ke frightened wolves to foreign
fields and forests and perishing in battle as enemies to their country.

When brought to bay at Philippi, Brutus and Cassius mustered up enough
courage to commit suicide, which is confession of guilt.

In the winter of 1597 William was deeply studying the new translation of
Petrarch, and Florio was nightly teaching us the lofty philosophy of
Grecian and Roman classics. The lives of noted ancient poets, orators,
warriors, statesmen, governors, kings and philosophers, as written or
compiled by the great Plutarch has furnished a mine of historic thought
for the dramatic artist, and Shakspere, above all the men who ever thought,
wrote or talked on the stage, took most advantage of the lines of Plutarch.

The British people were clamoring for grand historical plays, not only for
the actions of their own kings and queens, but demanded the enactment of
the reigns of great, ancient warriors and kings who had given glory to
Greece and Rome and left imperishable memories for posterity to avoid or
emulate.

Burbage, Henslowe and other theatrical managers, were ever on the lookout
for plays to suit cash customers, and of course, the Bard of Avon had first
call, because his plays went on the various stages like a torchlight
procession, while those of his so-called compeers, struggled through the
acts and scenes with only the flicker and sputter of tallow dips of
dramatic thought.

He knew, and I knew, that his plays would be enacted down the circling
centuries as long as vice and virtue, hate and love, cowardice and bravery,
fun, folly, wit and wisdom characterized humanity.

William told Essex and Southampton that he had just composed a play with
Julius Caesar as the central figure, and wished an opportunity to test its
merits before a private party of authors, students and lords at the Holborn
House, the grand castle of Southampton.

These noblemen were delighted with the suggestion, and on the night of the
first of March, 1597, Burbage, with his whole tribe of theatrical
"rounders," appeared in the grand banquet room of Southampton, and, under
the guidance of Shakspere, rendered for the first time "Julius Caesar."

Jo Taylor took the part of Caesar, Dick Burbage acted Brutus, Condell
represented Cassius and Shakspere played Marcus Antonius, while the other
characters were distributed among the "stock" as their various talents
justified.

Calphurnia, wife to Caesar, and Portia, wife to Brut