A wretched 'creature, and must bend his body,
If Cæsar carelessly but nod on him.

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;
His coward lips did from their colour fly,

And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world,
Did lose its lustre ; I did hear him groan:

Ay, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans
Mark him, and write his speeches in their books,
Alas! it cried- Give me some drink, Titinius"-
As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me
A man of such a feeble temper, should
So get the start of the majestic world,
And bear the palm alone.

Bru. Another general shout!

[Shout-Flourish.

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 sometimes are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,

But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

Brutus and Cæsar! what should be in that Cæsar?
Why should that name be sounded more than yours ?
Write them together, yours is as fair a name:
Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well:
Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with them,
Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar.
Now, in the name of all the gods at once,
Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed,
That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed,
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods.
When went there by an age, since the great flood,
But it was famed with more than with one man 2

B

When could they say, till now, that talk'd of Rome,
That her wide walls encompass'd but one man?
Oh! 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;
What you would work me to, I have some aim:
How I have thought of this, and of these times,
I shall recount hereafter: for this present,
I would not (so with love I might entreat you)
Be any
farther moved. What you have said,

I will consider; what you have to say,

I will with patience hear; and find a time
Both meet to hear, and answer such high things.
Cas. I am glad that my weak words

Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.
Bru. The games are done, and Cæsar is returning.
Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve,
And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you,
What hath proceeded worthy note-to-day.
Bru. I will do so;

Enter CESAR and his TRAIN.

But look you, Cassius,

The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow,
And all the rest look like a chidden train.

Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is.
Cæs. Antonius-

Ant. Cæsar!

Cas. Let me have men about me that are fat, Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o'nights: Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.! Ant. Fear him not, Cæsar, he's not dangerous He is a noble Roman, and well givea

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;
He is a great observer; and he looks

Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays,
As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music:
Seldom he smiles; and smiles in such a sort,
As if he mock'd himself, and scorn'd his spirit,
That could be moved to smile at any thing.
Such men as he be never at heart's ease,
Whilst they behold a greater than themselves;
And therefore are they very dangerous.
I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd,
Than what I fear: for always I am Cæsar.
Come, tell me truly, what thou thinkst of him.

[Exeunt CESAR and his TRAIN. Casca. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me?

Bru. Ay, Casca, tell us what hath chanced to-day, That Cæsar looks so sad.

Casca. Why, you were with him, were you not? Bru. I should not then ask Casca what had chanced.

Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him; and being offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus, and then the people fell a-shouting. Bru. What was the second noise for? Casca. Why, for that too.

Cas. They shouted thrice, what was the last cry for? Casca. Why, for that too.

Bru. Was the crown offered him three times ? Casca. Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than the other; and at every putting by mine honest neighbours shouted.

Cas. Who offered him the crown?

Casca. Why, Antony..

Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. Casca. I can as well be hanged, as tell the manner of it; it was mere foolery, I did not mark it.

I saw

Mark Antony offer him the crown; and, as I told you, he put it by once; but for all that, to my think ing, he would fain have had it. Then he offered 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 offered it a third time; he put it the third time by; and still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted, and clapped their chopt hands, and threw up their sweaty nightcaps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath, because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choaked Cæsar; 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-sickness. Cas. No, Cæsar has 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 used 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' no heed to be taken of them; if Cæsar had stabb'd their mothers, they would have done no less. Bru. And after that, he came, thus sad, away! Casca. Ay.

Cas. Did Cicero say any thing?

Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek.

Cas. To what effect?

Casca. Nay, an' I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i'th' 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.

more foolery yet, if I could remember it.

There was

Cas. Will you sup with me, to-night, Casca?
Casca. No, I'm promised forth.

Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow?

Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner be worth the eating.

Cas. Good, I will expect you.

Casca. Do so; farewell both.

[Exit.

Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be!

He was quick mettle when he went to school.
Cas. So he is now in execution

Of any bold or noble enterprize.

However he puts on his tardy form.

This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit,
Which gives men stomach to digest his words,
With better appetite.

Bru. And so it is: for this time I will leave you, To-morrow, if you please to speak with me,

I will come home to you; or, if you will,

Come home to me, and I will wait for

you.

Cas. I will do so; till then think on the world.
Bru. Till then, my noble friend, chew

Brutus had rather be a villager,

Than to repute himself a son of Rome,
Under such hard conditions, as this time.
Is like to lay upon us.

upon

this;

[Exit BRUTUS.

Cas. Well, Brutus, thou art noble ; yet I sce,