1Casca prepares to sit on stool up L C. 2During this speech Casca sits very casually; he is an older and fatter man than either of the others, so they just stand and listen. Bru. (L). Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanc'd to-day, That Cæsar looks so sad. Casca. (LC). Why, you were with him, were you not? Bru. (L). I should not then ask Casca what had chanc'd. Casca. Why, there was a crown offer'd him:1 and being offer'd him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a-shouting. (Sits L C.) Bru. (L). What was the second noise for? Casca. (LC). Why, for that too. Cas. (RC). They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for? Casca. Why, for that too. Bru. Was the crown offer'd him thrice? 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 offer'd him the crown? Casca. Why, Antony. Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. Casca.2 I can as well be hang'd as tell the 1Cassius moves up to him here. 2Casca is a bullet-headed, obstinate fellow and crafty withal; but you couldn't insult him. manner of it: it was mere foolery; I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown — yet 't was not a crown neither, 't was 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 offer'd 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 offer'd it the third time; he put it the third time by: and still as he refus'd it; the rabblement shouted, and clapp'd their chopt hands, because Cæsar refus'd the crown, that it had almost choked Cæsar: for he swounded and fell down at it: and for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air. Cas. But, soft, I pray you: what, did Caesar swound? Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and foam'd at mouth, and was speechless. Bru. 'Tis very like: he hath the falling sickness. Cas. No, Caesar hath it not; but you and I and honest Casca; we have the falling sickness. Casca.2 I know not what you mean by that; |