And, when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open Even in the aim and very flash of it. Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens ? It is the part of men to fear and tremble, When the most mighty gods, by tokens, send Cas. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of life That should be in a Roman, you do want, Or else you use not: You look pale, and gaze, Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts, A man no mightier than thyself, or me, In personal action; yet prodigious grown', And fearful, as these strange eruptions are. Casca. 'Tis Cæsar that you mean: Is it not, Cassius? Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now 8 Have thewes and limbs like to their ancestors; 5 Why birds, and beasts, from quality and kind; &c.] That is, Why they deviate from quality and nature. 6 and children calculate :] Calculate here signifies to foretell or prophesy. 7 prodigious grown,] Prodigious is portentous. 8 Have thewes and limbs —] nerves or muscular strength. Thewes is an obsolete word implying But, woe the while! our fathers' minds are dead, Casca. Indeed, they say, the senators to-morrow And he shall wear his crown by sea, and land, Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then; If I know this, know all the world besides, I can shake off at pleasure. Casca. So can I: So every bondman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his captivity. Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then? So vile a thing as Cæsar? But, O grief! My answer must be made': But I am arm'd, 9 My answer must be made:] I shall be called to account, and must answer as for seditious words. Casca. You speak to Casca; and to such a man, Cas. There's a bargain made. Now know you, Casca, I have mov'd already Is favour'd, like the work we have in hand, Enter CINNA. Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. Cas. 'Tis Cinna, I do know him by his gait ; He is a friend.-Cinna, where haste you so? Cin. To find out you: Who's that? Metellus Cimber? Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate To our attempts. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Cin. I am glad on't. What a fearful night is this! There's two or three of us have seen strange sights. Cas. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Tell me. Cin. You are. O, Cassius, if you could but win The noble Brutus to our party 1 Yes, Cas. Be you content: Good Cinna, take this paper, Hold, my hand.] Is the same as, Here's my hand. 2 Be factious for redress-] Factious seems here to mean active. 3 Is favour'd,] To favour is to resemble; but Mr. Malone reads "In favours," which was suggested by Dr. Johnson, i. e. in looks, appearances, &c. And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us. Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone Come, Casca, you and I will, yet, ere day, Upon the next encounter, yields him ours. [Exit CINNA. Casca. O, he sits high, in all the people's hearts: And that, which would appear offence in us, His countenance, like richest alchymy, Will change to virtue, and to worthiness. Cas. Him, and his worth, and our great need of him, You have right well conceited. Let us go, For it is after midnight; and, ere day, We will awake him, and be sure of him. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I-The same. Brutus's Orchard. Enter BRUTUS. Bru. What, Lucius! ho! I cannot, by the progress of the stars, Give guess how near to day.-Lucius, I say!— Enter LUCIUS. Luc. Call'd you, my lord? Bru. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius: When it is lighted, come and call me here. Luc. I will, my lord. Bru. It must be by his death: and, for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, [Exit. But for the general. He would be crown'd:— And that craves wary walking. Crown him?-That ;— Remorse from power': And, to speak truth of Cæsar, 6 Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented, Would run to these, and these extremities: And therefore think him as a serpent's egg, Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind', grow mischievous; And kill him in the shell. 4 Remorse from power:] 5 — common proof,] common experience. Remorse is pity, tenderness. Common proof means a matter proved by 6 base degrees] Low steps. 7 as his kind,] i. e. like the rest of his species." |