Act I, Scene i
(A street in Rome. Flavius and Marullus, two tribunes, are trying to disperse a crowd of Roman workers, including a carpenter and a cobbler.)
Flavius: Go home, you idle people! Go home! Do you think today is a holiday? Don't you tradesmen know you should wear working clothes on weekdays? You [he questions the ringleader] what's your trade?
Carpenter: Me sir? I'm a carpenter.
Marullus: Then where is your leather apron and your ruler? What are you doing with your best clothes on? [To another] You there! What's your job?
Cobbler: To, be honest, sir, compared with a real tradesman, I'm only what you would call a mender or a cobbler.
Marullus: So, what's your job? Give me a straight answer.
Cobbler: It's a job I'm proud of, sir, I fix bad soles.
Marullus: [getting angry] Your job, stupid! What's your job?
Cobbler: Please don't yell at me, sir. I'll fix you.
Marullus: What do you mean, "fix me," you stupid idiot?
Cobbler: Why, sir, fix you your shoes.
Flavius: Oh, so you are a shoe repairman.
Cobbler: Sir, my living is based on the awl. I don't snoop in the affairs of tradesmen, nor in the affairs of women. But, overall I am a shoe surgeon. When the shoes break, I fix them. The finest workers ever have walked on my handwork.
Flavius: Why aren't you in your shop today? Why are you leading these men around the street?
Cobbler: So they will wear their shoes out, sir, so I'll get more work! But, not joking, we've taken the day off to see Caesar and celebrate his victory.
Marullus: What is there to celebrate? What has he taken to Rome, chained to his wheels, who'll pay us money stupid idiots! Brats! Fools! Oh, you mean people of Rome! Don't you remember Pompey? Many times you have gone to great lengths to see your beloved Pompey pass through the streets of Rome. All cheering for him together making the banks of the rivers tremble. And now you are sporting your best clothing. Making a public holiday? Throwing flowers in front of the man who triumphed over Pompey's son. Go away. Go home, and fall on your knees, and pray that the gods don't send a plague to punish you for this ingratitude.
Flavius: Go, and fix this fault, gather all the poor men of your class. Cry at the river until it floods. [The common people leave] See how they have been touched. They go away with guilt. [To Marullus, pointing] You go that way towards the capitol. I'll go this way. If you see any decorations on the statues of Caesar take them off.
Marullus: Should we dare? You know it is the Feast of Lupercal.
Flavius: Who cares? There should be no statues with decorations on them. I'll make the common people get off the streets. You do the same, where you see them together. If we pull Caesar down a little now , maybe he'll keep his feet on the ground. Left out of check, he will get a big ego. We will lose our freedom and live in fear. [They leave]
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