Why all these things change, from their ordinance, To monstrous quality; why, you shall find, A man no mightier than thyself, or me, 8 In personal action; yet prodigious & grown, Casca. Tis Cæsar that you mean: Is it not, Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now Have thewes 9 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-morrow Mean to establish Cæsar as a king: And he shall wear his crown by sea and land, Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then; If I know this, know all the world besides, 8 Portentous. 9 i. e. sinews, muscular strength. See note on King Henry IV. Part II. Act iii. Sc. 2. That part of tyranny, that I do bear, Casca. So every So can I: bondman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his captivity Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then? So vile a thing as Cæsar? But, O, grief! Casca. You speak to Casca; and to such a man, That is no fleering tell-tale. Be factious 12 for redress of all these griefs; And I will set this foot of mine as far, As who goes farthest. Cas. 10 Thus in Cymbeline, Act v. Posthumus, speaking of his chains: take this life, And cancel these cold bonds.' 11 I know I shall be called to account, and must answer for having uttered seditious words.' So in Much Ado about Nothing: Sweet prince, let me go no further to mine answer; do you hear me, and let this count kill me.' 12 'Hold my hand' is the same as 'Here's my hand.' 'Be factious for redress' means, be contentious, enterprising for redress. VOL. VIII. Ꭰ Ꭰ . Of honourable-dangerous consequence; In favour's 13, like the work we have in hand, Enter CINNA. Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. Cas. 'Tis Cinna, I do know him by his gait: Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate Cin. I am glad on't. What a fearful night is this! You are. O, Cassius, if you could but win The noble Brutus to our party Yes, Cas. Be you content: Good Cinna, take this paper, And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone papers as you bade me. [Exit CINNA. 13 The old copy reads, 'Is favours. Favour here is put for appearance, look, countenance: to favour is to resemble. Come, Casca, you and I will, yet, ere day, Casca. O, he sits high in all the people's hearts: And that, which would appear offence in us, His countenance, like richest alchymy,. Will change to virtue, and to worthiness. Cas. Him, and his worth, and our great need of him, You have right well conceited. Let us go, For it is after midnight; and, ere day, We will awake him, and be sure of him. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. The same. Brutus's Orchard1. Enter BRUTUS. Bru. What, Lucius! ho!— I cannot, by the progress of the stars, Give guess how near to day.-Lucius, I say!I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.When, Lucius, when?? Awake, I say: What, Lucius! 1 Orchard and garden appear to have been synonymous with our ancestors. In Romeo and Juliet Capulet's garden is twice called orchard. The word was anciently written hort-yard; but it is a mistake to suppose this points at the Latin hortus. The word is from the Saxon ontzeand, which is itself put for pyntzeand, a place for herbs. In a subsequent scene of this play orchard is again used for garden:— he hath left you all his walks, His private arbours, and new planted orchards On this side Tyber.' 2 See vol. i. p. 25; and note on King Richard II. Act ii. Sc. 2. Enter LUCIUS. Luc. Call'd you, my lord? Bru. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius: When it is lighted, come and call me here. Luc. I will, my lord. [Exit. Bru. It must be by his death: and, for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, He would be crown'd:How that might change his nature, there's the ques But for the general. tion. It is the bright day, that brings forth the adder; And then, I grant, we put a sting in him, Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel 3 Shakspeare usually uses remorse for pity, tenderness of heart. 4 i. e. a matter proved by common experience. 5 The aspirer once attain'à unto the top, Cuts off those means by which himself got up: |