Act 2 — Scene I. Rome. Brutus's orchard.[3004]

Bru. 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![3006] 5

Luc. 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, 10 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 question: It is the bright day that brings forth the adder; And that craves wary walking. Crown him?—that;—[3007] 15 And then, I grant, we put a sting in him, That at his will he may do danger with. The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of Cæsar, I have not known when his affections sway'd 20 More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof, That lowliness is young ambition's ladder, Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;[3008] But when he once attains the upmost round,[3009] He then unto the ladder turns his back, 25 Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees By which he did ascend: so Cæsar may; Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel[3010] Will bear no colour for the thing he is, Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented, 30 Would run to these and these extremities: And therefore think him as a serpent's egg Which hatch'd would as his kind grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell.

Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, sir. 35 Searching the window for a flint I found This paper thus seal'd up, and I am sure It did not lie there when I went to bed. [Gives him the letter.[3012] Bru. Get you to bed again; it is not day. Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March?[3013] 40 Luc. I know not, sir. Bru. Look in the calendar and bring me word. Luc. I will, sir. [Exit. Bru. The exhalations whizzing in the air Give so much light that I may read by them. 45

'Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake and see thyself. Shall Rome, &c. Speak, strike, redress.[3014] Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake.' Such instigations have been often dropp'd Where I have took them up.[3015] 50 'Shall Rome, &c.' Thus must I piece it out:[3015] Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What, Rome?[3016] My ancestors did from the streets of Rome[3017] The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king. 'Speak, strike, redress.' Am I entreated[3018] 55 To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise,[3019] If the redress will follow, thou receivest[3020] Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!

Luc. Sir, March is wasted fifteen days.[3021]

Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks.[3022] 60

Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar I have not slept. Between the acting of a dreadful thing And the first motion all the interim is Like a phantasma or a hideous dream: 65 The Genius and the mortal instruments[3023] Are then in council, and the state of man[3024] Like to a little kingdom suffers then The nature of an insurrection.

Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, 70 Who doth desire to see you. Bru. Is he alone? Luc. No, sir, there are moe with him.[3026] Bru. Do you know them? Luc. No, sir; their hats are pluck'd about their ears,[3027] And half their faces buried in their cloaks,[3028] That by no means I may discover them 75 By any mark of favour.[3029] Bru. Let 'em enter. [Exit Lucius. They are the faction. O conspiracy, Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night, When evils are most free? O, then, by day Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough 80 To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy;[3030] Hide it in smiles and affability:[3031] For if thou path, thy native semblance on,[3032] Not Erebus itself were dim enough To hide thee from prevention.[3033] 85

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?[3035] Cas. Yes, every man of them; and no man here 90 But honours you; and every one doth wish You had but that opinion of yourself Which every noble Roman bears of you. This is Trebonius. Bru. He is welcome hither. Cas. This, Decius Brutus. Bru. He is welcome too. 95 Cas. This, Casca; this, Cinna; and this, Metellus Cimber.[3036] Bru. They are all welcome.[3037] What watchful cares do interpose themselves[3038] Betwixt your eyes and night? Cas. Shall I entreat a word? [They whisper.[3039]100 Dec. Here lies the east: doth not the day break here? Casca. No. Cin. O, pardon, sir, it doth, and yon grey lines That fret the clouds are messengers of day. Casca. You shall confess that you are both deceived. 105 Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises; Which is a great way growing on the south, Weighing the youthful season of the year. Some two months hence up higher toward the north He first presents his fire, and the high east 110 Stands as the Capitol, directly here. Bru. Give me your hands all over, one by one. Cas. And let us swear our resolution. Bru. No, not an oath: if not the face of men,[3040] The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse,—[3041] 115 If these be motives weak, break off betimes, And every man hence to his idle bed; So let high-sighted tyranny range on[3042] Till each man drop by lottery. But if these, As I am sure they do, bear fire enough 120 To kindle cowards and to steel with valour The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen,[3043] What need we any spur but our own cause To prick us to redress? what other bond Than secret Romans that have spoke the word,[3044] 125 And will not palter? and what other oath[3045] Than honesty to honesty engaged That this shall be or we will fall for it?[3046] Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous, Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls 130 That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear[3047] Such creatures as men doubt: but do not stain[3048] The even virtue of our enterprise, Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits, To think that or our cause or our performance 135 Did need an oath; when every drop of blood[3049] That every Roman bears, and nobly bears, Is guilty of a several bastardy If he do break the smallest particle[3050] Of any promise that hath pass'd from him. 140 Cas. But what of Cicero? shall we sound him? I think he will stand very strong with us. Casca. Let us not leave him out. Cin. No, by no means. Met. O, let us have him, for his silver hairs Will purchase us a good opinion 145 And buy men's voices to commend our deeds: It shall be said his judgement ruled our hands; Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear, But all be buried in his gravity. Bru. O, name him not; let us not break with him, 150 For he will never follow any thing That other men begin. Cas. Then leave him out. Casca. Indeed he is not fit.[3051] Dec. Shall no man else be touch'd but only Cæsar?[3051] Cas. Decius, well urged: I think it is not meet 155 Mark Antony, so well beloved of Cæsar, Should outlive Cæsar: we shall find of him A shrewd contriver; and you know his means, If he improve them, may well stretch so far As to annoy us all: which to prevent, 160 Let Antony and Cæsar fall together. Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, To cut the head off and then hack the limbs, Like wrath in death and envy afterwards; For Antony is but a limb of Cæsar: 165 Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.[3052] We all stand up against the spirit of Cæsar, And in the spirit of men there is no blood:[3053] O, that we then could come by Cæsar's spirit,[3054] And not dismember Cæsar! But, alas, 170 Cæsar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends, Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods, Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds: And let our hearts, as subtle masters do,[3055] 175 Stir up their servants to an act of rage And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make[3056] Our purpose necessary and not envious: Which so appearing to the common eyes, We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers.[3057] 180 And for Mark Antony, think not of him; For he can do no more than Cæsar's arm When Cæsar's head is off.[3058] Cas. Yet I fear him, For in the ingrafted love he bears to Cæsar—[3059] Bru. Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him: 185 If he love Cæsar, all that he can do Is to himself, take thought and die for Cæsar:[3060] And that were much he should, for he is given To sports, to wildness and much company.[3061] Treb. There is no fear in him; let him not die; 190 For he will live and laugh at this hereafter.[3062] [Clock strikes. Bru. Peace! count the clock. Cas. The clock hath stricken three.[3063] Treb. 'Tis time to part. Cas. But it is doubtful yet Whether Cæsar will come forth to-day or no;[3064] For he is superstitious grown of late, 195 Quite from the main opinion he held once[3065] Of fantasy, of dreams and ceremonies:[3066] It may be these apparent prodigies, The unaccustom'd terror of this night And the persuasion of his augurers, 200 May hold him from the Capitol to-day. Dec. Never fear that: if he be so resolved, I can o'ersway him; for he loves to hear That unicorns may be betray'd with trees[3067] And bears with glasses, elephants with holes,[3067] 205 Lions with toils and men with flatterers:[3068] But when I tell him he hates flatterers, He says he does, being then most flattered. Let me work;[3069] For I can give his humour the true bent, 210 And I will bring him to the Capitol. Cas. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him. Bru. By the eighth hour: is that the uttermost?[3070] Cin. Be that the uttermost, and fail not then. Met. Caius Ligarius doth bear Cæsar hard,[3071] 215 Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey: I wonder none of you have thought of him. Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along by him:[3072] He loves me well, and I have given him reasons;[3073] Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him. 220 Cas. The morning comes upon's: we'll leave you, Brutus:[3074] And, friends, disperse yourselves: but all remember What you have said and show yourselves true Romans. Bru. Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily; Let not our looks put on our purposes; 225 But bear it as our Roman actors do, With untired spirits and formal constancy: And so, good morrow to you every one.[3075]

Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep! It is no matter; Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber:[3076] 230 Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies, Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.

Por. Brutus, my lord! Bru. Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now? It is not for your health thus to commit 235 Your weak condition to the raw cold morning.[3078] Por. Nor for yours neither. You've ungently, Brutus,[3079] Stole from my bed: and yesternight at supper[3080] You suddenly arose and walk'd about, Musing and sighing, with your arms across; 240 And when I ask'd you what the matter was, You stared upon me with ungentle looks: I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head[3081] And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot: Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not, 245 But with an angry wafture of your hand[3082] Gave sign for me to leave you: so I did, Fearing to strengthen that impatience Which seem'd too much enkindled, and withal Hoping it was but an effect of humour, 250 Which sometime hath his hour with every man. It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep, And, could it work so much upon your shape As it hath much prevail'd on your condition, I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord,[3083] 255 Make me acquainted with your cause of grief. Bru. I am not well in health, and that is all. Por. Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health, He would embrace the means to come by it. Bru. Why, so I do: good Portia, go to bed. 260 Por. Is Brutus sick, and is it physical To walk unbraced and suck up the humours Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick,[3084] And will he steal out of his wholesome bed, To dare the vile contagion of the night 265 And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus;[3085] You have some sick offence within your mind, Which by the right and virtue of my place I ought to know of: and, upon my knees,[3086] 270 I charm you, by my once commended beauty,[3087] By all your vows of love and that great vow Which did incorporate and make us one, That you unfold to me, yourself, your half, Why you are heavy, and what men to-night 275 Have had resort to you; for here have been Some six or seven, who did hide their faces Even from darkness. Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia.[3088] Por. I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus. Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,[3089] 280 Is it excepted I should know no secrets That appertain to you? Am I yourself But, as it were, in sort or limitation, To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,[3090] And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs[3091] 285 Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife. Bru. You are my true and honourable wife, As dear to me as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart. 290 Por. If this were true, then should I know this secret. I grant I am a woman, but withal A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife: I grant I am a woman, but withal A woman well reputed, Cato's daughter.[3092] 295 Think you I am no stronger than my sex, Being so father'd and so husbanded? Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em:[3093] I have made strong proof of my constancy, Giving myself a voluntary wound 300 Here in the thigh: can I bear that with patience And not my husband's secrets?[3094] Bru. O ye gods, Render me worthy of this noble wife! [Knocking within.[3095] Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in awhile; And by and by thy bosom shall partake 305 The secrets of my heart: All my engagements I will construe to thee, All the charactery of my sad brows. Leave me with haste. [Exit Portia.] Lucius, who's that knocks?[3096]

Luc. Here is a sick man that would speak with you. 310 Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of. Boy, stand aside. Caius Ligarius! how?[3097] Lig. Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue. Bru. O, what a time have you chose out, brave Caius, To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick! 315 Lig. I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand Any exploit worthy the name of honour. Bru. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Had you a healthful ear to hear of it.[3098] Lig. By all the gods that Romans bow before,[3099] 320 I here discard my sickness! Soul of Rome! Brave son, derived from honourable loins! Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjured up My mortified spirit. Now bid me run, And I will strive with things impossible, 325 Yea, get the better of them. What's to do?[3100] Bru. A piece of work that will make sick men whole.[3101] Lig. But are not some whole that we must make sick? Bru. That must we also. What it is, my Caius,[3102] I shall unfold to thee, as we are going[3103] 330 To whom it must be done.[3103] Lig. Set on your foot, And with a heart new-fired I follow you, To do I know not what: but it sufficeth That Brutus leads me on. Bru. Follow me then. [Exeunt.[3104]