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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)

    126The Tragedie of Julius Caesar
    2165Mess. My selfe haue Letters of the selfe-same Tenure.
    Bru. With what Addition.
    Mess. That by proscription, and billes of Outlarie,
    Octauius, Antony, and Lepidus,
    Haue put to death, an hundred Senators.
    2170Bru. Therein our Letters do not well agree:
    Mine speake of seuenty Senators, that dy'de
    By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.
    Cassi. Cicero one?
    Messa. Cicero is dead, and by that order of proscription
    2175Had you your Letters from your wife, my Lord?
    Bru. No Messala.
    Messa. Nor nothing in your Letters writ of her?
    Bru. Nothing Messala.
    Messa. That me thinkes is strange.
    2180Bru. Why aske you?
    Heare you ought of her, in yours?
    Messa. No my Lord.
    Bru. Now as you are a Roman tell me true.
    Messa. Then like a Roman, beare the truth I tell,
    2185For certaine she is dead, and by strange manner.
    Bru. Why farewell Portia: We must die Messala:
    With meditating that she must dye once,
    I haue the patience to endure it now.
    Messa. Euen so great men, great losses shold indure.
    2190Cassi. I haue as much of this in Art as you,
    But yet my Nature could not beare it so.
    Bru. Well, to our worke aliue. What do you thinke
    Of marching to Philippi presently.
    Cassi. I do not thinke it good.
    2195Bru. Your reason?
    Cassi. This it is:
    'Tis better that the Enemie seeke vs,
    So shall he waste his meanes, weary his Souldiers,
    Doing himselfe offence, whil'st we lying still,
    2200Are full of rest, defence, and nimblenesse.
    Bru. Good reasons must of force giue place to better:
    The people 'twixt Philippi, and this ground
    Do stand but in a forc'd affection:
    For they haue grug'd vs Contribution.
    2205The Enemy, marching along by them,
    By them shall make a fuller number vp,
    Come on refresht, new added, and encourag'd:
    From which aduantage shall we cut him off.
    If at Philippi we do face him there,
    2210These people at our backe.
    Cassi. Heare me good Brother.
    Bru. Vnder your pardon. You must note beside,
    That we haue tride the vtmost of our Friends:
    Our Legions are brim full, our cause is ripe,
    2215The Enemy encreaseth euery day,
    We at the height, are readie to decline.
    There is a Tide in the affayres of men,
    Which taken at the Flood, leades on to Fortune:
    Omitted, all the voyage of their life,
    2220Is bound in Shallowes, and in Miseries.
    On such a full Sea are we now a-float,
    And we must take the current when it serues,
    Or loose our Ventures.
    Cassi. Then with your will go on: wee'l along
    2225Our selues, and meet them at Philippi.
    Bru. The deepe of night is crept vpon our talke,
    And Nature must obey Necessitie,
    Which we will niggard with a little rest:
    There is no more to say.
    2230Cassi. No more, good night,
    Early to morrow will we rise, and hence.
    Enter Lucius.
    Bru. Lucius my Gowne: farewell good Messala,
    Good night Titinius: Noble, Noble Cassius,
    2235Good night, and good repose.
    Cassi. O my deere Brother:
    This was an ill beginning of the night:
    Neuer come such diuision 'tweene our soules:
    Let it not Brutus.
    2240Enter Lucius with the Gowne.
    Bru. Euery thing is well.
    Cassi. Good night my Lord.
    Bru. Good night good Brother.
    Tit. Messa. Good night Lord Brutus.
    2245Bru. Farwell euery one. Exeunt.
    Giue me the Gowne. Where is thy Instrument?
    Luc. Heere in the Tent.
    Bru. What, thou speak'st drowsily?
    Poore knaue I blame thee not, thou art ore-watch'd.
    2250Call Claudio, and some other of my men,
    Ile haue them sleepe on Cushions in my Tent.
    Luc. Varrus, and Claudio.
    Enter Varrus and Claudio.
    Var. Cals my Lord?
    2255Bru. I pray you sirs, lye in my Tent and sleepe,
    It may be I shall raise you by and by
    On businesse to my Brother Cassius.
    Var. So please you, we will stand,
    And watch your pleasure.
    2260Bru. I will it not haue it so: Lye downe good sirs,
    It may be I shall otherwise bethinke me.
    Looke Lucius, heere's the booke I sought for so:
    I put it in the pocket of my Gowne.
    Luc. I was sure your Lordship did not giue it me.
    2265Bru. Beare with me good Boy, I am much forgetfull.
    Canst thou hold vp thy heauie eyes a-while,
    And touch thy Instrument a straine or two.
    Luc. I my Lord, an't please you.
    Bru. It does my Boy:
    2270I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing.
    Luc. It is my duty Sir.
    Brut. I should not vrge thy duty past thy might,
    I know yong bloods looke for a time of rest.
    Luc. I haue slept my Lord already.
    2275Bru. It was well done, and thou shalt sleepe againe:
    I will not hold thee long. If I do liue,
    I will be good to thee.
    Musicke, and a Song.
    This is a sleepy Tune: O Murd'rous slumbler!
    2280Layest thou thy Leaden Mace vpon my Boy,
    That playes thee Musicke? Gentle knaue good night:
    I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee:
    If thou do'st nod, thou break'st thy Instrument,
    Ile take it from thee, and (good Boy) good night.
    2285Let me see, let me see; is not the Leafe turn'd downe
    Where I left reading? Heere it is I thinke.
    Enter the Ghost of Caesar.
    How ill this Taper burnes. Ha! Who comes heere?
    I thinke it is the weakenesse of mine eyes
    2290That shapes this monstrous Apparition.
    It comes vpon me: Art thou any thing?
    Art thou some God, some Angell, or some Diuell,
    That mak'st my blood cold, and my haire to stare?
    Speake to me, what thou art.
    2295Ghost. Thy euill Spirit Brutus?
    Bru. Why com'st thou?
    Ghost.
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