JULIUS CAESER
ACT - I
SCENE - I
Line No - 16 to 35
The Text
MARULLUS
What trade, thou knave? thou naughty knave, what trade ?
Second Commoner
Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet,
if you be out, sir, I can mend you.
MARULLUS
What meanest thou by that? mend me, thou saucy fellow !
Second Commoner
Why, sir, cobble you.
FLAVIUS
Thou art a cobbler, art thou ?
Second Commoner
Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl: I
meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor women's
matters, but with awl. 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 ?
Second Commoner
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.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS SCENE
The common people had gathered to welcome Caeser. The common citizens and artisans of Rome have come out in the streets to see Caeser pass and to rejoice his triumphs. Artisans means – common people. The tribunes, Flavius and Marullus, who do have no sympathy for Caeser, rebuke the people most vehemently chase them home. They drive them away from the street, for they do not want Caeser to be shown any mark of honour. The crowd disperses “tongue tied in their guiltiness”. Flavius goes away to disrobe the images of Caeser wherever he finds them “decked with ceremonies”.
