And took his voice who should be prick'd to die, Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you: Oct. You may do your will; But he's a tried and valiant soldier. Ant. So is my horse, Octavius; and, for that, go forth: Which, out of use, and stal'd by other men, Listen great things.-Brutus and Cassius Are levying powers: we must straight make head: Our best friends made, and our best means stretch'd out ; And let us presently go sit in council, How covert matters may be best disclos'd, And open perils surest answered. Oct. Let us do so; for we are at the stake, And bay'd about with many enemies; And some, that smile, have in their hearts, I fear, Millions of mischief. SCENE II. [Exeunt. Before BRUTUS' Tent, in the Camp near Sardis. Drum. Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, LUCIUS, and Soldiers: TITINIUS and PINDARUS meeting them. Bru. Stand, ho! Luc. Give the word, ho! and stand. Bru. What now, Lucilius? is Cassius near? Luc. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come To do you salutation from his master. [PINDARUS gives a letter to BRUtus. Bru. He greets me well.-Your master, Pindarus, In his own change, or by ill officers, Hath given me some worthy cause to wish Things done, undone but, if he be at hand, Pin. I do not doubt, But that my noble master will appear Such as he is, full of regard, and honour. Luc. With courtesy, and with respect enough Nor with such free and friendly conference, Bru. Thou hast describ'd A hot friend cooling: Ever note, Lucilius, There are no tricks in plain and simple faith: Luc. They mean this night in Sardis to be quarter'd ; The greater part, the horse in general, Are come with Cassius. Bru. Hark, he is arriv'd March gently on to meet him. Enter CASSIUS and Soldiers. Cas. Stand, ho! Bru. Stand, ho! Speak the word along. Within. Stand. Within. Stand. Within. Stand. [March within Cas. Most noble brother, you have done me wrong. Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine enemies? And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother? Cas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs; And when you do them Bru. Cassius, be content, Speak your griefs softly,-I do know you well:--- Cas. Pindarus, Bid our commanders lead their charges off Bru. Lucilius, do the like; and let no man SCENE III. [Exeunt. Within the Tent of BRUTUS. LUCIUS and TITINIUS at some distance from it. Enter 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 Bru. You wrong'd yourself, to write in such a case Cas. I an itching palm? You know, that you are Brutus that speak this, Bru. Remember March, the ides of March remember ! Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, That is, every small trifling offence. WARBURTON. This question is far from implying that any of those who touch'd Cæsar's body were villains. On the contrary, it is an indirect way of asserting, that there was not a man among them, who was base enough to stab him for any cause but that of justice. MALONE. And sell the mighty space of our large honours, Cas. Brutus, bay not me; I'll not endure it: you forget yourself, Bru. Go to; you're not, Cassius. Bru. I say, you are not. Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further. Bru. Away, slight man! Cas. Is't possible? Bru. Hear me, for I will speak. Must I give way and room to your rash choler? Cas. O ye gods! ye gods! Must I endure all this? I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter, Cas. Is it come to this? Bru. You say, you are a better soldier: Let it appear so; make your vaunting true, And it shall please me well: For mine own part, I shall be glad to learn of noble men. Cas. You wrong me every way, you wrong me, Brutus ; I said, an elder soldier, not a better : Did I say, better? Bru. If you did, I care not. Cas. When Cæsar liv'd, he durst not thus have mov'd me. That is, to limit my authority by your direction or censure. JOHNSON. 5 That is, to know on what terms it is fit to confer the offices which are at my disposal. JOHNSON. VOL. VIII. C 2 I Bru. No. Cas. What? durst not tempt him? Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love, Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for. That they pass by me, as the idle wind, Which I respect not. I did send to you For certain sums of gold, which you deny'd me ;— And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring To you for gold to pay my legions, Which you 6 denied me: Was that done like Cassius? Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so? When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous, To lock such rascal counters from his friends, Cas. I denied you not. Bru. You did. Cas. I did not :-he was but a fool, That brought my answer back.--Brutus hath riv'd my heart. A friend should bear his friends infirmities, But Brutus makes mine greater than they are. Bru. I do not, till you practise them on me." Bru. I do not like your faults. Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults. Bru. A flatterer's would not, though they do appear As huge as high Olympus. Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come, Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius, For Cassius is aweary of the world: Hated by one he loves; brav'd by his brother;' [6] This is a noble sentiment, altogether in character, and expressed in a manner inimitably happy. For to wring, implies both to get unjustly, and to use force in getting and hard hands signify both the peasant's great labour and pains in acquir ing, and his great unwillingness to quit his hold. WARBURTON. 17] The meaning is this; I do not look for your faults, I only see them, and meu. tion them with vehemence, when you force them into my notice, by practising them on me. JOHNSON. |