Reading Help THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts, `
` Did run pure blood, and many lusty Romans `
` Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it. `
` And these does she apply for warnings and portents `
` And evils imminent, and on her knee `
` Hath begg'd that I will stay at home today. `
` DECIUS. This dream is all amiss interpreted; `
` It was a vision fair and fortunate. `
` Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, `
` In which so many smiling Romans bathed, `
` Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck `
` Reviving blood, and that great men shall press `
` For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance. `
` This by Calpurnia's dream is signified. `
` CAESAR. And this way have you well expounded it. `
` DECIUS. I have, when you have heard what I can say. `
` And know it now, the Senate have concluded `
` To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar. `
` If you shall send them word you will not come, `
` Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock `
` Apt to be render'd, for someone to say `
` "Break up the Senate till another time, `
` When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams." `
` If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper `
` "Lo, Caesar is afraid"? `
` Pardon me, Caesar, for my dear dear love `
` To your proceeding bids me tell you this, `
` And reason to my love is liable. `
` CAESAR. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia! `
` I am ashamed I did yield to them. `
` Give me my robe, for I will go. `
` `
` Enter Publius, Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, `
` Trebonius, and Cinna. `
` `
` And look where Publius is come to fetch me. `
` PUBLIUS. Good morrow,Caesar. `
` CAESAR. Welcome, Publius. `
` What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too? `
` Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius, `
` Caesar was ne'er so much your enemy `
` As that same ague which hath made you lean. `
` What is't o'clock? `
` BRUTUS. Caesar, 'tis strucken eight. `
` CAESAR. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. `
` `
` Enter Antony. `
` `
` See, Antony, that revels long o' nights, `
` Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony. `
` ANTONY. So to most noble Caesar. `
` CAESAR. Bid them prepare within. `
` I am to blame to be thus waited for. `
` Now, Cinna; now, Metellus; what, Trebonius, `
` I have an hour's talk in store for you; `
` Remember that you call on me today; `
` Be near me, that I may remember you. `
` TREBONIUS. Caesar, I will. [Aside.] And so near will I be `
` That your best friends shall wish I had been further. `
` CAESAR. Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me, `
` And we like friends will straightway go together. `
` BRUTUS. [Aside.] That every like is not the same, O Caesar, `
` The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon! Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` 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. `
`
` Did run pure blood, and many lusty Romans `
` Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it. `
` And these does she apply for warnings and portents `
` And evils imminent, and on her knee `
` Hath begg'd that I will stay at home today. `
` DECIUS. This dream is all amiss interpreted; `
` It was a vision fair and fortunate. `
` Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, `
` In which so many smiling Romans bathed, `
` Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck `
` Reviving blood, and that great men shall press `
` For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance. `
` This by Calpurnia's dream is signified. `
` CAESAR. And this way have you well expounded it. `
` DECIUS. I have, when you have heard what I can say. `
` And know it now, the Senate have concluded `
` To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar. `
` If you shall send them word you will not come, `
` Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock `
` Apt to be render'd, for someone to say `
` "Break up the Senate till another time, `
` When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams." `
` If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper `
` "Lo, Caesar is afraid"? `
` Pardon me, Caesar, for my dear dear love `
` To your proceeding bids me tell you this, `
` And reason to my love is liable. `
` CAESAR. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia! `
` I am ashamed I did yield to them. `
` Give me my robe, for I will go. `
` `
` Enter Publius, Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, `
` Trebonius, and Cinna. `
` `
` And look where Publius is come to fetch me. `
` PUBLIUS. Good morrow,Caesar. `
` CAESAR. Welcome, Publius. `
` What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too? `
` Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius, `
` Caesar was ne'er so much your enemy `
` As that same ague which hath made you lean. `
` What is't o'clock? `
` BRUTUS. Caesar, 'tis strucken eight. `
` CAESAR. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. `
` `
` Enter Antony. `
` `
` See, Antony, that revels long o' nights, `
` Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony. `
` ANTONY. So to most noble Caesar. `
` CAESAR. Bid them prepare within. `
` I am to blame to be thus waited for. `
` Now, Cinna; now, Metellus; what, Trebonius, `
` I have an hour's talk in store for you; `
` Remember that you call on me today; `
` Be near me, that I may remember you. `
` TREBONIUS. Caesar, I will. [Aside.] And so near will I be `
` That your best friends shall wish I had been further. `
` CAESAR. Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me, `
` And we like friends will straightway go together. `
` BRUTUS. [Aside.] That every like is not the same, O Caesar, `
` The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon! Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` 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. `
`