Julius Caesar (1919) Yale/Text/Act I
ACT FIRST
Scene One
[Rome. A Street]
Enter Flavius, Marullus, and certain Commoners over the Stage.
Flav. Hence! home, you idle creatures, get you home:
Is this a holiday? What! know you not.
Being mechanical, you ought not walk
Upon a labouring day without the sign4
Of your profession? Speak, what trade art thou?
Car. Why, sir, a carpenter.
Mar. Where is thy leather apron, and thy rule?
What dost thou with thy best apparel on?8
You, sir, what trade are you?
Cob. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman,
I am but, as you would say, a cobbler.
Mar. But what trade art thou? Answer me directly.12
Cob. A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use
with a safe conscience; which is, indeed, sir, a
mender of bad soles.
Mar. What trade, thou knave? thou naughty knave, what trade?16
Cob. Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with
me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you.
Mar. What mean'st thou by that? Mend
me, thou saucy fellow?20
Cob. Why, sir, cobble you.
Flav. Thou art a cobbler, art thou?
Cob. Truly, sir, all that I live by is with
the awl: I meddle with no tradesman's matters,
nor women's matters, but with awl. I am, indeed,25
sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are
in great danger, I recover them. As proper men
as ever trod upon neat's leather have gone upon
my handiwork.29
Flav. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day?
Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?
Cob. Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes,
to get myself into more work. But, indeed, sir,
we make holiday to see Cæsar and to rejoice in
his triumph.
Mar. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?36
What tributaries follow him to Rome
To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels?
You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!
O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome,40
Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft
Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements.
To towers and windows, yea, to chimney-tops.
Your infants in your arms, and there have sat44
The livelong day, with patient expectation.
To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome:
And when you saw his chariot but appear.
Have you not made a universal shout, 48
That Tiber trembled underneath her banks,
To hear the replication of your sounds
Made in her concave shores?
And do you now put on your best attire? 52
And do you now cull out a holiday?
And do you now strew flowers in his way,
That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood?
Be gone! 56
Run to your houses, fall upon your knees,
Pray to the gods to intermit the plague
That needs must light on this ingratitude.
Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and for this fault 60
Assemble all the poor men of your sort;
Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears
Into the channel, till the lowest stream
Do kiss the most exalted shores of all. 64
Exeunt all the Commoners.
See whether their basest metal be not mov'd;
They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness.
Go you down that way towards the Capitol;
This way will I. Disrobe the images 68
If you do find them deck'd with ceremonies.
Mar. May we do so?
You know it is the feast of Lupercal.
Flav. It is no matter; let no images 72
Be hung with Cæsar's trophies, I'll about
And drive away the vulgar from the streets:
So do you too where you perceive them thick.
These growing feathers pluck'd from Cæsar's wing 76
Will make him fly an ordinary pitch,
Who else would soar above the view of men
And keep us all in servile fearfulness. Exeunt.
Scene Two
[A Public Place]
Cæs. Calpurnia!
Casca. Peace, ho! Cæsar speaks.
[Music ceases.]
Cæs. Calpurnia!
Cal. Here, my lord.
Cæs. Stand you directly in Antonius' way
When he doth run his course. Antonius! 4
Ant. Cæsar, my lord.
Cæs. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius,
To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say,
The barren, touched in this holy chase,8
Shake off their sterile curse.
Ant. I shall remember:
When Cæsar says 'Do this,' it is perform'd.
Cæs. Set on; and leave no ceremony out.[Music.]
Sooth. Cæsar!12
Cæs. Ha! Who calls?
Casca. Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!
[Music ceases.]
Cæs. Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music, 16
Cry 'Cæsar.' Speak; Cæsar is turn'd to hear.
Sooth. Beware the ides of March.
Cæs. What man is that?
Bru. A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
Cæs. Set him before me; let me see his face.20
Cas. Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Cæsar.
Cæs. What sayst thou to me now? Speak once again.
Sooth. Beware the ides of March.
Cæs. He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.24
Sennet. Exeunt all but Brutus and Cassius.
Cas. Will you go see the order of the course?
Bru. Not I.
Cas. I pray you, do.
Bru. I am not gamesome: I do lack some part 28
Of that quick spirit that is in Antony.
Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires;
I'll leave you.
Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late: 32
I have not from your eyes that gentleness
And show of love as I was wont to have:
You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
Over your friend that loves you.
Bru. Cassius,36
Be not deceiv'd: if I have veil'd my look,
I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myself. Vexed I am
Of late with passions of some difference, 40
Conceptions only proper to myself,
Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviours;
But let not therefore my good friends be griev'd,—
Among which number, Cassius, be you one,—44
Nor construe any further my neglect.
Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war.
Forgets the shows of love to other men.
Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion; 48
By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried
Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?
Bru. No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself, 52
But by reflection, by some other things.
Cas. 'Tis just:
And it is very much lamented, Brutus,
That you have no such mirrors as will turn 56
Your hidden worthiness into your eye,
That you might see your shadow. I have heard
Where many of the best respect in Rome,—
Except immortal Cæsar,—speaking of Brutus, 60
And groaning underneath this age's yoke.
Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes.
Bru. Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius,
That you would have me seek into myself 64
For that which is not in me?
Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar'd to hear;
And, since you know you cannot see yourself
So well as by reflection, I, your glass, 68
Will modestly discover to yourself
That of yourself which you yet know not of.
And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus:
Were I a common laugher, or did use 72
To stale with ordinary oaths my love
To every new protester; if you know
That I do fawn on men and hug them hard.
And after scandal them; or if you know 76
That I profess myself in banqueting
To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.
Flourish, and shout.
Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear the people
Choose Cæsar for their king.
Cas. Ay, do you fear it? 80
Then must I think you would not have it so.
Bru. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well.
But wherefore do you hold me here so long?
What is it that you would impart to me? 84
If it be aught toward the general good.
Set honour in one eye and death i' the other.
And I will look on both indifferently;
For let the gods so speed me as I love 88
The name of honour more than I fear death.
Cas. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus,
As well as I do know your outward favour.
Well, honour is the subject of my story. 92
I cannot tell what you and other men
Think of this life; but, for my single self,
I had as lief not be as live to be
In awe of such a thing as I myself. 96
I was born free as Cæsar; so were you:
We both have fed as well, and we can both
Endure the winter's cold as well as he:
For once, upon a raw and gusty day, 100
The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,
Cæsar said to me, 'Dar'st thou, Cassius, now
Leap in with me into this angry flood,
And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word, 104
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in
And bade him follow; so, indeed he did.
The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it
With lusty sinews, throwing it aside 108
And stemming it with hearts of controversy;
But ere we could arrive the point propos'd,
Cæsar cried, 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink!'
I, as Æneas, our great ancestor, 112
Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber
Did I the tired Cæsar. And this man
Is now become a god, and Cassius is 116
A wretched creature and must bend his body
If Cæsar carelessly but nod on him.
He had a fever when he was in Spain,
And when the fit was on him, I did mark 120
How he did shake; 'tis true, this god did shake;
His coward lips did from their colour fly,
And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world
Did lose his lustre; I did hear him groan; 124
Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans
Mark him and write his speeches in their books,
Alas! it cried, 'Give me some drink, Titinius',
As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me,128
A man of such a feeble temper should
So get the start of the majestic world,
And bear the palm alone.Shout. Flourish.
Bru. Another general shout!
I do believe that these applauses are132
For some new honours that are heap'd on Cæsar.
Cas. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus; and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs, and peep about136
To find ourselves dishonourable graves.
Men at some time are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.140
Brutus and Cæsar: what should be in that 'Cæsar'?
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
Write them together, yours is as fair a name;
Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well;144
Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with 'em,
'Brutus' will start a spirit as soon as 'Cæsar'.
Now, in the names of all the gods at once,
Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed,148
That he is grown so great? Age, thou art sham'd!
Rome, 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 than with one man?152
When could they say, till now, that talk'd of Rome,
That her wide walks encompass'd but one man?
Now is it Rome indeed and room enough,
When there is in it but one only man.156
O, you and I have heard our fathers say,
There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd
Th' eternal devil to keep his state in Rome
As easily as a king.160
Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous;
What you would work me to, I have some aim:
How I have thought of this and of these times,
I shall recount hereafter; for this present,164
I would not, so with love I might entreat you,
Be any further mov'd. What you have said
I will consider; what you have to say
I will with patience hear, and find a time168
Both meet to hear and answer such high things.
Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this:
Brutus had rather be a villager
Than to repute himself a son of Rome172
Under these hard conditions as this time
Is like to lay upon us.
Cas. I am glad
That my weak words have struck but thus much show
Of fire from Brutus.176
Bru. The games are done and Cæsar is returning.
Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve,
And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you
What hath proceeded worthy note to-day.180
Enter Cæsar and his Train.
Bru. I will do so. But, look you, Cassius,
The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow,
And all the rest look like a chidden train:
Calpurnia's cheek is pale, and Cicero184
Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes
As we have seen him in the Capitol,
Being cross'd in conference by some senators.
Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is.188
Cæs. Antonius!
Ant. Cæsar.
Cæs. Let me have men about me that are fat;
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights.192
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Ant. Fear him not, Cæsar, he's not dangerous;
He is a noble Roman, and well given.196
Cæs. Would he were fatter" but I fear him not:
Yet if my name were liable to fear,
I do not know the man I should avoid
So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much;200
He is a great observer, and he looks
Quite through the deeds of men; he loves no plays,
As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music;
Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort204
As if he mock'd himself, and scorn'd his spirit
That could be mov'd to smile at anything.
Such men as he be never at heart's ease
Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,208
And therefore are they very dangerous.
I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd
Than what I fear, for always I am Cæsar.
Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,212
And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.
Sennet. Exeunt Cæsar and his Train [except Casca].
Casca. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me?
Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanc'd to-day,
That Cæsar looks so sad.216
Casca. Why, you were with him, were you not?
Bru. I should not then ask Casca what had chanc'd.
Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him;
and, being offered him, he put it by with the220
back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell
a-shouting.
Bru. What was the second noise for?
Casca. Why, for that too.224
Cas. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for?
Casca. Why, for that too.
Bru. Was the crown offered him thrice?227
Casca. Ay, marry, was 't, and he put it by
thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every
putting-by mine honest neighbours shouted.
Cas. Who offered him the crown?
Casca. Why, Antony.232
Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.
Casca. I can as well be hanged as tell the
manner of it: it was mere foolery; I did not
mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown;
yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of these
coronets; and, as I told you, he put it by once;238
but, for all that, to my thinking, he would fain
have had it. Then he offered it to him again;
then he put it by again; but, to my thinking, he
was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then
he offered it the third time; he put it the third
time by; and still as he refused it the rabblement
shouted and clapped their chopped hands, and245
threw up their sweaty night-caps, and uttered
such a deal of stinking breath because Cæsar
refused the crown, that it had almost choked
Cæsar; for he swounded and fell down at it: and
for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of
opening my lips and receiving the bad air.
Cas. But soft, I pray you: what! did Cæsar swound?252
Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and
foamed at mouth, and was speechless.
Bru. 'Tis very like: he hath the falling-sickness.
Cas. No, Cæsar hath it not; but you, and I,
And honest Casca, we have the falling-sickness.
Casca. I know not what you mean by that;258
but I am sure Cæsar fell down. If the tag-rag
people did not clap him and hiss him, according
as he pleased and displeased them, as they use
to do the players in the theatre, I am no true
man.263
Bru. What said he, when he came unto himself?
Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he
perceiv'd the common herd was glad he refused
the crown, he plucked me ope his doublet and
offered them his throat to cut. An I had been a268
man of any occupation, if I would not have taken
him at a word, I would I might go to hell among
the rogues. And so he fell. When he came to
himself again, he said, if he had done or said
anything amiss, he desired their worships to273
think it was his infirmity. Three or four
wenches, where I stood, cried, 'Alas, good soul!'
and forgave him with all their hearts: but
there's no heed to be taken of them; if Cæsar
had stabbed their mothers, they would have
done no less.279
Bru. And after that he came, thus sad, away?
Casca. Ay.
Cas. Did Cicero say anything?
Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek.
Cas. To what effect?284
Casca. Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look
you i' the face again; but those that understood
him smiled at one another and shook their
heads; but, for mine own part, it was Greek to
me. I could tell you more news too; Marullus
and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæsar's images,
are put to silence. Fare you well. There was
more foolery yet, if I could remember it.292
Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca?
Casca. No, I am promised forth.
Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow?
Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold,
and your dinner worth the eating.297
Cas. Good; I will expect you.
Casca. Do so. Farewell, both.Exit.
Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be!300
He was quick mettle when he went to school.
Cas. So is he now in execution
Of any bold or noble enterprise,
However he puts on this tardy form.304
This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit,
Which gives men stomach to digest his words
With better appetite.
Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave you:308
To-morrow, if you please to speak with me,
I will come home to you; or, if you will,
Come home to me, and I will wait for you.
Cas. I will do so: till then, think of the world.312
Exit Brutus.
Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see,
Thy honourable metal may be wrought
From that it is dispos'd: therefore 'tis meet
That noble minds keep ever with their likes;316
For who so firm that cannot be seduc'd?
Cæsar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus:
If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius,
He should not humour me. I will this night,320
In several hands, in at his windows throw,
As if they came from several citizens,
Writings all tending to the great opinion
That Rome holds of his name; wherein obscurely324
Cæsar's ambition shall be glanced at:
And after this let Cæsar seat him sure;
For we will shake him, or worse days endure.Exit.
Scene Three
[A Street]
Thunder and lightning. Enter [from opposite sides] Casca [with his sword drawn] and Cicero.
Cic. Good even, Casca: brought you Cæsar home?
Why are you breathless? and why stare you so?
Casca. Are not you mov'd, when all the sway of earth
Shakes like a thing unfirm? O Cicero!4
I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds
Have riv'd the knotty oaks; and I have seen
The ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam,
To be exalted with the threat'ning clouds:8
But never till to-night, never till now,
Did I go through a tempest dropping fire.
Either there is a civil strife in heaven,
Or else the world, too saucy with the gods,12
Incenses them to send destruction.
Cic. Why, saw you anything more wonderful?
Casca. A common slave—you know him well by sight—
Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn16
Like twenty torches join'd; and yet his hand,
Not sensible of fire, remain'd unscorch'd.
Besides,—I have not since put up my sword,—
Against the Capitol I met a lion,20
Who glar'd upon me, and went surly by,
Without annoying me; and there were drawn
Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women,
Transformed with their fear, who swore they saw24
Men all in fire walk up and down the streets.
And yesterday the bird of night did sit,
Even at noon-day, upon the market-place,
Hooting and shrieking. When these prodigies28
Do so conjointly meet, let not men say,
'These are their reasons, they are natural';
For, I believe, they are portentous things
Unto the climate that they point upon.32
Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time:
But men may construe things after their fashion,
Clean from the purpose of the things themselves.
Comes Cæsar to the Capitol to-morrow?36
Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius.
Send word to you he would be there to-morrow.
Cic. Good-night then, Casca: this disturbed sky
Is not to walk in.
Casca. Farewell, Cicero.40
Exit Cicero.
Enter Cassius.
Cas. Who's there?
Casca. A Roman.
Cas. Casca, by your voice.
Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this!
Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men.
Casca. Who ever knew the heavens menace so?44
Cas. Those that have known the earth so full of faults.
For my part, I have walk'd about the streets,
Submitting me unto the perilous night,
And, thus unbraced, Casca, as you see,48
Have bar'd my bosom to the thunder-stone;
And, when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open
The breast of heaven, I did present myself
Even in the aim and very flash of it.52
Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens?
It is the part of men to fear and tremble
When the most mighty gods by tokens send
Such dreadful heralds to astonish us.56
Cas. You are dull, Casca, and those sparks of life
That should be in a Roman you do want,
Or else you use not. You look pale, and gaze,
And put on fear, and cast yourself in wonder,60
To see the strange impatience of the heavens;
But if you would consider the true cause
Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts,
Why birds and beasts, from quality and kind,64
Why old men, fools, and children calculate,
Why all these things change from their ordinance,
Their natures, and pre-formed faculties,
To monstrous quality,—why, you shall find68
That heaven hath infus'd them with these spirits
To make them instruments of fear and warning
Unto some monstrous state.
Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man72
Most like this dreadful night,
That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars
As doth the lion in the Capitol,
A man no mightier than thyself or me76
In personal action, yet prodigious grown
And fearful as these strange eruptions are.
Casca. 'Tis Cæsar that you mean; is it not, Cassius?
Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now80
Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors;
But, woe the while! our fathers' minds are dead,
And we are govern'd with our mothers' spirits;
Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish.84
Casca. Indeed, they say the senators to-morrow
Mean to establish Cæsar as a king;
And he shall wear his crown by sea and land,
In every place, save here in Italy.88
Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then;
Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius:
Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong;
Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat:92
Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass,
Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron,
Can be retentive to the strength of spirit:
But life, being weary of these worldly bars,96
Never lacks power to dismiss itself.
If I know this, know all the world besides,
That part of tyranny that I do bear
I can shake off at pleasure.Thunder still.
Casca. So can I:100
So every bondman in his own hand bears
The power to cancel his captivity.
Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then?
Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf104
But that he sees the Romans are but sheep;
He were no lion, were not Romans hinds.
Those that with haste will make a mighty fire
Begin it with weak straws; what trash is Rome,108
What rubbish, and what offal, when it serves
For the base matter to illuminate
So vile a thing as Cæsar! But, O grief,
Where hast thou led me? I, perhaps, speak this112
Before a willing bondman; then I know
My answer must be made: but I am arm'd,
And dangers are to me indifferent.
Casca. You speak to Casca, and to such a man116
That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold, my hand:
Be factious for redress of all these griefs,
And I will set this foot of mine as far
As who goes furthest.
Cas. There's a bargain made.120
Now know you, Casca, I have mov'd already
Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans
To undergo with me an enterprise
Of honourable-dangerous consequence;124
And I do know by this they stay for me
In Pompey's porch: for now, this fearful night,
There is no stir, or walking in the streets;
And the complexion of the element128
In favour's like the work we have in hand,
Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.
Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste.
Cas. 'Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait:
He is a friend.
Enter Cinna.
Cinna, where haste you so?133
Cin. To find out you. Who's that? Metellus Cimber?
Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate
To our attempts. Am I not stay'd for, Cinna?
Cin. I am glad on 't. What a fearful night is this!137
There's two or three of us have seen strange sights.
Cas. Am I not stay'd for? Tell me.
Cin. Yes, you are.
O Cassius, if you could140
But win the noble Brutus to our party—
Cas. Be you content. Good Cinna, take this paper,
And look you lay it in the prætor's chair,
Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this144
In at his window; set this up with wax
Upon old Brutus' statue: all this done,
Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us.
Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there?148
Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone
To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie,
And so bestow these papers as you bade me.
Cas. That done, repair to Pompey's theatre.152
Exit Cinna.
Come, Casca, you and I will yet ere day
See Brutus at his house: three parts of him
Is ours already, and the man entire
Upon the next encounter yields him ours.156
Casca. O, he sits high in all the people's hearts:
And that which would appear offence in us,
His countenance, like richest alchemy,
Will change to virtue and to worthiness.160
Cas. Him and his worth and our great need of him
You have right well conceited. Let us go,
For it is after midnight; and ere day
We will awake him and be sure of him.164
Exeunt.
Footnotes to Act I
Scene One
Scene One S. d. Marullus; cf. n.
3 mechanical: of the laboring class
walk: go about the streets
4, 5 sign . . . profession: artisan's garb and implements
10 in respect of: in comparison with
11 cobbler: bungler
12 directly: plainly, without evasion
16 naughty: wicked, worthless
17 out: out of temper
18 be out: have hole in shoe
25 with awl; cf. n.
27 proper: goodly, worthy
28 neat's leather: cowhide
35 triumph; cf. n.
49 her; cf. n.
50 replication: echo
53 cull out: choose this as
55 Pompey's blood; cf. n. on line 35
69 ceremonies: ceremonial trappings
71 Lupercal; cf. n.
77 pitch: height, as of a hawk's flight
Scene Two
6 in . . . speed: as you run
9 sterile curse: affliction of barrenness
11 Set on: proceed, advance
18 ides of March: March fifteenth
24 S. d. Sennet: trumpet signal for procession to move
25 order of the course: progress of the running
28 gamesome: fond of sport
29 quick: lively
32 do observe: have had occasion to notice
33 that: the same
35, 36 handle your friend too stiffly and distantly
37 Be not deceiv'd: do not misjudge me
39 Merely: altogether
40 of . . . difference: conflicting
41 proper: belonging, relating
42 soil: blemish
45 construe: read meaning into
49 By . . . whereof: because of which mistake
54 just: true, right
59 respect: standing
62 had . . . eyes: had his eyes about him
71 jealous on: suspicious of
73 stale: make cheap
ordinary: customary
74 protester: loud-mouthed pretender
76 scandal: defame
77 profess myself: make protestations
78 S. d. Flourish: trumpet call
87 indifferently: impartially
88 speed: favor, prosper
91 favour: appearance
101 with: against
105 Accoutred: clad
109 hearts of controversy: contesting courage
122 his lips forsook their normal redness as cowardly soldiers forsake their flag
123 bend: glance
124 his: its
129 temper: constitution
130 get the start of: outstrip (in the race of life)
135 Colossus: gigantic statue astride the mouth of the harbor of Rhodes
150 lost . . . bloods: lost the art of breeding noble persons
151 the great flood: Deucalion's, not Noah's
152 fam'd with: famous for
154 walks; cf. n.
155 Rome: then often pronounced 'Room'
158 Brutus: Lucius Junius, who expelled the Tarquins, ca. 510 B. C.
brook'd: tolerated
159 state: throne, rulership
161 nothing: not at all
jealous: doubtful
162 work: induce
aim: inkling
165 so: if; cf. n.
166 mov'd: persuaded, urged
169 meet: fit
170 chew: ponder
173 as: such as
185 ferret: ferret-like, i.e., small and red
187 conference: debate
192 Sleek-headed: unruffled by deep plotting
196 well given: well disposed
198 my name; cf. n.
203 he . . . music; cf. n.
208 Whiles: whilst, while
216 sad: grave, serious
228 marry: properly an invocation of the Virgin
238 coronets: laurel garland of a Lupercal runner
244 still: always, ever
245 chopped: chapped, callous
249 swounded: fainted
252 soft: stop, wait
255 like: likely
falling-sickness: epilepsy
259 tag-rag: beggarly, common
262 true: honest
267 me: expletive 'dative of interest'
ope: open
doublet: Elizabethan jacket
268 An: if
269 occupation: artisan's calling
291 put to silence: dismissed, not killed
294 I have a previous engagement {to dine out)
301 quick mettle: high-spirited
304 However: notwithstanding that
tardy form: sluggish manner
312 the world: public affairs
315 that: that to which
318 bear me hard: dislike me
320 He . . . me; cf. n.
321 several hands: different handwritings
327 or . . . endure: or suffer disastrous consequences of our attempt
Scene Three
1 brought: escorted
3 sway: settled order
14 more: else (or, extraordinarily)
18 sensible of: vulnerable by, sensitive to
22, 23 drawn . . . heap: crowded together in a body
26 bird of night: owl
32 climate: clime, region
point upon: apply to
33 strange-disposed: of strange character
34 after . . . fashion: according to men's own human predilection
35 Clean . . . purpose: quite apart from the true meaning
39 sky: air, state of weather
42 what night: what a night
48 unbraced: with doublet open
49 thunder-stone: supposedly cast from the sky by thunder
60 put on: exhibit the signs of
cast . . . in: give way to; cf. n.
63 Why: i.e., why we have (or, . . . are acting so)
64 from . . . kind: far from their proper character and nature
65 calculate: prophesy; cf. n.
66 ordinance: ordinary conduct
71 monstrous state: unnatural state of affairs
78 fearful: inspiring fear
eruptions: freaks of nature
82 woe the while: alas for the times
84 yoke and sufferance: patience under the yoke
106 hinds: female of red deer; also, servants, rustics
107-111 Cf. n.
114 My . . . made: I shall have to answer for my words
117 That: as
fleering: mocking
Hold, my hand: here, take this handclasp as pledge
118 factious: active
griefs: grievances
123 undergo: undertake
125 by this: by this time
126 Pompey's porch; cf. n.
128 complexion . . . element: visible condition of the sky
131 Stand close: avoid notice
135 incorporate: joined, affiliated
143 prætor's chair: official seat of judge in Roman tribunal
150 hie: hasten away
159 countenance: patronage, support
alchemy: pseudo-science of transmuting metals
162 conceited: expressed figuratively