No Fear Shakespeare: Julius Caesar: Act 1 Scene 1

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter FLAVIUS , MURELLUS , a CARPENTER , a COBBLER , and certain other COMMONERS over the stage	FLAVIUS and MURELLUS enter and speak to a CARPENTER , a COBBLER , and some other commoners.
FLAVIUS Hence! Home, you idle creatures get you home! Is this a holiday? What, know you not, Being mechanical, you ought not walk Upon a laboring day without the sign 5 Of your profession?—Speak, what trade art thou?	FLAVIUS Get out of here! Go home, you lazy men. What, is today a holiday? Don’t you know that working men aren’t supposed to walk around on a workday without wearing their work clothes? You there, speak up. What’s your occupation?
CARPENTER Why, sir, a carpenter.	CARPENTER I’m a carpenter, sir.
MURELLUS Where is thy leather apron and thy rule? What dost thou with thy best apparel on? —You, sir, what trade are you?	MURELLUS Where are your leather apron and your ruler? What are you doing, wearing your best clothes? And you, sir, what’s your trade?
COBBLER Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobbler.	COBBLER Well, compared to a fine workman, you might call me a mere cobbler.
MURELLUS But what trade art thou? Answer me directly.	MURELLUS But what’s your trade? Answer me straightforwardly.
COBBLER A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience, which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.	COBBLER It is a trade, sir, that I practice with a clear conscience. I am a mender of worn soles.
MURELLUS 15 What trade, thou knave? Thou naughty knave, what trade?	MURELLUS What trade, boy? You insolent rascal, what trade?
COBBLER Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me. Yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you.	COBBLER Sir, please, don’t be angry. But if your soles are worn out, I can mend you.
MURELLUS What mean’st thou by that? “Mend” me, thou saucy fellow?	MURELLUS What do you mean by that? “Mend” me, you impertinent fellow?!
COBBLER 20 Why, sir, cobble you.	COBBLER Cobble you, sir.
FLAVIUS Thou art a cobbler, art thou?	FLAVIUS You’re a cobbler, are you?
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.	COBBLER Sir, I make my living using an awl. I stick to my work; I don’t meddle in politics or chase women. I’m a surgeon to old shoes. When they’re endangered, I save them. The noblest men who ever walked on leather have walked on my handiwork.
FLAVIUS But wherefore art not in thy shop today? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?	FLAVIUS But why aren’t you in your shop today? Why are you leading these men through 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.	COBBLER Well, to wear out their shoes and get myself more work. Seriously, though, we took the day off to see Caesar, sir, and celebrate his triumph.
MURELLUS Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? What tributaries follow him to Rome To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels? 35 You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things, O you hard hearts, you cruèl men of Rome, Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft Have you climbed up to walls and battlements, To towers and windows, yea, to chimney tops, 40 Your infants in your arms, and there have sat The 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 45 That Tiber trembled underneath her banks To hear the replication of your sounds Made in her concave shores? And do you now put on your best attire? And do you now cull out a holiday?	MURELLUS Why would you celebrate it? What victory does he bring home? What foreign lands has he conquered and captive foreigners chained to his chariot wheels? You blockheads, you unfeeling men! You hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, didn’t you know Pompey Caesar has just conquered the sons of his deceased enemy Pompey. He as won in a civil war, not a foreign conquest. Pompey? Many times you climbed up on walls and battlements, towers and windows—even chimney tops—with your babies in your arms, and sat there patiently all day waiting to see great Pompey ride through the streets of Rome. And when you caught a glimpse of his chariot, didn’t you shout so loud that the river Tiber shook as it echoed? And now you put on your best clothes? And now you take a holiday?
50 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 plague 55 That needs must light on this ingratitude.	And now you toss flowers in the path of Caesar, who comes in triumph over Pompey’s defeated sons? Go home! Run to your houses, fall on your knees, and pray to the gods to spare you the pain that you deserve for such ingratitude.
FLAVIUS Go, go, good countrymen, and for this fault, Assemble all the poor men of your sort, Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears Into the channel till the lowest stream 60 Do kiss the most exalted shores of all.	FLAVIUS Go, go, good countrymen, and to make up for having done wrong, gather up all the poor men like yourselves, lead them to the Tiber, and weep into the river until it overflows its banks.
Exeunt CARPENTER , COBBLER , and all the other commoners	The CARPENTER , COBBLER , and all the commoners exit.
See whether their basest metal be not moved. They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness. Go you down that way towards the Capitol. This way will I. Disrobe the images 65 If you do find them decked with ceremonies.	Well, that ought to move even the most thickheaded of them. There they go, feeling so guilty they’re now tongue-tied—they don’t have a thing to say. You go down toward the Capitol, and I’ll go this way. Undress the statues if they’re decorated in honor of Caesar.
MURELLUS May we do so? You know it is the feast of Lupercal.	MURELLUS Can we do that? You know it’s the feast of Lupercal The feast of Lupercal is an annual celebration to honor the Roman god Lupercus (called Pan in Greek mythology). Lupercal.
FLAVIUS It is no matter. Let no images Be hung with Caesar’s trophies. I’ll about 70 And drive away the vulgar from the streets. So do you too, where you perceive them thick. These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wing Will make him fly an ordinary pitch, Who else would soar above the view of men 75 And keep us all in servile fearfulness.	FLAVIUS It doesn’t matter. Make sure that none of the statues are decorated in tribute to Caesar. I’ll walk around and force the commoners off the streets. You do the same, wherever the crowds are thick. If we take away Caesar’s support, he’ll have to come back down to earth; otherwise, he’ll fly too high and keep the rest of us in a state of fear and obedience.
Exeunt severally	They exit in different directions.

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter FLAVIUS , MURELLUS , a CARPENTER , a COBBLER , and certain other COMMONERS over the stage	FLAVIUS and MURELLUS enter and speak to a CARPENTER , a COBBLER , and some other commoners.
FLAVIUS Hence! Home, you idle creatures get you home! Is this a holiday? What, know you not, Being mechanical, you ought not walk Upon a laboring day without the sign 5 Of your profession?—Speak, what trade art thou?	FLAVIUS Get out of here! Go home, you lazy men. What, is today a holiday? Don’t you know that working men aren’t supposed to walk around on a workday without wearing their work clothes? You there, speak up. What’s your occupation?
CARPENTER Why, sir, a carpenter.	CARPENTER I’m a carpenter, sir.
MURELLUS Where is thy leather apron and thy rule? What dost thou with thy best apparel on? —You, sir, what trade are you?	MURELLUS Where are your leather apron and your ruler? What are you doing, wearing your best clothes? And you, sir, what’s your trade?
COBBLER Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobbler.	COBBLER Well, compared to a fine workman, you might call me a mere cobbler.
MURELLUS But what trade art thou? Answer me directly.	MURELLUS But what’s your trade? Answer me straightforwardly.
COBBLER A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience, which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.	COBBLER It is a trade, sir, that I practice with a clear conscience. I am a mender of worn soles.
MURELLUS 15 What trade, thou knave? Thou naughty knave, what trade?	MURELLUS What trade, boy? You insolent rascal, what trade?
COBBLER Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me. Yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you.	COBBLER Sir, please, don’t be angry. But if your soles are worn out, I can mend you.
MURELLUS What mean’st thou by that? “Mend” me, thou saucy fellow?	MURELLUS What do you mean by that? “Mend” me, you impertinent fellow?!
COBBLER 20 Why, sir, cobble you.	COBBLER Cobble you, sir.
FLAVIUS Thou art a cobbler, art thou?	FLAVIUS You’re a cobbler, are you?
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.	COBBLER Sir, I make my living using an awl. I stick to my work; I don’t meddle in politics or chase women. I’m a surgeon to old shoes. When they’re endangered, I save them. The noblest men who ever walked on leather have walked on my handiwork.
FLAVIUS But wherefore art not in thy shop today? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?	FLAVIUS But why aren’t you in your shop today? Why are you leading these men through 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.	COBBLER Well, to wear out their shoes and get myself more work. Seriously, though, we took the day off to see Caesar, sir, and celebrate his triumph.
MURELLUS Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? What tributaries follow him to Rome To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels? 35 You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things, O you hard hearts, you cruèl men of Rome, Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft Have you climbed up to walls and battlements, To towers and windows, yea, to chimney tops, 40 Your infants in your arms, and there have sat The 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 45 That Tiber trembled underneath her banks To hear the replication of your sounds Made in her concave shores? And do you now put on your best attire? And do you now cull out a holiday?	MURELLUS Why would you celebrate it? What victory does he bring home? What foreign lands has he conquered and captive foreigners chained to his chariot wheels? You blockheads, you unfeeling men! You hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, didn’t you know Pompey Caesar has just conquered the sons of his deceased enemy Pompey. He as won in a civil war, not a foreign conquest. Pompey? Many times you climbed up on walls and battlements, towers and windows—even chimney tops—with your babies in your arms, and sat there patiently all day waiting to see great Pompey ride through the streets of Rome. And when you caught a glimpse of his chariot, didn’t you shout so loud that the river Tiber shook as it echoed? And now you put on your best clothes? And now you take a holiday?
50 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 plague 55 That needs must light on this ingratitude.	And now you toss flowers in the path of Caesar, who comes in triumph over Pompey’s defeated sons? Go home! Run to your houses, fall on your knees, and pray to the gods to spare you the pain that you deserve for such ingratitude.
FLAVIUS Go, go, good countrymen, and for this fault, Assemble all the poor men of your sort, Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears Into the channel till the lowest stream 60 Do kiss the most exalted shores of all.	FLAVIUS Go, go, good countrymen, and to make up for having done wrong, gather up all the poor men like yourselves, lead them to the Tiber, and weep into the river until it overflows its banks.
Exeunt CARPENTER , COBBLER , and all the other commoners	The CARPENTER , COBBLER , and all the commoners exit.
See whether their basest metal be not moved. They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness. Go you down that way towards the Capitol. This way will I. Disrobe the images 65 If you do find them decked with ceremonies.	Well, that ought to move even the most thickheaded of them. There they go, feeling so guilty they’re now tongue-tied—they don’t have a thing to say. You go down toward the Capitol, and I’ll go this way. Undress the statues if they’re decorated in honor of Caesar.
MURELLUS May we do so? You know it is the feast of Lupercal.	MURELLUS Can we do that? You know it’s the feast of Lupercal The feast of Lupercal is an annual celebration to honor the Roman god Lupercus (called Pan in Greek mythology). Lupercal.
FLAVIUS It is no matter. Let no images Be hung with Caesar’s trophies. I’ll about 70 And drive away the vulgar from the streets. So do you too, where you perceive them thick. These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wing Will make him fly an ordinary pitch, Who else would soar above the view of men 75 And keep us all in servile fearfulness.	FLAVIUS It doesn’t matter. Make sure that none of the statues are decorated in tribute to Caesar. I’ll walk around and force the commoners off the streets. You do the same, wherever the crowds are thick. If we take away Caesar’s support, he’ll have to come back down to earth; otherwise, he’ll fly too high and keep the rest of us in a state of fear and obedience.
Exeunt severally	They exit in different directions.