57. Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; I will with patience hear: and find a time 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 CÆSAR 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. 62. Ant. Cæsar. 65. 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 a 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; He is a great observer, and he looks Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, I rather tell thee what is to be feared Than what I fear; for always I am Cæsar. Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf, And tell me truly what thou think'st of him. [Sennet. Exeunt CÆSAR and his Train. CASCA stays behind. Casca. You pulled me by the cloak: would you speak 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? 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 nightcaps, 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. Casca. He fell down in the at mouth, and was speechless. What! did Cæsar swoon? market-place, and foamed 85. Bru. 'Tis very like: he hath the falling sickness. Cas. No, Cæsar hath it not; but you and I, 86. And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness. 87. Casca. I know not what you mean by that; but I am sure Cæsar 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? 95. Casca. Ay. Cas. Did Cicero say anything? Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek. Cas. To what effect? 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 97. 102. 103. another, and shook their heads; but, for my own part, Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca? Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow? сидадитель 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. [Exit CASCA. Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be! 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: I will come home to you; or, if you will, 105. Cas. I will do so: - till then, think of the world. [Exit BRUTUS. Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see, For we will shake him, or worse days endure. [Exit. SCENE III.- The same. A Street. Thunder and Lightning. Enter, from opposite sides, CASCA, with his sword drawn, and CICERO. 106. Cic. Good even, Casca. Brought you Cæsar home? Why are you breathless? and why stare you so? 107. Casca. Are not you moved, when all the sway of earth Shakes, like a thing unfirm? O Cicero, 108. 109. IIO. I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds Or else the world, too saucy with the gods, Cic. Why, saw you anything more wonderful? Against the Capitol I met a lion, Who glared upon me, and went surly by, Transformed with their fear; who swore they saw And yesterday the bird of night did sit, Hooting and shrieking. When these prodigies Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: |