Mar. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? What tributaries follow him to Rome Το grace in captive bonds his chariot-wheels? You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome! And do you now put on your best attire? Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and for this fault Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears If you do find them decked with ceremonies. You know it is the feast of Lupercal. Flav. It is no matter: let no images Be hung with Cæsar's trophies. I'll about, So do you too, where you perceive them thick. These growing feathers plucked from Cæsar's wing Who else would soar above the view of men, And keep us all in servile fearfulness. SCENE II. The Same. A Public Place. [Exeunt CITIZENS. [Exeunt. Enter in procession, with music, CESAR, ANTONY, for the course; CALPHURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and CASCA; a great crowd following, among them a SOOTHSAYER. Cas. Calphurnia! Casca. Peace, ho! Cæsar speaks. Cas. Calphurnia! [Music ceases. Caes. Ha! who calls? Casca. Bid every noise be still. Peace yet again. I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music, Cry" Cæsar!" Speak: Cæsar is turned to hear. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cæs. What man is that? Bru. A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March. Speak once again. Cas. Fellow, come from the throng: look upon Cæsar. [Music. [Music ceases. [Sennet. Exeunt all but BRUTUS and CASSIUS. Cas. Will you go see the order of the course? Cas. I pray you, do. Bru. I am not gamesome: I do lack some part Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires: Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late: Bru. Cassius, Be not deceived: if I have veiled my look, I turn the trouble of my countenance Merely upon myself. Vexed I am Of late with passions of some difference, Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviors; Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Forgets the shows of love to other men. Cus. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion, By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you might see your shadow. I have heard, Bru. Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, For that which is not in me? Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear; And, since you know you can not see yourself So well as by reflection, I, your glass, Will modestly discover to yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of. And be not jealous of me, gentle Brutus : That I do fawn on men, and hug them hard, That I profess myself in banqueting 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. But wherefore do you hold me here so long? What is it that you would impart to me? I was born free as Cæsar: so were you. The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores, And bade him follow: so, indeed, he did. Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder 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, I did mark How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake; And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world, Ay, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans Bru. Another general shout! I do believe that these applauses are For some new honors that are heaped 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 dishonorable graves. Brutus and Cæsar: what should be in that Cæsar? Why should that name be sounded more than yours? Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well; Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar. [Shout. Flourish. Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with them, [Shout. Now, in the names of all the gods at once, Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed, That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed! But it was famed with more than with one man? Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; I will with patience hear, and find a time Than to repute himself a son of Rome Is like to lay upon us. Cas. I am glad that my weak words Have struck but this much show of fire from Brutus. Re-enter CESAR and his Train. Bru. The games are done, and Cæsar is returning. Bru. I will do so. But look you, Cassius! Ant. Cæsar! Cæs. Let me have men about me that are fat; He is a noble Roman, and well given. Cas. Would he were fatter! But I fear him not. Yet, if my name were liable to fear, I do not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much; |