い Caf. As they pass by, pluck Cafca by the sleeve, Bru. I will do fo; but look you, Caffius, Ant. Cafar? Caf. Let me have men about me that are fat, He thinks too much; fnch men are dangerous. He is a noble Roman, and well given. Caf. 'Would he were fatter; but I fear him not: Yet if my name were liable to fear, I do not know the man I fhould avoid, So foon as that fpare Caffius. He reads much; Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays, [Exeunt Cæfar and his Train. Manent Manent Brutus and Caffius: Cafca, to them. Cafca. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me? Bru. Ay, Cafca, tell us what hath chanc'd to day, That Cæfar looks so fad. Caf. Why, you were with him, were you not? Bru. I fhould not then ask Casca what had chanc'd. Cafca. 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 fhouting. Bru. What was the fecond noise for? Caf. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for? Cafca. Why, for that too. Bru. Was the crown offer'd him thrice? Cafca. Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting by, mine honeft neighbours fhouted. Caf. Who offer'd him the crown ? Cafca. Why, Antony. Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Cafca. Cafca. I can as well be hang'd, as tell the manner of it it was meer foolery, I did not mark it. I faw 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 offer'd it to him again: then he put it by again; but, to my thinking, he was very loth to lay his fingers off it. And then he offer'd it the third time; he put it the third time by; and ftill as he refus'd it, the rabblement houted, and clapp'd their chopt hands, and threw up their fweaty night-caps, and utter'd fuch a deal of ftinking breath, becaufe Cafar refus'd the crown, that it had almoft choaked Cæfar; for he fwooned, and fell down at it: and for mine own part, I durft not laugh, for fear of opening my lips, and receiving the bad air. Caf. But foft, I pray you; what, did Cæfar fwoon? Cafca. Cafca. He fell down in the market place, and foam'd at mouth, and was fpeechless. Bru. 'Tis very like; he hath the falling Sickness. Cafca. I know not what you mean by that; but, I am fure, Cafar fell down: If the tag-rag people did not clap him, "and hifs him, according as he pleas'd, and difpleas'd them, as they used to do the Players in the Theatre, I am no true man. Bru. What faid he, when he came unto himself? Cafca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceiv'd the common herd was glad he refus'd the Crown, he pluckt me ope his doublet, and offer'd 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 the among and fo he fell. When he go to hell rogues ; "If he had done, or came to himself again, he said, faid any thing amifs, he defir'd their Worships to "think it was his infirmity." Three or four wenches where I ftood, cry'd. "alas, good foul !"- -and for gave him with all their hearts: but there's no heed to be taken of them; if Cæfar had stabb'd their mothers, they would have done no less. Bru. And after that, he came, thus fad, away? Caf. Did Cicero fay any thing? Cafca. Ay, he fpoke Greek. Cafca. Nay, an' I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i'th' face again. But thofe, that understood him, fmil'd 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 fcarfs off Cafar's Images, are put to filence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it. Caf. Will you fup with me to night, Cafca? Caf. Will you dine with me to morrow? Cafca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner be worth the eating. Caf. Caf. Good, I will expect you. Cafca. Do fo: farewel Both. Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be? He was quick mettle, when he went to school. Caf. So is he now, in execution Of any bold or noble enterprize, However he puts on this tardy form : Bru. And fo it is: for this time I will leave you. I will come home to you; or, if you will, [Exit. you. Caf. I will do fo; till then, think of the world. [Exit Brutus. Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I fee, That Rome holds of his name: Wherein obfcurely And, after this, let Cæfar feat him fure; [Exit: Thunder and lightning. Enter Cafca, his fword drawn; and Cicero, meeting him. Cic. Good even, Cafea, brought you Cafar home? Why are you breathlefs, and why ftare you fo? Cafea. Are not you mov'd, when all the fway of earth Shakes likes a thing unfirm? O Cicero ! I have feen tempefts, when the fcolding winds Have riv'd the knotty oaks; and I have seen Or else the world, too faucy with the Gods, Cic. Why, faw you any thing more wonderful? Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn, Who glar'd upon me, and went furly by, Cic. Indeed, it is a ftrange difpofed time: Cafca. He doth: for he did bid Antonius [Exit Cicero. Caf. |