sweaty nightcaps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choked Cæsar ;(2) for he swooned, 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. CAS. But, soft, I pray you: what, did Cæsar swoon? CASCA. He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at mouth, and was speechless. BRU. 'Tis very like, he hath the falling sick ness. CAS. 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 pleased and displeased them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no true man. BRU. What said he when he came unto himself? CASCA. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his doublet, and offered 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 so he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, If he had done or said any-thing amiss, he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches, where I stood, cried Alas, good soul!-and forgave him with all their hearts: but there's no heed to be taken of them; if Cæsar had stabbed their mothers they would have done no less. BRU. And after that, he came, thus sad, away? CASCA. Ay. CAS. Did Cicero say anything? CASCA. Ay, he spoke Greek. CASCA. Nay, an I tell you that I'll ne'er look you i'the face again: but those that understood him smiled 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 foolery yet, if I could remember it. more CAS. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca? CASCA. No, I am promised forth. CAS. Will you dine with me to-morrow? CASCA. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth the eating. a An I had been a man of any occupation,-] If I had been one of the mechanics. b Cæsar doth bear me hard:] The commentators appear to have overlooked the exact force of this. It is an expression borrowed, we believe, from horsemanship, equivalent, literally, to, keeps a tight rein upon me, and, metaphorically, to, does not trust me, or fears, or doubts me: so Antony, in Act III. Sc. 1, says, To-morrow, if you please to speak with me, SCENE III.-The same. A Street. [Exit. Thunder and lightning. Enter, from opposite sides, CASCA, with his sword drawn, and CICERO. Cic. Good even, Casca: brought you Cæsar home? Why are you breathless? and why stare you so? CASCA. Are not you mov'd, when all the sway of earth Shakes like a thing unfirm? O, Cicero, I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds "if you bear me hard," (i.e. if you fear to trust me) "Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke. Fulfil your pleasure." Compare also, Act I. Sc. 2, "You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand Over your friend that loves you." But never till to-night, never till now, CIC. Why, saw you anything more wonderful? CASCA. A common slave (you know him well by sight) Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn Like twenty torches join'd; and yet his hand, Not sensible of fire, remain'd unscorch'd." Besides, (I have not since put up my sword) Against the Capitol I met a lion, Who glar'd upon me, and went surly by (*) Old text, glaz'd. A common slave (you know him well by sight) "A slave of the souldiers that did cast a marvellous burning flame out of his hands, insomuch as they that saw it thought he had been burnt; but when the fire was out, it was found that he had no hurt."-Life of Julius Cæsar in North's Plutarch. b- what night is this!] Simply, "what a night is this!" the For, I believe, they are portentous things 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. [Exit CICERO. CAS. Those that have known the earth so full of faults. For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, CASCA. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens? It is the part of men to fear and tremble, [life CAS. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of That should be in a Roman you do want, Or else you use not. You look pale, and gaze, And put on fear, and cast yourself in wonder, To see the strange impatience of the heavens: But if you would consider the true cause Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts, Why birds and beasts, from quality and kind; b Why old men fools, and children calculate; Why all these things change from their ordinance, Their natures, and pre-formed faculties, To monstrous quality;—why, you shall find, That heaven hath infus'd them with these spirits, To make them instruments of fear and warning Unto some monstrous state. C Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars A man no mightier than thyself or me, 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; athe thunder-stone:] "The thunder-stone is the imaginary produce of the thunder, which the ancients called Brontia, mentioned by Pliny (N. H. xxxvii. 10) as a species of gem, and as that which, falling with the lightning, does the mischief."CRAIK. b Why birds and beasts, from quality and kind ;] That is, why they reverse their habits and nature. c Why old men fools, and children calculate ;] The old copy points thus, Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat: [Thunder still. CASCA. So can I : every bondman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his captivity. So CAS. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant, then? So vile a thing as Cæsar!-but, O, grief! CASCA. You speak to Casca; and to such a man CAS. Of honourable-dangerous consequence; In Pompey's porch for now, this fearful night In favour's like the work we have in hand, [haste. CASCA. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in CAS. 'Tis Cinna,-I do know him by his gait; He is a friend. To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie, CAS. That done, repair to Pompey's theatre. Come, Casca, you and I will yet, ere day, You have right well conceited. Let us go, We will awake him, and be sure of him. [Exeunt. which is intolerable; or, as given by Mr. Knight,- O, Cassius, if you could but win the noble Brutus which is not much better. We adopt the distribution of the lines proposed by Mr. Craik, though even this will hardly satisfy the requirements of an ear accustomed to Shakespearian rhythm. 6 Where Brutus may but find it ;] We should now say, "Where only Brutus may find it." |