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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 117
    1000Calp. Caesar, I neuer stood on Ceremonies,
    Yet now they fright me: There is one within,
    Besides the things that we haue heard and seene,
    Recounts most horrid sights seene by the Watch.
    A Lionnesse hath whelped in the streets,
    1005And Graues haue yawn'd, and yeelded vp their dead;
    Fierce fiery Warriours fight vpon the Clouds
    In Rankes and Squadrons, and right forme of Warre
    Which drizel'd blood vpon the Capitoll:
    The noise of Battell hurtled in the Ayre:
    1010Horsses do neigh, and dying men did grone,
    And Ghosts did shrieke and squeale about the streets.
    O Caesar, these things are beyond all vse,
    And I do feare them.
    Caes. What can be auoyded
    1015Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty Gods?
    Yet Caesar shall go forth: for these Predictions
    Are to the world in generall, as to Caesar.
    Calp. When Beggers dye, there are no Comets seen,
    The Heauens themselues blaze forth the death of Princes
    1020Caes. Cowards dye many times before their deaths,
    The valiant neuer taste of death but once:
    Of all the Wonders that I yet haue heard,
    It seemes to me most strange that men should feare,
    Seeing that death, a necessary end
    1025Will come, when it will come.
    Enter a Seruant.
    What say the Augurers?
    Ser. They would not haue you to stirre forth to day.
    Plucking the intrailes of an Offering forth,
    1030They could not finde a heart within the beast.
    Caes. The Gods do this in shame of Cowardice:
    Caesar should be a Beast without a heart
    If he should stay at home to day for feare:
    No Caesar shall not; Danger knowes full well
    1035That Caesar is more dangerous then he.
    We heare two Lyons litter'd in one day,
    And I the elder and more terrible,
    And Caesar shall go foorth.
    Calp. Alas my Lord,
    1040Your wisedome is consum'd in confidence:
    Do not go forth to day: Call it my feare,
    That keepes you in the house, and not your owne.
    Wee'l send Mark Antony to the Senate house,
    And he shall say, you are not well to day:
    1045Let me vpon my knee, preuaile in this.
    Caes. Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
    And for thy humor, I will stay at home.
    Enter Decius.
    Heere's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.
    1050Deci. Caesar, all haile: Good morrow worthy Caesar,
    I come to fetch you to the Senate house.
    Caes. And you are come in very happy time,
    To beare my greeting to the Senators,
    And tell them that I will not come to day:
    1055Cannot, is false: and that I dare not, falser:
    I will not come to day, tell them so Decius.
    Calp. Say he is sicke.
    Caes. Shall Caesar send a Lye?
    Haue I in Conquest stretcht mine Arme so farre,
    1060To be afear'd to tell Gray-beards the truth:
    Decius, go tell them, Caesar will not come.
    Deci. Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
    Lest I be laught at when I tell them so.
    Caes. The cause is in my Will, I will not come,
    1065That is enough to satisfie the Senate.
    But for your priuate satisfaction,
    Because I loue you, I will let you know.
    Calphurnia heere my wife, stayes me at home:
    She dreampt to night, she saw my Statue,
    1070Which like a Fountaine, with an hundred spouts
    Did run pure blood: and many lusty Romans
    Came smiling, & did bathe their hands in it:
    And these does she apply, for warnings and portents,
    And euils imminent; and on her knee
    1075Hath begg'd, that I will stay at home to day.
    Deci. This Dreame is all amisse interpreted,
    It was a vision, faire and fortunate:
    Your Statue spouting blood in many pipes,
    In which so many smiling Romans bath'd,
    1080Signifies, that from you great Rome shall sucke
    Reuiuing blood, and that great men shall presse
    For Tinctures, Staines, Reliques, and Cognisance.
    This by Calphurnia's Dreame is signified.
    Caes. And this way haue you well expounded it.
    1085Deci. I haue, when you haue heard what I can say:
    And know it now, the Senate haue concluded
    To giue this day, a Crowne to mighty Caesar.
    If you shall send them word you will not come,
    Their mindes may change. Besides, it were a mocke
    1090Apt to be render'd, for some one to say,
    Breake vp the Senate, till another time:
    When Caesars wife shall meete with better Dreames.
    If Caesar hide himselfe, shall they not whisper
    Loe Caesar is affraid?
    1095Pardon me Caesar, for my deere deere loue
    To your proceeding, bids me tell you this:
    And reason to my loue is liable.
    Caes. How foolish do your fears seeme now Calphurnia?
    I am ashamed I did yeeld to them.
    1100Giue me my Robe, for I will go.

    Enter Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Caska, Trebo-
    nius, Cynna, and Publius.
    And looke where Publius is come to fetch me.
    Pub. Good morrow Caesar.
    1105Caes. Welcome Publius.
    What Brutus, are you stirr'd so earely too?
    Good morrow Caska: Caius Ligarius,
    Caesar was ne're so much your enemy,
    As that same Ague which hath made you leane.
    1110What is't a Clocke?
    Bru. Caesar, 'tis strucken eight.
    Caes. I thanke you for your paines and curtesie.
    Enter Antony.
    See, Antony that Reuels long a-nights
    1115Is notwithstanding vp. Good morrow Antony.
    Ant. So to most Noble Caesar.
    Caes. Bid them prepare within:
    I am too blame to be thus waited for.
    Now Cynna, now Metellus: what Trebonius,
    1120I haue an houres talke in store for you:
    Remember that you call on me to day:
    Be neere me, that I may remember you.
    Treb. Caesar I will: and so neere will I be,
    That your best Friends shall wish I had beene further.
    1125Caes. Good Friends go in, and taste some wine with me.
    And we (like Friends) will straight way go together.
    Bru. That euery like is not the same, O Caesar,
    The heart of Brutus earnes to thinke vpon. Exeunt
    Enter Artemidorus.
    1130
    Caesar, beware of Brutus, take heede of Cassius; come not
    kk5 neere
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