ACT I Sc. II Meet both to hear and answer such high things. Than to repute himself a son of Rome Is like to lay upon us. 170 That my weak words have struck but thus much show BRU. The games are done, and Cæsar is returning. Re-enter CASAR and his Train. BRU. I will do so. But, look you, Cassius, ANT. Cæsar? CAS. Let me have men about me that are fat; CES. Would he were fatter! but I fear him not: I do not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much; Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, 180 190 200 That could be mov'd to smile at any thing. Whiles they behold a greater than themselves; I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd Than what I fear, for always I am Cæsar. 210 [Sennet. Exeunt CESAR and all his Train CASCA. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak BRU. Ay, Casca: tell us what hath chanc'd to-day, That Cæsar looks so sad. CASCA. Why, you were with him, were you not? BRU. I should not, then, ask Casca what had chanc'd. 219 offer'd him, he put it by with the back of his hand, BRU. What was the second noise for? CASCA. Why, for that too. CASS. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for? BRU. Was the crown offer'd him thrice? 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. CASS. Who offer'd him the crown? CASCA. Why, Antony. BRU. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. 230 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 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 offer'd it to him again; then he put it by again: but, to my thinking, he was very loth to lay his fingers off it. And then he offer'd it the third time; he put it the third time by and still, as he refus'd it, the rabblement ACT I Sc. II ACT I hooted, and clapp'd their chopp'd hands, and threw up their sweaty nightcaps, and utter'd such a deal of stinking breath because Cæsar refus'd the crown, that it had almost chok'd Cæsar; for he swounded, and fell down at it: and, for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air. 250 CASS. But, soft! I pray you: what, did Cæsar swound? CASCA. He fell down in the Market-Place, and foam'd at mouth, and was speechless. BRU. "Tis very like: he hath the falling sickness.1 CASS. 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 sure Cæsar fell down. If the tag-rag People did not clap him and hiss him, according as he pleas'd and displeas'd them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no true man. 261 BRU. What said he when he came unto himself? BRU. And, after that, he came thus sad away ? CASCA. Ay. CASS. Did Cicero say any thing? CASCA. Ay; he spoke Greek. CASS. To what effect? 280 CASCA. Nay; an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' the face again but those that understood him smil'd at one another, and shook their heads; but, for mine own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus 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. CASS. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca? CASCA. NO; I am promis'd forth. CASS. Will you dine with me to-morrow? CASCA. Ay; if I be alive, and your mind hold, and dinner worth the eating. 290 your ACT I Sc. II CASS. Good; I will expect you. 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. CASS. So is he now, in execution Of any bold or noble enterprise, However he puts on this tardy1 form. This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit, Which gives men stomach to digest his words BRU. And so it is. For this time I will leave you : I will come home to you; or, if you will, Come home to me, and I will wait for you. CASS. I will do so: till then, think of the world. 300 [Exit BRUTUSs. Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see, As if they came from several citizens, That Rome holds of his name; wherein obscurely And, after this, let Cæsar seat him sure; For we will shake him, or worse days endure. 1 boorish. 310 320 [exit. 2 hath a grudge against me. ACT I SCENE III. The Same. A Street. Thunder and lightning. Enter, from opposite sides, CIC. Good even, Casca: brought you Cæsar home? I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds Or else the World, too saucy with the Gods, CIC. Why, saw you any thing more wonderful? Like twenty torches join'd; and yet his hand, Not sensible of fire, remain'd unscorch'd. Besides (I ha' not since put up my sword) Against the Capitol I met a lion, Who glar'd upon me, and went surly by, Without annoying me: and there were drawn Transformed with their fear; who swore they saw And yesterday the Bird of Night did sit Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: 1 government. 10 20 30 |