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Julius Caesar (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: John D. Cox
Peer Reviewed
355Cassi. But soft I pray you: what, did Cæsar swound?
Cask. He fell downe in the Market-place, and foam'd
at mouth, and was speechlesse.
Brut. 'Tis very like he hath the Falling sicknesse.
Cassi. No, Cæsar hath it not: but you, and I,
360And honest Caska, we haue the Falling sicknesse.
Cask. I know not what you meane by that, but I am
sure Cæsar fell downe. If the tag-ragge people did not
clap him, and hisse him, according as he pleas'd, and dis-
pleas'd them, as they vse to doe the Players in the Thea-
365tre, I am no true man.
Brut. What said he, when he came vnto himselfe?
Cask. Marry, before he fell downe, when he perceiu'd
the common Heard was glad he refus'd the Crowne, he
pluckt me ope his Doublet, and offer'd them his Throat
370to cut: and I had beene a man of any Occupation, if I
would not haue taken him at a word, I would I might
goe to Hell among the Rogues, and so hee fell. When
he came to himselfe againe, hee said, If hee had done, or
said any thing amisse, he desir'd their Worships to thinke
375it was his infirmitie. Three or foure Wenches where I
stood, cryed, Alasse good Soule, and forgaue him with
all their hearts: But there's no heed to be taken of them;
if Cæsar had stab'd their Mothers, they would haue done
no lesse.
380Brut. And after that, he came thus sad away.
Cask. I.
Cassi. Did Cicero say any thing?
Cask. I, he spoke Greeke.
Cassi. To what effect?
385Cask. Nay, and I tell you that, Ile ne're looke you
i'th'face againe. But those that vnderstood him, smil'd
at one another, and shooke their heads: but for mine
owne part, it was Greeke to me. I could tell you more
newes too: Murrellus and Flauius, for pulling Scarffes
390off Cæsars Images, are put to silence. Fare you well.
There was more Foolerie yet, if I could remem-
ber it.
Cassi. Will you suppe with me to Night, Caska?
Cask. No, I am promis'd forth.
395Cassi. Will you Dine with me to morrow?
Cask. I, if I be aliue, and your minde hold, and your
Dinner worth the eating.
Cassi. Good, I will expect you.
Cask. Doe so: farewell both.
Exit.
400Brut. What a blunt fellow is this growne to be?
He was quick Mettle, when he went to Schoole.
Cassi. So is he now, in execution
Of any bold, or Noble Enterprize,
How-euer he puts on this tardie forme:
405This Rudenesse is a Sawce to his good Wit,
Which giues men stomacke to disgest his words
With better Appetite.
Brut. And so it is:
For this time I will leaue you:
410To morrow, if you please to speake with me,
I will come home to you: or if you will,
Come home to me, and I will wait for you.
Cassi. I will doe so: till then, thinke of the World.
Exit Brutus.
415Well Brutus, thou art Noble: yet I see,
Thy Honorable Mettle may be wrought
From that it is dispos'd: therefore it is meet,
That Noble mindes keepe euer with their likes:
For who so firme, that cannot be seduc'd?
420Cæsar doth beare me hard, but he loues Brutus.
If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius,
He should not humor me. I will this Night,
In seuerall Hands, in at his Windowes throw,
As if they came from seuerall Citizens,
425Writings, all tending to the great opinion
That Rome holds of his Name: wherein obscurely
Cæsars Ambition shall be glanced at.
And after this, let Cæsar seat him sure,
For wee will shake him, or worse dayes endure.
430
Exit.

Thunder, and Lightning. Enter Caska,
and Cicero.

Cic. Good euen, Caska: brought you Cæsar home?
Why are you breathlesse, and why stare you so?
435Cask. Are not you mou'd, when all the sway of Earth
Shakes, like a thing vnfirme? O Cicero,
I haue seene Tempests, when the scolding Winds
Haue riu'd the knottie Oakes, and I haue seene
Th'ambitious Ocean swell, and rage, and foame,
440To be exalted with the threatning Clouds:
But neuer till to Night, neuer till now,
Did I goe through a Tempest-dropping-fire.
Eyther there is a Ciuill strife in Heauen,
Or else the World, too sawcie with the Gods,
445Incenses them to send destruction.
Cic. Why, saw you any thing more wonderfull?
Cask. A common slaue, you know him well by sight,
Held vp his left Hand, which did flame and burne
Like twentie Torches ioyn'd; and yet his Hand,
450Not sensible of fire, remain'd vnscorch'd.
Besides, I ha'not since put vp my Sword,
Against the Capitoll I met a Lyon,
Who glaz'd vpon me, and went surly by,
Without annoying me. And there were drawne
455Vpon a heape, a hundred gastly Women,
Transformed with their feare, who swore, they saw
Men, all in fire, walke vp and downe the streetes.
And yesterday, the Bird of Night did sit,
Euen at Noone-day, vpon the Market place,
460Howting, and shreeking. When these Prodigies
Doe so conioyntly meet, let not men say,
These are their Reasons, they are Naturall:
For I beleeue, they are portentous things
Vnto the Clymate, that they point vpon.
465Cic. Indeed, it is a strange disposed time:
But men may construe things after their fashion,
Cleane from the purpose of the things themselues.
Comes Cæsar to the Capitoll to morrow?
Cask. He doth: for he did bid Antonio
470Send word to you, he would be there to morrow.
Cic. Good-night then, Caska:
This disturbed Skie is not to walke in.
Cask. Farewell Cicero.
Exit Cicero.

Enter Cassius.
475Cassi. Who's there?
Cask. A Romane.
Cassi. Caska, by your Voyce.
Cask. Your Eare is good.
Cassius, what Night is this?
480Cassi. A very pleasing Night to honest men.
Cask. Who euer knew the Heauens menace so?
Cassi. Those that haue knowne the Earth so full of
faults.
For