Clean from the purpose of the things themselves. Send word to you he would be there to-morrow. 39 ACT I CASCA. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this! CASS. A very pleasing night to honest men. CASCA. Who ever knew the Heavens menace so? CASS. Those that have known the Earth so full of faults. For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, And, thus unbraced, Casca, as you see, Have bar'd my bosom to the thunder-stone: And, when the cross1 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 It is the part of men to fear and tremble, When the most mighty Gods, by tokens, send Such dreadful heralds to astonish us. CASS. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of life Or else you use not. You look pale, and gaze, Why old men fool, and children calculate; Why all these things change from their ordinance, To monstrous quality; why, you shall find 60 ACT I That Heaven hath infus'd them with these spirits, A man no mightier than thyself or me In personal action; yet prodigious grown, And fearful, as these strange eruptions are. CASCA. 'Tis Cæsar that you mean, is it not, Cassius? Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors: And he shall wear his crown by sea and land, CASS. I know where I will wear this dagger then; 70 80 Therein, ye Gods, make the weak most strong; 90 you Therein, ye Gods, you tyrants do defeat: Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass, If I know this, know all the world besides, I can shake off at pleasure. CASCA. [Thunder still. So can I: So every bondman in his own hand bears Poor Man! I know he would not be a wolf, 100 What rubbish, and what offal, when it serves For the base matter to illuminate So vile a thing as Cæsar! Where hast thou led me? But, O Grief, I perhaps speak this Before a willing bondman: then I know CASCA. You speak to Casca; and to such a man 2 That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold, my hand: And I will set this foot of mine as far As who goes farthest. CASS. There's a bargain made. 120 Now know you, Casca, I have mov'd already Of honourable-dangerous consequence; In Pompey's Porch: for now, this fearful night, And the complexion of the element3 In favour's like the work we have in hand, CASCA. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. CASS. 'Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait; 131 He is a friend. Enter CINNA. Cinna, where haste you so? CIN. To find out you. CASS. No; it is Casca: Who's that? Metellus Cimber? To our attempt. Am I not stay'd for, Cinna? CIN. Yes; you are. O, Cassius, if you could but win 1 i.e. I must pay my reckoning, as one called to account. 4 2 leering. 140 paper, 3 air. 17 ACT I Where Brutus may but' find it; and throw this Upon old Brutus' statue: all this done, Repair to Pompey's Porch, where you shall find us. 150 [Exit CINNA. Come, Casca, you and I will yet, ere day, Will change to virtue and to worthiness. CASS. Him, and his worth, and our great need of him, 160 For it is after midnight; and, ere day, We will awake him, and be sure of him. [exeunt. ACT II SCENE I. Rome. BRUTUS's Orchard. Enter BRUTUS. 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. Enter LUCIUS. Luc. Call'd you, my Lord? BRU. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius : When it is lighted, come and call me here. 1 alone. 2 i.e. Lucius Junius Brutus, avenger of Lucretia, and expulser of the Tarquins. 18 3 Decimus. Luc. I will, my Lord. BRU. It must be by his death: and, for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, change his nature, there's the It is the bright day that brings forth the adder; Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel And therefore think him as a serpent's egg, 20 30 Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mischievous, Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, Sir. [gives him the letter. BRU. Get you to bed again; it is not day. BRU. Look in the calendar, and bring me word. BRU. The exhalations, whizzing in the air, 40 [exit. |