And stemming it with hearts of controversy. Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder Bru. Another general shout! [Shout. Flourish. I do believe, that these applauses are Like a Colossus; and we petty men Cæsar? that Why should that name be sounded more than yours? Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; Than to repute himself a son of Rome Under these hard conditions as this time Is like to lay upon us. Cas. I am glad, that my weak words Re-enter Cæsar, and his train. Bru. The games are done, and Cæsar is returning. Bru. I will do so :-But, look you, Cassius, Ant. Cæsar. Cas. Let me have men about me that are fat; Cæs. 'Would he were fatter:-But I fear him not: I do not know the man I should avoid Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, [Exeunt Cæsar and his train. Casca stays Casca. You pulled me by the cloak; Would you speak with me? Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanc'd to-day, That Cæsar looks so sad. Casca. Why you were with him, were you not? Bru. I should not then ask Casca what hath chanc'd. Casca. Why, there was a crown offer'd him: and being offer'd him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a shouting. Bru. What was the second noise for? Cusca. Why, for that too. Cas. They shouted thrice; What was the last cry for? Casca. Why, for that too. Bru. Was the crown offer'd him thrice? Casca. Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than the other; and at every put ting by, mine honest neighbours shouted. Cas. Who offer'd him the crown? Casca. Why, Antony. Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. Casca. I can as well be hanged, as tell the manner of it: it was mere foolery. I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown ;-yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of these coronets: -and, as I told you, he put it by once; but, for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again; then he put Have struck but this much show of fire from Brutus. it by again: but, to my thinking, he was very loath (1) Temperament, constitution. (2) Lucius Junius Brutus. (3) Guess. (4) Ruminate. (5) A ferret has red eyes. to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see, third time; he put it the third time by: and still as Thy honourable metal may be wrought he refus'd it, the rabblement hooted, and clapped From that it is dispos'd: Therefore 'tis meet their chopped hands, and threw up their sweaty That noble minds keep ever with their likes: night-caps, and uttered such a deal of stinking For who so firm, that cannot be seduc'd? breath, because Cæsar refused the crown, that it Cæsar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus: had almost choked Cæsar; for he swooned, and fell If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius, down at it: And for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips, and receiving the bad air. Cas. But, soft, I pray you: What? did Cæsar swoon? Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at mouth, and was speechless. Bru. 'Tis very like: he hath the falling-sickness. Cas. No, Cæsar hath it not; but you, and I, And honest Casca, we have the falling-sickness. Casca. I know not what you mean by that; but, I am sure, Cæsar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him, and hiss him, according as he pleased, and displeased them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no true' man. Bru. What said he, when he came unto himself? Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceiv'd the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his doublet, and offered I them his throat to cut.-An I had been a man of any occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell among the rogues: -and so he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, If he had done, or said any thing amiss, he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches, where I stood, cried, Alas, good soul!-and forgave him with all their hearts: But there's no heed to be taken of them; if Cæsar had stabbed their mothers, they would have done no less. Bru. And after that, he came, thus sad, away? Cas. Did Cicero say any thing? Casca. Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i'the face again: But those, that understood him, smiled at one another, and shook their heads; but, for mine own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæsar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if could remember it. Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca ? Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow? I He should not humours me. I will this night, Why are you breathless? and why stare you so? earth Shakes, like a thing unfirm? O Cicero, Cic. Why, saw you any thing more wonderful? sight,) Held up his left hand, which did flame, and burn Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, Unto the climate that they point upon. and your dinner worth the eating. Cas. Good; I will expect you. [Exit Casca. Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be? He was quick mettle, when he went to school. Cas. So is he now, in execution Of any bold or noble enterprise, Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave you: Cic. Indeed, it is a strange disposed time: Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius Farewell, Cicero. [Exit Cic. Cas. Who's there? Cas. A Roman. Casca, by your voice. Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this? (4) Has an unfavourable opinion of me. Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men. For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, And, when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open Those that with haste will make a mighty fire, So vile a thing as Cæsar? But, O grief! Casca. You speak to Casca; and to such a man, Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt Be factious" for redress of all these griefs; the heavens? It is the part of men to fear and tremble, When the most mighty gods, by tokens, send Such dreadful heralds to astonish us. And I will set this foot of mine as far, As who goes farthest. Cas. There's a bargain made. Now know you, Casca, I have mov'd already Cas. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans, life That should be in a Roman, you do want, Or else you use not: You look pale, and gaze, nance, Their natures and pre-formed faculties, A man no mightier than thyself, or me, Casca. 'Tis Caesar that you mean: Is it not, Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now Have thewes and limbs like to their ancestors; But wo the wile! our fathers' minds are dead, And we are govern'd with our mothers' spirits; Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish. Casca. Indeed, they say, the senators to-morrow Mean to establish Cæsar as a king: And he shall wear his crown by sea, and land, In every place, save here in Italy. Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then ; Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius: If I know this, know all the world besides, Casca. Cas. And why should Caesar be a tyrant then? To undergo, with me, an enterprise Is favour'd, like the work we have in hand, Enter Cinna. Casca. Stand close a while, for here comes one in haste. Cas. 'Tis Cinna, I do know him by his gait;" He is a friend.-Cinna, where haste you so? Cin. To find out you: Who's that? Metellus Cimber? Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate Cas. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Tell me. You are O Cassius, If you could but win Yes, Cas. Be you content: Good Cinna, take this paper, And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone Cas. That done, repair to Pompey's theatre. [Exit Cinna. Come Casca, you and I will, yet, ere day, See Brutus at his house: three parts of him Is ours already; and the man entire, Upon the next encounter, yields him ours. Casca. O, he sits high, in all the people's hearts: And that, which would appear offence in us, His countenance, like richest alchymy, Will change to virtue, and to worthiness. Cas. Him and his worth, and our great need of him, You have right well conceited. Let us go, We will awake him, and be sure of him. [Exeunt. Scene I. ACT II. Bru. It must be by his death: and, for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, But for the general. He would be crown'd:How that might change his nature, there's the question. It is the bright day, that brings forth the adder; And that craves wary walking. Crown him? That; And then, I grant, we put a sting in him, I have not known when his affections sway'd Speak, strike, redress !-Am I entreated then If the redress will follow, thou receivest Re-enter Lucius. Luc. Sir, March is wasted fourteen days. [Knocks within. Between the acting of a dreadful thing Re-enter Lucius. Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, And half their faces buried in their cloaks, Let them enter. [Exit Lucius. They are the faction. O conspiracy! To mark thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy; Hide it in smiles, and affability: For if thou path thy native semblance on, Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mis- Not Erebus itself were dim enough chievous; And kill him in the shell. Where I have took them up. Shall Rome, &c. Thus, must I piece it out; My ancestors did from the streets of Rome (1) An exclamation of impatience. (3) Experience. (4) Low steps. (5) Nature. To hide thee from prevention. Enter Cassius, Casca, Decius, Cinna, Metullus Cimber, and Trebonius. Cas. I think we are too bold upon your rest: Good-morrow, Brutus; Do we trouble you? Bru. I have been up this hour: awake, all night. Know I these men, that come along with you? Cas. Yes, every man of them: and no man here, But honours you: and every one doth wish, You had but that opinion of yourself, Which every noble Roman bears of you. This is Trebonius. Bru. He is welcome hither. Cas. This, Decius Brutus. He is welcome too. They are all welcome. [They whisper. What watchful cares do interpose themselves Dec. Here lies the east: Doth not the day break Cin. O, pardon, sir, it doth; and yon grey lines, That fret the clouds, are messengers of day. (6) Visionary. (7) Countenance. (9) Hell. Casca. You shall confess, that you are both de- |And in the spirit of men there is no blood: ceiv'd. Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises; Which is a great way growing on the south, Weighing the youthful season of the year. O, that we then could come by Cæsar's spirit, Some two months hence, up higher toward the Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods, north He first presents his fire; and the high east Bru. Give me your hands all ever, one by one. Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits, If he do break the smallest particle Cas. But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him? And buy men's voices to commend our deeds: Bru. O, name him not; let us not break with Cas. Then leave him out. Casca. Indeed, he is not fit. Dec. Shall no man else be touch'd, but only Cæsar ? Cas. Decius, well urg'd:-I think it is not meet, Mark Antony, so well belov'd of Cæsar, Should outlive Cæsar: We shall find of him A shrewd contriver; and, you know, his means, If he improves them, may well stretch so far, As to annoy us all: which to prevent, Let Antony, and Cæsar, fall together. Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius To cut the head off, and then hack the limbs; Let us be sacrificers, but no butchers, Caius. We all stand up against the spirit of Cæsar; Not hew him as a carcase fit for hounds: Cas. Treb. There is no fear in him; let him not die; For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter. Bru. Peace, count the clock. [Clock strikes. The clock hath stricken three. Treb. "Tis time to part. Cas. But it is doubtful yet, Whe'r Cæsar will come forth to-day, or no: For he is superstitious grown of late; Quite from the main opinion he held once Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies :? It may be, these apparent prodigies, The unaccustom'd terror of this night, And the persuasion of his augurers, May hold him from the Capitol to-day. 10 Dec. Never fear that: If he be so resolv'd, For I can give this humour the true bent; Cas. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him. Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along by him:"" He loves me well, and I have given him reasons; Send him hither, and I'll fashion him. Cas. The morning comes upon us: We'll leave you, Brutus: And, friends, disperse yourselves: but all remember What you have said, and show yourselves true Romans. Bru. Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily; Let not our looks put on12 our purposes; But bear it as our Roman actors do, With untir'd spirits, and formal constancy: And so, good-morrow to you every one. [Exeunt all but Brutus. Boy! Lucius!-Fast asleep? It is no matter; Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber: (7) Malice. (8) Whether. (9) Omens at sacrifices. (10) Prognosticators. (11) By his house. (12) Show our designs. |