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But wherefore do you hold me here so long ? Now, in the names of all the gods at once, What is it that you would in part to me? Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed, If it be aught toward the general good,

That he is grown so great! Age, thou art Set honour in one eye and death i' the other,

sham'd! And I will look on both indifferently;

Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods! For let the gods so speed me as I love

When went there by an age, since the great flood, The name of honour more than I fear death. But it was fam'd with more than with one mau !

Cas. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, 90 When could they say, till now, that talk d of As well as I do know your outward favour,

Rome, Well, honour is the subject of my story.

That her wide walks encompass'd but one man! I cannot tell what you and other men

Now is it Rome indeed and room enough,
Think of this life ; but for my single self, When there is in it but one only man.
I had as lief not be as live to be

0! you and I have heard our fathers say, In awe of such a thing as I myself.

There was a Brutus once that would have brook'a I was born free as Cæsar; so were you :

The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome, We both have fed as well, and we can both As easily as a king. Endure the winter's cold as well as he :

Bru. 'That you do love me, I am nothing jea] For once, upon a raw and gusty day,

ous ; The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores, What you would work me too, I have some aim Cæsar said to me, ‘Dar'st thou, Cassius, now How I have thought of this and of these times, Leap in with me into this angry food,

I shall recount hereafter; for this present, And swim to yonder point ?' Upon the word, I would not, so with love I might entreat you, Accoutred as I was, I plunged in

Be any further mov’d. What you have said And bade him follow : so indeed he did.

I will consider ; what you have to say The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it

I will with patience hear, and find a time With lusty sinews, throwing it aside

Both meet to hear and answer such high things.
And stemming it with hearts of controversy ; Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this : 130
But ere we could arrive the point propos'd, 110 Brutus had rather be a villager
Cæsar cried 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink.' Than to repute himself a son of Rome
I, as Eneas, our great ancestor,

Under these hard conditions as this time
Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder Is like to lay upon us.
The oll Anchises bear, so from the waves of Cas.

I am glad
Tiber

That my weak words have struck but thus much Did I the tired Cæsar. And this man

show Is now become a god, and Cassius is

Of fire from Brutus. A wretched creature and must bend his body Bru. The games are done and Cæsar is reIf Cæsar carelessly but nod on him.

turning. He had a fever when he was in Spain,

Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve, And when the fit was on him, I did mark 120 And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you How be did shake ; 'tis true, this god did shake; What hath proceeded worthy note to-day. His coward lips did from their colour fly,

Re-enter CÆSAR and his Train, And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world

Bru. I will do so. But, look you, Cassius, Did lose his lustre; I did hear him groan : The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow, Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans And all the rest look like a chidden train : Mark him and write his speeches in their books, Calpurnia's cheek is pale, and Cicero Alas! it cried 'Give me some drink, Titinius,' Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes As sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me As we have seen him in the Capitol, A man of such a feeble temper should

Beiug cross'd in conference by some senators. So get the start of the majestic world,

Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is And bear the palm alone. Shout. Flourish. C'es. Antonius! Bru,

Another general shout! Ant. Cæsar. I do believe that these applauses are

Cæs. Let me have men about me that are fat; For some new honours that are heap'd on Cæsar. Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights Cas. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look: world

He thinks too much: such men are dangerous. Like a Colossus ; and we petty men

Ant. Fear him not, Cæsar, be's not dangerous; Walk under his huge legs, and peep about He is a noble Roman, and well given. To find ourselves dishonourable graves.

Cæs. Would he were fatter! But I fear him Men at some time are masters of their fates : The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, Yet if my name were liable to fear, But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

I do not know the man I should avoid Brutus and Cæsar : what should be in that So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much: Cæsar'?

He is a great observer, and he looks Why should that name be sounded more than Quite through the deeds of men; he loves no yours?

plays, Write them together, yours is as fair a name ; As thow dost, Antony ; he hears no music; Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well; Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with 'em, As if he mock'd himself, and scorn'd his spirit * Brutus' will start a spirit as soon as 'Casar.' That could be moy'd to smile at any thing.

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not:

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cry for?

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Such men as he be nerer at heart's ease

taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell Whiles they behold a greater than themselves, among the rogues. And so he fell. When he And therefore are they very dangerous.

came to himself again, he said, If he had done I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd

or said any thing amiss, he desired their worThan what I fear, for always I am Cæsar. ships to think it was his infirmity. Three or Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf, four wenches, where I stood, cried · Alas! good And tell me truly what thon think'st of him. soul, and forgave him with all their hearts ; Sennet. Exeunt CÆSAR and his Train. but there's no heed to be taken of them : if

CASCA stays behind. Cæsar had stabbed their mothers, they would Casca. Yon pull'd me by the cloak; would have done no less. you speak with me?

Bru. And after that, he came, thus sad, away? Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanced

Casca. Ay. to-day,

Cas. Did Cicero say any thing? That Cæsar looks so sad.

Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek. Casca. Why, you were with him, were you not? Cas. To what effect ? Bru. I should not then ask Casca what hath Casca. Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look chanced.

you i' the face again ; but those that understood Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him ; bim smiled at one another and shook their and, being offered him, he put it by with the heads ; but, for mine own part, it was Greek to back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell me. I could tell you more news too; Marullus a-shouting.

222 and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæsar's images, Bru, What was the second noise for ?

are put to silence. Fare you well. There was Casca. Why, for that too.

more foolery yet, if I could remember it. Cas. They shouted thrice: what was the last Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca ?

Casca. No, I am promised forth. Casca. Why, for that too.

Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow? Bru. Was the crowu offered him thrice? Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold,

Casca. Ay, marry, was 't, and he put it by and your dinner worth the eating. thrice, every timegentler than other; andatevery Cas. Good ; I will expect you. putting-by mine honest neighbours shouted. 230 Casca. Do so. Farewell, both.

Erit. Cas. Who offered him the crown ?

Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be ! Cusca. Why, Antony.

He was quick mettle when he went to school. Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. Cas. So is he now in execution

Casca. I can as well be hanged as tell the Of any bold or noble enterprise, manner of it: it was mere foolery ; I did not However he puts on this tardy form. mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown ; This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit, yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of these which gives men stomach to digest his words coronets; and, as I told you, he put it by once ; With better appetite. but, for all that, to my thinking, he would fain Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave lave had it. Then he offered it to him again ; yon : then he put it by again ; but, to my thinking, To-morrow, if you please to speak with me, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And I will come home to you ; or, if you will, then he offered it the third time; he put it the Come home to me, and I will wait for you. third time by; and still as he refused it, the tas. I will do so : till then, think of the rabblement shouted, and clapped their chopped world.

Ecit BRUTUS. hands, and threw up their sweaty night-caps, Well, Brutus, thou art noble ; yet, I see, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath be. Thy honourable metal may be wrought cause Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost From that it is disposd : therefore 'tis meet choked Cæsar ; for he swounded and fell down That noble minds keep ever with their likes ; at it. And for mine own part, I durst not laugh, For who so firm that cannot be seduc'd ? for fear of opening my lips and receiving the Casar doth bear me hard ; but he loves Brutus : bad air.

252 If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius, Car. But soft, I pray you : what I did Cæsar He should not humour me. I will this night, swound ?

In several hands, in at his windows throw, C18ca. He fell down in the market-place, and As if they came from several citizens, foamed at mouth, and was speechless.

Writings all tending to the great opinion
Bru. 'Tis very like: he hath the falling-sickness. That Rome holds of his name ; wherein ob-

Cas. No, Cæsar hath it not ; but you, and I, scurely
And honest Casca, we have the falling-sickness. Cæsar's ambition shall be glanced at:

Casca. I know not what you mean by that; And after this let Cæsar seat him sure ; but I am sure Cæsar fell down. If the tag-rag For we will shake him, or worse days endure. people did not clap him and hiss him, according

Erit. as he pleased and displeased them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no trne man

SCENE III.-The Samc. A Strect. Bru. What said he when he came into himself? Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he Thunder an i lightning. Enter, from opposite sides,

CASCA, with his sword drawn, and CICERO. perceived the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his doublet and Cir. Good even, Casca : brought you Cæsar offered them bis throat to cut. An I had been home? a man of any occupation, if I would not have Why are you breathless ? and why stare you so !

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321

Casca. Are not you mov'd, when all the sway | To see the strange impatience of the heavens; But if you would consider the true cause

of earth

:

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14)

There is no stir or walking in the streets; But for the general. He would be crown'd: And the complexion of the element

How that might change his nature, there's the In favour 's like the work we have in hand,

question. Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.

It is the bright day that brings forth the adder ; Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one And that craves wary walking. Crown him ? in ha-te.

that!
Cas. "Tis Cinna ; I do know bim by his gait: And then, I grant, we put a sting in him,
He is a friend.

That at his will he may do danger with.
Enter CINNA.

The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins
Cinna, where laste you so?

Remorse from power; and, to speak truth of Cin. To find out you. Who's that ? Metellus I have not known when his affections sway'd 20

Cæsar, Cimber?

More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof, Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate

That lowliness is young ambition's ladder, To our attempts. Am I not stay'd for, Cinna? Cin. I am glad on't. What a fearful night is But when he once attains the upmost round,

Whereto the climber-upward turns his face ; this! There's two or three of us have seen strange Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees

He then unto the ladder turns his back, sights.

By which he did ascend.

So Cæsar may : Cas. Am I not stay'd for? Tell me.

Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the Cin.

Yes, you are. () Cassius! if you could

quarrel But win the noble Brutus to our party

Will bear no colour for the thing he is, Cus. Be you content. Good Cinna, take this Fashion it thus ; that what he is, augmented, 30

Would run to these and these extremities ; paper,

And therefore think him as a serpent's egg And look you lay it in the prætor's chair,

Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow misWhere Brutus may but find it; and throw this

chievous, In at his window ; set this up with wax

And kill him in the shell.
l'pon old Brutus' statue: all this done,
Repairto Pompey's porch, where you shall find us.

Re-enter LUCIUS.
Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there?
Cin. All but Metelius Cimber, and he's gone Searching the window for a flint, I found

Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, sir.
To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie, 150
And so bestow these papers as you bade me.

This paper, thus seald up; and I am sure

It did not lie there when I went to bed. Cas. That done, repair to Pompey's theatre.

Gives him a letter. Exit CINNA.

Bru. Get you to bed again ; it is not day. Come, Casca, you and I will yet ere day

Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March? See Brutas at his house : three parts of him

Luc. I know not, sir. Is ours already, and the man entire

Brii. Look in the calendar, and bring me word. Upon the next encounter yields him ours.

Luc. I will, sir.

E.cit. Casca. 0: he sits high in all the people's hearts:

Bru. The exhalations whizzing in the air And that which would appear offence in us,

Give so much light that I may read by them. His countenance, like richest alchemy, Will change to virtue and to worthiness.

Opens the letter. tas. Him and his worth and our great need of Brutus, thou sleep'st : awake, and see thyself. him

Shall Rome, etc. Speak, strike, reilress !
You have right well conceited. Let us go, Brutus, thou sleep'st : awake !
For it is after midnight ; and ere day
We will awake him and be sure of him. Excunt. Where I have took them up.

Such instigations have been often dropp'd
‘Shall Rome, etc. Thus must I piece it out:

Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What
ACT II.

Rome?

My ancestors did from the streets of Rome SCENE I.-Rome. BRUTUS's Orchard.

The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king. Enter BRUTUS.

* Speak, strike, redress !' Am entreated

To speak and strike ? O Rome! I make thee Bru. What, Lucius ! ho !

promise ; I cannot, by the progress of the stars,

If the redress will follow, thou receiv'st
Give guess how near to day. Lucius, I say!
I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.

Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!
When, Lucius, when! Awake, I say! What,

Re-enter LUCIUS.
Lucius!

Luc. Sir, March is wasted fourteen days.
Enter LUCIUS.

K’nocking within. Luc. Call’d you, my lord ?

Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate ; somebody Bru. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius :

knocks.

Exit Lucius. 60 When it is lighted, come and call me here. Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar, Luc. I will, mv lord.

Erit. I have not slept. Bru. It must be by his death : and for my Between the acting of a dreadful thing part,

And the first motion, all the interim is I know no personal cause to spurn at him, Like a phantasma, or a hideous dream :

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their ears,

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nstrol

The genius and the mortal instruments

If these be motives weak, break off betimes, Are then in council; and the state of man, And every man hence to his idle bed; Like to a little kingdom, suffers then

So let high-sighted tyranny range on, The nature of an insurrection.

Till each man drop by lottery. But if these,

As I am sure they do, bear fire enough
Re-enter LUCIUS.

To kindle cowards and to steel with valour
Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen,
Who doth desire to see you.

What need we any spur but our own cause Bru.

Is he alone ? To prick us to redress? what other bond Luc. No, sir, there are more with him. Than secret Romans, that have spoke the word Bru.

Do you know them? And will not palter ? and what other oath Luc. No, sir; their hats are pluck'd about Than honesty to honesty engag'd,

That this shall be, or we will fall for it? And half their faces buried in their cloaks, Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous, That by no means I may discover them

Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls >> By any mark of favour,

That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear Bru.

Let 'em enter. Erit LUCIUS. Such creatures as men doubt; but do not stain They are the faction. O conspiracy !

The even virtue of our enterprise, Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits, night,

To think that or our cause or our performance When evils are most free? O! then by day Did need an oath ; when every drop of blood Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough That every Roman bears, and nobly bears, To mask thy

visage ? Seek none, con. Is guilty of a several bastardy, spiracy ;

If he do break the smallest particle Hide it in smiles and affability :

Of any promise that baih pass'd from him. For if thou path, thy native semblance on,

Cas. But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him! Not Erebus itself were dim enough

I think he will stand very strong with us
To hide thee from prevention.

Casca. Let us not leave him out.
Cin.

No, by no means. Enter the conspirators, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS,

Met. O! let us have him, for his silver hairs CINNA, METELLUS CIMBER, and TREBONIUS.

Will purchase us a good opinion C's. I think we are too bold upon your rest : And buy men's voices to commend our deeds : Good morrow, Brutus; do we trouble you ! It shall be said his judgment rul'd our hands :

Bru. I have been up this hour, awake all night. Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear, Know I these men that come along with you ? But all be buried in his gravity. Cas. Yes, every man of them; and no man Bru. O! name him not ; let us not break with

here But honours you; and every one doth wish For he will never follow any thing You had but ihat opinion of yourself

That other men begin. Which every poble Roman bears of you.

Cris.

Then leave him out. This is Trebonius.

Casca. Indeed he is not fit.
Bru,
He is welcome hither,

Dec. Shall no man else be touch'd but opis Cas. This, Decius Brutus.

Cæsar ? Bru.

He is welcome too. Cas. Decius, well urg'd. I think it is not meet, Cas. This, Casca ; this, Cinna; and this, Me- Mark Antony, so well belov'd of Cæsar, tellus Cimber.

Should outlive Cæsar: we shall find of him Bru. They are all welcome.

A shrewd contriver ; and, you know, his mean, What watchful cares do interpose themselves If he improve them, may well stretch so far Betwixt your eyes and night?

As to annoy us all; which to prevent, Cas. Shall I entreat a word ?

100 Let Antony and Cæsar fall together. BRUTUS and CASSIUS whisper. Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Dec. Here lies the east : doth not the day Cassius, break here?

To cut the head off and then hack the limbs, Casca. No.

Like wrath in death and envy afterwards ; Cin. 0! pardon, sir, it doth; and yon grey For Antony is but a limb of Casar. lines

Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. That fret the clouds are messengers of day. We all stand up against the spirit of Cæsar ; Casca. You shall confess that you are both And in the spirit of men there is no blood : deceiv'd.

0! that we then could come by Cæsar's spirit. Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises, And not dismember Cæsar. But, alas! Which is a great way growing on the south, Cæsar must bleed for it. And, gentle friends Weighing the youthful season of the year. Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; Some two months hence up higher toward the Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods, north

Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds : He first presents his fire ; and the high east 119 And let our hearts, as subtle masters do, Stands, as the Capitol, directly here.

Stir up their servants to an act of rage, Bru. Give me your hands all over. one by one. Aud after seem to chide 'em. This shall make Cas. And let us swear our resolution.

Our purpose necessary and not envious; Bru. No, not an oath: if not the face of men, Which so appearing to the common eyes, The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse, We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers.

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him ;