And open perils surest answered. Oct. Let us do so: for we are at the stake,1 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 here. Luc. Give the word, ho! and stand. Bru. What now, Lucilius? is Cassius near? Luc. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come you salutation from his master. To do [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, But that my noble master will appear Such as he is, full of regard, and honour. Bru. He is not doubted.-A word, Lucilius; How he receiv'd you, let me be resolv'd. Luc. With courtesy, and with respect enough; But not with such familiar instances, Nor with such free and friendly conference, As he hath used of old. Bru. Thou hast describ'd A hot friend cooling: Ever note, Lucilius, at the stake,] An allusion to bear-baiting. When love begins to sicken and decay, There are no tricks in plain and simple faith: Luc. They mean this night in Sardis to be The greater part, the horse in general, Are come with Cassius. Bru. quar [March within. 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. Cas. Most noble brother, you have done me wrong. Bru. Judgeme, 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, you well: Speak your griefs softly, I do know Cas. Pindarus, 2- your griefs ] i. e. your grievances. Bid our commanders lead their charges off Bru. Lucilius, do the like; and let no man Come to our tent, till we have done our conference. Let Lucius and Titinius guard our door. SCENE III. Within the Tent of Brutus. [Exeunt. 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, Bru. You wrong'd yourself, to write in such a case. To undeservers. Cas. I an itching palm? You know, that you are Brutus that speak this, Bru. Remember March, the ides of March re- 3 every nice offence] i. e. small trifling offence. Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? Cas. Bru. Cas. I am. 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? Shall I be frighted, when a madman stares? Cas. O ye gods! ye gods! Must I endure all this? Bru. All this? ay, more: Fret, till your proud heart break; • What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, And not for justice?] 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 one man among them, who was base enough to stab him for any cause but that of justice. MALONE. To hedge me in ;] That is, to limit my authority by your direction or censure. 6 To make conditions.] That is, to know on what terms it is fit to confer the offices which are at my disposal. Go, show your slaves how cholerick you are, Cas. Is it come to this? Cas. You wrong me every way, you wrong me, I said, an elder soldier, not a better: Bru. If you did, I care not. Cas. When Cæsar liv'd, he durst not thus have mov'd me. Bru. Peace, peace; you durst not so have tempted him. Cas. I durst not? Bru. No. Cas. What? durst not tempt him? Bru. For your life you durst not. Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love, I do that I shall be sorry for. may Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for. There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats; For I am arm'd so strong in honesty, 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 denied me;For I can raise no money by vile means: By heaven, I had rather coin my heart, And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring |