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  • Title: Julius Caesar (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: John D. Cox

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-366-3

    Copyright John D. Cox. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: John D. Cox
    Peer Reviewed

    Julius Caesar (Folio 1, 1623)

    118The Tragedie of Julius Caesar
    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 Caesar: 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 Caesar 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 Caesar, 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 Caesar 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 Caesar 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 Caesar, hast thou not?
    Sooth. That I haue Lady, if it will please Caesar
    To be so good to Caesar, 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 Caesar 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 Caesar 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 Caesar 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.


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

    Caes. The Ides of March are come.
    1205Sooth. I Caesar, but not gone.
    Art. Haile Caesar: Read this Scedule.
    Deci. Trebonius doth desire you to ore-read
    (At your best leysure) this his humble suite.
    Art. O Caesar, reade mine first: for mine's a suite
    1210That touches Caesar neerer. Read it great Caesar.
    Caes. What touches vs our selfe, shall be last seru'd.
    Art. Delay not Caesar, read it instantly.
    Caes. 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 Caesar: marke him.
    Cassi. Caska be sodaine, for we feare preuention.
    1225Brutus what shall be done? If this be knowne,
    Cassius or Caesar 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 Caesar 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 Caesar.
    1235Bru. He is addrest: presse neere, and second him.
    Cin. Caska, you are the first that reares your hand.
    Caes. Are we all ready? What is now amisse,
    That Caesar and his Senate must redresse?
    Metel. Most high, most mighty, and most puisant Caesar
    1240Metellus Cymber throwes before thy Seate
    An humble heart.
    Caes. 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 Caesar 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, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
    1255Will he be satisfied.
    Metel. Is there no voyce more worthy then my owne,
    To
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