Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone Come, Casca, you and I will, yet, ere day, Casca. O, he sits high in all the people's hearts: Will change to virtue, and to worthiness. Cas. Him, and his worth, and our great need of him, You have right well conceited. Let us go, For it is after midnight; and, ere day, We will awake him, and be sure of him. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. THE SAME. BRUTUS'S ORCHARD. Enter Brutus. Bru. What, Lucius! ho! I cannot, by the progress of the stars, Give guess how near to day.-Lucius, I say!- Enter Lucius. Luc. Call'd you, my lord? Bru. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius: When it is lighted, come and call me here. Luc. I will, my lord. [Exit. Bru. It must be by his death: and, for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, 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; And then, I grant, we put a sting in him, That at his will he may do danger with. The abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins Remorse from power: And, to speak truth of Cæsar, I have not known when his affections sway'd Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel And kill him in the shell. Re-enter Lucius. Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, sir. Bru. Look in the calendar, and bring me word. [Exit. Bru. The exhalations, whizzing in the air, Give so much light, that I may read by them. [Opens the letter, and reads. Brutus, thou sleep'st; awake, and see thyself. Brutus, thou sleep'st; awake, Such instigations have been often dropp'd Shall Rome &c. Thus must I piece it out; Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What! Rome? My ancestors did from the streets of Rome To speak, and strike? O Rome! I make thee pro mise, If the redress will follow, thou receivest Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus! Re-enter Lucius. Luc. Sir, March is wasted fourteen days. [Knock within. [Erit Lucius. Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks. Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar, I have not slept. Between the acting of a dreadful thing The nature of an insurrection. Re-enter Lucius. Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, Who doth desire to see you. Bru. Is he alone? Luc. No, sir, there are more with him. Bru. Do you know them? Luc. No, sir; their hats are pluck'd about their ears, And half their faces buried in their cloaks, That by no means I may discover them By any mark of favour. Bru. Let them enter. [Exit Lucius. They are the faction. O conspiracy! Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night, To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy; Hide it in smiles, and affability: For if thou path, thy native semblance on, Not Erebus itself were dim enough To hide thee from prevention. Enter Cassius, Casca, Decius, Cinna, Metellus Cas. I think, we are too bold upon your rest: Good morrow, Brutus; Do we trouble you? 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, Which every noble Roman bears of you. Bru. He is welcome hither. |