobald conj.

[3043] women, then] women; Then F2 F3 F4. women. Then F1.

[3044] Romans] Romans' Anon. conj.

[3045] palter] faulter Long MS.

[3046] it?] Theobald. it. Ff.

[3047] That] As Seymour conj.

[3048] stain] strain Warburton conj.

[3049] Did] Doth Hanmer.

oath; when] Capell. oath: when Hanmer. oath. When Ff.

[3050] do] doth F4.

[3051] Indeed ... Cæsar? Given to 'Dec.' by Hanmer.

[3052] Let us ... Caius.] Theobald. Let's ... Caius. Ff. Let's ... Cassius. Rowe. Let us ... butchers. Pope (omitting Caius).

[3053] men] man Pope.

[3054] spirit] F1. spirits F2 F3 F4.

[3055] And] Nor Seymour conj.

[3056] 'em] them F4.

make] mark Collier (Collier MS.).

[3057] We ... purgers] Purgers we shall be call'd Seymour conj.

call'd purgers] purgers call'd Staunton conj.

[3058] fear] do fear Pope.

[3059] in] om. Pope.

Cæsar--] Rowe. Cæsar. Ff.

[3060] himself, take] himself take Pope.

[3061] to wildness] See note (III).

[3062] this] See note (III).

[3063] stricken] Ff. strucken Steevens (1778).

[3064] Whether] If Pope. Whe'r Capell.

[3065] main] mean Mason conj.

[3066] fantasy] fantasies Hanmer.

[3067] trees ... glasses ... holes] stoles ... glas ... trees Smith, ap. Grey, conj.

[3068] flatterers:] flatterers. Ff. flatterers; Craik.

[3069] Let me work] Leave me to work Pope. Let me to work Steevens conj. Let me work on him; I can humour him Seymour conj.

[3070] eighth] F4. eight F1 F2 F3.

[3071] hard] F1. hatred F2 F3 F4.

[3072] by him] to him Pope.

[3073] reasons] reason Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[3074] The ... Brutus:] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

upon's] upon us Capell.

[3075] [Exeunt....] Exeunt. Manet Brutus. Ff.

[3076] honey-heavy dew] hony-heavy-Dew Ff. honey heavy dew Johnson. heavy honey-dew Collier (Collier MS. and Singer MS.).

[3077] SCENE III. Pope.

[3078] raw cold] raw-cold Steevens (1793).

[3079] You've] Rowe. Y'have Ff. You have Steevens.

[3080] Stole] Stol'n Johnson.

[3081] further] farther Collier.

[3082] wafture] Rowe. wafter Ff.

[3083] you, Brutus] F4. you Brutus F1 F2 F3.

[3084] dank] danke F1. darke F2. dark F3 F4.

[3085] his] hit F1.

[3086] [Kneeling. Collier (Collier MS.).

[3087] charm] F3 F4. charme F1 F2. charge Pope.

[3088] [raising her. Capell.

[3089] the] tho F1.

[3090] comfort] consort Theobald.

[3091] sometimes] om. Pope.

[3092] reputed, Cato's] reputed: Cato's Ff. reputed Cato's Warburton.

[3093] 'em] them F4.

[3094] secrets] secret Capell conj.

[3095] [Knocking within.] Malone. Knock within. Capell. Knocke F1 F2. Knock. F3 F4.

[3096] who's that] who's there that Pope. who's that that Capell. who is that Steevens. who is't that Collier (one volume edition).

Re-enter....] Dyce. Enter Lucius and Ligarius. Ff (after 'Exit Portia').

[3097] [Exit Luc. Capell.

[3098] a] an F4.

[3099] that Romans] the Romans Rowe (ed. 2).

[3100] Yea] Yet Rowe (ed. 2).

[3101] A ... whole.] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[3102] must we] we must Theobald (ed. 2).

[3103] going To] Craik. going, To Ff.

[3104] [Exeunt.] Pope. Thunder. Exeunt. Ff.

[3105] SCENE II.] Rowe. SCENE IV. Pope.

Cæsar's house.] Cæsar's Palace. Rowe. A room in Cæsar's Palace. Capell.

[3106] Enter Cæsar....] Enter Julius Cæsar.... Ff.

in his night-gown] om. Pope.

[3107] Nor ... to-night] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[3108] threaten'd] threaten S. Walker conj.

[3109] fight] fought Grant White (Dyce, ed. 2). did fight Keightley.

[3110] hurtled] F1. hurried F2 F3 F4.

[3111] did neigh] do neigh F1.

[3112] ghosts] ghost F4.

[3113] Re-enter....] Capell. Enter.... Ff.

augurers] augurs Pope. augures S. Walker conj.

[3114] to stir] stir F4.

[3115] [Exit Servant. Theobald.

[3116] No ... forth.] Put in the margin by Pope.

[3117] are] Capell (Upton conj.). heare F1 F2. hear F3 F4. heard Rowe. were Theobald.

[3118] shall] will Rowe (ed. 2).

[3119] SCENE V. Pope.

[3120] afeard] afraid F4.

[3121] Malone conjectures that the lines should end statue, which ... run ... came ... these ... portents.

[3122] to-night] to nigh F2. last night Rowe.

[3123] statua, Which like] Steevens (1793). statue, Which like Ff. statue, which Like to Hanmer. statue, Decius, Which, like Capell.

[3124] an] a Collier.

[3125] And ... apply] These she applies Pope.

[3126] and portents And] and portents Of Hanmer. portents Of Capell.

[3127] great Rome] our Rome Capell conj.

[3128] press] After this Warburton marks an omission of some lines.

[3129] cognizance] cognisances Hanmer.

[3130] render'd] rendered Craik.

[3131] Lo,] Lord Anon. conj.

[3132] ashamed] asham'd Warburton.

[3133] [to an Att. Capell.

[3134] Enter Publius, Brutus, ... and Cinna.] Malone, after Capell. Enter Brutus, ... Cynna, and Publius. Ff.

[3135] SCENE VI. Pope.

[3136] Caius] Oh Caius Hanmer.

[3137] o'] Theobald. a Ff.

strucken] stricken Johnson.

[3138] See!] See, F1 F2. See F3 F4.

o' nights] Theobald. a-nights Ff.

[3139] Bid ... within] Bid prepare Seymour conj.

[to an Att. Capell.

[3140] to blame] F3 F4. too blame F1 F2.

[3141] [Aside] Rowe. om. Ff.

[3142] [Aside] Pope. om. Ff.

[3143] yearns] Capell. earnes F1 F2 F3. earns F4. yerns Theobald.

[3144] SCENE III.] Rowe. SCENE VII. Pope. SCENE V. Jennens.

A street ...] Theobald. The Street. Rowe.

[3145] reading a paper] Rowe. om. Ff.

[3146] Cæsar ... thee!] As nine lines of verse, S. Walker conj.

[3147] thou hast] th' hast S. Walker conj.

[3148] There is] There's S. Walker conj.

[3149] against] 'gainst S. Walker conj.

[3150] you] thee Rowe.

[3151] teeth] reach Anon. conj.

[3152] mayst] may'st Rowe. mayest Ff.

[3153] [Exit.] Rowe. om. Ff. Scene closes. Jennens conj.

[3154] SCENE IV.] Capell. Rowe and Pope continue the Scene. SCENE VI. Jennens.

Another ...] Capell.

[3155] O ... counsel!] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

[3156] might] heart Capell.

[3157] boy] om. F4.

[3158] heard] hear Knight (National ed.).

bustling] Rowe. bussling Ff.

[3159] Enter the Soothsayer.] Ff. Enter Artemidorus. Rowe.

[3160] Come ... been?] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[3161] Sooth.] Art. Rowe.

[3162] o'] Theobald. a Ff.

[3163] lady: if ... me,] lady. If ... me, Johnson. lady, if ... me: Ff.

[3164] befriend] defend Rowe (ed. 2).

[3165] Why ... him?] Printed as prose in Ff.

harm's] harm Pope.

[3166] None ... chance] One line in Pope, omitting may chance. Two lines in Ff.

much ... chance] much, fear, will chance Seymour conj.

[3167] I must ... thing] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

Ay] Aye Ff. ah Johnson.

[3168] Brutus,] Brutus! Brutus! Pope.

[3169] [Exeunt severally.] Theobald. Exeunt. F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

Act III, Scene I — Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above.[3170]

A crowd of people; among them ARTEMIDORUS and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter CÆSAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others.[3171]

Cæs. The ides of March are come.

Sooth. Ay, Cæsar; but not gone.

Art. Hail, Cæsar! read this schedule.[3172]

Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read, At your best leisure, this his humble suit. 5

Art. O Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer: read it, great Cæsar.[3173]

Cæs. What touches us ourself shall be last served.

Art. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly.[3174]

Cæs. What, is the fellow mad?

Pub. Sirrah, give place. 10

Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol.

CÆSAR goes up to the Senate-house, the rest following.[3175]

Pop. I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive.[3176]

Cas. What enterprise, Popilius?

Pop. Fare you well.

[Advances to Cæsar.[3177]

Bru. What said Popilius Lena?[3178] 15

Cas. He wish'd to-day our enterprise might thrive.[3178] I fear our purpose is discovered.[3178]

Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: mark him.[3178][3179]

Cas. Casca,[3178][3180] Be sudden, for we fear prevention.[3178][3180] Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,[3178][3181] 20 Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back,[3178][3182] For I will slay myself.[3178][3183]

Bru. Cassius, be constant:[3178] Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;[3178][3184] For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change.[3178]

Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus,[3178] 25 He draws Mark Antony out of the way.[3178][3185]

[Exeunt Antony and Trebonius.

Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,[3178] And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar.[3178]

Bru. He is address'd: press near and second him.[3178]

Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.[3178][3186] 30

Cæs. Are we all ready? What is now amiss[3187] That Cæsar and his senate must redress?

Met. Most high, most mighty and most puissant Cæsar, Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat An humble heart:-- [Kneeling.

Cæs. I must prevent thee, Cimber.[3188] 35 These couchings and these lowly courtesies[3189] Might fire the blood of ordinary men,[3190] And turn pre-ordinance and first decree[3191] Into the law of children. Be not fond,[3192] To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood 40 That will be thaw'd from the true quality With that which melteth fools, I mean, sweet words, Low-crooked court'sies and base spaniel-fawning.[3193] Thy brother by decree is banished: If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him, 45 I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. Know, Cæsar doth not wrong, nor without cause[3194] Will he be satisfied.

Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear 50 For the repealing of my banish'd brother?

Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar, Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may Have an immediate freedom of repeal.

Cæs. What, Brutus!

Cas. Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon: 55 As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,[3195] To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.

Cæs. I could be well moved, if I were as you; If I could pray to move, prayers would move me: But I am constant as the northern star, 60 Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality[3196][3197] There is no fellow in the firmament.[3196] The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks;[3196] They are all fire and every one doth shine;[3196] But there's but one in all doth hold his place:[3196] 65 So in the world; 'tis furnish'd well with men,[3196] And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;[3196] Yet in the number I do know but one[3196] That unassailable holds on his rank,[3196][3198] Unshaked of motion: and that I am he,[3196][3199] 70 Let me a little show it, even in this; That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd, And constant do remain to keep him so.

Cin. O Cæsar,--[3200]

Cæs. Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus?

Dec. Great Cæsar,--[3201]

Cæs. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?[3201][3202] 75

Casca. Speak, hands, for me![3203]

[Casca first, then the other Conspirators and Marcus Brutus stab Cæsar.

Cæs. Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Cæsar![3204] [Dies.

Cin. Liberty! freedom! Tyranny is dead! Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.

Cas. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out 80 'Liberty, freedom and enfranchisement!'

Bru. People, and senators, be not affrighted; Fly not; stand still: ambition's debt is paid.

Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus.

Dec. And Cassius too. 85

Bru. Where's Publius?

Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.

Met. Stand fast together, lest some friend of Cæsar's[3205] Should chance--

Bru. Talk not of standing. Publius, good cheer; 90 There is no harm intended to your person, Nor to no Roman else: so tell them, Publius.

Cas. And leave us, Publius; lest that the people Rushing on us should do your age some mischief.

Bru. Do so: and let no man abide this deed 95 But we the doers.[3206]

Re-enter TREBONIUS.[3207]

Cas. Where is Antony?[3208]

Tre. Fled to his house amazed: Men, wives and children stare, cry out and run As it were doomsday.

Bru. Fates, we will know your pleasures:[3209] That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time, 100 And drawing days out, that men stand upon.

Cas. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life[3210] Cuts off so many years of fearing death.

Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit: So are we Cæsar's friends, that have abridged 105 His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,[3211] And let us bathe our hands in Cæsar's blood[3211] Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:[3211] Then walk we forth, even to the market-place,[3211] And waving our red weapons o'er our heads,[3211] 110 Let's all cry 'Peace, freedom and liberty!'[3211]

Cas. Stoop then, and wash. How many ages hence[3212] Shall this our lofty scene be acted over[3213] In states unborn and accents yet unknown![3214]

Bru. How many times shall Cæsar bleed in sport,[3215] 115 That now on Pompey's basis lies along[3216] No worthier than the dust![3217]

Cas. So oft as that shall be, So often shall the knot of us be call'd The men that gave their country liberty.[3218]

Dec. What, shall we forth?

Cas. Ay, every man away:[3219] 120 Brutus shall lead, and we will grace his heels With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.[3220]

Enter a Servant.[3221]

Bru. Soft! who comes here? A friend of Antony's.[3222]

Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel;[3223] Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down; 125 And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:[3224] Brutus is noble, wise, valiant and honest; Cæsar was mighty, bold, royal and loving:[3225] Say I love Brutus and I honour him; Say I fear'd Cæsar, honour'd him and loved him. 130 If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony May safely come to him and be resolved How Cæsar hath deserved to lie in death, Mark Antony shall not love Cæsar dead So well as Brutus living, but will follow 135 The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus Thorough the hazards of this untrod state With all true faith. So says my master Antony.[3226]

Bru. Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman; I never thought him worse.[3227] 140 Tell him, so please him come unto this place, He shall be satisfied and, by my honour, Depart untouch'd.

Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit.[3228]

Bru. I know that we shall have him well to friend.

Cas. I wish we may: but yet have I a mind[3229] 145 That fears him much, and my misgiving still Falls shrewdly to the purpose.[3230]

Re-enter ANTONY.

Bru. But here comes Antony. Welcome, Mark Antony.[3231]

Ant. O mighty Cæsar! dost thou lie so low?[3232] Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, 150 Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well. I know not, gentlemen, what you intend, Who else must be let blood, who else is rank: If I myself, there is no hour so fit As Cæsar's death's hour, nor no instrument[3233] 155 Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich With the most noble blood of all this world. I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,[3234] Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke, Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years, 160 I shall not find myself so apt to die: No place will please me so, no mean of death,[3235] As here by Cæsar, and by you cut off, The choice and master spirits of this age.

Bru. O Antony, beg not your death of us. 165 Though now we must appear bloody and cruel, As, by our hands and this our present act, You see we do; yet see you but our hands And this the bleeding business they have done: Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful; 170 And pity to the general wrong of Rome-- As fire drives out fire, so pity pity-- Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part,[3236] To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony:[3236] Our arms in strength of malice, and our hearts[3237] 175 Of brothers' temper, do receive you in[3238] With all kind love, good thoughts and reverence.

Cas. Your voice shall be as strong as any man's In the disposing of new dignities.

Bru. Only be patient till we have appeased 180 The multitude, beside themselves with fear, And then we will deliver you the cause Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him,[3239] Have thus proceeded.

Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom.[3240] Let each man render me his bloody hand:[3241] 185 First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you; Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand; Now, Decius Brutus, yours; now yours, Metellus; Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours; Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius. 190 Gentlemen all,--alas, what shall I say?[3242] My credit now stands on such slippery ground, That one of two bad ways you must conceit me, Either a coward or a flatterer. That I did love thee, Cæsar, O, 'tis true:[3243] 195 If then thy spirit look upon us now, Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death, To see thy Antony making his peace, Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,[3244] Most noble! in the presence of thy corse?[3244] 200 Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds, Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood, It would become me better than to close In terms of friendship with thine enemies. Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart;[3245] 205 Here didst thou fall, and here thy hunters stand, Sign'd in thy spoil and crimson'd in thy lethe.[3246] O world, thou wast the forest to this hart;[3247] And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.[3247][3248] How like a deer strucken by many princes[3247][3249] 210 Dost thou here lie![3247]

Cas. Mark Antony,--

Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius:[3250] The enemies of Cæsar shall say this; Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.

Cas. I blame you not for praising Cæsar so; 215 But what compact mean you to have with us? Will you be prick'd in number of our friends, Or shall we on, and not depend on you?

Ant. Therefore I took your hands, but was indeed Sway'd from the point by looking down on Cæsar. 220 Friends am I with you all and love you all, Upon this hope that you shall give me reasons Why and wherein Cæsar was dangerous.

Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle:[3251] Our reasons are so full of good regard 225 That were you, Antony, the son of Cæsar,[3252] You should be satisfied.

Ant. That's all I seek: And am moreover suitor that I may Produce his body to the market-place, And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend, 230 Speak in the order of his funeral.

Bru. You shall, Mark Antony.

Cas. Brutus, a word with you.[3253] [Aside to Bru.] You know not what you do: do not consent[3254] That Antony speak in his funeral: Know you how much the people may be moved 235 By that which he will utter?[3255]

Bru. By your pardon: I will myself into the pulpit first, And show the reason of our Cæsar's death: What Antony shall speak, I will protest He speaks by leave and by permission, 240 And that we are contented Cæsar shall Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.[3256] It shall advantage more than do us wrong.

Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it not.[3257]

Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæsar's body.[3258] 245 You shall not in your funeral speech blame us, But speak all good you can devise of Cæsar; And say you do't by our permission; Else shall you not have any hand at all[3259] About his funeral: and you shall speak 250 In the same pulpit whereto I am going, After my speech is ended.

Ant. Be it so; I do desire no more.

Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us.

[Exeunt all but Antony.[3260]

Ant. O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,[3261] 255 That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! Thou art the ruins of the noblest man That ever lived in the tide of times. Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood![3262] Over thy wounds now do I prophesy, 260 Which like dumb mouths do ope their ruby lips To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue, A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;[3263] Domestic fury and fierce civil strife Shall cumber all the parts of Italy; 265 Blood and destruction shall be so in use, And dreadful objects so familiar, That mothers shall but smile when they behold Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;[3264] All pity choked with custom of fell deeds: 270 And Cæsar's spirit ranging for revenge, With Ate by his side come hot from hell, Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;[3265] That this foul deed shall smell above the earth 275 With carrion men, groaning for burial.[3266]

Enter a Servant.

You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not?

Serv. I do, Mark Antony.

Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome.[3267]

Serv. He did receive his letters, and is coming; 280 And bid me say to you by word of mouth-- O Cæsar! [Seeing the body.[3268]

Ant. Thy heart is big; get thee apart and weep. Passion, I see, is catching, for mine eyes,[3269] Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine,[3270] 285 Began to water. Is thy master coming?[3271]

Serv. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome.

Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced:[3272] Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome, No Rome of safety for Octavius yet;[3273] 290 Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet stay awhile; Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corse[3274] Into the market-place: there shall I try, In my oration, how the people take The cruel issue of these bloody men; 295 According to the which, thou shalt discourse To young Octavius of the state of things. Lend me your hand. [Exeunt with Cæsar's body.[3275]