Chapter 11

_Enter_ CINNA _the poet_

CINNA. I dreamt to-night that I did feast with Cæsar, 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 Cæsar's friends called Cinna, that had a marvellous strange and terrible dream the night before. He dreamed that Cæsar bad him to supper, and that he refused and would not go: then that Cæsar took him by the hand, and led him against his will. Now Cinna, hearing at that time that they burnt Cæsar'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 Cæsar: (for indeed one of the traitors to Cæsar 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 Cæsar_.--/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 Cæsar'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 Cassius'; 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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