nson has another gird at what he deemed Shakespeare's
blunder, for in the Induction to _The Staple of News_ is,
"_Prologue_. Cry you mercy, you never did wrong, but with just
cause." Either Jonson must have misquoted what he heard at the
theater, or the passage was altered to the form in the text of
the Folios on his remonstrance. This way of conveying meanings
by suggestion rather than direct expression was intolerable to
Jonson. Jonson must have known that 'wrong' could mean
'injury' and 'punishment' as well as 'wrong-doing.' 'Wrong'
meaning 'harm' occurs below, l. 243. See note, p. 105, l.
110.]

[Page 84]

METELLUS. Is there no voice more worthy than my own,
To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear 50
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?

BRUTUS. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar,
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.

CAESAR. What, Brutus!

CASSIUS. Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon:
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, 56
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.

CAESAR. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you;
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:
But I am constant as the northern star, 60
Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks;
They are all fire and every one doth shine;
But there's but one in all doth hold his place: 65
So in the world; 'tis furnish'd well with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
Yet in the number I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Unshak'd of motion: and that I am he, 70
Let me a little show it, even in this;
That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd,
And constant do remain to keep him so. 73

[Note 61: /true-fix'd/ | true fixt Ff.]

[Note 51: /repealing:/ recall. So 'repeal' in l. 54. Often so
in Shakespeare.]

[Note 59: If I could seek to move, or change, others by
prayers, then I were capable of being myself moved by the
prayers of others.]

[Note 67: /apprehensive:/ capable of apprehending,
intelligent.]

[Note 72-73: All through this scene, Caesar is made to speak
quite out of character, and in a strain of hateful arrogance,
in order, apparently, to soften the enormity of his murder,