That of yourself which you yet know not of. [Flourish and Shout. Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear, the people Choose Cæsar for their king. Cas. Ay, do you fear it? Then must I think you would not have it so. Bru. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well:- Cas. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder. * Allure. † Windy. The old Anchises bear, so, from the waves of Tyber Did I the tired Cæsar: and this man Is now become a god; and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body, world, Did lose his lustre: I did hear him groan: should So get the start of the majestic world, And bear the palm alone. Bru. Another general shout! [Shout. Flourish. I do believe, that these applauses are For some new honours that are heap'd on Cæsar. Cas. Why man, he doth bestride the narrow world, Like a Colossus; and we petty men • Temperament, constitution, There was a Brutus once, that would have brook'd Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; Cas. I am glad, that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. Re enter CÆSAR, and his Train. Bru. The games are done, and Cæsar jis return ing. 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. Bru. I will do so:-But, look you, Cassius, The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow, And all the rest look like a chidden train: Calphurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero Looks with such ferretý and such fiery eyes, As we have seen him in the Capitol, Being cross'd in conference by some senators. Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is. Cas. Antonius. Ant. Cæsar. Cas. 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. Ant. Fear him not, Cæsar, he's not dangerous; He is a noble Roman, and well given. Cas. 'Would he were fatter:-But I fear him not: Yet if my name were liable to fear, So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much; * Lucius Junius Brutus. ‡ Ruminate. † Guess. A ferret has red eyes. He is a great observer, and he looks [Exeunt Cæsar and his Train.-Casca stays Casca. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me? 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 hath chanced. Casea. Why, there was a crown offer'd him: and being offer'd him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a shouting. Brit. What was the second noise for? Casca. Why, for that too. Cas. 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. I can as well be hang'd, as tell the manner of it: it was mere toolery. 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 offer'd it to him again; then he put it by again: but, to my thinking, he was very loth 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 refused it, the rabblement hooted, and clapp'd their chopp'd hands, and threw up their sweaty night-caps, and utter'd such a deal of stinking breath, because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choked Cæsar; for he swoon'd, 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. Cus. But, soft, I pray you: What? did Cæsar swoon? 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. I know not what you mean by that; but, 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? Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he pluck'd me ope his doublet, and offer'd 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 a nong 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 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 stabb'd their mothers, they would have done no less. Bru. And after that, he came, thus sad, away? Cas. Did Cicero say any thing? Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek. Cas. To what effect? 1 Cusea. 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. could tell you more news too: Marullus and Fiavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæsar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it. Honest, Ppp + A mechanic. |