Ambition fhould be made of fterner stuff. Yet Brutus fays, he was ambitious; And Brutus is an honourable man. I thrice presented him a kingly crown ; Which he did thrice refufe. Was this ambition? And, fure, he is an honourable man. I fpeak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, You all did love him once, not without caufe. If "Twas on a fummer's evening in his tent, Look! in this place ran Caffius' dagger through;- Mark how the blood of Cæfar follow'd it! Judge, oh ye gods! how dearly Cæfar lov'd him; For when the noble Cæfar faw him ftab, $ 2 ; Ingratitude, Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, Quite vanquish'd him; then burst his mighty heart: Even at the base of Pompey's ftatue, Which all the while ran blood, great Cæfar fell. Kind fouls; what, weep you when you but behold Our Cæfar's vefture wounded? look you here! They that have done this deed are honourable. What private griefs they have, alas, I know not, I come not, friends, to fteal away your hearts; But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, dumb mouths! CAS. THAT you have made antar petha, HAT you have wrong'd me doth appear in this, For taking bribes here of the Sardians; BRU. You wrong'd yourself to write in fuch a cafe. That ev'ry nice offence fhould bear its comment. CAS. I an itching palm ? You know, that you are Brutus that fpake this, BRU. The name of Caffius honours this corruption, BRU. Remember March, the ides of March remember! Did not great Julius bleed for juftice fake? What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, And not for juftice? What, fhall one of us, That ftruck the foremost man of all this world,. But for fupporting robbers; fhall we now Contaminate our fingers with base bribes ? S 3 And And fell the mighty meed of our large honours CAS. Brutus, bay not me, I'll not endure it; you forget yourself, BRU. Go to; you are not, Caffius. BRU. I fay, you are not. CAS. Urge me no more, I fhall forget myselfHave mind upon your health-tempt me no farther. BRU. Away, flight man! CAS. Is't poffible? BRU. Hear me, for I will fpeak. Muft I give way and room to your rash choler? Shall I be frighted when a madman ftares? CAS. O gods! ye gods! muft I endure all this? BRU. All this? ay more. Fret till your proud heart break; Go, tell your flaves how choleric you are, And make your bondmen tremble. Muft I budge? Muft I observe you? muft I ftand and crouch Tho' it do split you: for from this day forth, CAS. Is it come to this? BRU. You fay, you are a better foldier; Let Let it appear fo; make your vaunting true, For mine own part, I fhall be glad to learn of noble men. CAS. You wrong me every way- I faid, an elder foldier, not a better: BRU. If you did, I care not. -you wrong me, CAS. When Cæfar liv'd, he durft not thus have mov'd me. BRU. Peace, peace, you durft not so have tempted him.... CAS. I durft not! CAS. What? durft not tempt him? BRU. For your life you durft not. CAS. Do not prefume too much upon my love; I may do what I fhall be forry for. BRU. You have done that you should be forry for. There is no terror, Caffius, in your threats; For I am arm'd fo ftrong in honesty, That they pass by me, as the idle wind, Which I respect not. I did fend to you For certain fums of gold, which you deny'd me; By heav'n, I had rather coin my heart, And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring To you for gold to pay my legions,. Which you denied me; was that done like Caffius ?? When Marcus Brutus grows fo covetous, To lock fuch raícal counters from his friends,. |