Ambition fhould be made of sterner stuff. Yet Brutus fays, he was ambitious; You all did fee, that, on the Lupercal, I thrice presented him a kingly crown ; Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus fays, he was ambitious; And, fure, he is an honourable man. I speak not to difprove what Brutus fpoke, You all did love him once, not without caufe. What cause with-holds you then to mourn for him? If you have tears, prepare to fhed them now. 'Twas on a fummer's evening in his tent, That day he overcame the Nervii Look! in this place ran Caffius' dagger through ;- For Brutus, as you know, was Cæfar's angel. Ingratitude, Ingratitude, more ftrong than traitors' arms, Quite vanquish'd him; then burft his mighty heart: Even at the bafe of Pompey's ftatue, Which all the while ran blood, great Cæfar fell. Then I and you, and all of us fell down, They that have done this deed are honourable. I am no orator, as Brutus is: But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, I tell you that which you yourselves do know; Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue In every wound of Cæfar, that should move SHAKESPEAR. CHA P. XXVI. THE QUARREL OF BRUTUS AND CASSIUS. CAS. 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 letter (praying on his fide, Because I knew the man) was flighted of. BRU. You wrong'd yourfelf to write in fuch a cafe. CAS. I an itching palm? You know, that you are Brutus that spake this, CAS. Chaftifement!. BRU. Remember March, the ides of March remember! Did not great Julius bleed for justice fake? And not for juftice? What, fhall one of us, And And fell the mighty meed of our large honours CAS. Brutus, bay not me, I'll not endure it; you forget yourself, BRU. Go to; you are not, Caffius. BRU. I fay, you are not. CAS. Urge me no more, I fhall forget myfelf Have mind upon your health-tempt me no farther. CAS. Is't poffible? BRU. Hear me, for I will speak. Muft I give way and room to your rash choler? Shall I be frighted when a madman stares? CAS. O gods! ye gods! muft I endure all this? BRU. All this? ay more. Fret till your proud heart break; Go, tell your flaves how choleric you are, And make your bondmen tremble. Muft I budge? Muft I obferve you? must I stand and crouch Under your tefty humour? By the gods, Tho' it do split you: for from this day forth, I'll ufe you for my mirth, yea for my laughter, CAS. Is it come to this? BRU. You fay, you are a better foldier; Let Let it appear fo; make your vaunting true, And it shall please me well. For mine own part, I fhall be glad to learn of noble men. CAS. You wrong me every way-you wrong me, I faid, an elder foldier, not a better; Did I fay better? I BRU. If you did, care not. CAS. When Cæfar liv'd, he durft not thus have mov'd me. BRU. No. CAS. What? durft not tempt him? BRU. For your life you durit not. CAS. Do not presume too much upon my love; may do what I fhall be forry for. BRU. You have done that you should be forry for. There is no terror, Caffius, in your threats; For I am arm'd so strong in honesty, That they pafs by me, as the idle wind, Which I respect not. I did fend to you For certain fums of gold, which you deny'd me; By heav'n, I had rather coin my heart, 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 Caffius? When Marcus Brutus grows fo covetous, To lock fuch rafcal counters from his friends, 1 Be |