Cæs. Set him before me; let me see his face. Cassius. Fellow, come from the throng: look upon Cæsar. Cæs. What say'st thou to me now? Speak once again. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cæs. He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass. [Sennet. Exeunt all but BRU. and CAS. Cas. Will you go see the order of the course? Bru. Not I. Cas. I pray you, do. Bru. I am not gamesome: I do lack some part Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires; I'll leave you. Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late : Bru. Cassius, Be not deceiv'd: if I have veil'd my look, I turn the trouble of my countenance Of late with passions of some difference, Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviours; Nor construe any farther my neglect, Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Forgets the shews of love to other men. Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion; By means whereof, this breast of mine hath buried Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. Cas. 'Tis just ; And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you have no such mirrors, as will turn That you might see your shadow. I have heard, Bru. Into what dangers would you lead me, Cas sius, That you would have me seek into myself For that which is not in me? Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar'd to hear: And, since you know you cannot see yourself Will modestly discover to yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of. To every new protester; if you know That I do fawn on men, and hug them hard, To all the rout, then hold me dangerous. [Flourish and shout. Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear, the people Choose Cæsar for their king. Cas. Ay, do you fear it? Then, must I think you would not have it so. Bru. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well. I had as lief not be, as live to be I was born free as Cæsar, so were you; For once, upon a raw and gusty day, The troubled Tyber chafing with her shores, And swim to yonder point?"-Upon the word, And bade him follow: so, indeed, he did. Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tyber Did I the tired Cæsar. And this man Is now become a god; and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body, He had a fever when he was in Spain, And, when the fit was on him, did mark, How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake: Bru. [Shout. Flourish. Another general shout! I do believe that these applauses are For some new honours that are heap'd on Cæsar. Cas. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus; and we petty men Walk under his huge legs, and peep about To find ourselves dishonourable graves. Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings. Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed, That he is grown so great? Age, thou art sham'd: That her wide walls encompass'd but one man? O, you and I have heard our fathers say, There was a Brutus once, that would have brook'd Th' eternal devil to keep his state in Rome, As easily as a king. Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; I will with patience hear, and find a time Brutus had rather be a villager, Than to repute himself a son of Rome Under these hard conditions as this time Is like to lay upon us. Cas. I am glad, That my weak words have struck but thus much shew Of fire from Brutus. Bru. The games are done, and Cæsar is re |