The New Hudson Shakespeare: Julius Caesar Part 34

ANTONY. Belike they had some notice of the people 269 How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius. [_Exeunt_]

[Note 258: [_Exeunt_ Citizens...] Exit Plebeians Ff.]

[Note 258: /forms:/ benches. The word used in preceding quotation from Plutarch. The Old Fr. _forme_, mediaeval Lat.

_forma_, was sometimes applied to choir-stalls, with back, and book-rest. "For the origin of this use of the word, cf. Old French _s'a.s.seoir en forme_, to sit in a row or in fixed order."--Murray. Nowhere in literature is there a more realistic study and interpretation of the temper of a mob (a word that has come into use since Shakespeare's time) than in this scene and the short one which follows. Here is the true mob-spirit, fickle, inflammable, to be worked on by any demagogue with promises in his mouth.]

[Note 265: /upon a wish:/ as soon as wished for. Cf. I, ii, 104.]

[Note 268: /rid:/ ridden. So 'writ' for 'written,' IV, iii, 183.]

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SCENE III. _A street_

_Enter_ CINNA _the poet_

CINNA. I dreamt to-night that I did feast with Caesar, And things unluckily charge my fantasy: I have no will to wander forth of doors, Yet something leads me forth.

_Enter_ CITIZENS

1 CITIZEN. What is your name?

2 CITIZEN. Whither are you going?

3 CITIZEN. Where do you dwell?

4 CITIZEN. Are you a married man or a bachelor?

2 CITIZEN. Answer every man directly.

[Note: SCENE III Scene VII Pope.]

[Note: _Enter_ ... Ff add _and after him the Plebeians_.]

[Note 5: _Enter_ CITIZENS Ff omit.]

[Note 6, 13: Whither F3 F4 Whether F1 F2.]

[Note 1: "There was one of Caesar's friends called Cinna, that had a marvellous strange and terrible dream the night before.

He dreamed that Caesar bad him to supper, and that he refused and would not go: then that Caesar took him by the hand, and led him against his will. Now Cinna, hearing at that time that they burnt Caesar's body in the market-place, notwithstanding that he feared his dream, and had an ague on him besides, he went into the market-place to honour his funerals. When he came thither, one of the mean sort asked him what his name was? He was straight called by his name. The first man told it to another, and that other unto another, so that it ran straight through them all, that he was one of them that murthered Caesar: (for indeed one of the traitors to Caesar was also called Cinna as himself) wherefore taking him for Cinna the murtherer, they fell upon him with such fury that they presently dispatched him in the market-place."--Plutarch, _Julius Caesar_.--/to-night:/ last night. So in II, ii, 76, and _The Merchant of Venice_, II, v, 18.]

[Note 2: Things that forbode evil fortune burden my imagination.]

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1 CITIZEN. Ay, and briefly. 10

4 CITIZEN. Ay, and wisely.

3 CITIZEN. Ay, and truly, you were best.

CINNA. What is my name? Whither am I going? Where do I dwell? Am I a married man or a bachelor? Then, to answer every man directly and briefly, wisely and truly: wisely I say, I am a bachelor. 16

2 CITIZEN. That's as much as to say, they are fools that marry: you'll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed; directly.

CINNA. Directly, I am going to Caesar's funeral. 20

1 CITIZEN. As a friend or an enemy?

CINNA. As a friend.

2 CITIZEN. That matter is answered directly.

4 CITIZEN. For your dwelling, briefly.

CINNA. Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol. 25

3 CITIZEN. Your name, sir, truly.

CINNA. Truly, my name is Cinna.

1 CITIZEN. Tear him to pieces; he's a conspirator.

CINNA. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet. 29

4 CITIZEN. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses.

CINNA. I am not Cinna the conspirator.

4 CITIZEN. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going. 34

3 CITIZEN. Tear him, tear him! Come, brands, ho! firebrands!

to Brutus', to Ca.s.sius'; burn all: some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius': away, go! [_Exeunt_]

[Note 12: /you were best/: it were best for you. See Abbott, -- 230.]

[Note 18: /you'll bear me/: I'll give you. For 'me' see note, p. 26, l. 263.]

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ACT IV

SCENE I. _Rome._ _A room in_ ANTONY'S _house_