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Home : Julius Caesar : Act 1, scene 2 : page 28 Read the Study Guide: Julius Caesar
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Julius Caesar
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 CASSIUS
  But soft, I pray you. What, did Caesar swoon?
CASSIUS
But wait a minute, please. Did you say Caesar fainted?
 CASCA
250 He fell down in the marketplace, and foamed at mouth, and
  was speechless.
CASCA
He fell down in the marketplace and foamed at the mouth and was speechless.
 BRUTUS
  'Tis very like. He hath the falling sickness.
BRUTUS
That's very likely. He has epilepsy, a disease where you fall down.
 CASSIUS
  No, Caesar hath it not. But you and I
  And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness.
CASSIUS
No, Caesar doesn't have epilepsy. You and I, and honest Casca, we have epilepsy—we've fallen.
 CASCA
255 I know not what you mean by that, but I am sure Caesar fell
  down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him and hiss him
  according as he pleased and displeased them, as they use to
  do the players in the theatre, I am no true man.
CASCA
I don't know what you mean by that, but I'm sure Caesar fell down. The rabble applauded and hissed him according to whether he pleased them or displeased them, just like they do to actors in the theater. If they didn't, I'm a liar.
 BRUTUS
  What said he when he came unto himself?
BRUTUS
What did he say when he regained consciousness?
 CASCA
260 Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common
  herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his
  doublet and offered them his throat to cut. An I had been a
  man of any occupation, if I would not have taken him at a
  word, I would I might go to hell among the rogues. And so
265 he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, if he had
  done or said anything amiss, he desired their worships to
  think it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches where I
  stood cried, “Alas, good soul!” and forgave him with all
  their hearts. But there's no heed to be taken of them. If
270 Caesar had stabbed their mothers they would have done no
  less.
CASCA
Indeed, before he fell down, when he realized the commoners were glad he refused the crown, he pulled open his robe and offered them his throat to cut. If I'd been a common laborer and hadn't taken him up on his offer, to hell with me. And so he fainted. When he regained consciousness again, he said that if he'd done or said anything wrong, he wanted them to know that it was all because of his sickness. Three or four women near me cried, “Alas, good soul!” and forgave him with all their hearts. But never mind them—if Caesar had stabbed their mothers, they would've forgiven him.
 BRUTUS
  And after that he came thus sad away?
BRUTUS
And after that he came back here looking so serious?
 CASCA
  Ay.
CASCA
Yes.

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