SparkNotes: Free Study Guides No Fear Shakespeare: The Bard made easy SparkCharts: Just the facts TestPrep: SAT, ACT, and more 101s: College texts condensed Subject Finder: Browse by subject SparkCollege: Get in! SparkLife: 100% study-free home_bottom home_top BN_link
Literature
 
Shakespeare
 
Biography
 
Biology
 
Chemistry
 
Drama
 
Economics
 
Film
 
History
 
Math
 
Philosophy
 
Physics
 
Poetry
 
Home : Julius Caesar : Act 1, scene 1 Read the Study Guide: Julius Caesar
Get the book: Buy it online at Barnes & Noble
Tell a friend: Email this page
Julius Caesar
No Fear Shakespeare
NAVIGATE  

 Previous Page Next Page 
Original Text Modern Text
Enter FLAVIUS, MURELLUS, a CARPENTER, a COBBLER, and certain other COMMONERS over the stage
FLAVIUS and MURELLUS enter and speak to a CARPENTER, a COBBLER, and some other commoners.
 FLAVIUS
  Hence! Home, you idle creatures get you home!
  Is this a holiday? What, know you not,
  Being mechanical, you ought not walk
  Upon a laboring day without the sign
5 Of your profession?—Speak, what trade art thou?
FLAVIUS
Get out of here! Go home, you lazy men. What, is today a holiday? Don't you know that working men aren't supposed to walk around on a workday without wearing their work clothes? You there, speak up. What's your occupation?
 CARPENTER
  Why, sir, a carpenter.
CARPENTER
I'm a carpenter, sir.
 MURELLUS
  Where is thy leather apron and thy rule?
  What dost thou with thy best apparel on?
  —You, sir, what trade are you?
MURELLUS
Where are your leather apron and your ruler? What are you doing, wearing your best clothes? And you, sir, what's your trade?
 COBBLER
10 Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you
  would say, a cobbler.
COBBLER
Well, compared to a fine workman, you might call me a mere cobbler.
 MURELLUS
  But what trade art thou? Answer me directly.
MURELLUS
But what's your trade? Answer me straightforwardly.
 COBBLER
  A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience,
  which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.
COBBLER
It is a trade, sir, that I practice with a clear conscience. I am a mender of worn soles.
 MURELLUS
15 What trade, thou knave? Thou naughty knave, what trade?
MURELLUS
What trade, boy? You insolent rascal, what trade?
 COBBLER
  Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me. Yet, if you be
  out, sir, I can mend you.
COBBLER
Sir, please, don't be angry. But if your soles are worn out, I can mend you.
 MURELLUS
  What mean'st thou by that? “Mend” me, thou saucy
  fellow?
MURELLUS
What do you mean by that? “Mend” me, you impertinent fellow?!

 Previous Page Next Page 
IPOD SPARKNOTES
Read SparkNotes on your iPod.
More...
Study Guides
Learn more about the subject you're studying with these related SparkNotes.
Julius Caesar

Message Boards
Ask a question on the SparkNotes community boards.
Julius Caesar
Shakespeare
Staging Shakespeare's Plays

SparkCharts
Printable, portable charts on this subject.
Shakespeare

Help | Feedback | Make a request | Report an error | Send to a friend
No Fear Shakespeare
NAVIGATE  
Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | About | Sitemap
©2009 SparkNotes LLC, All Rights Reserved.