(For Brutus is an honourable man, And Brutus is an honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, When that the poor hath cried, Cæsar hath wept; Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious ; And Brutus is an honourable man. You all did see, that, on the Lupercal, I thrice presented him a kingly crown; Which he did thrice refuse.-Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious; And sure he is an honourable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. Look! in this place ran Cassius' dagger through; 1 For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab, Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, Quite vanquish'd him; then burst his mighty heart; Even at the base of Pompey's statue, Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell. They that have done this deed are honourable. I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts; I am no orator, as Brutus is: : But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, Show you sweet Cæsar's wounds, poor, poor dumb mouths! SHAKSPEARE. CHAP. XX. THE QUARREL OF BRUTUS AND CASSIUS. Cas. THAT you have wrong'd me, doth appear in this, You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella Bru. You wrong'd yourself, to write in such a case. Cas. I an itching palm? You know that you are Brutus that spake this, Bru. Remember March, the ides of March remember Did not great Julius bleed for justice sake? What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, 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 meed of our large honours For so much trash as may be grasped thus ? I'd 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 myselfHave mind upon your health-tempt me no farther. 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 gods! ye gods! must I endure all this? Bru. All this? ay more.-Fret till your proud heart break! Go, tell your slaves how choleric you are, And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge? Cas. Is it come to this? Bru. You say, you are a better soldier : I shall be glad to learn of noble men. Cas. You wrong me ev'ry way-you wrong me, Brutus ; I said an elder soldier, not a better ; Did I say better? I Bru. If you did, I care not. Cas. When Cæsar liv'd, he durst not thus have mov'd me Bru. Peace, peace; you durst not so have tempted him Cas. I durst not! Bru. No. Cas. What? durst not tempt him? Bru. For your life you durst not. Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love; may do what I shall be sorry for. Bru. You have done that you should be sorry That they pass by me as the idle wind, for. By Heaven, I had rather coin my heart, And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring From the hard hand of peasants their vile trash indirection. I did send By any To you for gold to pay my legions, Which you denied me: was that done like Cassius? When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous, Cas. I denied you not. Bru. You did. Cas. I did not-he was but a fool That brought my answer back.-Brutus hath riv'd my heart. A friend should bear a friend's infirmities, But Brutus makes mine greater than they are. Bru. I do not.-Still you practise them on me. Bru. I do not like your faults. Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults. Bru. A flatt'rer'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 a-weary of the world; teeth. my Hated by one he loves; brav'd by his brother When thou didst hate him worst, thou lov'dst him better Be Bru. Sheathe your dagger; angry when you will, it shall have scope; Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour. |