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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)

    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
    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
    120The Tragedie of Julius Caesar
    And this, the bleeding businesse they haue done:
    1390Our hearts you see not, they are pittifull:
    And pitty to the generall wrong of Rome,
    As fire driues out fire, so pitty, pitty
    Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,
    To you, our Swords haue leaden points Marke Antony:
    1395Our Armes in strength of malice, and our Hearts
    Of Brothers temper, do receiue you in,
    With all kinde loue, good thoughts, and reuerence.
    Cassi. Your voyce shall be as strong as any mans,
    In the disposing of new Dignities.
    1400Bru. Onely be patient, till we haue appeas'd
    The Multitude, beside themselues with feare,
    And then, we will deliuer you the cause,
    Why I, that did loue Caesar when I strooke him,
    Haue thus proceeded.
    1405Ant. I doubt not of your Wisedome:
    Let each man render me his bloody hand.
    First Marcus Brutus will I shake with you;
    Next Caius Cassius do I take your hand;
    Now Decius Brutus yours; now yours Metellus;
    1410Yours Cinna; and my valiant Caska, yours;
    Though last, not least in loue, yours good Trebonius.
    Gentlemen all: Alas, what shall I say,
    My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
    That one of two bad wayes you must conceit me,
    1415Either a Coward, or a Flatterer.
    That I did loue thee Caesar, O 'tis true:
    If then thy Spirit looke vpon vs now,
    Shall it not greeue thee deerer then thy death,
    To see thy Antony making his peace,
    1420Shaking the bloody fingers of thy Foes?
    Most Noble, in the presence of thy Coarse,
    Had I as many eyes, as thou hast wounds,
    Weeping as fast as they streame forth thy blood,
    It would become me better, then to close
    1425In tearmes of Friendship with thine enemies.
    Pardon me Iulius, heere was't thou bay'd braue Hart,
    Heere did'st thou fall, and heere thy Hunters stand
    Sign'd in thy Spoyle, and Crimson'd in thy Lethee.
    O World! thou wast the Forrest to this Hart,
    1430And this indeed, O World, the Hart of thee.
    How like a Deere, stroken by many Princes,
    Dost thou heere lye?
    Cassi. Mark Antony.
    Ant. Pardon me Caius Cassius:
    1435The Enemies of Caesar, shall say this:
    Then, in a Friend, it is cold Modestie.
    Cassi. I blame you not for praising Caesar so,
    But what compact meane you to haue with vs?
    Will you be prick'd in number of our Friends,
    1440Or shall we on, and not depend on you?
    Ant. Therefore I tooke your hands, but was indeed
    Sway'd from the point, by looking downe on Caesar.
    Friends am I with you all, and loue you all,
    Vpon this hope, that you shall giue me Reasons,
    1445Why, and wherein, Caesar was dangerous.
    Bru. Or else were this a sauage Spectacle:
    Our Reasons are so full of good regard,
    That were you Antony, the Sonne of Caesar,
    You should be satisfied.
    1450Ant. That's all I seeke,
    And am moreouer sutor, that I may
    Produce his body to the Market-place,
    And in the Pulpit as becomes a Friend,
    Speake in the Order of his Funerall.
    1455Bru. You shall Marke Antony.
    Cassi. Brutus, a word with you:
    You know not what you do; Do not consent
    That Antony speake in his Funerall:
    Know you how much the people may be mou'd
    1460By that which he will vtter.
    Bru. By your pardon:
    I will my selfe into the Pulpit first,
    And shew the reason of our Caesars death.
    What Antony shall speake, I will protest
    1465He speakes by leaue, and by permission:
    And that we are contented Caesar shall
    Haue all true Rites, and lawfull Ceremonies,
    It shall aduantage more, then do vs wrong.
    Cassi. I know not what may fall, I like it not.
    1470Bru. Mark Antony, heere take you Caesars body:
    You shall not in your Funerall speech blame vs,
    But speake all good you can deuise of Caesar,
    And say you doo't by our permission:
    Else shall you not haue any hand at all
    1475About his Funerall. And you shall speake
    In the same Pulpit whereto I am going,
    After my speech is ended.
    Ant. Be it so:
    I do desire no more.
    1480Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow vs. Exeunt.
    Manet Antony.
    O pardon me, thou bleeding peece of Earth:
    That I am meeke and gentle with these Butchers.
    Thou art the Ruines of the Noblest man
    1485That euer liued in the Tide of Times.
    Woe to the hand that shed this costly Blood.
    Ouer thy wounds, now do I Prophesie,
    (Which like dumbe mouthes do ope their Ruby lips,
    To begge the voyce and vtterance of my Tongue)
    1490A Curse shall light vpon the limbes of men;
    Domesticke Fury, and fierce Ciuill strife,
    Shall cumber all the parts of Italy:
    Blood and destruction shall be so in vse,
    And dreadfull Obiects so familiar,
    1495That Mothers shall but smile, when they behold
    Their Infants quartered with the hands of Warre:
    All pitty choak'd with custome of fell deeds,
    And Caesars Spirit ranging for Reuenge,
    With Ate by his side, come hot from Hell,
    1500Shall in these Confines, with a Monarkes voyce,
    Cry hauocke, and let slip the Dogges of Warre,
    That this foule deede, shall smell aboue the earth
    With Carrion men, groaning for Buriall.
    Enter Octauio's Seruant.
    1505You serue Octauius Caesar, do you not?
    Ser. I do Marke Antony.
    Ant. Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.
    Ser. He did receiue his Letters, and is comming,
    And bid me say to you by word of mouth---
    1510O Caesar!
    Ant. Thy heart is bigge: get thee a-part and weepe:
    Passion I see is catching from mine eyes,
    Seeing those Beads of sorrow stand in thine,
    Began to water. Is thy Master comming?
    1515Ser. He lies to night within seuen Leagues of Rome.
    Ant. Post backe with speede,
    And tell him what hath chanc'd:
    Heere is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
    No Rome of safety for Octauius yet,
    1520Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet stay a-while,
    Thou
    The Tragedie of Julius Caesar 121
    Thou shalt not backe, till I haue borne this course
    Into the Market place: There shall I try
    In my Oration, how the People take
    The cruell issue of these bloody men,
    1525According to the which, thou shalt discourse
    To yong Octauius, of the state of things.
    Lend me your hand. Exeunt
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