[I.5] Artemidorus. Rowe (1709) had 'Artimedorus (Artemidorus, 1714) a Soothsayer.' This Theobald altered to 'Artemidorus, a Sophist of Cnidos,' and made the Soothsayer a separate character.
[I.6] Calpurnia. Occasionally in North's Plutarch (twice in Julius Cæsar) and always in the First Folio the name is given as 'Calphurnia.'
[I.7] ACT I, Scene I | Actus Primus. Scœna Prima Ff.—Rome. A street Capell | Rome Rowe | Ff omit.—Commoners Ff | Plebeians Hanmer.
[I.8] Act I. In the First Folio The Tragedie of Julius Cæsar is divided into acts but not into scenes, though 'Scœna (so spelled in the Folios) Prima' is given here after 'Actus Primus.'—over the stage. This, the Folio stage direction, suggests a mob.
[I.9] Being mechanical: being mechanics. Shakespeare often uses adjectives with the sense of plural substantives. Cf. 'subject' in Hamlet, I, i, 72. Twice in North's Plutarch occurs "base mechanical people."
[I.10] ought not walk: See Abbott, § 349.
[I.11] Shakespeare transfers to ancient Rome the English customs and usages of his own time. In Porter and Clarke's 'First Folio' Julius Cæsar, it is mentioned that Shakespeare's uncle Henry, a farmer in Snitterfield, according to a court order of October 25, 1583, was fined "viii d for not havinge and wearinge cappes on Sondayes and hollydayes."
[I.12] Carpenter | Car. Ff | First Com. Camb | 1 Pleb. Hanmer.
[I.13] You. On 'you' as distinct from 'thou,' see Abbott, § 232.
[I.14] Cobbler | Cobl. Ff | Sec. Com. Camb.