Toolbox



Textual Analysis

[ Go ]

Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
More Performances…
‌

Julius Caesar (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: John D. Cox
Peer Reviewed
Enter Cæsar, Antony for the Course, Calphurnia, Portia, De-
85
cius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, Caska, a Soothsayer: af-
ter them Murellus and Flauius.
Cæs. Calphurnia.
Cask. Peace ho, Cæsar speakes.
Cæs. Calphurnia.
90Calp. Heere my Lord.
Cæs. Stand you directly in Antonio's way,
When he doth run his course. Antonio.
Ant. Cæsar, my Lord.
Cæs. Forget not in your speed Antonio,
95To touch Calphurnia: for our Elders say,
The Barren touched in this holy chace,
Shake off their sterrile curse.
Ant. I shall remember,
When Cæsar sayes, Do this; it is perform'd.
100Cæs. Set on, and leaue no Ceremony out.
Sooth. Cæsar.
Cæs. Ha? Who calles?
Cask. Bid euery noyse be still: peace yet againe.
Cæs. Who is it in the presse, that calles on me?
105I heare a Tongue shriller then all the Musicke
Cry, Cæsar: Speake, Cæsar is turn'd to heare.
Sooth. Beware the Ides of March.
Cæs. What man is that?
Br. A Sooth-sayer bids you beware the Ides of March
110Cæs. Set him before me, let me see his face.
Cassi. Fellow, come from the throng, look vpon Cæsar.
Cæs. What sayst thou to me now? Speak once againe:
Sooth. Beware the Ides of March.
Cæs. He is a Dreamer, let vs leaue him: Passe.
115
Sennet. Exeunt. Manet Brut. & Cass.
Cassi. Will you go see the order of the course?
Brut. Not I.
Cassi. I pray you do.
Brut. I am not Gamesom: I do lacke some part
120Of that quicke Spirit that is in Antony:
Let me not hinder Cassius your desires;
Ile leaue you.
Cassi. Brutus, I do obserue you now of late:
I haue not from your eyes, that gentlenesse
125And shew of Loue, as I was wont to haue:
You beare too stubborne, and too strange a hand
Ouer your Friend, that loues you.
Bru. Cassius,
Be not deceiu'd: If I haue veyl'd my looke,
130I turne the trouble of my Countenance
Meerely vpon my selfe. Vexed I am
Of late, with passions of some difference,
Conceptions onely proper to my selfe,
Which giue some soyle (perhaps) to my Behauiours:
135But let not therefore my good Friends be greeu'd
(Among which number Cassius be you one)
Nor construe any further my neglect,
Then that poore Brutus with himselfe at warre,
Forgets the shewes of Loue to other men.
140Cassi. Then Brutus, I haue much mistook your passion,
By meanes whereof, this Brest of mine hath buried
Thoughts of great value, worthy Cogitations.
Tell me good Brutus, Can you see your face?
Brutus. No Cassius:
145For the eye sees not it selfe but by reflection,
By some other things.
Cassius. 'Tis iust,
And it is very much lamented Brutus,
That you haue no such Mirrors, as will turne
150Your hidden worthinesse into your eye,
That you might see your shadow:
I haue heard,
Where many of the best respect in Rome,
(Except immortall Cæsar) speaking of Brutus,
155And groaning vnderneath this Ages yoake,
Haue wish'd, that Noble Brutus had his eyes.
Bru. Into what dangers, would you
Leade me Cassius?
That you would haue me seeke into my selfe,
160For that which is not in me?
Cas. Therefore good Brutus, be prepar'd to heare:
And since you know, you cannot see your selfe
So well as by Reflection; I your Glasse,
Will modestly discouer to your selfe
165That of your selfe, which you yet know not of.
And be not iealous on me, gentle Brutus:
Were I a common Laughter, or did vse
To stale with ordinary Oathes my loue
To euery new Protester: if you know,
170That I do fawne on men, and hugge them hard,
And after scandall them: Or if you know,
That I professe my selfe in Banquetting
To all the Rout, then hold me dangerous.
Flourish, and Shout.
175Bru. What meanes this Showting?
I do feare, the People choose Cæsar
For their King.
Cassi. I, do you feare it?
Then must I thinke you would not haue it so.
180Bru. I would not Cassius, yet I loue him well:
But wherefore do you hold me heere so long?
What is it, that you would impart to me?
If it be ought toward the generall good,
Set Honor in one eye, and Death i'th other,
185And I will looke on both indifferently:
For let the Gods so speed mee, as I loue
The name of Honor, more then I feare death.
Cassi. I know that vertue to be in you Brutus,
As well as I do know your outward fauour.
190Well, Honor is the subiect of my Story:
I cannot tell, what you and other men
Thinke of this life: But for my single selfe,
I had as liefe not be, as liue to be
In awe of such a Thing, as I my selfe.
195I was borne free as Cæsar, so were you,
We both haue fed as well, and we can both
Endure the Winters cold, as well as hee.
For once, vpon a Rawe and Gustie day,
The troubled Tyber, chafing with her Shores,
200Cæsar saide to me, Dar'st thou Cassius now
Leape in with me into this angry Flood,
And swim to yonder Point? Vpon the word,
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in,
And bad him follow: so indeed he did.
205The Torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it
With lusty Sinewes, throwing it aside,
And stemming it with hearts of Controuersie.
But ere we could arriue the Point propos'd,
Cæsar cride, Helpe me Cassius, or I sinke.
210I (as Æneas, our great Ancestor,
Did from the Flames of Troy, vpon his shoulder
The old Anchyses beare) so, from the waues of Tyber
Did I the tyred Cæsar: And this Man,
Is now become a God, and Cassius is
215A wretched Creature, and must bend his body,
If Cæsar carelesly but nod on him.
He had a Feauer when he was in Spaine,
And when the Fit was on him, I did marke
How he did shake: Tis true, this God did shake,
220His Coward lippes did from their colour flye,
And that same Eye, whose bend doth awe the World,
Did loose his Lustre: I did heare him grone:
I, and that Tongue of his, that bad the Romans
Marke him, and write his Speeches in their Bookes,
225Alas, it cried, Giue me some drinke Titinius,
As a sicke Girle: Ye Gods, it doth amaze me,
A man of such a feeble temper should
So get the start of the Maiesticke world,
And beare the Palme alone.
230
Shout. Flourish.
Bru. Another generall shout?
I do beleeue, that these applauses are
For some new Honors, that are heap'd on Cæsar.
Cassi. Why man, he doth bestride the narrow world
235Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walke vnder his huge legges, and peepe about
To finde our selues dishonourable Graues.
Men at sometime, are Masters of their Fates.
The fault (deere Brutus) is not in our Starres,
240But in our Selues, that we are vnderlings.
Brutus and Cæsar: What should be in that Cæsar?
Why should that name be sounded more then yours.
Write them together: Yours, is as faire a Name:
Sound them, it doth become the mouth aswell:
245Weigh them, it is as heauy: Coniure with 'em,
Brutus will start a Spirit as soone as Cæsar.
Now in the names of all the Gods at once,
Vpon what meate doth this our Cæsar feede,
That he is growne so great? Age, thou art sham'd.
250Rome, thou hast lost the breed of Noble Bloods.
When went there by an Age, since the great Flood,
But it was fam'd with more then with one man?
When could they say (till now) that talk'd of Rome,
That her wide Walkes incompast but one man?
255Now is it Rome indeed, and Roome enough
When there is in it but one onely man.
O! you and I, haue heard our Fathers say,
There was a Brutus once, that would haue brook'd
Th'eternall Diuell to keepe his State in Rome,
260As easily as a King.
Bru. That you do loue me, I am nothing iealous:
What you would worke me too, I haue some ayme:
How I haue thought of this, and of these times
I shall recount heereafter. For this present,
265I would not so (with loue I might intreat you)
Be any further moou'd: What you haue said,
I will consider: what you haue to say
I will with patience heare, and finde a time
Both meete to heare, and answer such high things.
270Till then, my Noble Friend, chew vpon this:
Brutus had rather be a Villager,
Then to repute himselfe a Sonne of Rome
Vnder these hard Conditions, as this time
Is like to lay vpon vs.
275Cassi. I am glad that my weake words
Haue strucke but thus much shew of fire from Brutus.
Enter Cæsar and his Traine.
Bru. The Games are done,
And Cæsar is returning.
280Cassi. As they passe by,
Plucke Caska by the Sleeue,
And he will (after his sowre fashion) tell you
What hath proceeded worthy note to day.
Bru. I will do so: but looke you Cassius,
285The angry spot doth glow on Cæsars brow,
And all the rest, looke like a chidden Traine;
Calphurnia's Cheeke is pale, and Cicero
Lookes with such Ferret, and such fiery eyes
As we haue seene him in the Capitoll
290Being crost in Conference, by some Senators.
Cassi. Caska will tell vs what the matter is.
Cæs. Antonio.
Ant. Cæsar.
Cæs. Let me haue men about me, that are fat,
295Sleeke-headed men, and such as sleepe a-nights:
Yond Cassius has a leane and hungry looke,
He thinkes too much: such men are dangerous.
Ant. Feare him not Cæsar, he's not dangerous,
He is a Noble Roman, and well giuen.
300Cæs. Would he were fatter; But I feare him not:
Yet if my name were lyable to feare,
I do not know the man I should auoyd
So soone as that spare Cassius. He reades much,
He is a great Obseruer, and he lookes
305Quite through the Deeds of men. He loues no Playes,
As thou dost Antony: he heares no Musicke;
Seldome he smiles, and smiles in such a sort
As if he mock'd himselfe, and scorn'd his spirit
That could be mou'd to smile at any thing.
310Such men as he, be neuer at hearts ease,
Whiles they behold a greater then themselues,
And therefore are they very dangerous.
I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd,
Then what I feare: for alwayes I am Cæsar.
315Come on my right hand, for this eare is deafe,
And tell me truely, what thou think'st of him.
Sennit.
Exeunt Cæsar and his Traine.
Cask. You pul'd me by the cloake, would you speake
with me?
320Bru. I Caska, tell vs what hath chanc'd to day
That Cæsar lookes so sad.
 Cask. Why you were with him, were you not?
Bru. I should not then aske Caska what had chanc'd.
Cask. Why there was a Crowne offer'd him; & being
325offer'd him, he put it by with the backe of his hand thus,
and then the people fell a shouting.
Bru. What was the second noyse for?
Cask. Why for that too.
Cassi. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for?
330Cask. Why for that too.
Bru. Was the Crowne offer'd him thrice?
Cask. I marry was't, and hee put it by thrice, euerie
time gentler then other; and at euery putting by, mine
honest Neighbors showted.
335Cassi. Who offer'd him the Crowne?
Cask. Why Antony.
Bru. Tell vs the manner of it, gentle Caska.
Caska. I can as well bee hang'd as tell the manner of
it: It was meere Foolerie, I did not marke it. I sawe
340Marke Antony offer him a Crowne, yet 'twas not a
Crowne neyther, 'twas one of these Coronets: and as I
told you, hee put it by once: but for all that, to my thin-
king, he would faine haue had it. Then hee offered it to
him againe: then hee put it by againe: but to my think-
345ing, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then
he offered it the third time; hee put it the third time by,
and still as hee refus'd it, the rabblement howted, and
clapp'd their chopt hands, and threw vppe their sweatie
Night-cappes, and vttered such a deale of stinking
350breath, because Cæsar refus'd the Crowne, that it had
(almost) choaked Cæsar: for hee swoonded, and fell
downe at it: And for mine owne part, I durst not laugh,
for feare of opening my Lippes, and receyuing the bad
Ayre.
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.