Reading Help THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR
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` `
` `
` SCENE III. `
` A street near the Capitol. `
` `
` Enter Artemidorus, reading paper. `
` `
` ARTEMIDORUS. "Caesar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; `
` come `
` not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna; trust not Trebonius; `
` mark `
` well Metellus Cimber; Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou hast `
` wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these `
` men, `
` and it is bent against Caesar. If thou beest not immortal, `
` look `
` about you. Security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods `
` defend thee! `
` Thy lover, Artemidorus." `
` Here will I stand till Caesar pass along, `
` And as a suitor will I give him this. `
` My heart laments that virtue cannot live `
` Out of the teeth of emulation. `
` If thou read this, O Caesar, thou mayest live; `
` If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive. Exit. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE IV. `
` Another part of the same street, before the house of Brutus. `
` `
` Enter Portia and Lucius. `
` `
` PORTIA. I prithee, boy, run to the Senate House; `
` Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone. `
` Why dost thou stay? `
` LUCIUS. To know my errand, madam. `
` PORTIA. I would have had thee there, and here again, `
` Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there. `
` O constancy, be strong upon my side! `
` Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue! `
` I have a man's mind, but a woman's might. `
` How hard it is for women to keep counsel! `
` Art thou here yet? `
` LUCIUS. Madam, what should I do? `
` Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? `
` And so return to you, and nothing else? `
` PORTIA. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well, `
` For he went sickly forth; and take good note `
` What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him. `
` Hark, boy, what noise is that? `
` LUCIUS. I hear none, madam. `
` PORTIA. Prithee, listen well. `
` I heard a bustling rumor like a fray, `
` And the wind brings it from the Capitol. `
` LUCIUS. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing. `
` `
` Enter the Soothsayer. `
` `
` PORTIA. Come hither, fellow; `
` Which way hast thou been? `
` SOOTHSAYER. At mine own house, good lady. `
` PORTIA. What is't o'clock? `
` SOOTHSAYER. About the ninth hour, lady. `
` PORTIA. Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitol? `
` SOOTHSAYER. Madam, not yet. I go to take my stand `
` To see him pass on to the Capitol. `
` PORTIA. Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou not? `
` SOOTHSAYER. That I have, lady. If it will please Caesar `
` To be so good to Caesar as to hear me, `
` I shall beseech him to befriend himself. `
` PORTIA. Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him? `
` SOOTHSAYER. None that I know will be, much that I fear may `
` chance. `
` Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow, `
` The throng that follows Caesar at the heels, `
` Of senators, of praetors, common suitors, `
` Will crowd a feeble man almost to death. `
` I'll get me to a place more void and there `
` Speak to great Caesar as he comes along. Exit. `
` PORTIA. I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing `
` The heart of woman is! O Brutus, `
` The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise! `
` Sure, the boy heard me. Brutus hath a suit `
` That Caesar will not grant. O, I grow faint. `
` Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord; `
` Say I am merry. Come to me again, `
` And bring me word what he doth say to thee. `
` Exeunt severally. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` <<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM `
` SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS `
` PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY `
` WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE `
` DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS `
` PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED `
` COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY `
` SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> `
` `
` `
` `
` ACT III. SCENE I. `
` Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above. `
` A crowd of people, among them Artemidorus and the Soothsayer. `
` `
` Flourish. Enter Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, `
` Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Popilius, Publius, and others. `
` `
` CAESAR. The ides of March are come. `
` SOOTHSAYER. Ay, Caesar, but not gone. `
` A Hail, Caesar! Read this schedule. `
` DECIUS. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er read, `
` At your best leisure, this his humble suit. `
` ARTEMIDORUS. O Caesar, read mine first, for mine's a suit `
` That touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar. `
` CAESAR. What touches us ourself shall be last served. `
` ARTEMIDORUS. Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly. `
` CAESAR. What, is the fellow mad? `
` PUBLIUS. Sirrah, give place. `
` CASSIUS. What, urge you your petitions in the street? `
` Come to the Capitol. `
` `
` Caesar goes up to the Senate House, the rest follow. `
` `
` POPILIUS. I wish your enterprise today may thrive. `
` CASSIUS. What enterprise, Popilius? `
` POPILIUS. Fare you well. `
` Advances to Caesar. `
` BRUTUS. What said Popilius Lena? `
` CASSIUS. He wish'd today our enterprise might thrive. `
` I fear our purpose is discovered. `
` BRUTUS. Look, how he makes to Caesar. Mark him. `
` CASSIUS. Casca, `
` Be sudden, for we fear prevention. `
` Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, `
` Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back, `
` For I will slay myself. `
` BRUTUS. Cassius, be constant. `
` Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; `
` For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change. `
` CASSIUS. Trebonius knows his time, for, look you, Brutus, `
` He draws Mark Antony out of the way. `
` Exeunt Antony and Trebonius. `
` DECIUS. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him `
` And presently prefer his suit to Caesar. `
` BRUTUS. He is address'd; press near and second him. `
` CINNA. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. `
` CAESAR. Are we all ready? What is now amiss `
` That Caesar and his Senate must redress? `
` METELLUS. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar, `
` Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat `
` An humble heart. Kneels. `
` CAESAR. I must prevent thee, Cimber. `
` These couchings and these lowly courtesies `
` Might fire the blood of ordinary men `
` And turn preordinance and first decree `
` Into the law of children. Be not fond `
` To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood `
` That will be thaw'd from the true quality `
` With that which melteth fools- I mean sweet words, `
` Low-crooked court'sies, and base spaniel-fawning. `
` Thy brother by decree is banished. `
` If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him, `
` I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. `
` Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause `
` Will he be satisfied. `
` METELLUS. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, `
` To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear `
` For the repealing of my banish'd brother? `
` BRUTUS. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar, `
` Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may `
` Have an immediate freedom of repeal. `
` CAESAR. What, Brutus? `
` CASSIUS. Pardon, Caesar! Caesar, pardon! `
` As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall `
` To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber. `
` CAESAR. I could be well moved, if I were as you; `
` If I could pray to move, prayers would move me; `
` But I am constant as the northern star, `
` Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality `
` There is no fellow in the firmament. `
` The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks; `
` They are all fire and every one doth shine; `
` But there's but one in all doth hold his place. `
` So in the world, 'tis furnish'd well with men, `
` And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive; `
` Yet in the number I do know but one `
` That unassailable holds on his rank, `
` Unshaked of motion; and that I am he, `
` Let me a little show it, even in this; `
` That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd, `
` And constant do remain to keep him so. `
` CINNA. O Caesar- `
` CAESAR. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus? `
` DECIUS. Great Caesar- `
` CAESAR. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? `
`
` `
` `
` SCENE III. `
` A street near the Capitol. `
` `
` Enter Artemidorus, reading paper. `
` `
` ARTEMIDORUS. "Caesar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; `
` come `
` not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna; trust not Trebonius; `
` mark `
` well Metellus Cimber; Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou hast `
` wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these `
` men, `
` and it is bent against Caesar. If thou beest not immortal, `
` look `
` about you. Security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods `
` defend thee! `
` Thy lover, Artemidorus." `
` Here will I stand till Caesar pass along, `
` And as a suitor will I give him this. `
` My heart laments that virtue cannot live `
` Out of the teeth of emulation. `
` If thou read this, O Caesar, thou mayest live; `
` If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive. Exit. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE IV. `
` Another part of the same street, before the house of Brutus. `
` `
` Enter Portia and Lucius. `
` `
` PORTIA. I prithee, boy, run to the Senate House; `
` Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone. `
` Why dost thou stay? `
` LUCIUS. To know my errand, madam. `
` PORTIA. I would have had thee there, and here again, `
` Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there. `
` O constancy, be strong upon my side! `
` Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue! `
` I have a man's mind, but a woman's might. `
` How hard it is for women to keep counsel! `
` Art thou here yet? `
` LUCIUS. Madam, what should I do? `
` Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? `
` And so return to you, and nothing else? `
` PORTIA. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well, `
` For he went sickly forth; and take good note `
` What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him. `
` Hark, boy, what noise is that? `
` LUCIUS. I hear none, madam. `
` PORTIA. Prithee, listen well. `
` I heard a bustling rumor like a fray, `
` And the wind brings it from the Capitol. `
` LUCIUS. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing. `
` `
` Enter the Soothsayer. `
` `
` PORTIA. Come hither, fellow; `
` Which way hast thou been? `
` SOOTHSAYER. At mine own house, good lady. `
` PORTIA. What is't o'clock? `
` SOOTHSAYER. About the ninth hour, lady. `
` PORTIA. Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitol? `
` SOOTHSAYER. Madam, not yet. I go to take my stand `
` To see him pass on to the Capitol. `
` PORTIA. Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou not? `
` SOOTHSAYER. That I have, lady. If it will please Caesar `
` To be so good to Caesar as to hear me, `
` I shall beseech him to befriend himself. `
` PORTIA. Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him? `
` SOOTHSAYER. None that I know will be, much that I fear may `
` chance. `
` Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow, `
` The throng that follows Caesar at the heels, `
` Of senators, of praetors, common suitors, `
` Will crowd a feeble man almost to death. `
` I'll get me to a place more void and there `
` Speak to great Caesar as he comes along. Exit. `
` PORTIA. I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing `
` The heart of woman is! O Brutus, `
` The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise! `
` Sure, the boy heard me. Brutus hath a suit `
` That Caesar will not grant. O, I grow faint. `
` Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord; `
` Say I am merry. Come to me again, `
` And bring me word what he doth say to thee. `
` Exeunt severally. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` <<THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM `
` SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS `
` PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY `
` WITH PERMISSION. ELECTRONIC AND MACHINE READABLE COPIES MAY BE `
` DISTRIBUTED SO LONG AS SUCH COPIES (1) ARE FOR YOUR OR OTHERS `
` PERSONAL USE ONLY, AND (2) ARE NOT DISTRIBUTED OR USED `
` COMMERCIALLY. PROHIBITED COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES BY ANY `
` SERVICE THAT CHARGES FOR DOWNLOAD TIME OR FOR MEMBERSHIP.>> `
` `
` `
` `
` ACT III. SCENE I. `
` Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above. `
` A crowd of people, among them Artemidorus and the Soothsayer. `
` `
` Flourish. Enter Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, `
` Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Popilius, Publius, and others. `
` `
` CAESAR. The ides of March are come. `
` SOOTHSAYER. Ay, Caesar, but not gone. `
` A Hail, Caesar! Read this schedule. `
` DECIUS. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er read, `
` At your best leisure, this his humble suit. `
` ARTEMIDORUS. O Caesar, read mine first, for mine's a suit `
` That touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar. `
` CAESAR. What touches us ourself shall be last served. `
` ARTEMIDORUS. Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly. `
` CAESAR. What, is the fellow mad? `
` PUBLIUS. Sirrah, give place. `
` CASSIUS. What, urge you your petitions in the street? `
` Come to the Capitol. `
` `
` Caesar goes up to the Senate House, the rest follow. `
` `
` POPILIUS. I wish your enterprise today may thrive. `
` CASSIUS. What enterprise, Popilius? `
` POPILIUS. Fare you well. `
` Advances to Caesar. `
` BRUTUS. What said Popilius Lena? `
` CASSIUS. He wish'd today our enterprise might thrive. `
` I fear our purpose is discovered. `
` BRUTUS. Look, how he makes to Caesar. Mark him. `
` CASSIUS. Casca, `
` Be sudden, for we fear prevention. `
` Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, `
` Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back, `
` For I will slay myself. `
` BRUTUS. Cassius, be constant. `
` Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; `
` For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change. `
` CASSIUS. Trebonius knows his time, for, look you, Brutus, `
` He draws Mark Antony out of the way. `
` Exeunt Antony and Trebonius. `
` DECIUS. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him `
` And presently prefer his suit to Caesar. `
` BRUTUS. He is address'd; press near and second him. `
` CINNA. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. `
` CAESAR. Are we all ready? What is now amiss `
` That Caesar and his Senate must redress? `
` METELLUS. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar, `
` Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat `
` An humble heart. Kneels. `
` CAESAR. I must prevent thee, Cimber. `
` These couchings and these lowly courtesies `
` Might fire the blood of ordinary men `
` And turn preordinance and first decree `
` Into the law of children. Be not fond `
` To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood `
` That will be thaw'd from the true quality `
` With that which melteth fools- I mean sweet words, `
` Low-crooked court'sies, and base spaniel-fawning. `
` Thy brother by decree is banished. `
` If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him, `
` I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. `
` Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause `
` Will he be satisfied. `
` METELLUS. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, `
` To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear `
` For the repealing of my banish'd brother? `
` BRUTUS. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar, `
` Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may `
` Have an immediate freedom of repeal. `
` CAESAR. What, Brutus? `
` CASSIUS. Pardon, Caesar! Caesar, pardon! `
` As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall `
` To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber. `
` CAESAR. I could be well moved, if I were as you; `
` If I could pray to move, prayers would move me; `
` But I am constant as the northern star, `
` Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality `
` There is no fellow in the firmament. `
` The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks; `
` They are all fire and every one doth shine; `
` But there's but one in all doth hold his place. `
` So in the world, 'tis furnish'd well with men, `
` And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive; `
` Yet in the number I do know but one `
` That unassailable holds on his rank, `
` Unshaked of motion; and that I am he, `
` Let me a little show it, even in this; `
` That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd, `
` And constant do remain to keep him so. `
` CINNA. O Caesar- `
` CAESAR. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus? `
` DECIUS. Great Caesar- `
` CAESAR. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? `
`