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Julius Caesar (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: John D. Cox
Peer Reviewed
118
The Tragedie of Julius Cæsar
neere Caska, haue an eye to Cynna, trust not Trebonius, marke
well Metellus Cymber, Decius Brutus loues thee not: Thou
hast wrong'd Caius Ligarius. There is but one minde in all
these men, and it is bent against Cæsar: If thou beest not Im-
1135mortall, looke about you: Security giues way to Conspiracie.
The mighty Gods defend thee.
Thy Louer, Artemidorus.
Heere will I stand, till Cæsar passe along,
And as a Sutor will I giue him this:
1140My heart laments, that Vertue cannot liue
Out of the teeth of Emulation.
If thou reade this, O Cæsar, thou mayest liue;
If not, the Fates with Traitors do contriue.
Exit.
Enter Portia and Lucius.
1145Por. I prythee Boy, run to the Senate-house,
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone.
Why doest thou stay?
Luc. To know my errand Madam.
Por. I would haue had thee there and heere agen
1150Ere I can tell thee what thou should'st do there:
O Constancie, be strong vpon my side,
Set a huge Mountaine 'tweene my Heart and Tongue:
I haue a mans minde, but a womans might:
How hard it is for women to keepe counsell.
1155Art thou heere yet?
Luc. Madam, what should I do?
Run to the Capitoll, and nothing else?
And so returne to you, and nothing else?
Por. Yes, bring me word Boy, if thy Lord look well,
1160For he went sickly forth: and take good note
What Cæsar doth, what Sutors presse to him.
Hearke Boy, what noyse is that?
Luc. I heare none Madam.
Por. Prythee listen well:
1165I heard a bussling Rumor like a Fray,
And the winde brings it from the Capitoll.
Luc. Sooth Madam, I heare nothing.
Enter the Soothsayer.
Por. Come hither Fellow, which way hast thou bin?
1170Sooth. At mine owne house, good Lady.
Por. What is't a clocke?
Sooth. About the ninth houre Lady.
Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitoll?
Sooth. Madam not yet, I go to take my stand,
1175To see him passe on to the Capitoll.
Por. Thou hast some suite to Cæsar, hast thou not?
Sooth. That I haue Lady, if it will please Cæsar
To be so good to Cæsar, as to heare me:
I shall beseech him to befriend himselfe.
1180Por. Why know'st thou any harme's intended to-
wards him?
Sooth. None that I know will be,
Much that I feare may chance:
Good morrow to you: heere the street is narrow:
1185The throng that followes Cæsar at the heeles,
Of Senators, of Praetors, common Sutors,
Will crowd a feeble man (almost) to death:
Ile get me to a place more voyd, and there
Speake to great Cæsar as he comes along.
Exit
1190Por. I must go in:
Aye me! How weake a thing
The heart of woman is? O Brutus,
The Heauens speede thee in thine enterprize.
Sure the Boy heard me: Brutus hath a suite
1195That Cæsar will not grant. O, I grow faint:
Run Lucius, and commend me to my Lord,
Say I am merry; Come to me againe,
And bring me word what he doth say to thee.
Exeunt


Actus Tertius.


1200
Flourish.
Enter Cæsar, Brutus, Cassius, Caska, Decius, Metellus, Tre-
bonius, Cynna, Antony, Lepidus, Artimedorus, Pub-
lius, and the Soothsayer.

Cæs. The Ides of March are come.
1205Sooth. I Cæsar, but not gone.
Art. Haile Cæsar: Read this Scedule.
Deci. Trebonius doth desire you to ore-read
(At your best leysure) this his humble suite.
Art. O Cæsar, reade mine first: for mine's a suite
1210That touches Cæsar neerer. Read it great Cæsar.
Cæs. What touches vs our selfe, shall be last seru'd.
Art. Delay not Cæsar, read it instantly.
Cæs. What, is the fellow mad?
Pub. Sirra, giue place.
1215Cassi. What, vrge you your Petitions in the street?
Come to the Capitoll.
Popil. I wish your enterprize to day may thriue.
Cassi. What enterprize Popillius?
Popil. Fare you well.
1220Bru. What said Popillius Lena?
Cassi. He wisht to day our enterprize might thriue:
I feare our purpose is discouered.
Bru. Looke how he makes to Cæsar: marke him.
Cassi. Caska be sodaine, for we feare preuention.
1225Brutus what shall be done? If this be knowne,
Cassius or Cæsar neuer shall turne backe,
For I will slay my selfe.
Bru. Cassius be constant:
Popillius Lena speakes not of our purposes,
1230For looke he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change.
Cassi. Trebonius knowes his time: for look you Brutus
He drawes Mark Antony out of the way.
Deci. Where is Metellus Cimber, let him go,
And presently preferre his suite to Cæsar.
1235Bru. He is addrest: presse neere, and second him.
Cin. Caska, you are the first that reares your hand.
Cæs. Are we all ready? What is now amisse,
That Cæsar and his Senate must redresse?
Metel. Most high, most mighty, and most puisant Cæsar
1240Metellus Cymber throwes before thy Seate
An humble heart.
Cæs. I must preuent thee Cymber:
These couchings, and these lowly courtesies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
1245And turne pre-Ordinance, and first Decree
Into the lane of Children. Be not fond,
To thinke that Cæsar beares such Rebell blood
That will be thaw'd from the true quality
With that which melteth Fooles, I meane sweet words,
1250Low-crooked-curtsies, and base Spaniell fawning:
Thy Brother by decree is banished:
If thou doest bend, and pray, and fawne for him,
I spurne thee like a Curre out of my way:
Know, Cæsar doth not wrong, nor without cause
1255Will he be satisfied.
Metel. Is there no voyce more worthy then my owne,
To