Julius Caesar: The 30-Minute Shakespeare. William Shakespeare

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ 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.

       SCENE 3. (ACT II, SCENE II)

      CAESAR’S house.

      Enter СКАЧАТЬ