But pardon, gentles all,The flat unraised spirits that hath daredOn this unworthy scaffold to bring forthSo great an object: can this cockpit holdThe vasty fields of France? or may we cramWithin this wooden O the very casquesThat did affright the air at Agincourt?O pardon! since a crooked figure mayAttest in little place a million;And let us, ciphers to this great accompt, On your imaginary forces work.

(Henry V, prologue)

Alarum. The Romans are beat back to their trenches. Enter Martius, cursing.

(Act 1, scene 4)

Leave out the insurrection wholly and the cause thereof, and begin with Sir Thomas More at the Mayor’s sessions, with a report afterwards of his good service done being Sheriff of London upon a mutiny against the Lombards – only by a short report, and not otherwise, at your own perils.

E. Tilney

Enter a company of mutinous citizens, with staves, clubs, and other weapons.

(Act 1, scene 1)

‘Roman’ Plays, 1574-16071574 Quintus Fabius – Anonymous1577 Mucius Scaevola – Anonymous1578 Catiline’s Conspiracies – Stephen Gosson1580 Scipio Africanus – Anonymous1581 Caesar and Pompey – Anonymous1588? The Wounds of Civil War – Thomas Lodge1588 Sylla Dictator – Anonymous1592 Titus and Vespasian – Anonymous1593? Caesar’s Revenge – Anonymous1593 Titus Andronicus – Shakespeare1594 Caesar and Pompey, part 1 – Anonymous1594-1595 Pompey the Great His Fair Cornelia’s Tragedy – Thomas Kyd1595 Caesar and Pompey, part 2 – Anonymous1596 Julian the Apostate – Anonymous1598 Catiline’s Conspiracy – Robert Wilson and Henry Chettle1599 Diocletian – Thomas Dekker?

Constantine – AnonymousJulius Caesar – Shakespeare

1601 Hannibal and Scipio – Richard Hathawaye and William RankinsPoetaster – Ben Jonson

1602 Caesar’s Fall, or The Two Shapes – Dekker, Drayton, Middleton, et al.1603-1604 Sejanus His Fall – Ben Jonson

‘Republican’ Plays, 1574-1601

1574 Quintus Fabius – Anonymous

1577 Mucius Scaevola – Anonymous

1580 Scipio Africanus – Anonymous

1601 Hannibal and Scipio

– Richard Hathawaye and William Rankins

Albrecht Dürer, War in Heaven, 1498

Lucas Cranach, War in Heaven, 1534

Enter Coriolanus in a gown of humility.

(Act 2, scene 3)