ng
cause of doubt...." The effect of this speech is thus described: "Whiles
Brutus thus spake, all the hearers considering with themselves that he
spake nothing but right, did like them well, and as men of courage and
lovers of the people, had them in great admiration and were turned into
their favour."

3. _Earlier Plays._ As already mentioned, England had plays on the
subject of Julius Caesar from the first years of Elizabeth's reign. As
not one of these earlier plays is extant, there can be no certainty as
to whether Shakespeare drew upon them for materials or inspiration, but,
as Professor Herford says, "he seems to be cognisant of their
existence." His opening scene is addressed to a public familiar with the
history of Pompey and Pompey's sons. Among these earlier plays was one
almost contemporary with the first production of _Gorboduc_, the first
English tragedy. It is referred to under the name of _Julyus Sesar_ in
an entry in Machyn's _Diary_ under February 1, 1562. In _Plays confuted
in five Actions_, printed probably in 1582, Stephen Gosson mentions the
history of _Caesar and Pompey_ as a contemporary play. A Latin play on
Caesar's death was acted at Oxford in 1582, and for it Dr. Richard Eedes
(Eades, Edes) of Christ Church wrote the epilogue (_Epilogus Caesaris
Intersecti_). In Henslowe's _Diary_ under November 8, 1594, a _Seser and
pompie_ is mentioned as a new play. Mr. A. W. Verity (_Julius Caesar_,
The Pitt Press edition) makes the interesting suggestion that in III, i,
111-116, there may be an allusion to these earlier plays. Cf. also
_Hamlet_, III, ii, 107-111, quoted below.

THE SCENE OF THE ASSASSINATION

In transferring the assassination of Caesar from the _Porticus Pompeia_
("Pompey's porch," I, iii, 126) to the Capitol, Shakespeare departed
from Plutarch and historical accuracy to follow a popular tradition that
had received the signal imprimatur of Chaucer:

This Iulius to the Capitolie wente
Upon a day, as he was wont to goon,[1]
And in the Capitolie anon him hente[2]
This false Brutus, and his othere foon[3]
And stikede him with boydekins[4] anoon
With many a wounde, and thus they lete him lye;
But never gronte[5] he at no strook but oon,
Or elles at two, but if[6] his storie lye.

_The Monkes Tale_, ll. 715-718. (Skeat's _Chaucer_.)

[Footnote 1: go.]

[Footnote 2: seized.]

[Footnote 3: foes.]

[Footnote 4: daggers.]

[Footnote 5: groaned.]

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