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Julius Caesar
Written by William Shakespeare
Adapted for the stage and directed by Elliot Guerra
“How many ages hence / Shall this our lofty scene be acted over
In states unborn and accents yet unknown!” (3.1.124-126)
September 2017
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Julius Caesar Written by William Shakespeare Adapted for the stage and directed by Elliot Guerra “How many ages hence / Shall this our lofty scene be acted over In states unborn and accents yet unknown!” (3.1.124-126) September 2017 Draft
ACT I SCENE I. Rome. A street. Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and two Commoners. FLAVIUS Hence! home, you idle creatures get you home: Is this a holiday? Speak, what trade art thou? First Commoner Why, sir, a carpenter. MARULLUS Where is thy leather apron and thy rule? You, sir, what trade are you? Second Commoner I am but, as you would say, a cobbler. MARULLUS Answer me directly. Second Commoner Indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles. MARULLUS thou naughty knave, what trade? First Commoner Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with him: FLAVIUS Thou art a cobbler, art thou? Second Commoner I am, indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes. FLAVIUS But wherefore art not in thy shop today? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets? Second Commoner Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into more work! But, indeed, sir, we make holiday, to see Caesar and to rejoice in his triumph.
Who is it in the press that calls on me? I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music, Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear. Soothsayer Beware the ides of March. CAESAR What? BRUTUS A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March. CAESAR Set her before me; let me see her face. CASSIUS Come from the throng; look upon Caesar. CAESAR What say'st thou to me now? Speak once again. Soothsayer Beware the ides of March. CAESAR A dreamer; let us leave. Sennet. Exeunt all except BRUTUS and CASSIUS CASSIUS Will you go see the order of the course? BRUTUS Not I. CASSIUS I pray you, do. BRUTUS I am not gamesome. CASSIUS Brutus, I do observe you now of late: You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand Over your friend.
BRUTUS
Cassius, Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look, I turn the trouble of my countenance Merely upon myself. Vexed I am Of late with passions of some difference, Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors; CASSIUS I have heard, Where many of the best respect in Rome, Except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus And groaning underneath this age's yoke, Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes. BRUTUS Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, That you would have me seek into myself? (Flourish, and shout) What means this shouting? I do fear, the people Choose Caesar for their king. CASSIUS Ay, do you fear it? Then must I think you would not have it so. BRUTUS I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well. But wherefore do you hold me here so long? What is it that you would impart to me? For let the gods so speed me as I love The name of honour more than I fear death. CASSIUS I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, As well as I do know your outward favour. Well, honour is the subject of my story. I was born free as Caesar; so were you: We both have fed as well, and we can both Endure the winter's cold as well as he: For once, upon a raw and gusty day, The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores, Caesar said to me 'Darest thou, Cassius, now Leap in with me into this angry flood,
That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; What you would work me to, I have some aim: What you have said I will consider; what you have to say I will with patience hear Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this: Brutus had rather be a villager Than to repute himself a son of Rome CASSIUS I am glad that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. BRUTUS The games are done and Caesar is returning. CASSIUS As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve; And he will, tell you What hath proceeded worthy note to-day. Re-enter CAESAR and his Train BRUTUS I will do so. CASSIUS Casca will tell us what the matter is. Exeunt CAESAR and all his Train, but CASCA CASCA You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me? BRUTUS Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanced to-day, CASCA Why, there was a crown offered him: and being offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a-shouting. BRUTUS What was the second noise for? CASCA Why, for that too.
CASSIUS
They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for? CASCA Why, for that too. BRUTUS Was the crown offered him thrice? CASCA Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice. CASSIUS Who offered him the crown? CASCA Why, Antony. BRUTUS Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. CASCA I can as well be hanged as tell the manner of it: it was mere foolery; I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown;--yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of these coronets;--and, as I told you, he refused it, the rabblement hooted and clapped their chapped hands and threw up their sweaty night-caps and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Caesar refused the crown that it had almost choked Caesar; for he swounded and fell down at it. BRUTUS What said he when he came unto himself? CASCA When he came to himself again, he said, If he had done or said any thing amiss, he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches, where I stood, cried 'Alas, good soul!' and forgave him with all their hearts: but there's no heed to be taken of them; if Caesar had stabbed their mothers, they would have done no less. CASSIUS
ACT I. SCENE III. The same. A street. Thunder and lightning. Enter from opposite sides, CASCA, with his sword drawn, and CICERO CICERO Good even, Casca, Why are you breathless? and why stare you so? CASCA Are not you moved, when all the sway of earth Shakes like a thing unfirm? O Cicero, never till to-night, never till now, Did I go through a tempest dropping fire. Either there is a civil strife in heaven, Or else the world, too saucy with the gods, Incenses them to send destruction. CICERO Why, saw you any thing more wonderful? CASCA let not men say 'These are their reasons; they are natural;' For, I believe, they are portentous things Unto the climate that they point upon. CICERO Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: But men may construe things after their fashion, Clean from the purpose of the things themselves. Good night then, Casca: this disturbed sky Is not to walk in. CASCA Farewell, Cicero. Exit CICERO. Enter CASSIUS. CASSIUS Who's there? CASCA A Roman. CASSIUS Casca, by your voice.
CASCA
Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this! CASSIUS A very pleasing night to honest men. CASCA Who ever knew the heavens menace so? CASSIUS Those that have known the earth so full of faults. CASCA They say the senators tomorrow Mean to establish Caesar as a king; And he shall wear his crown by sea and land, In every place, save here in Italy. CASSIUS I know where I will wear this dagger then; Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius: CASCA So can I: Thunder still CASSIUS And why should Caesar be a tyrant then? I know he would not be a wolf, But that he sees the Romans are but sheep: He were no lion, were not Romans hinds. Those that with haste will make a mighty fire Begin it with weak straws: But, O grief, Where hast thou led me? I perhaps speak this Before a willing bondman; then I know My answer must be made. CASCA You speak to Casca, Hold, my hand: Be factious for redress of all these griefs, And I will set this foot of mine as far As who goes farthest. CASSIUS
Call'd you, my lord? BRUTUS Get me a taper in my study. LUCIUS I will, my lord. Exit BRUTUS It must be by his death: and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, But for the general. He would be crown'd: And therefore think him as a serpent's egg Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell. Re-enter LUCIUS LUCIUS The taper burneth in your closet, sir. BRUTUS Get you to bed again; it is not day. Is not to-morrow, the ides of March? LUCIUS Sir, March is wasted fourteen days. Knocking within BRUTUS 'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks. Exit LUCIUS Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar, I have not slept. Re-enter LUCIUS LUCIUS Sir, 'tis Cassius at the door, Who doth desire to see you. BRUTUS
Is he alone? LUCIUS No, sir, there are more with him. BRUTUS Let 'em enter. Exit LUCIUS They are the faction. Enter the conspirators, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS BRUTUS, CINNA, METELLUS CIMBER, and TREBONIUS CASSIUS Good morrow, Brutus; do we trouble you? BRUTUS I have been up this hour, awake all night. Know I these men that come along with you? CASSIUS Yes, every man of them, and no man here But honors you; Trebonius, This, Decius Brutus. This, Casca; this, Cinna; and this, Metellus Cimber. BRUTUS They are all welcome. Give me your hands all over, one by one. CASSIUS And let us swear our resolution. What of Cicero? shall we sound him? I think he will stand very strong with us. CASCA Let us not leave him out. CINNA No, by no means. METELLUS CIMBER O, let us have him, for his silver hairs Will purchase us a good opinion And buy men's voices to commend our deeds: BRUTUS
'Tis time to part. CASSIUS But it is doubtful yet, Whether Caesar will come forth to-day, or no; For he is superstitious grown of late, the persuasion of his augurers, May hold him from the Capitol to-day. DECIUS BRUTUS Never fear that: if he be so resolved, I can o'ersway him; Let me work; And I will bring him to the Capitol. BRUTUS By the eighth hour: is that the uttermost? CINNA Be that the uttermost, and fail not then. METELLUS CIMBER Caius Ligarius doth bear Caesar hard, I wonder none of you have thought of him. BRUTUS Good Metellus, go along by him: CASSIUS The morning comes upon 's: we'll leave you, Brutus. And, friends, disperse yourselves; but all remember What you have said, and show yourselves true Romans. BRUTUS Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily; Let not our looks put on our purposes, Exeunt all but BRUTUS. Enter PORTIA PORTIA Brutus, my lord! BRUTUS Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now? PORTIA
You've ungently, Brutus, Stole from bed: and yesternight, at supper, You suddenly arose, and walk'd about, Musing and sighing, with your arms across, And when I ask'd you what the matter was, You stared upon me with ungentle looks; I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head, And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot; Brutus. Dear Make me acquainted with your cause of grief. BRUTUS I am not well in health, and that is all. PORTIA Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health, He would embrace the means to come by it. BRUTUS Why, so I do. Good Portia, go to bed. PORTIA Is Brutus sick? and is it physical To walk unbraced and suck up the humor Of the dank morning? No, my Brutus; You have some sick offence within your mind, Which, by the right and virtue of my place, I ought to know of! BRUTUS Gentle Portia. You are my true and honorable wife, As dear to me as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart ACT II. SCENE II. CAESAR's house. Thunder and lightning. Enter CAESAR, in his night-gown. CAESAR Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night: Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out, 'Help, ho! they murder Caesar!' Who's within? Enter Caesar Servant Caesar Servant My lord?
CAESAR
The gods do this in shame of cowardice: CALPURNIA Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consumed in confidence. Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear That keeps you in the house, and not your own. We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house: And he shall say you are not well to-day: Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this. CAESAR Mark Antony shall say I am not well, And, for thy humour, I will stay at home. Enter DECIUS BRUTUS Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. DECIUS BRUTUS Caesar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Caesar: I come to fetch you to the senate-house. CAESAR And you are come in very happy time, To bear my greeting to the senators And tell them that I will not come to-day: tell them so, Decius. CALPURNIA Say he is sick. CAESAR Shall Caesar send a lie? To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth? Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come. DECIUS BRUTUS Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so. CAESAR The cause is in my will: I will not come; That is enough to satisfy the senate. But for your private satisfaction, I will let you know: Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home:
She dreamt to-night she saw my statue, Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts, Did run pure blood: 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 to-day. DECIUS BRUTUS This dream is all amiss interpreted; It was a vision fair and fortunate: Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, 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 BRUTUS 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. 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. Exeunt 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 BRUTUS, METELLUS CIMBER, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others CAESAR [To the Soothsayer] The ides of March are come. Soothsayer Ay, Caesar; but not gone. DECIUS BRUTUS Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.