Chapter 1

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{Transcriber's note:

{SN Sidenotes are indicated like this.} {ILL Illustrations are indicated like this.} {TN Other notes are indicated like this.}

No intentional corrections or changes have been made to the text.}

PRINTED FOR THE MALONE SOCIETY BY HORACE HART M.A., AT THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

THE TRAGEDY OF CAESAR'S REVENGE

THE MALONE SOCIETY REPRINTS 1911

This reprint of _Caesar's Revenge_ has been prepared by F. S. Boas with the assistance of the General Editor.

_Oct. 1911._ W. W. Greg.

Plays on the subject of Caius Julius are so numerous that some difficulty arises in properly distinguishing the titles. In the case of the piece here reprinted the first title, which is also the head title, suggests a play of Chapman's, while the running title is the traditional property of William Shakespeare. It seems, therefore, best that it should become known by the name which appears second on the title-page. And, indeed, there is reason to suppose that it was this title that the piece originally bore, for the entry in the Registers of the Stationers' Company runs as follows:

v^o Iunij [1606]

{SN John Wright and Nathanael ffossbrook} Entred for their Copies vnder the handes of Master Doctor Couell and the wardens A booke called Iulius Caesars reuenge. vj^d [Arber's Transcript, III. 323.]

The edition that followed upon this entry was undated, but probably appeared before the end of the year. It bore Wright's name and address as stationer, and the initials and device of George Eld as printer. It was a quarto printed in roman type of a body similar to modern pica (20 ll. = 83 mm.). Of this original issue copies survive in the Dyce Library at South Kensington and in the collection of the Duke of Devonshire. In other copies the original title-leaf has been cancelled and replaced by a reprint. This, which is dated 1607, bears the names of both stationers, and a different address, which is presumably Fosbrook's. The printer's initials have been omitted, and, more important, his device has made way for the note 'Priuately acted by the Studentes of Trinity Colledge in Oxford'. The original type had already been distributed, and not only the title, but also the list of personae on the verso of the leaf, was reset. Why Fosbrook should have been originally forgotten, as it would seem he was, and his portion of the stock provided with a title-page which is evidently of the nature of an afterthought, there is nothing to show. Copies of this second issue are in the Bodleian Library at Oxford and the British Museum. All the copies mentioned are perfect, and for the purpose of the present reprint those in the British Museum, Bodleian and Dyce libraries have been collated throughout. The two former are in substantial agreement: the Dyce copy has both formes of sheet A in an uncorrected state: there is a curious progressive error at l. 2481.

No record of performance survives to corroborate the information supplied by the second title-page, but from internal evidence it may be supposed to have taken place some years before publication, the style of the play being modelled on those popular in the last decade of the sixteenth century, especially _Tamburlaine_ and the _Spanish Tragedie_. The complete absence of comic relief, and the exceptional number of recondite classical allusions, are in favour of the academic origin of the play, and this is perhaps further evidenced by the fact that the source, upon which the anonymous author drew, appears to have been, not Plutarch, but Appian's _Bellum Civile_. Appian alone (book II, chapters 113 and 117) names Bucolianus among Caesar's murderers, though Cicero mentions him twice in his letters to Atticus as Bucilianus. There is also one local reference to connect the play with Oxford, in the lines put into Caesar's mouth.

And _Isis_ wept to see her daughter _Thames_, Chainge her cleere cristall, to vermilian sad. (ll. 1278-9.)

The text of the play presents a good many difficulties, and in some places there is reason to suspect more or less serious lacunae. The classical names too are often badly corrupted, and the punctuation is the worst conceivable. There is a division into acts and scenes, but it neither follows a consistent principle, nor exhibits a correct numbering. A new division on the ordinarily accepted principles of the English stage has therefore been introduced in the margin. This has necessitated a somewhat minute consideration of exits and entrances, and a special list of necessary stage directions has been added below after the usual list of irregular readings.

A list of personae is given in the original on the verso of the title-leaf. The only omission is that of a Lord who has a part in several scenes.

The thanks of the editor are due to the Rev. H. E. D. Blakiston, President of Trinity College, Oxford, for information to the effect that no references to plays are traceable in the account books of the College, unless a payment of 6s. 6d. for a 'spectaculum in festo Trinitatis' in 1565 can be so interpreted. A similar debt is owing to Mr. J. P. Maine, librarian to the Duke of Devonshire, for information as to the readings of the copy of the original issue of the play preserved at Chatsworth.

LIST OF IRREGULAR AND DOUBTFUL READINGS

The punctuation of the original is so erratic as to make it impossible to record all irregularities. The following are particularly frequent: comma or semi-colon for period, especially at the end of a speech, period or other stop for query-mark, colon or, less frequently, semi-colon where at most a comma is needed. As a rule only those cases have been noticed which would be likely to cause difficulty to a reader who had the above points in mind.

{TN Catchwords are not shown in this transcription. Other possible errors, which have not been corrected, are:

718 how (How) 1181 _Phæbus_ (_Phoebus_) 1694 (unusual indentation) 1887 (not indented) }

A 1^v _Casca._ (_Casea._ 1607) _Augur._ (_Augur:_ 1607) _Senators._ (_Seuators._ 1607) _Octauian._ (_Actauian._ 1607) _Camber._ (both) 11 which (what) 14 her (? his) 20 field 25 Heauens. O (Heauens, O) 31 sig. A2 (B2 _Dyce only_) 32 Vomit (vomit) ills (? ills:) 34 BE 44 shild 46 greatnesse. (? greatnesse;) 55 praizd (_i.e._ valued) 59 swaye. (swaye,) 87 When as 98 liuing (liung _Dyce only_) 108 ouerthrowne, (ou erthrowne, _B.M._, _Devon._) 132 a sleepe 136 a waite 143 bisse. (blisse.) 148 beare. (beare,) 149 Wihch (Which) 163 starrs. (starrs,) 167 remououe 169 haue. (haue--) 171 this, (_i.e._ thus,) 175 a misse, 182 farwell, then (farwell then,) 182 c.w. Here (183 Heere) 192 woundring 203 T'was 215 babish 216 sound (sound.) 219 Io ioyfull, Io 227 boucher'd 237 stange 247 enternally 252 c.w. Whilst (253 Whil'st) 261 Thee (? Flee) blood (blood.) 262 thirst. (thirst,) 263 goaring 277 _Romaine_, (_Romaine_) 288 when as 308 When as 324 Temple (_Tempe_) 325 waues, (waues.) 335 _Scythia_ 344 freedon, 349 vnderringing 354 fall: 357 blast, 363 dol-full 410 they (thy) 411 Soule. (_point doubtful, read_ Soule,) 412 What (? That) 413 _Libians_ 430 petition. (petition,) 432 permit,. {TN ? superfluous '.'?} 434 Some what 450 turnde, (turnde) 460 with out 468 shue (sue) 474 griefe. (griefe,) c.w. VVhich (475 Which) 494 handmayde, forth (handmayde forth,) 498 hath 508 woundring 513 poastes. (poastes) 514 name, (name.) 515 bring: (bring) 519 pearles. (pearles) 527 beheld (behold) 535 althings sees. (sees) 542 _But._ (? _Ant._) 544 _Cæsa_, 549 thee (the) cut, (cut) 561 weaud (? weand _B.M. only_) 567 fized (fixed) 568 ouer (? euer) 576 _Neptnnus_ 598 _Piramids_. (_Piramids_,) 602 _Gnidas_ (_Gnidus_) 609 _Antho._ (_Dis._) 617 Iollity. (Iollity,) 620 _Setorius_ (_Sertorius_) 621 ouerthrowe. (ouerthrowe,) 622 _Nepoune_ 627 waight, blisse. (blisse,) 628 haue. (haue,) 633 night. (night,) 634 plauges 642 SCENA 4. 646 they selfe. (selfe) 652 like wise _Ptolomeis_ gould. (gould,) 655 made. (made,) 670 wordly 699 a vaile 704 soueraignety. (soueraignety,) 708 Men. (Men,) 709 entertaynd, (entertaynd.) 713 Earth. (Earth,) 725 sway (sway.) 734 a non, 751-2 (_lacuna_ ?) 763 letter pattens 784 if, (if) 786 a like, 807 cease. (cease,) 818 graue. (graue,) 826 Alacke (Alike) 828 a like 829 causer which (? causer, mine) 835 perlexed 838 be hould 848 Queene, (Queene.) 851 framd. (framd,) 864 prefest. 874 instruments. (instruments,) 883 _Ncmean_ 885 os (of) 891 Be sides 893 _Alcionus_: 899 rosall head, (head.) 900 _Phoebus_ 902 respendent 913 _Spicery_, (?) 914 _Nardus_ 924 Queene, (Queene) 925 ofhirs: 936 speech (speech.) 947 _Camber_ (_Cimber_) 960 _Cæs._ (_Cas._) 969 tale, (tale,) 971 blood, (blood.) 989 _Cam._ (_Cim._) 991 _Cum._ (990 c.w. _Cam._) 996 _Cibills_ verse. (verse) 1003 sepulcher. (sepulcher,) 1012 praise 1014 bespent (? besprent) 1022 _Romaine_, (_Romaines_,) 1025 _Gic._ 1027 borne 1050 learne; (learne,) 1051 althings 1053 blessiings 1059 Counrries 1075 nor (not) 1082 _Hilias_ (_Allias_) sight: (? fight: _B.M. only_) 1103 slay (stay) 1108 Countries: (Countries) 1111 _Sene._ 1118 it (it.) vse, (vse) 1121 vertues (? vertue) brunt's, 1137 me (me?) 1149 _Adastria_ (_Adrastia_) Queene. (Queene,) 1159 sleepe. (sleepe,) 1161 die, (die.) 1162 paintcd 1182 backes. (backes,) 1196 _Lords_, (? _Lord_,) 1198 a fore, 1201 be-hind past. (past,) 1203 triump (trump) 1205 witner (witnes) 1207 it bound it 1208 _Phægiean_ (_Phlegraean_) 1209 _Tropheus_ (Trophies) 1213 Pompeous 1218 crowne, (crowne.) 1221 onmy 1222 beare. (beare) 1229 _Africans_, 1234 starre. (starre) 1237 Gouernesse. (Gouernesse,) 1246 _Æmelius_, 1258 _Romulus_. (_Romulus_,) 1260 Ouer- (? Euer-) 1262 exquies 1263 _Ioue_. (_Ioue_,) 1264 fame. (fame,) 1265 _Hydasspis_, 1270 Whereby (Were by) resistles, (resistles) powers (? power) 1276 _Rohdans_ 1278 _Thames_. (_Thames_) 1283 greefe (greefe.) 1318 Afrigted 1321 winde (? minde) 1322 on (_i.e._ one) 1329 my 1335 one (_i.e._ on) 1361 the (thee) 1364 receiue (? reuiue) 1389 persumption: 1423 by (ly) 1426 lotheth (? bodeth) 1429 ACT. 2. 1430 _Anthony_ (_Anthony_,) _Lords_, (? _Lord_,) 1431 _Pharthia_ 1432 _Cæsars_ (? _Crassus_) 1438 _Armenians_ _Medians_ 1448 troopes. (troopes,) 1462 victorye. (victorye,) 1467 there by 1468 spur. (spur) 1472 selfe (? selfe's) 1474 will (? well) 1479 euerdaring (? ouerdaring) 1481-2 (_lacuna_?) 1486 or (are) 1491 fame. (fame) 1494 Pincely 1498 liberty. (liberty,) 1522 _Cumber_ (? _Cimber_,) 1539 mis boding 1577 quench-les 1582 a peerce 1604 T'was 1613 hap (hap.) 1619 Bec (?) 1623 fore-cast, (fore-cast) 1633-4 (? _lacuna_) 1637 steeps 1638 threeatning 1643 bale full 1649 bale-full 1650 consort. In (consort, in) 1657 Dre ame which (with) 1662 _Pre._ (i.e. _Præcentor._) 1665 ilde 1666 Thout a non 1670 anon, (anon.) 1673 nigh. (nigh,) 1674 house- (?) {TN appears as 'house.' in the text} 1676 sits, (sits ?) 1677 daunger (daunger,) 1693 (? _lacuna_) 1700 Aloud 1702 _Cum.... Cumber_ 1704 (_not indented_) 1718 yout (your) 1719 plauge 1730 geeue 1731 liues. (liues) 1735 ambition, (ambition) 1742 see (see?) 1751 heard 1761 a mong starrs. (starrs) 1763 _Cæsar_, (_Cæsar_) 1771 _Anthony_. (_Anthony_) 1774 a laromes, 1793 in great (? ingrate) 1804 more (more,) songs. (songs,) 1809 _Hearse Calphurnia_ (_Hearse_, _Calphurnia_,) 1829 deathes, 1836 (_not indented_) 1846 they (thy) 1855 Commonwealth. (Commonwealth,) 1857 Vntucht. (Vntucht,) 1859 e ndles (e nd les _B.M. only_) 1864 yeares. (yeares) 1865 vnconquered; (vnconquered,) 1899 _Romains_ (? _Romes_) 1902 soundes, 1905 hasted 1906 sound, 1909 tombe: (e _doubtful_) 1924 pytiyng 1925 fore 1929 _Syre_, 1971 _Mirapont._ 1972 ACT. 3. SCE. 1. 1979 life. (life) 1981 heauens: (?) 1992 _A lcides_ 1999 _Spayne_ (_Spayne_,) 2004 auaylesthis 2005 hand. (hand) 2008 Crest. (Crest,) 2019 _on_ (_one_) 2025 _Iiberian_ 2030 war-faire (warfare) 2038 warre-faire (warre faire) 2039 Stike 2046 for got 2055 Fathers 2063 hate. (hate) 2067 a rise 2068 vnquenced 2071 comsort (? consort) 2078 youth full 2090 vowd', 2093 Dieties 2100 _Gradinus_ (_Gradiuus_) 2101 ouerburning (euerburning) 2102 _Carpeian_ (_Tarpeian_) 2114 _Stremonia_, (? _Strymon_) 2122 -men (-man) 2136-7 (? _lacuna_) 2155 _Lyeas_ (_Lycus_) 2157 _Tursos_ 2164 (And _Dolabella_ [And _Dolabella_ (] spoyles. (spoyles) 2192 _Numantia_. (_Numantia_,) 2209 _Gradinus_ (_Gradiuus_) 2213 liues.) [?] 2221 Strenghen 2232 acts. (acts) 2252 eur 2272 slaine. (slaine) 2274 Behould (Beheld) fiends. (fiends) 2276 vpbraues 2283 In (in) 2291 Comegreesly 2309 earth. (earth,) c.w. wish (Wish) 2313 ire. (ire,) 2318 _Cæsars_ (_Brutus_) 2324 expiate. _Altheas_ come. (? expiate _Altheas_ crime.) 2337 power 2338 extols. (extols,) 2346 c.w. Where (_Cass._ Where) 2356-7 (? _reversed_) 2363 _Echalarian_ 2366 Then yet (? _alternatives_) 2371 cruell (_turned_ n _for_ u) 2375 foyld: 2411 accurs'd (_space before_ d _but apostrophe doubtful_) 2422 breath? (? breathe,) 2470 come (come,) friend (friend;) 2481 comfort rings. _B.M. and Bodl._: comfort gs . _Devon._: comfort gs. _Dyce_: _read_ comfort brings. 2498 bee. (bee,) 2500 life. (life;) 2517 a round 2522 cndlesse vpon. (? vpon,) 2533 The (the) 2552 But (? Nor) 2559 _Elysium_

ADDITIONAL STAGE DIRECTIONS

37 Exit Discord. 331 Exeunt. 366 Exeunt. 481 Enter Anthony. 606 Exeunt. 641 Exit Discord. 765 Exeunt. 1520 Exeunt. 1684 Exit Caesar. 1692 Exit Cassius. Enter the Senate. 1739 ? Exeunt. 1788 Exit Discord. 1810 Enter Lord. 1971 Exeunt. 2109 ? Exit Ghost. 2125 Exeunt. 2149 Exit Discord. 2269 Exeunt: manet Brutus. 2315 Exit Ghost. 2328 Exit Brutus. 2346 Cato dies. Enter Cassius. 2382 Exit Cassius. 2433 Exit Titinnius. 2471 Cassius stabs himself. 2501 Titinnius stabs himself. 2525 ? Brutus stabs himself. 2570 Exeunt.

It is possible that Cassius should be marked as entering with the others at l. 947 and that the speeches of II. iv marked _Cas._ belong to him and not to Casca.

* * * * *

The thanks of the Society are due to His Grace the Duke of Devonshire for kind permission to reproduce the title-page of the undated quarto in his possession.

{ILL facsimile of title page, with caption: UNDATED TITLE-PAGE (DEVON.)}

{ILL facsimile of title page, with caption: TITLE-PAGE 1607 (B.M.)}

{ILL facsimile of first page of text, with caption: A2 RECTO (B.M.)}

THE TRAGEDIE OF Cæsar and Pompey

OR

CÆSARS Reuenge.

AT LONDON Imprinted by G.E. for _Iohn Wright_, and are to bee sould at his shop at Christ-church Gate.

The names of the Actors.

_Discora._

_Titinnius._ _Brutus._ _Pompey._ _Cæsar._ _Anthony._ _Dolobella._ _Cornelia._ _Cleopatra._ _Achillas._ _Sempronius._ _Cassius._ _Cato Sen._ _Casca._ _Roman 1._ _Roman 2._ _Bonus Genius._ _Calphurnia._ _Augur._ _Præcentor._ _Senators._ _Bucolian._ _Octauian._ _Cæsars Ghost._ _Cicero._ _Cato Iun._ _Camber._

The Tragedie of Cæsar and Pompey.

{SN _Chor. I_}

_Sound alarum then flames of fire._

_Enter Discord._

Hearke how the _Romaine_ drums sound bloud & death, And _Mars_ high mounted on his Thracian Steede: Runs madding through _Pharsalias_ purple fieldes. The earth that's wont to be a Tombe for Men It's now entomb'd with Carkases of Men. The Heauen appal'd to see such hideous sights, For feare puts out her euer burning lights. The Gods amaz'd (as once in _Titans_ war,) 10 Do doubt and feare, which boades this deadly iar The starrs do tremble, and forsake their course, The _Beare_ doth hide her in forbidden Sea, Feare makes _Bootes_ swiften her slowe pace, Pale is _Orion_, _Atlas_ gins to quake, And his vnwildy burthen to forsake. _Cæsars_ keene _Falchion_, through the Aduerse rankes, For his sterne Master hewes a passage out, Through troupes & troonkes, & steele, & standing blood: He whose proud Trophies whileom _Asia_ field, 20 And conquered _Pontus_, singe his lasting praise. Great _Pompey_; Great, while Fortune did him raise, Nowe vailes the glory of his vanting plumes And to the ground casts of his high hang'd lookes. You gentle Heauens. O execute your wrath On vile mortality, that hath scornd your powers. You night borne Sisters to whose haires are ty'd In Adamantine Chaines both Gods and Men Winde on your webbe of mischiefe and of plagues, And if, O starres you haue an influence: 30 That may confounde this high erected heape Downe powre it; Vomit out your worst of ills Let _Rome_, growne proud, with her vnconquered strength, Perish and conquered BE with her owne strength: And win all powers to disioyne and breake, Consume, confound, dissolue, and discipate What Lawes, Armes and Pride hath raised vp.

{SN _Act I sc. i_}

_Enter Titinius_

_Tit._ The day is lost our hope and honours lost, The glory of the _Romaine_ name is lost, 40 The liberty and commonweale is lost, The Gods that whileom heard the _Romaine_ state, And _Quirinus_, whose strong puissant arme, Did shild the tops and turrets of proud _Rome_, Do now conspire to wracke the gallant Ship, Euen in the harbor of her wished greatnesse. And her gay streamers, and faire wauering sayles, With which the wanton wind was wont to play, To drowne with Billows of orewhelming woes.

_Enter Brutus_ 50

_Bru._ The Foe preuayles, _Brutus_, thou striuest in vaine. Many a soule to day is sent to Hell, And many a galant haue I don to death, In _Pharsalias_ bleeding Earth: the world can tell, How litle _Brutus_ praizd this puffe of breath, If losse of that my countries weale might gaine, But Heauens and the immortall Gods decreed: That _Rome_ in highest of her fortunes pich, In top of souerainty and imperiall swaye. By her owne height should worke her owne decay. 60

_Enter Pompey_