Act 1 — Scene II. A public place.[2840]

Cæs. Calpurnia![2841] Casca. Peace, ho! Cæsar speaks.

Cæs. Calpurnia! Cal. Here, my lord. Cæs. Stand you directly in Antonius' way,[2843] When he doth run his course. Antonius![2844] Ant. Cæsar, my lord?[2845] 5 Cæs. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius,[2844] To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say,[2841] The barren, touched in this holy chase, Shake off their sterile curse.[2846] Ant. I shall remember: When Cæsar says 'do this,' it is perform'd. 10 Cæs. Set on, and leave no ceremony out. [Flourish.[2847] Sooth. Cæsar! Cæs. Ha! who calls? Casca. Bid every noise be still: peace yet again![2848][2849] Cæs. Who is it in the press that calls on me? 15 I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music, Cry 'Cæsar.' Speak; Cæsar is turn'd to hear. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cæs. What man is that? Bru. A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.[2850] Cæs. Set him before me; let me see his face. 20 Cas. Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Cæsar.[2851] Cæs. What say'st thou to me now? speak once again. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cæs. He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.

Cas. Will you go see the order of the course?[2853] 25 Bru. Not I. Cas. I pray you, do. Bru. I am not gamesome: I do lack some part Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires; 30 I'll leave you.[2854] Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late:[2855] I have not from your eyes that gentleness And show of love as I was wont to have: You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand 35 Over your friend that loves you.[2856] Bru. Cassius, Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look,[2857] I turn the trouble of my countenance Merely upon myself. Vexed I am Of late with passions of some difference, 40 Conceptions only proper to myself, Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviours;[2858] But let not therefore my good friends be grieved— Among which number, Cassius, be you one— Nor construe any further my neglect[2859] 45 Than that poor Brutus with himself at war Forgets the shows of love to other men. Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion;[2860] By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. 50 Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?[2861] Bru. No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself[2862][2863] But by reflection, by some other things.[2862][2864] Cas. 'Tis just:[2865] And it is very much lamented, Brutus, 55 That you have no such mirrors as will turn[2866] Your hidden worthiness into your eye, That you might see your shadow. I have heard[2867] Where many of the best respect in Rome, Except immortal Cæsar, speaking of Brutus, 60 And groaning underneath this age's yoke, Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes. Bru. Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius,[2868] That you would have me seek into myself For that which is not in me? 65 Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear:[2869] And since you know you cannot see yourself So well as by reflection, I your glass Will modestly discover to yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of.[2870] 70 And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus:[2871] Were I a common laugher, or did use[2872] To stale with ordinary oaths my love To every new protester; if you know That I do fawn on men and hug them hard, 75 And after scandal them; or if you know That I profess myself in banqueting[2873] To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.

Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear, the people[2874] Choose Cæsar for their king.[2874] Cas. Ay, do you fear it? 80 Then must I think you would not have it so. Bru. I would not, Cassius, yet I love him well. But wherefore do you hold me here so long? What is it that you would impart to me? If it be aught toward the general good, 85 Set honour in one eye and death i' the other, And I will look on both indifferently,[2875] For let the gods so speed me as I love The name of honour more than I fear death. Cas. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, 90 As well as I do know your outward favour. Well, honour is the subject of my story. I cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life, but, for my single self,[2876] I had as lief not be as live to be 95 In awe of such a thing as I myself. I was born free as Cæsar; so were you: We both have fed as well, and we can both Endure the winter's cold as well as he: For once, upon a raw and gusty day, 100 The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,[2877] Cæsar said to me 'Darest thou, Cassius, now[2878] Leap in with me into this angry flood, And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word, Accoutred as I was, I plunged in[2879] 105 And bade him follow: so indeed he did.[2880] The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it[2881] With lusty sinews, throwing it aside And stemming it with hearts of controversy; But ere we could arrive the point proposed,[2882] 110 Cæsar cried 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink!' I, as Æneas our great ancestor[2883] Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder[2884] The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber[2884][2885] Did I the tired Cæsar: and this man 115 Is now become a god, and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body If Cæsar carelessly but nod on him. He had a fever when he was in Spain,[2886] And when the fit was on him, I did mark 120 How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake; His coward lips did from their colour fly, And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world Did lose his lustre: I did hear him groan:[2887] Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans 125 Mark him and write his speeches in their books,[2888] Alas, it cried, 'Give me some drink, Titinius,'[2889] As a sick girl. Ye gods! it doth amaze me A man of such a feeble temper should So get the start of the majestic world 130 And bear the palm alone. [Shout. Flourish.[2890] Bru. Another general shout![2891] 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 135 Like a Colossus, and we petty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about To find ourselves dishonourable graves. Men at some time are masters of their fates:[2892] The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, 140 But in ourselves, that we are underlings. Brutus, and Cæsar: what should be in that Cæsar?[2893] Why should that name be sounded more than yours? Write them together, yours is as fair a name;[2894] Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well; 145 Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with 'em,[2895] Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar.[2896] Now, in the names of all the gods at once, Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed, That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed! 150 Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods! When went there by an age, since the great flood, But it was famed with more than with one man? When could they say till now that talk'd of Rome That her wide walls encompass'd but one man?[2897] 155 Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough,[2898] When there is in it but one only man.[2898] O, you and I have heard our fathers say There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome[2899] 160 As easily as a king. Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; What you would work me to, I have some aim:[2900] How I have thought of this and of these times,[2901] I shall recount hereafter; for this present, 165 I would not, so with love I might entreat you,[2902] Be any further moved. What you have said[2903] I will consider; what you have to say I will with patience hear, and find a time Both meet to hear and answer such high things.[2904] 170 Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this: Brutus had rather be a villager Than to repute himself a son of Rome Under these hard conditions as this time[2905] Is like to lay upon us. 175 Cas. I am glad that my weak words[2906][2907] Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.[2907] Bru. The games are done, and Cæsar is returning.[2908][2909] Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve;[2909] And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you 180 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,[2911] And all the rest look like a chidden train: Calpurnia's cheek is pale, and Cicero 185 Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes As we have seen him in the Capitol, Being cross'd in conference by some senators.[2912] Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is. Cæs. Antonius![2913] 190 Ant. Cæsar? Cæs. Let me have men about me that are fat,[2914] Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights:[2915] Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;[2916] He thinks too much: such men are dangerous. 195 Ant. Fear him not, Cæsar; he's not dangerous; He is a noble Roman, and well given. Cæs. Would he were fatter! but I fear him not:[2917] Yet if my name were liable to fear, I do not know the man I should avoid 200 So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much; He is a great observer, and he looks Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music: Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort 205 As if he mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit That could be moved to smile at any thing. Such men as he be never at heart's ease[2918] Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,[2919] And therefore are they very dangerous. 210 I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd Than what I fear; for always I am Cæsar. Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf, And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.

Casca. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me?[2921]215 Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanced to-day, That Cæsar looks so sad. Casca. Why, you were with him, were you not?[2922] Bru. I should not then ask Casca what had chanced. Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him: and being 220 offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus: and then the people fell a-shouting.[2923] Bru. What was the second noise for? Casca. Why, for that too.[2924] Cas. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for? 225 Casca. Why, for that too.[2924] Bru. Was the crown offered him thrice?[2925] 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. 230 Cas. Who offered 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 foolery; I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony[2926] 235 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 offered it to him again; then he put it by again: but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. 240 And then he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by: and still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted[2927] and clapped their chopped hands and threw up their sweaty[2928] night-caps and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choked 245 Cæsar; for he swounded and fell down at it: and for mine[2929] own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air. Cas. But, soft, I pray you: what, did Cæsar swound?[2930] Casca. He fell down in the market-place and foamed at 250 mouth and was speechless. Bru.'Tis very like: he hath the falling-sickness.[2931] Cas. No, Cæsar 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 I am 255 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[2932] true man. Bru. What said he when he came unto himself? 260 Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his doublet and offered them his throat to cut. An[2933] 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 among the[2934] 265 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[2935] 270 taken of them; if Cæsar had stabbed their mothers, they[2936] would have done no less. Bru. And after that, he came, thus sad, away?[2937] Casca. Ay. Cas. Did Cicero say any thing? 275 Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek. Cas. To what effect? Casca. Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' the[2938] face again: but those that understood him smiled at one another and shook their heads; but for mine own part, it 280 was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus[2939] and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæsar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it. Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca? 285 Casca. No, I am promised forth. Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow? Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your[2940] dinner worth the eating.[2941] Cas. Good; I will expect you. 290 Casca. Do so: farewell, both. [Exit. Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be! He was quick mettle when he went to school.[2942] Cas. So is he now in execution Of any bold or noble enterprise, 295 However he puts on this tardy form. This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit, Which gives men stomach to digest his words[2943] With better appetite.[2944] Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave you:[2945] 300 To-morrow, if you please to speak with me,[2946] I will come home to you, or, if you will,[2947] Come home to me and I will wait for you.[2948] Cas. I will do so: till then, think of the world.

Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see,[2949] 305 Thy honourable metal may be wrought[2950] From that it is disposed: therefore it is meet[2951] That noble minds keep ever with their likes; For who so firm that cannot be seduced? Cæsar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus: 310 If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius, He should not humour me. I will this night,[2952] In several hands, in at his windows throw, As if they came from several citizens, Writings, all tending to the great opinion 315 That Rome holds of his name, wherein obscurely Cæsar's ambition shall be glanced at: And after this let Cæsar seat him sure; For we will shake him, or worse days endure. [Exit.