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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 111
    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.
    230Shout. Flourish.
    Bru. Another generall shout?
    I do beleeue, that these applauses are
    For some new Honors, that are heap'd on Caesar.
    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 Caesar: What should be in that Caesar?
    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 Caesar.
    Now in the names of all the Gods at once,
    Vpon what meate doth this our Caesar 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 Caesar and his Traine.

    Bru. The Games are done,
    And Caesar 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 Caesars 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.
    Caes. Antonio.
    Ant. Caesar.
    Caes. 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 Caesar, he's not dangerous,
    He is a Noble Roman, and well giuen.
    300Caes. 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 Caesar.
    315Come on my right hand, for this eare is deafe,
    And tell me truely, what thou think'st of him.
    Sennit.
    Exeunt Caesar 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 Caesar 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 Caesar refus'd the Crowne, that it had
    (almost) choaked Caesar: 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.
    kk2 Cassi.
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