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

Chapter 146: 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.

Cæs. Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night:[3107]
 Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out,
 'Help, ho! they murder Cæsar!' Who's within?

Enter a Servant.

Serv. My lord?
Cæs. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice, 5
 And bring me their opinions of success.
Serv. I will, my lord. [Exit.

Enter Calpurnia.

Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? think you to walk forth?
 You shall not stir out of your house to-day.
Cæs. Cæsar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me[3108] 10
 Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see
 The face of Cæsar, they are vanished.
Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies,
 Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
 Besides the things that we have heard and seen, 15
 Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
 A lioness hath whelped in the streets;
 And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead;
 Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds,[3109]
 In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, 20
 Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol;
 The noise of battle hurtled in the air,[3110]
 Horses did neigh and dying men did groan,[3111]
 And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.[3112]
 O Cæsar! these things are beyond all use, 25
 And I do fear them.
Cæs. What can be avoided
 Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?
 Yet Cæsar shall go forth; for these predictions
 Are to the world in general as to Cæsar.
Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen; 30
 The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
Cæs. Cowards die many times before their deaths;
 The valiant never taste of death but once.
 Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
 It seems to me most strange that men should fear; 35
 Seeing that death, a necessary end,
 Will come when it will come.[3113]

Re-enter Servant.

What say the augurers?
Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to-day.[3114]
 Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
 They could not find a heart within the beast.[3115] 40
Cæs. The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
 Cæsar should be a beast without a heart
 If he should stay at home to-day for fear.
 No, Cæsar shall not: danger knows full well[3116]
 That Cæsar is more dangerous than he:[3116] 45
 We are two lions litter'd in one day,[3116][3117]
 And I the elder and more terrible:[3116]
 And Cæsar shall go forth.[3116]
Cal. Alas, my lord,
 Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.
 Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear 50
 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:[3118]
 Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.
Cæs. Mark Antony shall say I am not well, 55
 And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.

Enter Decius.[3119]

Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.
Dec. Cæsar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Cæsar:
 I come to fetch you to the senate-house.
Cæs. And you are come in very happy time, 60
 To bear 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.
Cal. Say he is sick.
Cæs. Shall Cæsar send a lie? 65
 Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,
 To be afeard to tell graybeards the truth?[3120]
 Decius, go tell them Cæsar will not come.
Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause,
 Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so. 70
Cæs. The cause is in my will: I will not come;
 That is enough to satisfy the senate.
 But, for your private satisfaction,
 Because I love you, I will let you know.
 Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home: 75
 She dreamt to-night she saw my statua,[3121][3122][3123]
 Which like a fountain with an hundred spouts[3121][3123][3124]
 Did run pure blood, and many lusty Romans[3121]
 Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it:[3121]
 And these does she apply for warnings and portents[3121][3125][3126]80
 And evils imminent, and on her knee[3126]
 Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day.
Dec. This dream is all amiss interpreted;
 It was a vision fair and fortunate:
 Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, 85
 In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
 Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck[3127]
 Reviving blood, and that great men shall press[3128]
 For tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance.[3129]
 This by Calpurnia's dream is signified. 90
Cæs. And this way have you well expounded it.
Dec. 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 Cæsar.
 If you shall send them word you will not come, 95
 Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
 Apt to be render'd, for some one to say[3130]
 'Break up the senate till another time,
 When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams.'
 If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper 100
 'Lo, Cæsar is afraid'?[3131]
 Pardon me, Cæsar, for my dear dear love
 To your proceeding bids me tell you this,
 And reason to my love is liable.
Cæs. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia! 105
 I am ashamed I did yield to them.[3132]
 Give me my robe, for I will go.[3133]

Enter Publius, Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, Trebonius, and Cinna.[3134]

And look where Publius is come to fetch me.[3135]
Pub. Good morrow, Cæsar.
Cæs. Welcome, Publius.
 What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too? 110
 Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius,[3136]
 Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy
 As that same ague which hath made you lean.
 What is't o'clock?
Bru. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight.[3137]
Cæs. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. 115

Enter Antony.

See! Antony, that revels long o' nights,[3138]
 Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.
Ant. So to most noble Cæsar.
Cæs. Bid them prepare within:[3139]
 I am to blame to be thus waited for.[3140]
 Now, Cinna: now, Metellus: what, Trebonius! 120
 I have an hour's talk in store for you;
 Remember that you call on me to-day:
 Be near me, that I may remember you.
Treb. Cæsar, I will. [Aside] And so near will I be,[3141]
 That your best friends shall wish I had been further. 125
Cæs. Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me;
 And we like friends will straightway go together.
Bru. [Aside] That every like is not the same, O Cæsar,[3142]
 The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon![3143] [Exeunt.

Scene III. A street near the Capitol.[3144]

Enter Artemidorus, reading a paper.[3145]

Art. 'Cæsar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius;[3146]
 come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna; trust not[3146]
 Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber: Decius Brutus[3146]
 loves thee not: thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There[3146][3147][3148]
 is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against[3146][3148][3149]5
 Cæsar. If thou beest not immortal, look about you: security[3146][3150]
 gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend[3146]
 thee![3146]
Thy lover, Artemidorus.'
Here will I stand till Cæsar pass along, 10
 And as a suitor will I give him this.
 My heart laments that virtue cannot live
 Out of the teeth of emulation.[3151]
 If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou mayst live;[3152]
 If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.[3153] [Exit.15

Scene IV. Another part of the same street, before the house of Brutus.[3154]

Enter Portia and Lucius.

Por. I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house;
 Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone.
 Why dost thou stay?
Luc. To know my errand, madam.
Por. I would have had thee there, and here again,
 Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there. 5
 O constancy, be strong upon my side![3155]
 Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue![3155]
 I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.[3155][3156]
 How hard it is for women to keep counsel![3155]
 Art thou here yet?[3155]
Luc. Madam, what should I do? 10
 Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?
 And so return to you, and nothing else?
Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,[3157]
 For he went sickly forth: and take good note
 What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him. 15
 Hark, boy! what noise is that?
Luc. I hear none, madam.
Por. Prithee, listen well:
 I heard a bustling rumour like a fray,[3158]
 And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
Luc. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.

Enter the Soothsayer.

Por. Come hither, fellow:[3159][3160]20
 Which way hast thou been?[3160][3161]
Sooth. At mine own house, good lady.
Por. What is't o'clock?[3162]
Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady.
Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol?
Sooth. Madam, not yet: I go to take my stand,
 To see him pass on to the Capitol. 25
Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not?
Sooth. That I have, lady: if it will please Cæsar[3163]
 To be so good to Cæsar as to hear me,
 I shall beseech him to befriend himself.[3164]
Por. Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him?[3165]30
Sooth. None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance.[3166]
 Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow:
 The throng that follows Cæsar at the heels,
 Of senators, of prætors, common suitors,
 Will crowd a feeble man almost to death: 35
 I'll get me to a place more void and there
 Speak to great Cæsar as he comes along. [Exit.
Por. I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing[3167]
 The heart of woman is! O Brutus,[3168]
 The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise! 40
 Sure, the boy heard me. Brutus hath a suit
 That Cæsar will not grant. O, I grow faint.
 Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;
 Say I am merry: come to me again,
 And bring me word what he doth say to thee.[3169] 45

[Exeunt severally.

FOOTNOTES:

[3004] Act ii. Scene i.] Rowe. Actus Secundus. Ff.

[3005] Rome.... Enter Brutus.] Malone. Enter Brutus in his Orchard. Ff. A garden. Enter Brutus. Rowe. Brutus's Garden.... Theobald.

[3006] when?] Ff. when! Delius.

[3007] him?—that;—] him—that— Rowe. him that, Ff. him!—that! Delius.

[3008] climber-upward] Hyphened first by Warburton.

[3009] upmost] topmost Anon. conj.

[3010] lest] F2 F3 F4. least F1.

may] do Seymour conj.

[3011] Enter....] Re-enter.... Capell.

[3012] Gives....] Ff. om. Capell.

[3013] ides] Theobald (Warburton). first Ff.

[3014] Rome, &c.] Ff. Rome,— Rowe.

[3015] took] ta'en Seymour conj.

[3016] What, Rome?] Rowe. What Rome? Ff.

[3017] ancestors] ancestor Dyce (ed. 2).

[3018] Speak, ... entreated] Printed as two lines by Craik.

entreated] entreated then Pope.

[3019] thee] F1 F4. the F2 F3.

[3020] receivest] Ff. receiv'st Rowe.

[3021] fifteen] Ff. fourteen Theobald (Warburton). now, full fourteen Seymour conj.

Knocking within.] Collier. Knocke within. F1 F2. Knock within F3 F4. Knocking without. Staunton.

[3022] [Exit Lucius.] Theobald. om. Ff.

[3023] instruments] instrument Smith conj. ap. Grey.

[3024] man] F2 F3 F4. a man F1.

[3025] Re-enter....] Capell. Enter.... Ff.

[3026] moe] Ff. more Rowe.

[3027] See note (II).

[3028] cloaks] cloakes F1. cloathes F2. cloaths F3 F4.

[3029] 'em] F1 F2 F3. them F4.

[3030] Seek] om. Seymour conj.

[3031] it in] in it Reed (1803).

[3032] path, thy ... on,] F2. path thy ... on, F1 F3 F4. hath thy ... on, Quarto (1691). march, thy ... on, Pope. put thy ... on, Dyce, ed. 2 (Southern MS., Long MS., and Coleridge conj.). put'st thy ... on, Singer conj. hadst thy ... on, Grant White conj. pall thy ... o'er, Heraud conj. walk, thy ... on, Sawyer conj. pass, thy ... on, Anon. conj. ('Footsteps of Shakspere', p. 32). parle, thy ... on, Nicholson conj. pace, thy ... on, Anon. conj.

[3033] the conspirators] om. Rowe.

[3034] Scene II. Pope.

[3035] [Aside. Rowe.

[3036] This ... Cimber.] Two lines in Rowe.

This ... Cinna] This valiant Casca; Cinna, this Seymour conj.

this, Cinna] Cinna, this, Capell.

[3037] all welcome] welcome, all Seymour conj.

[3038] themselves] om. Steevens conj., ending the line betwixt.

[3039] [They whisper.] Ff. Converse apart. Capell.

[3040] if not the face] if that the face Theobald. if that the fate Warburton. if not the faith Mason conj. if not the faiths Malone conj. if not the fate Keightley.

[3041] abuse,—] Theobald. abuse; Ff.

[3042] high-sighted] high-sieged Warburton conj. (withdrawn). high-seated Theobald conj.

[3043] women, then] women; Then F2 F3 F4. women. Then F1.

[3044] Romans] Romans' Anon. conj.

[3045] palter] faulter Long MS.

[3046] it?] Theobald. it. Ff.

[3047] That] As Seymour conj.

[3048] stain] strain Warburton conj.

[3049] Did] Doth Hanmer.

oath; when] Capell. oath: when Hanmer. oath. When Ff.

[3050] do] doth F4.

[3051] Indeed ... Cæsar? Given to 'Dec.' by Hanmer.

[3052] Let us ... Caius.] Theobald. Let's ... Caius. Ff. Let's ... Cassius. Rowe. Let us ... butchers. Pope (omitting Caius).

[3053] men] man Pope.

[3054] spirit] F1. spirits F2 F3 F4.

[3055] And] Nor Seymour conj.

[3056] 'em] them F4.

make] mark Collier (Collier MS.).

[3057] We ... purgers] Purgers we shall be call'd Seymour conj.

call'd purgers] purgers call'd Staunton conj.

[3058] fear] do fear Pope.

[3059] in] om. Pope.

Cæsar—] Rowe. Cæsar. Ff.

[3060] himself, take] himself take Pope.

[3061] to wildness] See note (III).

[3062] this] See note (III).

[3063] stricken] Ff. strucken Steevens (1778).

[3064] Whether] If Pope. Whe'r Capell.

[3065] main] mean Mason conj.

[3066] fantasy] fantasies Hanmer.

[3067] trees ... glasses ... holes] stoles ... glas ... trees Smith, ap. Grey, conj.

[3068] flatterers:] flatterers. Ff. flatterers; Craik.

[3069] Let me work] Leave me to work Pope. Let me to work Steevens conj. Let me work on him; I can humour him Seymour conj.

[3070] eighth] F4. eight F1 F2 F3.

[3071] hard] F1. hatred F2 F3 F4.

[3072] by him] to him Pope.

[3073] reasons] reason Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[3074] The ... Brutus:] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

upon's] upon us Capell.

[3075] [Exeunt....] Exeunt. Manet Brutus. Ff.

[3076] honey-heavy dew] hony-heavy-Dew Ff. honey heavy dew Johnson. heavy honey-dew Collier (Collier MS. and Singer MS.).

[3077] Scene III. Pope.

[3078] raw cold] raw-cold Steevens (1793).

[3079] You've] Rowe. Y'have Ff. You have Steevens.

[3080] Stole] Stol'n Johnson.

[3081] further] farther Collier.

[3082] wafture] Rowe. wafter Ff.

[3083] you, Brutus] F4. you Brutus F1 F2 F3.

[3084] dank] danke F1. darke F2. dark F3 F4.

[3085] his] hit F1.

[3086] [Kneeling. Collier (Collier MS.).

[3087] charm] F3 F4. charme F1 F2. charge Pope.

[3088] [raising her. Capell.

[3089] the] tho F1.

[3090] comfort] consort Theobald.

[3091] sometimes] om. Pope.

[3092] reputed, Cato's] reputed: Cato's Ff. reputed Cato's Warburton.

[3093] 'em] them F4.

[3094] secrets] secret Capell conj.

[3095] [Knocking within.] Malone. Knock within. Capell. Knocke F1 F2. Knock. F3 F4.

[3096] who's that] who's there that Pope. who's that that Capell. who is that Steevens. who is't that Collier (one volume edition).

Re-enter....] Dyce. Enter Lucius and Ligarius. Ff (after 'Exit Portia').

[3097] [Exit Luc. Capell.

[3098] a] an F4.

[3099] that Romans] the Romans Rowe (ed. 2).

[3100] Yea] Yet Rowe (ed. 2).

[3101] A ... whole.] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[3102] must we] we must Theobald (ed. 2).

[3103] going To] Craik. going, To Ff.

[3104] [Exeunt.] Pope. Thunder. Exeunt. Ff.

[3105] Scene II.] Rowe. Scene IV. Pope.

Cæsar's house.] Cæsar's Palace. Rowe. A room in Cæsar's Palace. Capell.

[3106] Enter Cæsar....] Enter Julius Cæsar.... Ff.

in his night-gown] om. Pope.

[3107] Nor ... to-night] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[3108] threaten'd] threaten S. Walker conj.

[3109] fight] fought Grant White (Dyce, ed. 2). did fight Keightley.

[3110] hurtled] F1. hurried F2 F3 F4.

[3111] did neigh] do neigh F1.

[3112] ghosts] ghost F4.

[3113] Re-enter....] Capell. Enter.... Ff.

augurers] augurs Pope. augures S. Walker conj.

[3114] to stir] stir F4.

[3115] [Exit Servant. Theobald.

[3116] No ... forth.] Put in the margin by Pope.

[3117] are] Capell (Upton conj.). heare F1 F2. hear F3 F4. heard Rowe. were Theobald.

[3118] shall] will Rowe (ed. 2).

[3119] Scene V. Pope.

[3120] afeard] afraid F4.

[3121] Malone conjectures that the lines should end statue, which ... run ... came ... these ... portents.

[3122] to-night] to nigh F2. last night Rowe.

[3123] statua, Which like] Steevens (1793). statue, Which like Ff. statue, which Like to Hanmer. statue, Decius, Which, like Capell.

[3124] an] a Collier.

[3125] And ... apply] These she applies Pope.

[3126] and portents And] and portents Of Hanmer. portents Of Capell.

[3127] great Rome] our Rome Capell conj.

[3128] press] After this Warburton marks an omission of some lines.

[3129] cognizance] cognisances Hanmer.

[3130] render'd] rendered Craik.

[3131] Lo,] Lord Anon. conj.

[3132] ashamed] asham'd Warburton.

[3133] [to an Att. Capell.

[3134] Enter Publius, Brutus, ... and Cinna.] Malone, after Capell. Enter Brutus, ... Cynna, and Publius. Ff.

[3135] Scene VI. Pope.

[3136] Caius] Oh Caius Hanmer.

[3137] o'] Theobald. a Ff.

strucken] stricken Johnson.

[3138] See!] See, F1 F2. See F3 F4.

o' nights] Theobald. a-nights Ff.

[3139] Bid ... within] Bid prepare Seymour conj.

[to an Att. Capell.

[3140] to blame] F3 F4. too blame F1 F2.

[3141] [Aside] Rowe. om. Ff.

[3142] [Aside] Pope. om. Ff.

[3143] yearns] Capell. earnes F1 F2 F3. earns F4. yerns Theobald.

[3144] Scene III.] Rowe. Scene VII. Pope. Scene V. Jennens.

A street ...] Theobald. The Street. Rowe.

[3145] reading a paper] Rowe. om. Ff.

[3146] Cæsar ... thee!] As nine lines of verse, S. Walker conj.

[3147] thou hast] th' hast S. Walker conj.

[3148] There is] There's S. Walker conj.

[3149] against] 'gainst S. Walker conj.

[3150] you] thee Rowe.

[3151] teeth] reach Anon. conj.

[3152] mayst] may'st Rowe. mayest Ff.

[3153] [Exit.] Rowe. om. Ff. Scene closes. Jennens conj.

[3154] Scene IV.] Capell. Rowe and Pope continue the Scene. Scene VI. Jennens.

Another ...] Capell.

[3155] O ... counsel!] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

[3156] might] heart Capell.

[3157] boy] om. F4.

[3158] heard] hear Knight (National ed.).

bustling] Rowe. bussling Ff.

[3159] Enter the Soothsayer.] Ff. Enter Artemidorus. Rowe.

[3160] Come ... been?] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[3161] Sooth.] Art. Rowe.

[3162] o'] Theobald. a Ff.

[3163] lady: if ... me,] lady. If ... me, Johnson. lady, if ... me: Ff.

[3164] befriend] defend Rowe (ed. 2).

[3165] Why ... him?] Printed as prose in Ff.

harm's] harm Pope.

[3166] None ... chance] One line in Pope, omitting may chance. Two lines in Ff.

much ... chance] much, fear, will chance Seymour conj.

[3167] I must ... thing] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

Ay] Aye Ff. ah Johnson.

[3168] Brutus,] Brutus! Brutus! Pope.

[3169] [Exeunt severally.] Theobald. Exeunt. F1. om. F2 F3 F4.