But pardon, gentles all, The flat unraised spirits that hath dared On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth So great an object: can this cockpit hold The vasty fields of France? or may we cram Within this wooden O the very casques That did affright the air at Agincourt? O pardon! since a crooked figure may Attest 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, Quintus Fabius – Anonymous 1577Mucius Scaevola – Anonymous 1578Catiline’s Conspiracies – Stephen Gosson 1580Scipio Africanus – Anonymous 1581Caesar and Pompey – Anonymous 1588?The Wounds of Civil War – Thomas Lodge 1588Sylla Dictator – Anonymous 1592Titus and Vespasian – Anonymous 1593?Caesar’s Revenge – Anonymous 1593Titus Andronicus – Shakespeare 1594Caesar and Pompey, part 1 – Anonymous Pompey the Great His Fair Cornelia’s Tragedy – Thomas Kyd 1595Caesar and Pompey, part 2 – Anonymous 1596Julian the Apostate – Anonymous 1598Catiline’s Conspiracy – Robert Wilson and Henry Chettle 1599Diocletian – Thomas Dekker? Constantine – Anonymous Julius Caesar – Shakespeare 1601Hannibal and Scipio – Richard Hathawaye and William Rankins Poetaster – Ben Jonson 1602Caesar’s Fall, or The Two Shapes – Dekker, Drayton, Middleton, et al Sejanus His Fall – Ben Jonson

‘Republican’ Plays, Quintus Fabius – Anonymous 1577Mucius Scaevola – Anonymous 1580Scipio Africanus – Anonymous 1601Hannibal 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)