The fufferance of our fouls, the time's abufe, To kindle cowards, and to steel with valour. That this fhall be, or we will fall for it? Swear priefts, and cowards, and men cautelous, Nor th' infuppreffive mettle of cur fpirits; To think, that or our caufe, or our performance, argument ftands thus, You require an oath to keep us together; but fure the strong motives that drew us into confederacy will keep us confederated. Thefe motives he enumerates; but The FACE of men not being one of thefe motives must needs be a corrupt reading. Shakespeare, without queftion, wrote, If that the FATE of men, Or of mankind, which, in the ideas of a Roman, was involved in the fate of their Republick. And this was the principal motive which engaged the God-like Brutus in the undertaking. WARBURTON. This elaborate emendation is, I think, erroneous. The face of men is the countenance, the regard, the esteem of the publick; in other terms, honour and reputation; or, the face of men may mean, the dejected look of the people. He reads, with the other modern editions, -If that the face of men, but the old reading is, -if not the face, &c. This is imitated by Otway, When you would bind me, is there need of oaths? &c. Venice preferved. That That ev'ry Roman bears, and nobly bears, If he doth break the smallest particle Caf. But what of Cicero? fhall we found him? Cin. No, by no means. Met. O let us have him, for his filver hairs And buy men's voices to commend our deeds: Bru. O, name him not; let us not break with him : For he will never follow any thing, That other men begin. Caf. Then leave him out. Cafca. Indeed, he is not fit. Dec. Shall no man elfe be touch'd, but only Cafar? Caf. Decius, well urg'd I think, it is not meet, Mark Antony, fo well belov'd of Cæsar, Should out-live Cafar: we fhall find of him Let Antony and Cafar fall together. Bru. Our courfe will feem too bloody, Caius Caffius, Let us be facrificers, but not butchers, Caius ; 7 Let's Let's carve him as a dish fit for the Gods, Caf. Yet I do fear him; For in th' ingrafted love he bears to Cafar 2 Is to himself; take thought, and die for Cæfar: Treb. There is no fear in him; let him not die Bru. Peace, count the clock. Caf. But it is doubtful yet, [Glock ftrikes, If Cæfar will come forth to-day, or no: 2-take thought,-] That is, turn melancholy. 3 For he is fuperftitious grown Of fantaly, of dreams, and ceremonies:] Cafar, as well as Caffius, was an Epicurean. By It main opinion Caffius intends a compliment to his fect, and means folid, fundamental opi nion grounded in truth and nature: As by fantafy is meant ominous forebodings; and by ceremonies, atonements of the Gods by means of religious rites and facrifices. A little after, where Calpburni It may be, these apparent prodigies, Dec. Never fear that if he be fo refolv'd, He fays, he does; being then most flattered. ; For I can give his humour the true bent, Caf. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him. Bru. By the eighth hour. Is that the uttermoft? Cin. Be that the uttermoft; and fail not then. Met. Caius Ligarius doth bear Cafar hard, Who rated him for fpeaking well of Pompey; I wonder, none of you have thought of him. Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along to him: He loves me well; and I have giv'n him reasons; Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him. Caf. The morning comes upon's. We'll leave you, Brutus ; And, friends! difperfe yourselves; but all remember What you have faid, and fhew yourselves true Romans. Bru. Good Gentlemen, look fresh and merrily; $ Let not our looks put on our purposes; But bear it, as our Roman actors do, With untir'd spirits, and formal conftancy. And fo, good-morrow to you every one. [Exeunt. Manet Brutus. Boy! Lucius!-Faft afleep. It is no matter, S CENE III. Enter Porcia. Por. Brutus, my Lord! Bru. Porcia, what mean you? Wherefore rife you now? It is not for your health, thus to commit Brutus, Stol'n from my bed; and, yefternight at fupper, Mufing and fighing, with your arms a cross, scratch'd your head, 5 Let not our Looks- -] Let not our faces put on, that is, wear or how our defigns. |