The Bodleian First Folio

A digital facsimile of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, Bodleian Arch. G c.7.



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Reference: kk5r - Tragedies, p. 117

Left Column


The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar. Calp. Cæsar, I neuer stood on Ceremonies,
[955]
Yet now they fright me: There is one within, Besides the things that we haue heard and seene, Recounts most horrid sights seene by the Watch. A Lionnesse hath whelped in the streets, And Graues haue yawn'd, and yeelded vp their dead;
[960]
Fierce fiery Warriours fight vpon the Clouds In Rankes and Squadrons, and right forme of Warre Which drizel'd blood vpon the Capitoll: The noise of Battell hurtled in the Ayre: Horsses do neigh, and dying men did grone,
[965]
And Ghosts did shrieke and squeale about the streets. O Cæsar, these things are beyond all vse, And I do feare them. Cæs. What can be auoyded Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty Gods?
[970]
Yet Cæsar shall go forth: for these Predictions Are to the world in generall, as to Cæsar. Calp. When Beggers dye, there are no Comets seen, The Heauens themselues blaze forth the death of Princes Caes. Cowards dye many times before their deaths,
[975]
The valiant neuer taste of death but once: Of all the Wonders that I yet haue heard, It seemes to me most strange that men should feare, Seeing that death, a necessary end Will come, when it will come. Enter a Seruant.
[980]
What say the Augurers? Ser. They would not haue you to stirre forth to day. Plucking the intrailes of an Offering forth, They could not finde a heart within the beast. Cæs. The Gods do this in shame of Cowardice:
[985]
Cæsar should be a Beast without a heart If he should stay at home to day for feare: No Cæsar shall not; Danger knowes full well That Cæsar is more dangerous then he. We heare two Lyons litter'd in one day,
[990]
And I the elder and more terrible, And Cæsar shall go foorth. Calp. Alas my Lord, Your wisedome is consum'd in confidence: Do not go forth to day: Call it my feare,
[995]
That keepes you in the house, and not your owne. Wee'l send Mark Antony to the Senate house, And he shall say, you are not well to day: Let me vpon my knee, preuaile in this. Cæs. Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
[1000]
And for thy humor, I will stay at home. Enter Decius. Heere's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. Deci. Cæsar, all haile: Good morrow worthy Cæsar, I come to fetch you to the Senate house. Cæs. And you are come in very happy time,
[1005]
To beare my greeting to the Senators, And tell them that I will not come to day: Cannot, is false: and that I dare not, falser: I will not come to day, tell them so Decius. Calp. Say he is sicke. Cæs.
[1010]
Shall Cæsar send a Lye? Haue I in Conquest stretcht mine Arme so farre, To be afear'd to tell Gray‑beards the truth: Decius, go tell them, Cæsar will not come. Deci. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause,
[1015]
Lest I be laught at when I tell them so. Cæs. The cause is in my Will, I will not come, That is enough to satisfie the Senate.

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Right Column


But for your priuate satisfaction, Because I loue you, I will let you know.
[1020]
Calphurnia heere my wife, stayes me at home: She dreampt to night, she saw my Statue, Which like a Fountaine, with an hundred spouts Did run pure blood: and many lusty Romans Came smiling, & did bathe their hands in it:
[1025]
And these does she apply, for warnings and portents, And euils imminent; and on her knee Hath begg'd, that I will stay at home to day. Deci. This Dreame is all amisse interpreted, It was a vision, faire and fortunate:
[1030]
Your Statue spouting blood in many pipes, In which so many smiling Romans bath'd, Signifies, that from you great Rome shall sucke Reuiuing blood, and that great men shall presse For Tinctures, Staines, Reliques, and Cognisance.
[1035]
This by Calphurnia's Dreame is signified. Cæs. And this way haue you well expounded it. Deci. I haue, when you haue heard what I can say: And know it now, the Senate haue concluded To giue this day, a Crowne to mighty Cæsar.
[1040]
If you shall send them word you will not come, Their mindes may change. Besides, it were a mocke Apt to be render'd, for some one to say, Breake vp the Senate, till another time: When Cæsars wife shall meete with better Dreames.
[1045]
If Cæsar hide himselfe, shall they not whisper Loe Cæsar is affraid? Pardon me Cæsar, for my deere deere loue To your proceeding, bids me tell you this: And reason to my loue is liable. Cæs
[1050]
How foolish do your fears seeme now Calphurnia? I am ashamed I did yeeld to them. Giue me my Robe, for I will go. Enter Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Caska, Trebo­ nius, Cynna, and Publius. And looke where Publius is come to fetch me. Pub. Good morrow Cæsar. Cæs.
[1055]
Welcome Publius. What Brutus, are you stirr'd so earely too? Good morrow Caska: Caius Ligarius, Cæsar was ne're so much your enemy, As that same Ague which hath made you leane. What is't a Clocke? Bru.
[1060]
Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight. Cæs. I thanke you for your paines and curtesie. Enter Antony. See, Antony that Reuels long a‑nights Is notwithstanding vp. Good morrow Antony Ant. So to most Noble Cæsar Cæs.
[1065]
Bid them prepare within: I am too blame to be thus waited for. Now Cynna, now Metellus: what Trebonius, I haue an houres talke in store for you: Remember that you call on me to day:
[1070]
Be neere me, that I may remember you. Treb. Cæsar I will: and so neere will I be, That your best Friends shall wish I had beene further. Cæs. Good Friends go in, and taste some wine with me. And we (like Friends) will straight way go together. Bru.
[1075]
That euery like is not the same, O Cæsar, The heart of Brutus earnes to thinke vpon. Exeunt
[Act 2, Scene 3] Enter Artemidorus.

Cæsar, beware of Brutus, take heede of Cassius; come not neere

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[Act 2, Scene 3] Enter Artemidorus.

Cæsar, beware of Brutus, take heede of Cassius; come not

neere Caska, haue an eye to Cynna, trust not Trebonius, marke

well Metellus Cymber, Decius Brutus loues thee not: Thou

[1080]

hast wrong'd Caius Ligarius. There is but one minde in all

these men, and it is bent against Cæsar: If thou beest not Im­

mortall, looke about you: Security giues way to Conspiracie.

The mighty Gods defend thee.

Thy Louer, Artemidorus.

[1085]
Heere will I stand, till Cæsar passe along, And as a Sutor will I giue him this: My heart laments, that Vertue cannot liue Out of the teeth of Emulation. If thou reade this, O Cæsar, thou mayest liue;
[1090]
If not, the Fates with Traitors do contriue. Exit.
 

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<div type="scene" n="3" rend="notPresent">
   <head type="supplied">[Act 2, Scene 3]</head>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Artemidorus.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-jc-art">
      <p rend="italic" n="1077">Cæsar, beware of Brutus, take heede of Cassius; come not<pb facs="FFimg:axc0728-0.jpg" n="118"/>
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      <lb n="1078"/>neere Caska, haue an eye to Cynna, trust not Trebonius, marke
      <lb n="1079"/>well Metellus Cymber, Decius Brutus loues thee not: Thou
      <lb n="1080"/>hast wrong'd Caius Ligarius. There is but one minde in all
      <lb n="1081"/>these men, and it is bent against Cæsar: If thou beest not Im­
      <lb n="1082"/>mortall, looke about you: Security giues way to Conspiracie.
      <lb n="1083"/>The mighty Gods defend thee.
      <lb n="1084"/>
         <hi rend="roman rightJustified">Thy Louer,<hi rend="italic">Artemidorus</hi>.</hi>
      </p>
      <l n="1085">Heere will I stand, till<hi rend="italic">Cæsar</hi>passe along,</l>
      <l n="1086">And as a Sutor will I giue him this:</l>
      <l n="1087">My heart laments, that Vertue cannot liue</l>
      <l n="1088">Out of the teeth of Emulation.</l>
      <l n="1089">If thou reade this, O<hi rend="italic">Cæsar</hi>, thou mayest liue;</l>
      <l n="1090">If not, the Fates with Traitors do contriue.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
</div>

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