the rabblement hooted, and clapped their chap- [ He should not humour me. I will this night, ped hands, and threw up their sweaty night-caps, In several hands, † in at the windows throw, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because As if they came from several citizens, Cesar refused the crown, that it had almost Writings all tending to the great opinion choked Cesar; for he swooned, and fell down That Rome holds of his name; wherein ob at it: And for mine own part I durst not laugh, scurely for fear of opening my lips, and receiving the bad air. Cas. But soft, I pray you: What! did Cesar swoon? Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at mouth, and was speechless. Bru. 'Tis very like: he hath the falling-sick ness. Cas. No, Cesar hath it not; but you, and I, And honest Casca, we have the falling-sickness. Casca. I know not what you mean by that; but, I am sure, Cesar 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? Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceiv'd 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, any thing amiss, he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches, where 1 stood, cried, Alas, good soul!-aud forgave him with all their hearts: But there's no heed to be taken of them; if Cesar 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 any thing? 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 mine own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cesar'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? 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 eating. Cas. Good: I will expect you. [Exit CASCA. Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be? He was quick mettle, when he went to school. Cas. So is he now in execution Of any bold or noble enterprise, Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave yon: To-morrow if you please to speak with me, Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see Cesar's ambition shall be glanced at: Shakes, like a thing unfirm? O Cicero, by sight) Who glar'd upon nie, and went surly by, Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius Send word to you he would be there to-morrow. Cic. Good night then, Casca: this disturbed sky Is not to walk in. [Exit CICERO. Casca. Farewell, Cicero. Enter CASSIUS. Cas. Who's there? Casca. A Roman. Cas. Casca, by your voice. Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this! Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men. Casca. Who ever knew the neavens menace so Cas. Those, that have known the earth so full of faults. For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, It is the part of men to fear and tremble, • Cajole. +Hand writings. Whole momentum A mechanic. + Has an unfavourable opinion of me. of the globe. Altogether. 1 Bolt. F When the most mighty gods, by tokens, send Such dreadful heralds to astonish us. [life Cas. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of That should be in a Roman, you do want, Or else you use not: You look pale, and gaze, And put on fear, and cast yourself in wonder, To see the strange impatience of the heavens: But if you would consider the true cause, Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts, Why birds, and beasts, from quality and kind; * Why old inen fools, and children calculate ;+ Why all these things change, from their ordinance, Their natures and pre-formed faculties, To monstrous quality-why, you shall find, That heaven hath infus'd them with these spirits, To make them instruments of fear and warning, Unto some monstrous state. Now could I, Casca, Name to thee a man most like this dreadful night; Enter CINNA. Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. Cas. 'Tis Cinna, I do know him by his gait; He is a friend.-Ciuna, where haste you so? Cin. To find out you: Who's that? Metellus Cimber? Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate⚫ You are. Cus. Be you content: Good Cinna, take this paper, And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this As doth the lion in the Capitol : A man no mightier than thyself, or me, Casca. 'Tis Cesar that you mean: Is it not, Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now Have thewest and limbs like to their ancestors; But, woe the while! our fathers' minds are dead, And we are govern'd with our mothers' spirits; Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish. Casca. Indeed, they say, the senators to-inorMean to establish Cesar as a king: [row And he shall wear his crown, by sea and land, In every place, save here in Italy. Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then; Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius: I know this, know all the world besides, Casca. So can 1; So every bondman in his own hand bears Cas. And why should Cesar be a tyrant then? So vile a thing as Cesar! But, O grief! Casca. You speak to Casca; and to such a man, That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold my hand: Cas. There's a bargain made. Now know you, Casca, I have mov'd already Of honourable dangerous consequence; Is favour'd like the work we have in hand, In at his window: set this up with wax us. Are Decius Brutus and Trebonius there? Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; aud he's gone To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie, And so bestow these papers as you bade ine. Cas. That doue, repair to Pompey's theatre. [Exit CINNA. Come, Casca, you and I will, yet, ere day, See Brutus at his house: three parts of him Is ours already; and the man entire, Upon the next encounter, yields him ours. Casca. Oh! he sits high in all the people's hearts: And that, which would appear offence in us, Cas. Him, and his worth, and our great need of him, You have right well conceited. + Let us go, ACT II. [Exeunt. Prophesy: Here's my hand. Resembles. Active. But when he once attains the upmost round, Will bear no colour for the thing he is, Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, Sir. Bru. Get you to bed again, it is not day. Bru. Look in the calendar, and bring me word. Shall Rome, &c. Thus, must I piece it out; My ancestors did from the streets of Rome If the redress will follow, thou receivest Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. Sir, March is wasted fourteen days. Between the acting of a dreadful thing Re-enter LUCIUS. Bru. I have been up this hour; awake, all night. Know 1 these men, that come along with you? Cas. Yes, every man of them; and no man here, But honours you and every one doth wish Bru. He is welcome hither. Cas. This, Casca; this, Cinna; Bru. They are all welcome. What watchful cares do interpose themselves Cas. Shall I entreat a word? [They whisper. Casca. No. Cin. Oh! pardon, Sir, it doth; and you grey lines, That fret the clouds, are messengers of day. Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises; He first presents his fire; and the high east Bru. Give me your hands all over, one by one. Cas. Aud let us swear our resolution. Bru. No, not an oath: If not the face of men, That this shall be, or we will fall for it! Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits, Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, Did need an oath; when every drop of blood Who doth desire to see you. Bru. Is he alone? Luc. No, Sir, there are more with him. Bru. Do you know them ? Luc. No, Sir; their hats are pluck'd about their Bru. Let them enter. [spiracy; For if thou path + thy native semblance on, con- Enter CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, CINNA, ME- That every Roman bears, and nobly bears, If he do break the smallest particle Of any promise that hath pass'd from him. I think he will stand very strong with us. Cin. No, by no means. Met. Oh! let us have him; for his silver hairs Bru. Oh! name him not; let us not break For he will never follow any thing Cas. Then leave him out. Dec. Shall no man else be touch'd, but only Cas. Decius, well urg'd :—I think it is not meet Walk in thy true form. • Wary, circumspect. Break the matter to hi Should outlive Cesar: We shall find of him A shrewd contriver; and, you know, his means, Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius To cut the head off, and then hack the limbs; Let us be sacrificers, but no butchers, Cains. And after seem to chide them. This shall make Cas. Yet I do fear him: For in the ingrafted love he bears to Cesar,- Is to himself; take thought, and die for Cesar: Bru. Peace, count the clock. Dec. Never fear that: if he be so resolv'd, For I can give this humour the true bent; Cas. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch Boy Lucius!-Fast asleep? It is no matter; Enter PORTIA. Por. Brutus, my lord! Bru. Portia, what mean you? Wherefore rise It is not for your health, thus to commit gently, Brutus, Stole from my bed: And yesternight, at supper, I urg'd you further: then you scratch'd your And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot: Bru. I am not well in health, and that is all. I charm you, by my once commended beauty, Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia. Por. I should not need, if you were gentle Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutas, Bru. By the eighth hour: Is that the utter-That appertain to you? Am I yourself, most? Cin. Be that the uttermost, and fail not then. Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along by him: † Cas. The morning comes upon us: We'll leave Bru. Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily; But, as it were, in sort, or limitation; suburbs Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, Bru. You are my true and honourable wife; Por. If this were true, then should I know I grant, I am a woman; but, withal, I grant, I am a woman; but, withal, • Omens at sacrifices. By his house. 1 Show our designs. • Ideal shapes. † Temper. 1 Charge. Here, in the thigh: Can I bear that with patience, | The noise of battle hurtled in the air, And not my husband's secrets? Bru. O ye gods, Render me worthy of this noble wife! [Knocking within. All my engagements I will construe to thee, [Exit PORTIA. Enter LUCIUS and LIGARIUS. Lucius, who is that, knocks? Luc. Here is a sick man, that would speak with you. Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of. Boy, stand aside.-Caius Ligarius! how? Lig. Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue, Bru. Oh what a time have you chose out, brave Caius, To wear a 'kerchief? 'Would you were not sick! Lig. I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand Any exploit worthy the name of honour. Bru. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Had you a healthful ear to hear of it. Lig. By all the gods that Romans bow before, I here discard my sickness. Soul of Rome! Brave son, deriv'd from honourable loins! Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjur'd up My mortified spirit. Now bid me run, And I will strive with things impossible; Yea, get the better of them. What's to do? Bru. A piece of work that will make sick men whole. Lig. But are not some whole that we Bru. That must we also. What it is I shall unfold to thee, as we are going, Lig. Set on your foot; And, with a heart new fir'd, I follow you, Bru. Follow me then. must my [Exeunt. Cal. What mean you, Cesar? Think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day. Ces. Cesar shall forth: The things that threaten'd me, Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see The face of Cesar, they are vanished. Cal. Cesar, I never stood on ceremonies,+ Yet now they fright me. There is one within, Besides the things that we have heard and seen, Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. A lioness hath whelped in the streets; And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead: Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds, All that is charactered on. Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan; And ghosts did shriek, and squeal + about the streets, O Cesar! these things are beyond all use, Ces. What can be avoided, Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods? Yet Cesar shall go forth: for these predictions Are to the world in general, as to Cesar. Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen: The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. Ces. Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Seeing that death, a necessary end, Re-enter a SERVANT. What say the augurers? Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to-day. Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, Cal. Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consum'd in confidence. That keeps you in the house, and not your own. Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this. Ces. Mark Antony shall say, I am not well; And, for thy humour, I will stay at home. Enter DECIUS. Here's Decins Brutus, he shall tell them so. Dec. Cesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Cesar: I come to fetch you to the senate-house. Ces. And you are come in very happy time, To bear my greeting to the senators, And tell them that I will not come to-day: Cannot, is false; and that I dare not, falser; I will not come to-day: Tell them so, Decius. Cal. Say, he is sick. C'es. Shall Cesar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far, cause, Lest I be laugh'd at, when I tell them so. |