Cas. 'Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait: He is a friend. Cinna, where haste you so? Cinna. To find out you. Cimber? Who's that? Metellus Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate To our attempt. Am I not stay'd for, Cinna? this! There's two or three of us have seen strange sights. Yes, you are. O, Cassius! if you could but win the noble Brutus To our party 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 Upon old Brutus' statue: all this done, Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us. Is Decius Brutus, and Trebonius, there? Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone Come, Casca, you and I will, yet, ere day, Is ours already; and the man entire, Upon the next encounter, yields him ours. 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 Orchard. Enter BRUTus. BRUTUS. 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 ! Enter LUCIUS. Lucius. 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, But for the general. He would be crown'd: How that might change his nature, there's the ques tion. It is the bright day that brings forth the adder, that; That at his will he may do danger with. Then, lest he may, prevent: and, since the quarrel And kill him in the shell. Enter LUCIUS. Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, sir. [Giving him the letter. Look in the calendar, and bring me word. Luc. I will, sir. Bru. The exhalations, whizzing in the air, Give so much light that I may read by them. [Exit. [Opens the letter and reads. "Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake, and see thyself. Shall Rome, &c. Speak, strike, redress! — Such instigations have been often dropp'd "Shall Rome, &c." Thus must I piece it out ; Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What! Rome? My ancestors did from the streets of Rome The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king. 66 'Speak, strike, redress!” Am I entreated To speak, and strike? O Rome! I make thee promise, If the redress will follow, thou receiv'st Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus! Enter LUCIUS. Luc. Sir, March is wasted fifteen days. [Knocking within. Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks. [Exit LUCIUS. Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar, I have not slept. Between the acting of a dreadful thing, Enter LUCIUS. Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, 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 ears, And half their faces buried in their cloaks, That by no means I may discover them By any mark of favour. Bru. Let 'em enter. [Exit LUCIUS. They are the faction. O, conspiracy! Sham'st thou to shew thy dang'rous brow by night, When evils are most free? O, then, by day Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy; Hide it in smiles and affability: For if thou path, thy native semblance on, Not Erebus itself were dim enough To hide thee from prevention. Enter CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, CINNA, Metellus CIMBER, and TREBONIUS. Cas. I think we are too bold upon your rest: Good morrow, Brutus do we trouble you? Bru. I have been up this hour; awake, all night. Know I these men that come along with you? Cas. Yes, every man of them; and no man here, Which every noble Roman bears of you. Bru. He is welcome hither. He is welcome too. Cas. This, Decius Brutus. Cas. This, Casca; this, Cinna; And this, Metellus Cimber. |