Cob. Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with
me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you.
Mar. What mean'st thou by that? Mend
me, thou saucy fellow?20
Cob. Why, sir, cobble you.
Flav. Thou art a cobbler, art thou?
Cob. Truly, sir, all that I live by is with
the awl: I meddle with no tradesman's matters,
nor women's matters, but with awl. I am, indeed,25
sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are
in great danger, I recover them. As proper men
as ever trod upon neat's leather have gone upon
my handiwork.29
Flav. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day?
Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?
Cob. Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes,
to get myself into more work. But, indeed, sir,
we make holiday to see Cæsar and to rejoice in
his triumph.
Mar. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?36
What tributaries follow him to Rome
To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels?
You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!
O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome,40
Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft
Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements.
To towers and windows, yea, to chimney-tops.
Your infants in your arms, and there have sat44
The livelong day, with patient expectation.
To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome:
17 out: out of temper
18 be out: have hole in shoe
25 with awl; cf. n.
27 proper: goodly, worthy
28 neat's leather: cowhide
35 triumph; cf. n.
