Julius Caesar E-Book

William Shakespeare

• Herausgeber: Librofilio
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Seitenzahl: 105

Beschreibung

William Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" is a gripping political drama that delves into the complex themes of power, betrayal, and the consequences of ambition.

Set in ancient Rome, the play unfolds in the wake of Caesar's triumphant return from war. As the city celebrates his victories, a group of senators, including Brutus and Cassius, grows increasingly concerned about Caesar's growing influence and potential tyranny. They plot his assassination in an attempt to preserve the Roman Republic.

The play explores the moral dilemmas faced by its characters, particularly Brutus, who must grapple with his loyalty to Caesar and his love for Rome. The famous line "Et tu, Brute?" captures the heart-wrenching moment when Brutus joins the conspiracy against Caesar.

Shakespeare's masterful language and deep insights into human nature shine throughout the play. He examines the consequences of political machinations and the chaos that ensues when leaders are overthrown.

"Julius Caesar" is not just a historical tragedy; it's a timeless exploration of the human condition and the eternal struggle for power. It raises questions about the morality of political actions and the tension between individual honor and the greater good.

This play continues to captivate readers and audiences alike with its compelling characters, intense conflicts, and thought-provoking themes. Whether you're interested in history, politics, or simply enjoy a well-crafted story, "Julius Caesar" remains a must-read classic that offers profound insights into the complexities of human ambition and the consequences of our choices.




ABOUT THE AUTHOR




William Shakespeare, the immortal bard of Avon, was a masterful playwright and poet whose brilliance continues to captivate the world. Born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, his life remains shrouded in mystery, yet his literary legacy shines brightly. Shakespeare's unparalleled talent crafted timeless works such as "Romeo and Juliet", "Hamlet", and "Macbeth", exploring the depths of human emotion and the complexities of the human psyche. His words, like a symphony of language, have left an indelible mark on literature, theater, and culture, transcending time and space. Today, his eloquence and storytelling prowess continue to enchant audiences, making him an everlasting icon of artistic excellence.

Leseprobe

Julius Caesar

William Shakespeare

– 1599 –

Dramatis Personæ

JULIUS CAESAROCTAVIUS CAESAR, Triumvir after his death.MARCUS ANTONIUS, ” ” ”M. AEMILIUS LEPIDUS, ” ” ”CICERO, PUBLIUS, POPILIUS LENA, Senators.MARCUS BRUTUS, Conspirator against Caesar.CASSIUS, ” ” ”CASCA, ” ” ”TREBONIUS, ” ” ”LIGARIUS,” ” ”DECIUS BRUTUS, ” ” ”METELLUS CIMBER, ” ” ”CINNA, ” ” ”FLAVIUS, tribuneMARULLUS, tribuneARTEMIDORUS, a Sophist of Cnidos.A SoothsayerCINNA, a poet.Another Poet.LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, MESSALA, young CATO, and VOLUMNIUS, Friends to Brutus and Cassius.VARRO, CLITUS, CLAUDIUS, STRATO, LUCIUS, DARDANIUS, Servants to BrutusPINDARUS, Servant to Cassius

CALPHURNIA, wife to CaesarPORTIA, wife to Brutus

The Ghost of Caesar

Senators, Citizens, Soldiers, Commoners, Messengers, and Servants.

SCENE: Rome, the conspirators’ camp near Sardis, and the plains of Philippi.

ACT I

SCENE I. Rome. A street.

Enter Flavius, Marullus and a throng of Citizens.

FLAVIUS.Hence! home, you idle creatures, get you home.Is this a holiday? What, know you not,Being mechanical, you ought not walkUpon a labouring day without the signOf your profession? Speak, what trade art thou?

CARPENTER.Why, sir, a carpenter.

MARULLUS.Where is thy leather apron and thy rule?What dost thou with thy best apparel on?You, sir, what trade are you?

COBBLER.Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobbler.

MARULLUS.But what trade art thou? Answer me directly.

COBBLER.A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience, which is indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.

MARULLUS.What trade, thou knave? Thou naughty knave, what trade?

COBBLER.Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me; yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you.

MARULLUS.What mean’st thou by that? Mend me, thou saucy fellow!

COBBLER.Why, sir, cobble you.

FLAVIUS.Thou art a cobbler, art thou?

COBBLER.Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl; I meddle with no tradesman’s matters, nor women’s matters, but withal I am indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes: when they are in great danger, I recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neat’s leather have gone upon my handiwork.

FLAVIUS.But wherefore art not in thy shop today?Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?

COBBLER.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.

MARULLUS.Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?What tributaries follow him to Rome,To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels?You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome,Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oftHave you climb’d up to walls and battlements,To towers and windows, yea, to chimney tops,Your infants in your arms, and there have satThe livelong day with patient expectation,To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome.And when you saw his chariot but appear,Have you not made an universal shout,That Tiber trembled underneath her banksTo hear the replication of your soundsMade in her concave shores?And do you now put on your best attire?And do you now cull out a holiday?And do you now strew flowers in his way,That comes in triumph over Pompey’s blood?Be gone!Run to your houses, fall upon your knees,Pray to the gods to intermit the plagueThat needs must light on this ingratitude.

FLAVIUS.Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this faultAssemble all the poor men of your sort,Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tearsInto the channel, till the lowest streamDo kiss the most exalted shores of all.

[Exeunt Citizens.]

See whether their basest metal be not mov’d;They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness.Go you down that way towards the Capitol;This way will I. Disrobe the images,If you do find them deck’d with ceremonies.

MARULLUS.May we do so?You know it is the feast of Lupercal.

FLAVIUS.It is no matter; let no imagesBe hung with Caesar’s trophies. I’ll aboutAnd drive away the vulgar from the streets;So do you too, where you perceive them thick.These growing feathers pluck’d from Caesar’s wingWill make him fly an ordinary pitch,Who else would soar above the view of men,And keep us all in servile fearfulness.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE II. The same. A public place.

Enter, in procession, with music, Caesar; Antony, for the course; Calphurnia, Portia, Decius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius and Casca; a great crowd following, among them a Soothsayer.

CAESAR.Calphurnia.

CASCA.Peace, ho! Caesar speaks.

[Music ceases.]

CAESAR.Calphurnia.

CALPHURNIA.Here, my lord.

CAESAR.Stand you directly in Antonius’ way,When he doth run his course. Antonius.

ANTONY.Caesar, my lord?

CAESAR.Forget not in your speed, Antonius,To touch Calphurnia; for our elders say,The barren, touched in this holy chase,Shake off their sterile curse.

ANTONY.I shall remember.When Caesar says “Do this,” it is perform’d.

CAESAR.Set on; and leave no ceremony out.

[Music.]

SOOTHSAYER.Caesar!

CAESAR.Ha! Who calls?

CASCA.Bid every noise be still; peace yet again!

[Music ceases.]

CAESAR.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 man is that?

BRUTUS.A soothsayer bids you beware the Ides of March.

CAESAR.Set him before me; let me see his face.

CASSIUS.Fellow, 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.He is a dreamer; let us leave him. Pass.

[Sennet. Exeunt all but 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: I do lack some partOf that quick spirit that is in Antony.Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires;I’ll leave you.

CASSIUS.Brutus, I do observe you now of late:I have not from your eyes that gentlenessAnd show of love as I was wont to have.You bear too stubborn and too strange a handOver your friend that loves you.

BRUTUS.Cassius,Be not deceived: if I have veil’d my look,I turn the trouble of my countenanceMerely upon myself. Vexed I amOf late with passions of some difference,Conceptions only proper to myself,Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors;But let not therefore my good friends be grieved(Among which number, Cassius, be you one)Nor construe any further my neglect,Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war,Forgets the shows of love to other men.

CASSIUS.Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion;By means whereof this breast of mine hath buriedThoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?

BRUTUS.No, Cassius, for the eye sees not itselfBut by reflection, by some other thing.

CASSIUS.’Tis just:And it is very much lamented, Brutus,That you have no such mirrors as will turnYour hidden worthiness into your eye,That you might see your shadow. I have heardWhere 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 myselfFor that which is not in me?

CASSIUS.Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear;And since you know you cannot see yourselfSo well as by reflection, I, your glass,Will modestly discover to yourselfThat of yourself which you yet know not of.And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus:Were I a common laugher, or did useTo stale with ordinary oaths my loveTo every new protester; if you knowThat I do fawn on men, and hug them hard,And after scandal them; or if you knowThat I profess myself in banqueting,To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.

[Flourish and shout.]

BRUTUS.What means this shouting? I do fear the peopleChoose 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?If it be aught toward the general good,Set honour in one eye and death i’ the other,And I will look on both indifferently;For let the gods so speed me as I loveThe 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 cannot tell what you and other menThink of this life; but, for my single self,I had as lief not be as live to beIn awe of such a thing as I myself.I was born free as Caesar; so were you;We both have fed as well, and we can bothEndure 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, “Dar’st thou, Cassius, nowLeap in with me into this angry flood,And swim to yonder point?” Upon the word,Accoutred as I was, I plunged in,And bade him follow: so indeed he did.The torrent roar’d, and we did buffet itWith lusty sinews, throwing it asideAnd stemming it with hearts of controversy.But ere we could arrive the point propos’d,Caesar cried, “Help me, Cassius, or I sink!”I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor,Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulderThe old Anchises bear, so from the waves of TiberDid I the tired Caesar. And this manIs now become a god; and Cassius isA wretched creature, and must bend his body,If Caesar carelessly but nod on him.He had a fever when he was in Spain,And when the fit was on him I did markHow he did shake: ’tis true, this god did shake:His coward lips did from their colour fly,And that same eye whose bend doth awe the worldDid lose his lustre. I did hear him groan:Ay, and that tongue of his, that bade the RomansMark him, and write his speeches in their books,Alas, it cried, “Give me some drink, Titinius,”As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me,A man of such a feeble temper shouldSo get the start of the majestic world,And bear the palm alone.

[Shout. Flourish.]

BRUTUS.Another general shout?I do believe that these applauses areFor some new honours that are heap’d on Caesar.

CASSIUS.Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow worldLike a Colossus, and we petty menWalk under his huge legs, and peep aboutTo find ourselves dishonourable graves.Men at some time are masters of their fates:The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,But in ourselves, that we are underlings.“Brutus” and “Caesar”: what should be in that “Caesar”?Why should that name be sounded more than yours?Write them together, yours is as fair a name;Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well;Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with ’em,“Brutus” will start a spirit as soon as “Caesar.”Now in the names of all the gods at once,Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed,That he is grown so great? Age, thou art sham’d!Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!When went there by an age since the great flood,But it was fam’d with more than with one man?When could they say, till now, that talk’d of Rome,That her wide walls encompass’d but one man?Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough,When there is in it but one only man.O, you and I have heard our fathers say,There was a Brutus once that would have brook’dTh’ eternal devil to keep his state in Rome,As easily as a king!

BRUTUS.That you do love me, I am nothing jealous;What you would work me to, I have some aim:How I have thought of this, and of these times,I shall recount hereafter. For this present,I would not, so with love I might entreat you,Be any further mov’d. What you have said,I will consider; what you have to sayI will with patience hear; and find a timeBoth meet to hear and answer such high things.Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this: