Shakespeare, William · published 1623 · first performed or written 1599 [1598-1599] (Annals) tragedy · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men unassigned nearest T2 Roman politics: senate, consuls and civi · 493 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T2: rome, caesar, senate, sulla, roman, consul, brutus, romans, men, marius.
But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him? I think he will stand very strong with us. Let us not leave him out. No, by no means. O let us have him, for his Silver hairs Will purchase us a good opinion: And buy men's voices, to commend our deeds: It shall be said, his judgement ruled our hands, Our youths, and wildness, shall no whit appear, But all be buried in his Gravity. O name him not; let us not break with him, For he will never follow any thing That other men begin. Then leave him out. Indeed, he is not fit. Shall no man else be touched, but only Caesar? Decius well urged: I think it is not meet, Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar, Should outlive Caesar, we shall find of him A shrewd Contriver. And you know, his means If he improve them, may well stretch so far As to annoy us all: which to prevent, Let Antony and Caesar fall together. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, To cut the Head off, and then hack the Limbs: Like Wrath in death, and Envy afterwards: For Antony, is but a Limb of Caesar. Let's be Sacrificers, but not Butchers Caius: We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar, And in the Spirit of men, there is no blood: O that we then could come by Caesar's Spirit, And not dismember Caesar! But (alas) Caesar must bleed for it. And gentle Friends, Let's kill him Boldly, but not Wrathfully: Let's carve him, as a Dish fit for the Gods, Not hue him as a Carcase fit for Hounds: And let our Hearts, as subtle Masters do, Stir up their Servants to an act of Rage, And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make Our purpose Necessary, and not Envious. Which so appearing to the common eyes, We shall be called Purgers, not Murderers. And for Mark Antony, think not of him: For he can do no more than Caesar's Arm, When Caesar's head is off. Yet I fear him, For in the engrafted love he bears to Caesar. Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him: If he love Caesar, all that he can do Is to himself; take thought, and dye for Caesar, And that were much he should: for he is given To sports, to wildness, and much company. There is no fear in him; let him not dye, For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter. Peace, count the Clock. The Clock hath stricken three. 'Tis time to part. But it is doubtful yet, Whether Caesar will come forth to day, or no: For he is Superstitious grown of late, Quite from the main Opinion he held once, Of Fantasy, of Dreams, and Ceremonies: It may be, these apparent Prodigies, The unaccustomed Terror of this night, And the persuasion of his Augurers, May hold him from the Capitol to day.
seed 43: T1 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
But what of Cicero? Shall we ſound him? I thinke he will ſtand very ſtrong with vs. Let vs not leaue him out. No, by no meanes. O let vs haue him, for his Siluer haires Will purchaſe vs a good opinion: And buy mens voyces, to commend our deeds: It ſhall be ſayd, his iudgement rul'd our hands, Our youths, and wildeneſſe, ſhall no whit appeare, But all be buried in his Grauity. O name him not; let vs not breake with him, For he will neuer follow any thing That other men begin. Then leaue him out. Indeed, he is not fit. Shall no man elſe be toucht, but onely Caeſar? Decius well vrg'd: I thinke it is not meet, Marke Antony, ſo well belou'd of Caeſar, Should out-liue Caeſar, we ſhall finde of him A ſhrew'd Contriuer. And you know, his meanes If he improue them, may well ſtretch ſo farre As to annoy vs all: which to preuent, Let Antony and Caeſar fall together. Our courſe will ſeeme too bloody, Caius Caſsius, To cut the Head off, and then hacke the Limbes: Like Wrath in death, and Enuy afterwards: For Antony, is but a Limbe of Caeſar. Let's be Sacrificers, but not Butchers Caius: We all ſtand vp againſt the ſpirit of Caeſar, And in the Spirit of men, there is no blood: O that we then could come by Caeſars Spirit, And not diſmember Caeſar! But (alas) Caeſar muſt bleed for it. And gentle Friends, Let's kill him Boldly, but not Wrathfully: Let's carue him, as a Diſh fit for the Gods, Not hew him as a Carkaſſe fit for Hounds: And let our Hearts, as ſubtle Maſters do, Stirre vp their Seruants to an acte of Rage, And after ſeeme to chide 'em. This ſhall make Our purpoſe Neceſſary, and not Enuious. Which ſo appearing to the common eyes, We ſhall be call'd Purgers, not Murderers. And for Marke Antony, thinke not of him: For he can do no more then Caeſars Arme, When Caeſars head is off. Yet I feare him, For in the ingrafted loue he beares to Caeſar. Alas, good Caſsius, do not thinke of him: If he loue Caeſar, all that he can do Is to himſelfe; take thought, and dye for Caeſar, And that were much he ſhould: for he is giuen To ſports, to wildeneſſe, and much company. There is no feare in him; let him not dye, For he will liue, and laugh at this heereafter. Peace, count the Clocke. The Clocke hath ſtricken three. 'Tis time to part. But it is doubtfull yet, Whether Caeſar will come forth to day, or no: For he is Superſtitious growne of late, Quite from the maine Opinion he held once, Of Fantaſie, of Dreames, and Ceremonies: It may be, theſe apparant Prodigies, The vnaccuſtom'd Terror of this night, And the perſwaſion of his Augurers, May hold him from the Capitoll to day.