What is it that you would impart to me? Set Honour in one eye, and Death i' the other, For, let the gods so speed me, as I love The name of Honour more than I fear Death. In awe of such a thing as I myself. I was born free as Cæsar; so were you: And bade him follow: so, indeed, he did. I, as Æneas, our great ancestor, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old Anchises bear, so, from the waves of Tiber Did I the tired Cæsar: And this man Is now become a god; and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body He had a fever when he was in Spain, And, when the fit was on him, I did mark How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake: And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world, Alas! it cried, Give me some drink, Titinius, So get the start of the majestic world, 55. Bru. Another general shout! I do believe, that these applauses are [Shout. Flourish. For some new honours that are heaped on Cæsar. 56. Cas. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world. Walk under his huge legs, and peep about Now, in the names of all the gods at once, Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed, That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed: O! you and I have heard our fathers say, There was a Brutus once, that would have brooked 57. Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous · [Shout. Both meet to hear, and answer, such high things. Than to repute himself a son of Rome Is like to lay upon us. 58. Cas. I am glad, that my weak words Have struck but this much shew of fire from Brutus. Re-enter CESAR, and his Train. Bru. The games are done and Cæsar is returning. 60. Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve; And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you What hath proceeded, worthy note, to-day. 61. Bru. I will do so:-But, look you, Cassius, The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow, And all the rest look like a chidden train: Calphurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes, As we have seen him in the Capitol, Being crossed in conference by some senators. 62. Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is. Cæs. Antonius. Ant. Cæsar. 35. Cæs. Let me have men about me that are fat; Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights: Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous. 66. Ant. Fear him not, Cæsar; he's not dangerous. He is noble Roman, and well given. 67. Cæs. Would he were fatter.-But I fear him not. Yet, if my name were liable to fear, I do not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much; Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, Than what I fear; for always I am Cæsar. [Sennet. Exeunt CESAR and his Train. CASCA stays behind. Casca. You pulled me by the cloak; Would you speak with me? 69. Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanced to-day, That Cæsar looks so sad. Casca. Why, you were with him, were you not? Bru. I should not then ask Casca what had chanced. Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him: and, being offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a-shouting. Bru. What was the second noise for? Casca. Why, for that too. Cas. They shouted thrice; What was the last cry for? Casca. Why, for that too. Bru. Was the crown offered him thrice? 78. Casca. Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and, at every putting by, mine honest neighbours shouted. Cas. Who offered him the crown? Casca. Why, Antony. Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. 82. Casca. I can as well be hanged, as tell the manner of it: it was mere foolery. I did not mark it. I saw 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 offered it to him again; then he put it by again; but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by: and, still as he refused it, the rabblement shouted, and clapped their chopped hands, and threw up their sweaty night-caps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choked Cæsar; for he swooned, and fell down at it. And, for my own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips, and receiving the bad air. 83. Cas. But, soft, I pray you: What? did Cæsar swoon? Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at mouth, and was speechless. 85. Bru. 'Tis very like: he hath the falling sickness. 86. Cas. No, Cæsar hath it not; but you and I, And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness. 87. Casca. I know not what you mean by that; but I am sure Cæsar G fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him, and hiss him, according as he pleased and displeased them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no true man. Bru. What said he, when he came unto himself? 89. Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his doublet, and offered 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 go to hell among the rogues. And so he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, If he had done, or said, anything amiss, he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches, where I stood, cried Alas, good soul!—and forgave him with all their hearts: But there's no heed to be taken of them; if Cæsar had stabbed their mothers, they would have done no less. Bru. And after that, he came, thus sad, away? Casca. Ay. Cas. Did Cicero say anything? Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek. Cas. To what effect? 95. Casca. Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' the face again: But those that understood him smiled at one another, and shook their heads; but, for my own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæsar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it. Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca? 97. Casca. No, I am promised forth. Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow? Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth the eating. Cas. Good: I will expect you. Casca. Do so: Farewell, both. 102. Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be! He was quick mettle when he went to school. 103. Cas. So is he now, in execution Of any bold or noble enterprise, However he puts on this tardy form. This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit, Which gives men stomach to digest his words With better appetite. 104. Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave you: To-morrow if you please to speak with me, I will come home to you; or, if you will, [Exit CASCA. |