JULIUS CAESER<br /> ACT - I<br /> SCENE - I<br /> Line No - 16 to 35<br /><br />The Text<br /><br />MARULLUS<br />What trade, thou knave? thou naughty knave, what trade ?<br /><br />Second Commoner<br />Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet,<br />if you be out, sir, I can mend you.<br /><br />MARULLUS<br />What meanest thou by that? mend me, thou saucy fellow !<br /><br />Second Commoner<br />Why, sir, cobble you.<br /><br />FLAVIUS<br />Thou art a cobbler, art thou ?<br /><br />Second Commoner<br />Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl: I<br />meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor women's<br />matters, but with awl. I am, indeed, sir, a surgeon<br />to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I<br />recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon<br />neat's leather have gone upon my handiwork.<br /><br />FLAVIUS<br />But wherefore art not in thy shop today?<br />Why dost thou lead these men about the streets ?<br /><br />Second Commoner<br />Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself<br />into more work. But, indeed, sir, we make holiday,<br />to see Caesar and to rejoice in his triumph.<br /><br /><br />WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS SCENE<br /><br />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”.
