Enter a Soldier. Sold. My noble general, Timon is dead; Alcib. [Reads.] "Here lies a wretched corse of wretched soul bereft: Seek not my name. A plague consume you wicked caitiffs left! Here lie I Timon; who, alive, all living men did hate: Pass by, and curse thy fill; but pass, and stay not here thy gait.” These well express in thee thy latter spirits: Though thou abhorr'dst in us our human griefs, Scorn'dst our brain's flow, and those our droplets which From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit Taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for aye On thy low grave on faults forgiven. Dead Hereafter more. Bring me into your city, Make war breed peace; make peace stint war; make each Let our drums strike. [Exeunt. CINNA, Senators Conspirators against Julius Cæ sar. ARTEMIDORUS, a Sophist of Cni dos. A Soothsayer. CINNA, a Poet. Another Poet. VARRO, CLITUS, CLAUDIUS, FLAVIUS and MARULLUS, Tri- CALPHURNIA, Wife to Cæsar. bunes. PORTIA, Wife to Brutus. Senators, Citizens, Guards, Attendants, &c. SCENE, during a great part of the Play, at Rome: afterwards at Sardis and near Philippi. ACT I. SCENE I. Rome. A Street. Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and a body of Citizens. Of your profession? Speak, what trade art thou? 1 Cit. Why, Sir, a carpenter. Mar. Where is thy leather apron, and thy rule? What dost thou with thy best apparel on? You, Sir; what trade are you? 2 Cit. 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. 2 Cit. A trade, Sir, that, I hope, I may use with a safe conscience; which is, indeed, Sir, a mender of bad soles. Flav. What trade, thou knave? thou naughty knave, what trade? 2 Cit. 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? 2 Cit. Truly, Sir, all that I live by is, with the awl: I meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor women's matters, but with all. I am, indeed, Sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I re-cover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neatsleather have gone upon my handywork. Flav. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets? 2 Cit. 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? What tributaries follow him to Rome, To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels? You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome : And do you now put on your best attire? And do you now strew flowers in his way, 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 Draw them to Tyber banks, and weep your tears Do kiss the most exalted shores of all. You know, it is the feast of Lupercal. Flav. It is no matter; let no images [Exeunt Citizens. These growing feathers pluck'd from Cæsar's wing, Who else would soar above the view of men, [Exeunt. |