But wherefore do you hold me here so long? In awe of such a thing as I myself. 120 A wretched creature and must bend his body Did lose his lustre; I did hear him groan; Bru. 130 Shout. Flourish. Like a Colossus; and we petty men Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods! That her wide walks encompass'd but one man! 160 Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jeal ous; What you would work me too, I have some aim I will with patience hear, and find a time Than to repute himself a son of Rome Cas. I am glad That my weak words have struck but thus much show Of fire from Brutus. Bru. The games are done and Cæsar is returning. Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve, And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you What hath proceeded worthy note to-day. Re-enter CESAR and his Train. Bru. I will do so. But, look you, Cassius, The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow, And all the rest look like a chidden train: Calpurnia's cheek is pale, and Cicero Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes As we have seen him in the Capitol, Being cross'd in conference by some senators. Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is. Cæs. Antonius! Ant. Cæsar. 199 190 Caes. Let me have men about me that are fat; Cas. Would he were fatter! But I fear him Yet if my name were liable to fear, 140 I do not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much; He is a great observer, and he looks Quite through the deeds of men; he loves no plays, Why should that name be sounded more than yours? Write them together, yours is as fair a name; As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music; 210 Such men as he be never at heart's ease Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanced 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 chanced. Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him; and, being offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a-shouting. 222 Bru. What was the second noise for? Cas. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for? Casca. Why, for that too. Bru. Was the crown offered him thrice? Casca. Ay, marry, was 't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting-by mine honest neighbours shouted. 230 Cas. Who offered 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 it by again; but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by; and still as he refused it, the rabblement shouted, and clapped their chopped hands, and threw up their sweaty night-caps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choked Cæsar; for he swounded and fell down at it. And for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air. 252 Cas. But soft, I pray you: what did Cæsar swound? 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 perceived the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his doublet and offered 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? Cas. To what effect? 281 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 I could remember it. Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca? Casca. No, I am promised forth. Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow? Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth the eating. Cas. Good; I will expect you. Casca. Do so. Farewell, both. 292 Exit. 310 To-morrow, if you please to speak with me, Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see, Casca. Are not you mov'd, when all the sway | To see the strange impatience of the heavens; Cic. Why, saw you any thing more wonderful? Casca. A common slave, you know him well by sight, Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn saw Men all in fire walk up and down the streets. 20 30 Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: But men may construe things after their fashion, Clean from the purpose of the things themselves. Comes Cæsar to the Capitol to-morrow? Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius Send word to you he would be there to-morrow. Cic. Good night then, Casca: this disturbed sky Is not to walk in. Casca. Farewell, Cicero. Exit CICERO. Enter CASSIUS. Cas. Who's there? Casca. A Roman. Cas. Casca, by your voice. Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this! 42 Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men. For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, 51 Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens ? It is the part of men to fear and tremble Cas. You are dull, Casca, and those sparks of life But if you would consider the true cause To monstrous quality, why, you shall find Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars A man no mightier than thyself or me Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors: But, woe the while! 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-morroT 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 Cassins: Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong: Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat: Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass, Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit; But life, being weary of these worldly bars, Never lacks power to dismiss itself. If I know this, know all the world besides, That part of tyranny that I do bear I can shake off at pleasure. Casca. Thunder still. So can I: So every bondman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his captivity. Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then! Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf But that he sees the Romans are but sheep; He were no lion were not Romans hinds. Those that with haste will make a mighty fire Begin it with weak straws; what trash is Rome, What rubbish, and what offal, when it serves For the base matter to illuminate So vile a thing as Cæsar! But, O grief! Casca. You speak to Casca, and to such a man Of honourable dangerous consequence; There is no stir or walking in the streets; In favour's like the work we have in hand, 130 Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. 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! Cas. 'Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait: And then, I grant, we put a sting in him, He is a friend. Enter CINNA. Cinna, where haste you so? Cin. To find out you. Who's that? Metellus Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate Cas. Am I not stay'd for? Tell me. O Cassius! if you could Yes, you are. But win the noble Brutus to our party 149 That at his will he may do danger with. I have not known when his affections sway'd 20 He then unto the ladder turns his back, Will bear no colour for the thing he is, Cas. Be you content. Good Cinna, take this Would run to these and these extremities; paper, And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, Cin. All but Metelius Cimber, and he's gone Cas. That done, repair to Pompey's theatre. Casca. O! he sits high in all the people's hearts: 160 And therefore think him as a serpent's egg Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell. Cas. Him and his worth and our great need of Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake, and see thyself. Shall Rome, etc. Speak, strike, redress! Such instigations have been often dropp'd 50 'Shall Rome, etc.' Thus must I piece it out: Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What Rome? My ancestors did from the streets of Rome If the redress will follow, thou receiv'st Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. Sir, March is wasted fourteen days. Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody Between the acting of a dreadful thing Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen, Who doth desire to see you. Bru. Exit LUCIUS. They are the faction. O conspiracy! Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night, 80 When evils are most free? O then by day Hide it in smiles and affability: For if thou path, thy native semblance on, Enter the Conspirators, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, 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 90 He is welcome too. What need we any spur but our own cause That this shall be, or we will fall for it? Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits, If he do break the smallest particle Of any promise that hath pass'd from him. 20 And buy men's voices to commend our deeds: Bru. O name him not; let us not break with For he will never follow any thing Cas. Then leave him out. Casca. Indeed he is not fit. 130 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 improve 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, Caias Cassius, To cut the head off and then hack the limbs, Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. 199 |