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The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 7 of 9]

Chapter 140: FOOTNOTES:
By William Shakespeare
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About This Book

This volume assembles several of the author's tragedies and histories, presenting edited texts alongside prefatory material, notes, and variant readings. It contains a romantic tragedy about feuding houses and ill-fated young lovers; a bitter portrayal of a wealthy figure whose generosity turns to misanthropy and ruin; a political drama depicting a leader's assassination and the ensuing struggle over public power and rhetoric; and a dark study of ambition, guilt, and the supernatural's effect on a ruler's conscience. Editorial commentary and textual emendations accompany each play to clarify language and stage practice.

Cas. Who's there?
Casca. A Roman.
Cas. Casca, by your voice.
Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this![2967]
Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men.
Casca. Who ever knew the heavens menace so?[2968]
Cas. Those that have known the earth so full of faults. 45
 For my part, I have walk'd about the streets,
 Submitting me unto the perilous night,
 And thus unbraced, Casca, as you see,
 Have bared my bosom to the thunder-stone;
 And when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open 50
 The breast of heaven, I did present myself
 Even in the aim and very flash of it.
Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens?
 It is the part of men to fear and tremble
 When the most mighty gods by tokens send 55
 Such dreadful heralds to astonish us.
Cas. You are dull, Casca, and those sparks of life[2969]
 That should be in a Roman you do want,[2969][2970]
 Or else you use not. You look pale and gaze[2969]
 And put on fear and cast yourself in wonder,[2969][2971] 60
 To see the strange impatience of the heavens:
 But if you would consider the true cause
 Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts,
 Why birds and beasts from quality and kind,[2972]
 Why old men fool and children calculate,[2973] 65
 Why all these things change, from their ordinance,
 Their natures and preformed faculties,
 To monstrous quality, why, you shall find
 That heaven hath infused them with these spirits[2974]
 To make them instruments of fear and warning 70
 Unto some monstrous state.[2975]
 Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man[2975][2976]
 Most like this dreadful night,[2975]
 That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars[2977]
 As doth the lion in the Capitol,[2978] 75
 A man no mightier than thyself or me
 In personal action, yet prodigious grown
 And fearful, as these strange eruptions are.[2979]
Casca. 'Tis Cæsar that you mean; is it not, Cassius?[2980]
Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now 80
 Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors;[2981]
 But, woe the while! our fathers' minds are dead
 And we are govern'd with our mothers' spirits;
 Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish.
Casca. Indeed they say the senators to-morrow[2982] 85
 Mean to establish Cæsar as a king;
 And he shall wear his crown by sea and land,
 In every place save here in Italy.
Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then:[2983]
 Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius. 90
 Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong;
 Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat:
 Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass,
 Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron,
 Can be retentive to the strength of spirit; 95
 But life, being weary of these worldly bars,
 Never lacks power to dismiss itself.
 If I know this, know all the world besides,
 That part of tyranny that I do bear
 I can shake off at pleasure. [Thunder still.
Casca. So can I:[2984] 100
 So every bondman in his own hand bears
 The power to cancel his captivity.
Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then?
 Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf
 But that he sees the Romans are but sheep: 105
 He were no lion were not Romans hinds.
 Those that with haste will make a mighty fire
 Begin it with weak straws: what trash is Rome,
 What rubbish and what offal, when it serves
 For the base matter to illuminate 110
 So vile a thing as Cæsar! But, O grief,
 Where hast thou led me? I perhaps speak this
 Before a willing bondman; then I know
 My answer must be made. But I am arm'd,
 And dangers are to me indifferent. 115
Casca. You speak to Casca, and to such a man
 That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold, my hand:[2985]
 Be factious for redress of all these griefs,
 And I will set this foot of mine as far
 As who goes farthest.
Cas. There's a bargain made. 120
 Now know you, Casca, I have moved already
 Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans[2986]
 To undergo with me an enterprise
 Of honourable-dangerous consequence;[2987]
 And I do know, by this they stay for me[2988] 125
 In Pompey's porch: for now, this fearful night,
 There is no stir or walking in the streets,
 And the complexion of the element[2989]
 In favour's like the work we have in hand,[2990]
 Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.[2991] 130

Enter Cinna.[2992]

Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste.
Cas. 'Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait;[2993]
 He is a friend. Cinna, where haste you so?
Cin. To find out you. Who's that? Metellus Cimber?
Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate 135
 To our attempts. Am I not stay'd for, Cinna?[2994]
Cin. I am glad on't. What a fearful night is this![2995]
 There's two or three of us have seen strange sights.
Cas. Am I not stay'd for? tell me.
Cin. Yes, you are.[2996][2997]
 O Cassius, if you could[2997][2998] 140
 But win the noble Brutus to our party—[2997][2998]
Cas. Be you content: good Cinna, take this paper,
 And look you lay it in the prætor's chair,
 Where Brutus may but find it, and throw this[2999]
 In at his window; set this up with wax 145
 Upon old Brutus' statue: all this done,[3000]
 Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us.
 Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there?[3001]
Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone
 To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie, 150
 And so bestow these papers as you bade me.[3002]
Cas. That done, repair to Pompey's theatre. [Exit Cinna.
 Come, Casca, you and I will yet ere day
 See Brutus at his house: three parts of him
 Is ours already, and the man entire[3003] 155
 Upon the next encounter yields him ours.
Casca. O, he sits high in all the people's hearts;
 And that which would appear offence in us
 His countenance, like richest alchemy,
 Will change to virtue and to worthiness. 160
Cas. Him and his worth and our great need of him
 You have right well conceited. Let us go,
 For it is after midnight, and ere day
 We will awake him and be sure of him. [Exeunt.

FOOTNOTES:

[2806] Act i. Scene I.] Actus Primus. Scæna Prima. Ff.

Rome. A street.] Capell. Rome. Rowe. A Street in Rome. Theobald.

[2807] Enter ...] Enter a Rabble of Citizens; Flavius, and Murellus, driving them. Capell. Enter Flavius, Marullus, a Carpenter, a Cobler, and certain other Commoners. Jennens.

Marullus,] Theobald, from Plutarch. Murellus, Ff.

certain Commoners.] certaine Commoners over the Stage. Ff. certain Plebeians. Hanmer.

[2808] First Com.] 1. C. Capell. Car. Ff. 1 Pleb. Hanmer.

[2809] Sec. Com.] 2. C. Capell. Cobl. Ff. 2 Pleb. Hanmer.

[2810] you] who Anon. conj.

[2811] Sec. Com.] Edd. Cob. Ff. 2 Pleb. Hanmer. 2. C. Capell. First Cit. Dyce (ed. 1).

[2812] soles] soals F4. soules F1 F2. souls F3.

[2813] Mar.] Mur. Capell. Fla. Ff.

[2814] if you be] if you should be Keightley.

[2815] Mar.] Mur. Ff. Flav. Theobald.

thou] om. Steevens conj., reading as verse.

[2816] with] om. Rowe.

[2817] no tradesman's] no man's Hanmer. no tradesmen's Warburton. no trade,—man's Steevens, 1778 (Farmer conj.). trades, man's Staunton conj.

women's] womens F1. womans F2 F3 F4.

[2818] with awl. I] Steevens, 1778 (Farmer conj.). withal I F1. withall I F2 F3. withal, I F4. with all. I Capell.

[2819] re-cover] Pope. recover Ff.

[2820] But ... streets?] As in Ff. Prose in Theobald (ed. 2).

[2821] Wherefore ... home?] One line in Rowe. Two lines in Ff.]

conquest] conquests Pope (ed. 2).

[2822] Pompey? Many ... oft Have] Rowe (ed. 2). Pompey many ... oft? Have Ff.

[2823] windows,] Rowe. windowes? Ff.

[2824] Rome:] Ff. Rome? Rowe.

[2825] her] his Rowe.

[2826] Made ... Be gone!] Arranged as in Ff. Five lines in Hanmer, ending now ... now ... now ... Rome ... gone.

[2827] shores] shotes F2.

[2828] a] an F4.

[2829] comes] comes to Rome Hanmer.

[2830] this] that Theobald (ed. 2).

[2831] Tiber banks] Tyber bank Rowe. Tyber's bank Theobald (ed. 2).

[2832] [Exeunt ...] Ff. Exeunt Commoners. Rowe. Exeunt Plebeians. Hanmer. Exeunt Citizens. Capell.

[2833] whether] where Ff. whe're Theobald. whe'r Hanmer. whêr Dyce.

metal] Johnson. mettle Ff.

[2834] vanish] vanish'd Pope.

[2835] ceremonies] ceremony Grant White.

[2836] May ... Lupercal] As in Ff. Capell ends the first line at feast.

[2837] It is] 'Tis Capell.

let no] let on F2. let not Long MS.

[2838] with] F1. with the F2 F3 F4.

[2839] [Exeunt.] Ff. Exeunt severally. Theobald.

[2840] Scene II.] Pope. om. Ff.

A public place.] Capell. Flourish. Enter ...] Capell, substantially. Enter Cæsar, Antony for the Course, Carphurnia, ... Cassius, Caska, a Soothsayer: after them Murellus and Flavius. Ff.

[2841] Calpurnia] Grant White (Craik conj.). Calphurnia Ff.

[2842] [Music ceases.] Capell. om. Ff.

[2843] Antonius'] Pope. Antonio's Ff.

[2844] Antonius] Pope. Antonio Ff.

[2845] Cæsar,] om. Anon. conj.

[2846] curse] course Rowe (ed. 2).

[2847] [Flourish.] Musick; and the Procession moves. Capell om. Ff.

[2848] Bid ... again!] continue to Cæsar, or thus: Casc. Bid ... peace yet! Cæs. Again! Who is it ... Staunton conj.

[2849] [Musick ceases. Capell.

[2850] soothsayer bids] soothsayer, bids Craik.

you] om. Capell.

[2851] Cas.] Casca. Johnson.

[2852] [Sennet. F1 F2 F3. Senate. F4. om. Rowe. Musick. Capell.

Exeunt ...] Exeunt. Manent Brut. & Cass. Ff (Manet F1).

[2853] Scene III. Pope.

[2854] I'll leave you] om. Seymour. conj.

[2855] you now] om. Steevens conj.

[2856] friend ... loves] F1. friends ... loves F2 F3. friends ... love F4.

[2857] veil'd] vail'd Seymour conj.

[2858] behaviours] behaviour Rowe.

[2859] further] Ff. farther Pope (ed. 2).

[2860] mistook] mista'en Seymour conj.

[2861] face] eye Upton conj.

[2862] No ... things] As in Rowe. Three lines, ending Cassius ... reflection, ... things, in Ff.

[2863] itself] it selfe: F1. himselfe F2. himself F3 F4.

[2864] by some] from some Pope. of some Staunton conj.

things] thing Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2865] 'Tis just:] om. Seymour conj.

[2866] mirrors] mirror Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2867] That ... heard] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[2868] Into ... Cassius] One line in Rowe. Two, the first ending you, in Ff.

[2869] Therefore] Nay, it is, Therefore Seymour conj.

[2870] you yet] F1 F2. yet you F3 F4.

[2871] on] Ff. of Rowe.

[2872] Were] Where F2.

laugher] Rowe. laughter Ff.

[2873] myself] my selfe F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[2874] What ... king] As in Rowe. Three lines, ending showting?... Cæsar ... king, in Ff.

[2875] both] death Theobald (Warburton).

[2876] for] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

[2877] chafing] F1 F4. chasing F2 F3.

her] Ff. his Rowe.

[2878] said] saide F1. saies F2 F3. says F4.

[2879] Accoutred] F1. Accounted F2 F3 F4.

[2880] bade] bid Pope (ed. 2).

[2881] we] he Pope (ed. 2).

[2882] See note (III).

[2883] I] Then Seymour conj.

[2884] shoulder ... bear] shoulders bear The old Anchises Seymour conj.

[2885] the waves of Tiber] Tyber's waves Seymour conj.

[2886] fever] Feaher F2.

[2887] his] its Pope.

[2888] write] writ F3 F4.

[2889] Alas] 'Alas' Staunton.

[2890] [Shout. Flourish.] Ff. Shout again. Capell.

[2891] general] om. Seymour conj.

[2892] some time] F3 F4. sometime F1 F2. some times Rowe. sometimes Warburton.

[2893] that] om. Seymour conj.

[2894] yours is] yours' S. Walker conj.

[2895] 'em] 'em man F3 F4. them Capell.

[2896] spirit] sprite Seymour conj.

[Shout. Jennens.

[2897] walls] Rowe (ed. 2). walkes F1 F2 F3. walks F4.

[2898] Now ... man.] Put in the margin by Pope.

[2899] eternal] infernal Grey conj.

[2900] See note (III).

aim] aim of Keightley.

[2901] thought] though F2.

[2902] not, so ... you] not (so ... you) Theobald. not so (with ... you) Ff.

[2903] further] farther Collier.

[2904] See note (III).

[2905] these] such Rowe. those Craik conj.

as] which Singer conj.

[2906] that ... words] my words Ritson conj.

[2907] I ... Brutus.] S. Walker proposes to end the lines glad ... show ... Brutus.

[2908] Scene IV. Pope.

[2909] The ... sleeve;] Two lines in Rowe. Four in Ff.

[2910] Re-enter ...] Capell (after line 177). Transferred by Collier to follow line 178, by Dyce to follow line 181. Enter ... Ff (after line 177).

[2911] glow] F1. hlow F2. blow F3 F4.

[2912] by] with Rowe.

senators] senator Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2913] Antonius] Pope. Antonio Ff.

[2914] [To Ant. apart. Johnson.

[2915] o'nights] Capell. a-nights F1 F2. a nights F3 F4.

[2916] Yond] Yon Capell.

[2917] him] m F4.

[2918] be] are Seymour conj.

[2919] Whiles] Whilst Rowe.

[2920] [Sennet. Exeunt ...] Sennit. Exeunt Cæsar and his Traine. Ff. Exeunt Cæsar, and Train: Casca stays. Capell.

[2921] Scene V. Pope.

[2922] Why ... not?] Were you not with him? Seymour conj.

[2923] a-shouting] Dyce. a shouting Ff. a' shouting Capell.

[2924] Why] om. Seymour conj.

[2925] him] om. Seymour conj.

[2926] was] F1. were F2 F3 F4.

[2927] hooted] Johnson. howted F1 F2 F3. houted F4. shouted Hanmer.

[2928] chopped] chopt Ff. chapped Knight.

[2929] swounded] swoonded Ff. swooned Rowe.

[2930] swound] Ff. swoon Rowe.

[2931] like: he] like; he Theobald. like he Ff. like, he Rowe.

[2932] use] used Theobald.

[2933] An] An' Theobald. And Ff. If Pope.

[2934] a word] his word Hanmer.

[2935] no] om. F2.

[2936] stabbed] stabb'd F2.

[2937] away? Theobald. away. Ff.

[2938] an] an' Theobald, and Ff. if Pope.

[2939] Marullus] Theobald. Murrellus F1. Murellus F2 F3 F4.

[2940] your mind] my mind S. Walker conj.

[2941] worth] be worth Rowe.

[2942] quick mettle] quick-mettl'd Capell conj. quick metal Collier conj.

[2943] digest] F3 F4. disgest F1 F2.

[2944] appetite] F1. appetites F2 F3 F4.

[2945] And ... you] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

For this time] om. Seymour conj.

you] you, Cassius Capell, reading For ... Cassius as one line.

[2946] you] yon F2.

with] with with F2.

[2947] come] go Seymour conj.

[2948] to] with Seymour conj.

[2949] art noble; yet] art: noble yet F2.

[2950] metal] F3 F4. mettle F1 mettall F2.

[2951] that] what Pope.

disposed] disposed to Keightley (Seymour conj.).

therefore] so Seymour conj.

it is] F1. tis F2. 'tis F3 F4.

[2952] He should not humour] Cæsar should not love Hanmer.

[2953] Scene III.] Capell. Scene VI. Pope. Act ii. Scene i. Warburton conj. (withdrawn).

A street.] Capell.

[2954] Enter ...] Capell, substantially. Enter Caska, and Cicero. Ff. Enter Caska, with his Sword drawn, and Cicero. Rowe. Enter Casca, his sword drawn; and Cicero, meeting him. Theobald.

[2955] tempest dropping fire] Rowe. tempest-dropping-fire Ff.

[2956] you know] you'd know Dyce conj. you knew Craik conj.

[2957] ha'] have Capell.

[2958] glared] glar'd Rowe (ed. 2). glaz'd Ff. gaz'd Malone (Grey conj.).

surly] F1 F4. surely F2 F3.

[2959] Upon] Up on Mason conj.

[2960] Hooting] Johnson. Howting F1 F2 F3. Houting F4.

[2961] reasons] seasons Collier MS.

[2962] strange-disposed] Theobald. strange disposed Ff.

[2963] to] F1 F2. up F3 F4.

[2964] Antonius] Pope. Antonio Ff.

[2965] Good ... in.] As in Rowe. The first line ends Caska: in Ff.

[2966] Scene VII. Pope.

[2967] Your ... this!] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

what night] what a night Craik.

this!] Dyce. this? Ff.

[2968] heavens] heaven's Warburton.

[2969] You ... wonder,] As in Rowe. Five lines, ending Caska: ... Roman, ... not ... feare, ... wonder, in Ff.

[2970] That] Which Capell.

[2971] cast] case Grant White (Jervis conj.).

[2972] Why ... kind,] Johnson would place this after ordinance, line 66: Mitford, after faculties, line 67.

[2973] old men fool and] Grant White (Mitford conj.). Old men, Fooles, and F1 F2. Old men, Fools, and F3 F4. old men fools, and Steevens, 1778 (Blackstone conj.).

[2974] heaven] nature Capell.

hath] has Theobald.

[2975] Unto ... night,] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending Casca, in Hanmer.

[2976] to] om. Capell, following Hanmer's arrangement.

[2977] roars] roares F1. teares F2. tears F3 F4.

[2978] lion in] lion, in Craik.

[2979] these strange] theser stange F2.

[2980] 'Tis ... Cassius?] As in Rowe. Two lines in Ff.

[2981] thews] sinews F3 F4.

[2982] say] See note (III).

[2983] dagger then] Ff. dagger, then Craik.

[2984] [Thunder still.] Ff. om. Rowe.

[2985] Hold, my] Ff. Hold my Theobald.

[2986] noblest-minded] Rowe. Noblest minded Ff.

[2987] honourable-dangerous] Hyphened first by Capell.

[2988] know, by this they] Rowe. know by this, they Ff.

[2989] element] elements Warburton.

[2990] In favour's like] In favour's, like Johnson. Is Fauors, like F1 F2. Is Favours, like F3 F4. Is feav'rous, like Rowe. Is favour'd like Capell. It favours, like Steevens (1773). It favours like Steevens (1778).

[2991] bloody, fiery] bloody-fiery Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

Enter Cinna.] Transferred by Dyce to follow friend, line 133.

[2992] Scene viii. Jennens.

[2993] gait] Johnson. gate Ff.

[2994] attempts] attempt Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2995] I ... this!] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

I am] I'm Pope.

night is this!] Rann. night is this? F1. night? F2 F3 F4.

[2996] for?] for, Cinna? Capell, ending the line Yes.

[2997] Yes ... party—] Arranged as in Singer (ed. 2). Three lines, ending Cassius, ... Brutus ... party—, in Ff. The lines end are ... Brutus ... party— in Rowe. Two lines, the first ending could, in Johnson. Three, ending Yes, ... win ... party—, in Capell.

[2998] if you could But win] could you win Pope, following Rowe's arrangement.

[2999] but] best Craik conj.

[3000] Brutus'] Pope. Brutus Ff.

[3001] Decius] Decimus Hanmer (and throughout).

[3002] bade] Theobald (ed. 2). bad Ff.

[3003] Is] Are Hanmer.