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Shakespeare on Stage
Original Shakespeare Company, A Midsommer Night's Dreame (Midsummer Midsommer). To Jun. 21, 2013.
Original Shakespeare Company, Comedie of Errors. To Jun. 22, 2013.
SIP Editors, Measure for Measure. To Aug. 4, 2013.
Original Shakespeare Company, As You Like It. To Jun. 23, 2013.
SIP Editors, King Henry VIII. To Aug. 4, 2013.
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Julius Caesar (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: John D. Cox
Peer Reviewed
The Tragedie of Julius Cæsar
123
2 Ple. Most Noble Cæsar, wee'l reuenge his death.
3 Ple. O Royall Cæsar.
Ant. Heare me with patience.
All. Peace hoe
1785Ant. Moreouer, he hath left you all his Walkes,
His priuate Arbors, and new-planted Orchards,
On this side Tyber, he hath left them you,
And to your heyres for euer: common pleasures
To walke abroad, and recreate your selues.
1790Heere was a Cæsar: when comes such another?
1. Ple. Neuer, neuer: come, away, away:
Wee'l burne his body in the holy place,
And with the Brands fire the Traitors houses.
Take vp the body.
17952. Ple. Go fetch fire.
3. Ple. Plucke downe Benches.
4. Ple. Plucke downe Formes, Windowes, any thing.
Exit Plebeians.
Ant. Now let it worke: Mischeefe thou art a-foot,
1800Take thou what course thou wilt.
How now Fellow?
Enter Seruant.
Ser. Sir, Octauius is already come to Rome.
Ant. Where is hee?
1805Ser. He and Lepidus are at Cæsars house.
Ant. And thither will I straight, to visit him:
He comes vpon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will giue vs any thing.
Ser. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius
1810Are rid like Madmen through the Gates of Rome.
Ant. Belike they had some notice of the people
How I had moued them. Bring me to Octauius.
Exeunt

Enter Cinna the Poet, and after him the Plebeians.

Cinna. I dreamt to night, that I did feast with Cæsar,
1815And things vnluckily charge my Fantasie:
I haue no will to wander foorth of doores,
Yet something leads me foorth.
1. What is your name?
2. Whether are you going?
18203. Where do you dwell?
4. Are you a married man, or a Batchellor?
2. Answer euery man directly.
1. I, and breefely.
4. I, and wisely.
18253. I, and truly, you were best.
Cin. What is my name? Whether am I going? Where
do I dwell? Am I a married man, or a Batchellour? Then
to answer euery man, directly and breefely, wisely and
truly: wisely I say, I am a Batchellor.
18302 That's as much as to say, they are fooles that mar-
rie: you'l beare me a bang for that I feare: proceede di-
rectly.
Cinna. Directly I am going to Cæsars Funerall.
1. As a Friend, or an Enemy?
1835Cinna. As a friend.
2. That matter is answered directly.
4. For your dwelling: breefely.
Cinna. Breefely, I dwell by the Capitoll.
3. Your name sir, truly.
1840Cinna. Truly, my name is Cinna.
1. Teare him to peeces, hee's a Conspirator.
Cinna. I am Cinna the Poet, I am Cinna the Poet.
4. Teare him for his bad verses, teare him for his bad
Verses.
1845Cin. I am not Cinna the Conspirator.
4. It is no matter, his name's Cinna, plucke but his
name out of his heart, and turne him going.
3. Teare him, tear him; Come Brands hoe, Firebrands:
to Brutus, to Cassius, burne all. Some to Decius House,
1850and some to Caska's; some to Ligarius: Away, go.
Exeunt all the Plebeians.

Actus Quartus.


Enter Antony, Octauius, and Lepidus.
Ant. These many then shall die, their names are prickt
1855Octa. Your Brother too must dye: consent you Lepidus?
Lep. I do consent.
Octa. Pricke him downe Antony.
Lep. Vpon condition Publius shall not liue,
Who is your Sisters sonne, Marke Antony.
1860Ant. He shall not liue; looke, with a spot I dam him.
But Lepidus, go you to Cæsars house:
Fetch the Will hither, and we shall determine
How to cut off some charge in Legacies.
Lep. What? shall I finde you heere?
1865Octa. Or heere, or at the Capitoll.
Exit Lepidus
Ant. This is a slight vnmeritable man,
Meet to be sent on Errands: is it fit
The three-fold World diuided, he should stand
One of the three to share it?
1870Octa. So you thought him,
And tooke his voyce who should be prickt to dye
In our blacke Sentence and Proscription.
Ant. Octauius, I haue seene more dayes then you,
And though we lay these Honours on this man,
1875To ease our selues of diuers sland'rous loads,
He shall but beare them, as the Asse beares Gold,
To groane and swet vnder the Businesse,
Either led or driuen, as we point the way:
And hauing brought our Treasure, where we will,
1880Then take we downe his Load, and turne him off
(Like to the empty Asse) to shake his eares,
And graze in Commons.
Octa. You may do your will:
But hee's a tried, and valiant Souldier.
1885Ant. So is my Horse Octauius, and for that
I do appoint him store of Prouender.
It is a Creature that I teach to fight,
To winde, to stop, to run directly on:
His corporall Motion, gouern'd by my Spirit,
1890And in some taste, is Lepidus but so:
He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth:
A barren spirited Fellow; one that feeds
On Obiects, Arts, and Imitations.
Which out of vse, and stal'de by other men
1895Begin his fashion. Do not talke of him,
But as a property: and now Octauius,
Listen great things. Brutus and Cassius
Are leuying Powers; We must straight make head:
Therefore let our Alliance be combin'd,
1900Our best Friends made, our meanes stretcht,
And let vs presently go sit in Councell,
How couert matters may be best disclos'd,
And open Perils surest answered.
Octa. Let vs do so: for we are at the stake,
ll2
And