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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)

    The Tragedie of Julius Caesar 119
    To sound more sweetly in great Caesars eare,
    For the repealing of my banish'd Brother?
    Bru. I kisse thy hand, but not in flattery Caesar:
    1260Desiring thee, that Publius Cymber may
    Haue an immediate freedome of repeale.
    Caes. What Brutus?
    Cassi. Pardon Caesar: Caesar pardon:
    As lowe as to thy foote doth Cassius fall,
    1265To begge infranchisement for Publius Cymber.
    Caes. I could be well mou'd, if I were as you,
    If I could pray to mooue, Prayers would mooue me:
    But I am constant as the Northerne Starre,
    Of whose true fixt, and resting quality,
    1270There is no fellow in the Firmament.
    The Skies are painted with vnnumbred sparkes,
    They are all Fire, and euery one doth shine:
    But, there's but one in all doth hold his place.
    So, in the World; 'Tis furnish'd well with Men,
    1275And Men are Flesh and Blood, and apprehensiue;
    Yet in the number, I do know but One
    That vnassayleable holds on his Ranke,
    Vnshak'd of Motion: and that I am he,
    Let me a little shew it, euen in this:
    1280That I was constant Cymber should be banish'd,
    And constant do remaine to keepe him so.
    Cinna. O Caesar.
    Caes. Hence: Wilt thou lift vp Olympus?
    Decius. Great Caesar.
    1285Caes. Doth not Brutus bootlesse kneele?
    Cask. Speake hands for me.
    They stab Caesar.
    Caes. Et Tu Brutè? ---Then fall Caesar. Dyes
    Cin. Liberty, Freedome; Tyranny is dead,
    1290Run hence, proclaime, cry it about the Streets.
    Cassi. Some to the common Pulpits, and cry out
    Liberty, Freedome, and Enfranchisement.
    Bru. People and Senators, be not affrighted:
    Fly not, stand still: Ambitions debt is paid.
    1295Cask. Go to the Pulpit Brutus.
    Dec. And Cassius too.
    Bru. Where's Publius?
    Cin. Heere, quite confounded with this mutiny.
    Met. Stand fast together, least some Friend of Caesars
    1300Should chance---
    Bru. Talke not of standing. Publius good cheere,
    There is no harme intended to your person,
    Nor to no Roman else: so tell them Publius.
    Cassi. And leaue vs Publius, least that the people
    1305Rushing on vs, should do your Age some mischiefe.
    Bru. Do so, and let no man abide this deede,
    But we the Doers.
    Enter Trebonius.
    Cassi. Where is Antony?
    1310Treb. Fled to his House amaz'd:
    Men, Wiues, and Children, stare, cry out, and run,
    As it were Doomesday.
    Bru. Fates, we will know your pleasures:
    That we shall dye we know, 'tis but the time
    1315And drawing dayes out, that men stand vpon.
    Cask. Why he that cuts off twenty yeares of life,
    Cuts off so many yeares of fearing death.
    Bru. Grant that, and then is Death a Benefit:
    So are we Caesars Friends, that haue abridg'd
    1320His time of fearing death. Stoope Romans, stoope,
    And let vs bathe our hands in Caesars blood
    Vp to the Elbowes, and besmeare our Swords:
    Then walke we forth, euen to the Market place,
    And wauing our red Weapons o're our heads,
    1325Let's all cry Peace, Freedome, and Liberty.
    Cassi. Stoop then, and wash. How many Ages hence
    Shall this our lofty Scene be acted ouer,
    In State vnborne, and Accents yet vnknowne?
    Bru. How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
    1330That now on Pompeyes Basis lye along,
    No worthier then the dust?
    Cassi. So oft as that shall be,
    So often shall the knot of vs be call'd,
    The Men that gaue their Country liberty.
    1335Dec. What, shall we forth?
    Cassi. I, euery man away.
    Brutus shall leade, and we will grace his heeles
    With the most boldest, and best hearts of Rome.
    Enter a Seruant.
    1340Bru. Soft, who comes heere? A friend of Antonies.
    Ser. Thus Brutus did my Master bid me kneele;
    Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall downe,
    And being prostrate, thus he bad me say:
    Brutus is Noble, Wise, Valiant, and Honest;
    1345Caesar was Mighty, Bold, Royall, and Louing:
    Say, I loue Brutus, and I honour him;
    Say, I fear'd Caesar, honour'd him, and lou'd him.
    If Brutus will vouchsafe, that Antony
    May safely come to him, and be resolu'd
    1350How Caesar hath deseru'd to lye in death,
    Mark Antony, shall not loue Caesar dead
    So well as Brutus liuing; but will follow
    The Fortunes and Affayres of Noble Brutus,
    Thorough the hazards of this vntrod State,
    1355With all true Faith. So sayes my Master Antony.
    Bru. Thy Master is a Wise and Valiant Romane,
    I neuer thought him worse:
    Tell him, so please him come vnto this place
    He shall be satisfied: and by my Honor
    1360Depart vntouch'd.
    Ser. Ile fetch him presently. Exit Seruant.
    Bru. I know that we shall haue him well to Friend.
    Cassi. I wish we may: But yet haue I a minde
    That feares him much: and my misgiuing still
    1365Falles shrewdly to the purpose.
    Enter Antony.
    Bru. But heere comes Antony:
    Welcome Mark Antony.
    Ant. O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lye so lowe?
    1370Are all thy Conquests, Glories, Triumphes, Spoiles,
    Shrunke to this little Measure? Fare thee well.
    I know not Gentlemen what you intend,
    Who else must be let blood, who else is ranke:
    If I my selfe, there is no houre so fit
    1375As Caesars deaths houre; nor no Instrument
    Of halfe that worth, as those your Swords; made rich
    With the most Noble blood of all this World.
    I do beseech yee, if you beare me hard,
    Now, whil'st your purpled hands do reeke and smoake,
    1380Fulfill your pleasure. Liue a thousand yeeres,
    I shall not finde my selfe so apt to dye.
    No place will please me so, no meane of death,
    As heere by Caesar, and by you cut off,
    The Choice and Master Spirits of this Age.
    1385Bru. O Antony! Begge not your death of vs:
    Though now we must appeare bloody and cruell,
    As by our hands, and this our present Acte
    You see we do: Yet see you but our hands,
    kk6 And
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