Caf. I am glad that my weak words Have ftruck but thus much fhew of fire from Brutus, Enter Cæfar and his Train. Bru. The Games are done, and Cafar is returning Bru. I will do fo; but look you, Caffius, Ant. Cæfar? Caf. Let me have men about me that are fat, Caf. Would he were fatter; but I fear him not: I do not know the man I fhould avoid, So foon as that fpare Caffius. He reads much; Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no Plays, (5) -be bears no Musick ] This is not a trivial obfervation, nor does our poet mean barely by it, that Caffius was not a merry, fprightly man; but that he had not a due temperament of harmony in his compofition; and that therefore natures, fo uncor rected, are dangerous. He has finely dilated on this fentiment in his Merchant of Venice, At 5. The man, that hath no Mufick in himself, And is not mov'd with concord of fweet founds, Is fit for treafons, ftratagems, and spoils; The motions of his fpirit are dull as night, Let no fuch man be trufted. Seldom Seldom he fmiles, and fmiles in fuch a fort, [Exeunt Cæfar and his Train. Manent Brutus and Caffius: Cafca, to them. Cafea. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me? Bru Ay, Cafca, tell us what hath chanc'd to day, That Cafar looks fo fad. Cafca. Why, you were with him, were you not? Bru. I fhould not then ask Cafea what had chanc'd. Cafca. Why, there was a Crown offer'd him; and being offer'd him, he put it by with the back of his hand thus, and then the people fell a fhouting. Bru. What was the fecond noise for ? Cafca. Why, for that too. Caf. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for? Cafea Why, for that too. Bru. Was the Crown offer'd him thrice? Cafca. Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting by,. mine honeft neighbours fhouted. Caf. Who offer'd him the Crown? Cafca. Why, Antony. Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Cafea. Cafca. I can as well be hang'd, as tell the manner of it it was meer foolery, I did not mark it. I faw 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 fill as he refus'd it, the rabblement hooted, and clapp'd their chopt hands, and threw up their fweaty night-caps, and uttered fuch a deal of finking breath, becaufe Cafar refus'd the Crown, that it had almoft choaked Cafar; for he fwooned, and fell down at it and for mine own part, I durft not laugh, for fear of opening my lips, and receiving the bad air. Caf. But, foft, I pray you; what, did Cafar fwoon? Cafea. He fell down in the market-place, and foam'd at mouth, and was fpeechless. Bru. 'Tis very like; he hath the falling-fickness. Cafca. I know not what you mean by that; but I am fure, Cafar fell down: If the tag-rag people did not clap him, and hifs him, according as he pleas'd, and difpleas'd them, as they used to do the Players in the Theatre, I am no true man. Bru. What faid he, when he came unto himself? Cafea. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceiv'd the common herd was glad he refus❜d the Crown, he pluckt me ope his doublet, and offer'd them his throat to cut: An' 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 rogues; and fo he fell. When he came to himself again, he faid, "If he had "done, or faid any thing amifs, he defir d their Wor"fhips to think it was his infirmity." Three or four wenches where I ftood, cry'd, “alas, good foul!”. and forgave him with all their hearts: but there's no heed to be taken of them; if Cæfar had stabb'd their mothers, they would have done no lefs. Bru. And after that, he came, thus fad, away? Caf. Did Cicero fay any thing? Cafca. Ay, he fpoke Greek. Caf. To what effect? Cafca. Nay, an' I tell you what, I'll ne'er look you j' th' face again. But thofe, that understood him, smil'd at at one another, and fhook 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 Cafar's images, are put to filence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if i could remember it. Caf. Will you fup with me to-night, Cafca? Cafca. No, I am promis'd forth. Caf. Will you dine with me to-morrow? Cafea. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner be worth the eating. Caf. Good, I will expect you. Cafca. Do fo: farewel Both. [Exit. Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be? He was quick mettle, when he went to school. Of any bold or noble enterprize, However he puts on this tardy form: Bru. And fo it is: for this time I will leave you. And, after this, ret Cafar feat him fure; For we will shake him, or worfe days endure. [Exit. Thunder and lightning. Enter Casca, bis fword drawn z and Cicero, meeting him. Cic. Good even, Cafca; brought you Cæfar home? I have feen tempefts, when the fcolding winds. Cic. Why, faw you any thing more wonderful? Who glar'd upon me, and went furly by, Cafta. |