Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn Who glar'd upon me, and went surly by And, yesterday, the bird of night did sit, Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: But men may construe things, after their fashion, Clean from the purpose of the things themselves. Comes Cæsar to the Capitol to-morrow? Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius Send word to you he would be there to-morrow. Cic. Good night then, Casca: this disturbed sky Is not to walk in. Casca. Farewell, Cicero. Enter CASSIUS. Cas. Who's there? Casca. Cas. A Roman. [Erit CICERO. Casca, by your voice. Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this? Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men. so? In personal action; yet prodigious grown, Casca. 'Tis Cæsar that you mean: Is it not, Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now Casca. Indeed they say the senators to-morrow Mean to establish Cæsar as a king : And he shall wear his crown by sea and land, In every place, save here in Italy. Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then; Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius : Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat : Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass, Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit: But life, being weary of these wordly bars, Never lacks power to dismiss itself. If I know this, know all the world besides, That part of tyranny that I do bear I can shake off at pleasure. Casca. [Thunder still. So can I: So every bondman in his own hand bears Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then? Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf, Cas. Those that have known the earth so full of So vile a thing as Cæsar! But, O, grief! For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, Submitting me unto the perilous night; Have bar'd my bosom to the thunder-stone: And when the cross-blue lightning seem'd to open The breast of heaven, I did present myself Even in the aim and very flash of it. Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens? It is the part of men to fear and tremble, Such dreadful heralds to astonish us. Where hast thou led me? I, perhaps, speak this My answer must be made: But I am arm'd, Casca. You speak to Casca; and to such a man As who goes farthest. Cas. There's a bargain made. Now know you, Casca, I have mov'd already Cas. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of Of honourable-dangerous consequence; life That should be in a Roman you do want, Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man Most like this dreadful night; That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars As doth the lion in the Capitol: A man no mightier than thyself, or me. And I do know by this they stay for me In favour's like the work we have in hand, Enter CINNA. Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. Cas. "Tis Cinna, I do know him by his gait; He is a friend. Cinna, where haste you so? Cin. To find out you: Who's that? Metellus Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate Cin. I am glad on't. What a fearful night is this! There's two or three of us have seen strange sights. Cas. That done, repair to Pompey's theatre. [Erit CINNA Come, Casca, you and I will yet, ere day, See Brutus at his house: three parts of him 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 You have right well conceited. Let us go, Which, hatch'd, would as his kind grow mischievous; And kill him in the shell. Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, sir. 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. Bru. Get you to bed again, it is not day. Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March? Luc. I know not, sir. Bru. 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. But for the general. He would be crown'd : Shall Rome, &c. Speak, strike, redress! How that might change his nature, there's the Brutus, thou sleep'st; awake!" question. Such instigations have been often dropp'd t is the bright day that brings forth the adder; Where I have took them up. And that craves wary walking. Crown him? "Shall Rome, &c." Thus must I piece it out; That; And then, I grant, we put a sting in him, Rome? That at his will he may do danger with. The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins My ancestors did from the streets of Rome The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king. Cæsar, Remorse from power: And, to speak truth of "Speak, strike, redress!"-Am I entreated I have not known when his affections sway'd More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof Bru. I have been up this hour; awake all night. || Weighing the youthful season of the year. Know I these men that come along with you? Cas. Yes, every man of them; and no man here But honours you: and every one doth wish This is Trebonius. Bru. He is welcome hither. Cas. This Decius Brutus. He is welcome too. Cas. This, Casca; this, Cinna; and this, Metellus Cimber. Bru. They are all welcome. What watchful cares do interpose themselves Some two months hence, up higher toward the north He first presents his fire; and the high east Bru. Give me your hands all over, one by one. Bru. No, not an oath: If not the face of men, Cas. Shall I entreat a word? [They whisper. 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 Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises; To prick us to redress? what other bond, A creatures as men doubt: but do not stain even virtue of our enterprise, the insuppressive metal of our spirits, hink that, or our cause, or our performance, need an oath; when every drop of blood t every Roman bears, and nobly bears, uilty of a several bastardy, e do break the smallest particle - ny promise that hath pass'd from him. For he is superstitious grown of late; I can o'ersway him: for he loves to hear as. But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him? That unicorns may be betray'd with trees, ink he will stand very strong with us. Vasca. Let us not leave him out. in. No, by no means. To cut the head off, and then hack the limbs; Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. Cas. Yet I fear him: For in the ingrafted love he bears to Cæsar, Alas, good Cassius! do not think of him: Bru. If he love Cæsar, all that he can do Treb. There is no fear in him; let him not die; For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter. Bru. Peace! count the clock. [Clock strikes. The clock hath stricken three. Treb. 'Tis time to part. Cas. But it is doubtful yet Whether Cæsar will come forth to-day, or no: And bears with glasses, elephants with holes, For I can give his humour the true bent; Cas. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him. Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along by him; He loves me well, and I have given him reasons; Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him. Cas. The morning comes upon us: We'll leave you, Brutus: 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; But bear it as our Roman actors do, With untir'd spirits and formal constancy: And so, good-morrow to you every one. [Exeunt all but BRUTUS. Boy! Lucius! - Fast asleep! It is no matter; It is not for your health thus to commit Por. Nor for yours neither. You have ungently, Stole from my bed: And yesternight, at supper, |