The real length of time in Julius Cæsar is as follows: About the middle of February A. U. C. 709, a frantick festival, sacred to Pan, and called Lupercalia, was held in honour of Casar, when the regal crown was offered to him by Antony. On the 15th of March in the same year, he was slain. November 27, A. U. C. 710, the triumvirs met at a small island, formed by the river Rhenus, near Bononia, and there adjusted their cruel proscription. —A. U. C. 711, Brutus and Cassius were defeated near Philippi. UPTON. PERSONS REPRESENted. Julius Cæsar. Octavius Cæsar, Marcus Antonius, M. Æmil. Lepidus, Triumvirs, after the Death of Cicero, Publius, Popilius Lena; Senators. Marcus Brutus, Cinna, a Poet. Another Poet. Lucilius, Titinius, Messala, young Cato, and Volumnius; Friends to Brutus and Cassius. Varro, Clitus, Claudius, Strato, Lucius, Dardanius; Servants to Brutus. Pindarus, Servant to Cassius. Calphurnia, Wife to Cæsar. 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. JULIUS CESAR. ACT I. SCENE I. Rome. A Street. Enter FLAVIUS, MARULLUS, and a Rabble of Flav. Hence; home, you idle creatures, get you Is this a holiday? What! know you not, Mar. Where is thy leather apron, and thy rule? 2 Cit. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobler. 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 soals. Mar. What trade, thou knave; thou naughty knave, what trade? you. 2 Cit. Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend Mar. What meanest thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy fellow? 2 Cit. Why, sir, cobble you. Flav. Thou art a cobler, art thou? 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 awl. 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 neats-leather, 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? O, you And do you now put on your best attire? Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Pray to the gods to intermit the plague Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this Assemble all the poor men of your sort; [Exeunt Citizens. If you do find them deck'd with ceremonies.2 You know, it is the feast of Lupercal. Flav. It is no matter; let no images Be hung with Cæsar's trophies. I'll about, And drive away the vulgar from the streets: So do you too, where you perceive them thick. These growing feathers pluck'd from Cæsar's wing, Will make him fly an ordinary pitch; Who else would soar above the view of men, And keep us all in servile fearfulness. 2 See, whe'r-] Whether. [Exeunt. deck'd with ceremonies.] Ceremonies are honorary orna ments; tokens of respect. |