The Tragedy of Julius Cæsar
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
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
