Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough, Oh you and I have heard our fathers say, There was a Brutus once that would have brooked As easily as a king. Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; I will with patience hear; and find a time Than to repute himself a son of Rome Is like to lay upon us. Cas. I am glad that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. SHAKESPERE. BRUTUS AND CASSIUS.-JULIUS CÆSAR. Second Selection. Cas. That you have wrong'd me doth appear in this : You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella, For taking bribes here of the Sardians; Wherein my letters, praying on his side, Because I knew the man, were slighted off. Bru. You wronged yourself to write in such a case. That every nice offence should bear his comment. Bru. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself Are much condemned to have an itching palm ; To sell and mart your offices for gold, To undeservers. Cas. I an itching palm? You know that you are Brutus that speak this, Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last. Cas. Chastisement! Bru. Remember March, the ides of March remember! Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? What villain touched his body, that did ståb, And not for justice? What, shall one of us, That struck the foremost man of all this world, But for supporting robbers, shall we now Contaminate our fingers with base bribes, And sell the mighty space of our large honours For so much trash as may be grasped thus ? I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon, Than such a Roman. Cas. Brutus, bay not me; I'll not endure it: you forget yourself, Bru. Go to; you are not, Cassius. Bru. I say you are not. Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further. Bru. Away, slight man! Cas. Is't possible? Bru. Hear me, for I will speak. Must I give way and room to your rash choler? Shall I be frighted when a madman stares ? Cas. O ye gods! ye gods! must I endure all this? Bru. All this? ay, more: Fret, till your proud heart break; Go, show your slaves how choleric you are, Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch Cas. Is it come to this? Bru. You say, you are a better soldier : And it shall please me well: For mine own part, Cas. You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus; I said an elder soldier, not a better : Did I say better? Bru. If you did, I care not. Cas. When Cæsar lived he durst not thus have moved me. Bru. Peace, peace; you durst not so have tempted him. Cas. I durst not? Bru. No. Cas. What! durst not tempt him? Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love; I may do that I shall be sorry for. Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for. There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats; denied me; For I am armed so strong in honesty, Το you for gold to pay my legions, Which you denied me: Was that done like Cassius ? Should I have answered Caius Cassius so? When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous, To lock such rascal counters from his friends, Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts, Dash him to pieces! Cas. I denied you not. Bru. You did. Cas. I did not:-he was but a fool That brought my answer back.-Brutus hath rived my heart: A friend should bear his friend's infirmities, But Brutus makes mine greater than they are. Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults. Bru. A flatterer's would not, though they do appear As huge as high Olympus. Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come, Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius, For Cassius is aweary of the world : Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother ; When thou didst hate him worst thou lovedst him better Bru. Sheath your dagger: Be angry when you will, it shall have scope; Cas. Hath Cassius lived To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, Bru. And my heart too. Cas. O Brutus ! Bru. What's the matter? Cas. Have you not love enough to bear with me, When that rash humour which my mother gave me Makes me forgetful? Bru. Yes, Cassius; and from henceforth, When you are over-earnest with your Brutus, SHAKESPERE. CORIOLANUS AND AUFIDIUS.-CORIOLANUS. Cor. I plainly, Tullus, by your looks perceive You disapprove my conduct. Auf. I mean not to assail thee with the clamour But, pride apart, and all that can pervert Cor. Speak, I hear thee. Auf. I need not tell thee, that I have performed It yet may be in danger from our arms; Retire I will take care thou may'st with safety. : Cor. With safety? Heavens !-and thinkest thou Corio lanus Will stoop to thee for safety ?-No: my safeguard Is in myself, a bosom void of fear. O'tis an act of cowardice and baseness - To seize the very time my hands are fettered Auf. Thou speakest the truth: it had not. If you will bless me, grant it! Know, for that, |