Читать книгу Julius Caesar: The 30-Minute Shakespeare - William Shakespeare - Страница 10

SCENE 2. (ACT II, SCENE I)

Rome. BRUTUS’S orchard.

Enter NARRATOR from stage rear, coming downstage center.

NARRATOR

Brutus and the other conspirators decide to kill Caesar but spare Antony. Portia begs Brutus, her husband, to explain his change in mood. Storm clouds gather.

Exit NARRATOR stage left.

STAGE LEFT CHORUS make sounds of thunder; STAGE RIGHT CHORUS make sounds of rain.

Enter BRUTUS from stage right.

BRUTUS

It must be by his death: and for my part,

I know no personal cause to spurn at him,

But for the general. He would be crown’d:

It is the bright day that brings forth the adder;

STAGE RIGHT CHORUS gesture upward; STAGE LEFT CHORUS gesture downward.

Therefore think him as a serpent’s egg

Which, hatch’d, would, as his kind, grow mischievous,

And kill him in the shell.

CHORUS gesture in unison.

SOUND OPERATOR plays Sound Cue #1 (“Knocking”).

They are the faction. O conspiracy,

Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough

To mask thy monstrous visage?

Enter from stage right the CONSPIRATORS: CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS BRUTUS, CINNA, METELLUS CIMBER, and TREBONIUS.

BRUTUS

Give me your hands all over, one by one.

CONSPIRATORS bring hands in, forming a circle.

CASSIUS

And let us swear our resolution.

CONSPIRATORS remove hands from circle.

DECIUS BRUTUS

Shall no man else be touch’d but only Caesar?

CASSIUS

Let Antony and Caesar fall together.

BRUTUS

Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius,

To cut the head off and then hack the limbs,

For Antony is but a limb of Caesar:

Let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;

Which so appearing to the common eyes,

We shall be call’d purgers, not murderers.

CASSIUS

Yet I fear him;

For in the ingrafted love he bears to Caesar—

SOUND OPERATOR plays Sound Cue #2 (“Clock striking three”).

CASSIUS

The clock hath stricken three.

TREBONIUS

’Tis time to part.

Exit ALL but BRUTUS stage right.

Exit CHORUS, splitting down the middle to exit stage right and stage left.

Enter PORTIA from stage left.

PORTIA

Brutus, my lord!

BRUTUS

Portia, what mean you? Wherefore rise you now?

PORTIA (moving close to BRUTUS)

You’ve ungently, Brutus, stole from my bed:

And when I ask’d you what the matter was,

You stared upon me and stamp’d with your foot;

Dear my lord,

Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.

BRUTUS (moving away from PORTIA toward stage right)

I am not well in health, and that is all.

PORTIA

What, is Brutus sick,

And will he steal out of his wholesome bed,

To dare the vile contagion of the night

To add unto his sickness?

PORTIA moves toward BRUTUS.

No, my Brutus;

You have some sick offense within your mind,

Which I ought to know of (touches his head) And, upon my knees, I charm you, by my once-commended beauty, That you unfold to me, yourself, your half, Why you are heavy, and what men tonight Have had to resort to you.

PORTIA kneels.

BRUTUS

Kneel not, gentle Portia.

BRUTUS holds out his hand, which PORTIA clasps. BRUTUS helps PORTIA to her feet.

PORTIA

I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus.

Dwell I but in the suburbs

Of your good pleasure?

PORTIA turns her back to BRUTUS, facing stage left.

If it be no more,

Portia is Brutus’s harlot, not his wife.

BRUTUS (turning PORTIA around)

You are my true and honorable wife,

As dear to me as are the ruddy drops

That visit my sad heart.

PORTIA

If this were true, then should I know this secret.

BRUTUS (looking up)

O ye gods,

Render me worthy of this noble wife!

(gestures left) Portia, go in awhile; And by and by thy bosom shall partake The secrets of my heart.

BRUTUS begins to exit stage left, crossing in front of PORTIA. He turns back toward her.

Follow me, then.

Exit BRUTUS stage left, with PORTIA following.