Julius Caesar
Act III, Scene 3
Rome. A street.
It is no matter, his name’s Cinna.
John Gilbert, 1867
- Enter Cinna the poet, and after him the Plebeians.
Cinna, a Poet
1 - 4- I dreamt tonight 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.
First Plebeian
5- What is your name?
Second Plebeian
6- Whither are you going?
Third Plebeian
7- Where do you dwell?
Fourth Plebeian
8- Are you a married man or a bachelor?
Second Plebeian
9- Answer every man directly.
First Plebeian
10- Ay, and briefly.
Fourth Plebeian
11- Ay, and wisely.
Third Plebeian
12- Ay, and truly, you were best.
Cinna, a Poet
13 - 16- 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.
Second Plebeian
17 - 18- 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, a Poet
19- Directly, I am going to Caesar’s funeral.
First Plebeian
20- As a friend or an enemy?
Cinna, a Poet
21- As a friend.
Second Plebeian
22- That matter is answer’d directly.
Fourth Plebeian
23- For your dwelling—briefly.
Cinna, a Poet
24- Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.
Third Plebeian
25- Your name, sir, truly.
Cinna, a Poet
26- Truly, my name is Cinna.
First Plebeian
27- Tear him to pieces, he’s a conspirator.
Cinna, a Poet
28- I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet.
Fourth Plebeian
29- Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses.
Cinna, a Poet
30- I am not Cinna the conspirator.
Fourth Plebeian
31 - 32- It is no matter, his name’s Cinna. Pluck but his name out of
- his heart, and turn him going.
Third Plebeian
33 - 35- Tear him, tear him! Come, brands ho, fire-brands! To
- Brutus’, to Cassius’; burn all! Some to Decius’ house, and
- some to Casca’s; some to Ligarius’. Away, go!
- Exeunt all the Plebeians dragging off Cinna.
Tear him, tear him!
From: The Henry Irving Shakespeare
Henry, Sir Irving; Edward Dowden; Gordon Browne; 1888