But wherefore do you hold me here so long? In awe of such a thing as I myself. 100 I was born free as Cæsar; so were you: 110 Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber Did I the tired Cæsar. And this man Is now become a god, and Cassius is 120 A wretched creature and must bend his body Did lose his lustre; I did hear him groan; 130 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. Cas. Antonius! Ant. Cæsar. 18 190 Cas. Let me have men about me that are fat; Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights. Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look: He thinks too much: such men are dangerous. Ant. Fear him not, Cæsar, he's not dangerous; He is a noble Roman, and well given. Cas. Would he were fatter! But I fear him not: Yet if my name were liable to fear, I do not know the man I should avoid 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 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 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 Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man A man no mightier than thyself or me Casca. 'Tis Cæsar that you mean; is it not, Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now 80 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 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; 90 Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassins : Casca. Thunder still. So can I: So every bondman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his captivity. 10 Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then! 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. Cas. 'Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait: He is a friend. Enter CINNA. Cin. To find out you. Cimber? Cinna, where haste you so? Cas. No, it is Casca; Cin. I am glad on 't. this! There's two or three of us have seen strange Cas. Am I not stay'd for? Tell me. Yes, you are. O Cassius! if you could paper, 140 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 then, I grant, we put a sting in him, He then unto the ladder turns his back, Will bear no colour for the thing he is, Good Cinna, take this Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented, 30 And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, Cin. All but Metelius Cimber, and he's gone Casca. O he sits high in all the people's hearts: 160 Cas. Him and his worth and our great need of Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake, and see thyself. him Shall Rome, etc. Speak, strike, redress! The genius and the mortal instruments Re-enter LUCIUS. If these be motives weak, break off betimes, 120 Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen, Who doth desire to see you. Bru. Is he alone? 71 And half their faces buried in their cloaks, Bru. Let 'em enter. What need we any spur but our own cause That this shall be, or we will fall for it? 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, But honours you; and every one doth wish 90 He is welcome too. Cin. O pardon, sir, it doth; and yon grey lines That fret the clouds are messengers of day. Casca. You shall confess that you are both deceiv'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. Some two months hence up higher toward the north He first presents his fire; and the high east 119 Stands, as the Capitol, directly here. Bru. Give me your hands all over. one by one. Cas. And let us swear our resolution. Bru. No, not an oath: if not the face of men, The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse, 140 Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits, No, by no means. And buy men's voices to commend our deeds: It shall be said his judgment rul'd our hands: Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear, But all be buried in his gravity. Bru. O! name him not; let us not break with him; For he will never follow any thing Cas. Then leave him out. Casca. Indeed he is not fit. 130 To cut the head off and then hack the limbs, 180 |