Why should that name be sounded more than your's? Weigh them; it is as heavy conjure with them; Upon what meat does this our Cæsar feed, That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed: There was a Brutus once, that would have brooked Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous: I will consider; what you have to say, I will with patience hear, and find a time Both meet to hear and answer such high things. "Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this; Brutus had rather be a villager, Than to repute himself a son of Rome Under such hard conditions as this time Is like to lay upon us. Cas. I am glad that my weak words, Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. SHAKSPERE. THE QUARREL OF BRUTUS AND CASSIUS. Cassius. That you have wrong'd me, doth appear in this; You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella, For taking bribes here of the Sardians; Wherein, my letters, praying on his side, Brutus. You wrong'd yourself, to write in such a case. Cas. I an itching palm? You know that you are Brutus that speak this, Cas. Chastisement ! Bru. Remember March, the Ides of March remember! Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? What villain touched his body, that did stab Cas. Brutus, bay not me, I'll not endure it: you forget yourself, To hedge me in; I am a soldier, I, Older in practice, abler than yourself To make conditions. Bru. Go to; you're not Cassius. Cas. I am. Bru. I say, you are not. Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; Have 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? Cus. O ye gods! ye gods! Must I endure all this? Bru. All this? ay, more: fret, till your proud heart break; Go, show 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 : Let it appear so; make your vaunting true, And it shall please me well: For mine own part, I shall be glad to learn of nobler men. Cas. You wrong me every way, you wrong me, Brutus ; I said, an elder soldier, not a better: Did I say, better? Bru. If you did, I care not. Cas. When Cæsar lived, he durst not thus have moved me. Bru. Peace, peace: you durst not so have tempted him. Cas. I durst not? Bru. No. Cas. What! durst not tempt him? I Bru. For your life you durst not. Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love, may do that I shall be sorry for. Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for. There is no terror Cassius, in your threats: For certain sums of gold, which you denied me; And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring To you for gold to pay my legions, Which you denied me: Was that done like Cassius? When Marcus Brucus 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 rived my heart: A friend should bear a friend's infirmities, But Brutus makes mine greater than they are. Bru. I do not like your faults. Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults. 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: Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother; When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better Bru. Sheath your dagger: Be angry when you will, it shall have scope ; Cas. Hath Cassius lived To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, Cas. Have you not love enough to bear with me, When that rash humor, which my mother gave me, Makes me forgetful? Bru. Yes, Cassius; and, henceforth, When you are over earnest with your Brutus, He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so. |