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[Shout. Flourish.

So get the start of the majestic world
And bear the palm alone.

BRUTUS. Another general shout!

I do believe that these applauses are

For some new honours that are heap'd on Cæsar. CASSIUS. 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:

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yours

?

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
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 'em,
"Brutus" will start a spirit as soon as "Cæsar."
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 sham'd.!
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!
When went there by an age, since the great flood,
But it was fam'd with more than with one man?
When could they say till now, that talk'd of Rome,
That her wide walls encompass'd but one man ?
Now is it Rome indeed and room enough,
When there is in it but one only man.

O, you and I have heard our fathers say,

There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd
The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome.
As easily as a king.

BRUTUS. 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,

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160

I shall recount hereafter; for this present,

I would not, so with love I might entreat you,
Be

any further mov'd. 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.
Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this:
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.

CASSIUS. I am glad that my weak words

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Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. BRUTUS. The games are done and Cæsar is returning. CASSIUS. 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.

Re-enter CESAR and his Train.

BRUTUS. I will do so. But, look you, Cassius,
The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow,
And all the rest look like a chidden train:
Calpurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero
Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes
As we have seen him in the Capitol,

Being cross'd in conference by some senators.
CASSIUS. Casca will tell us what the matter is.
CÆSAR. Antonius!

ANTONY., Cæsar ?

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

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190

CÆSAR.

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

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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 mov'd to smile at any thing.
Such men as he be never at heart's ease
Whiles 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 on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,
And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.

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[Sennet. Exeunt CESAR and all his Train but CASCA. CASCA. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me?

BRUTUS. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanc'd to-day,

That Cæsar looks so sad.

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CASCA. Why, you were with him, were you not? BRUTUS. I should not then ask Casca what had chanc'd. 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.

BRUTUS. What was the second noise for?

CASCA. Why, for that too.

CASSIUS. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for? CASCA. Why, for that too.

BRUTUS. CASCA. Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting-by mine honest neighbours shouted.

Was the crown offered him thrice ?

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CASSIUS.

Who offered him the crown?

CASCA. Why, Antony.

BRUTUS. 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 a crown ;-yet 'twas not a crown neither,
'twas one of these coronets; and, as I told you, he put it
by once but, for all that, to my thinking, 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 loath
to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third
time; he put it the third time by and still as he refused
it, the rabblement shouted 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 choked Cæsar; for he swounded 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.
CASSIUS. But, soft, I pray you: what, did Cæsar swound?
CASCA. He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at
mouth, and was speechless.

BRUTUS. 'Tis very like he hath the falling sickness.
CASSIUS. No, Cæsar hath it not; but you and I

And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness.

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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.

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BRUTUS. 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. BRUTUS. And after that, he came, thus sad, away? 274 CASCA. Ay.

CASSIUS. Did Cicero say any thing?

CASCA. Ay, he spoke Greek.

CASSIUS. To what effect?

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 more foolery yet, if I could remember it.

CASSIUS. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca?

CASCA. No, I am promised forth.

CASSIUS. Will you dine with me to-morrow?

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CASCA. Ay, if I be alive and your mind hold and your

dinner worth the eating.

CASSIUS. Good: I will expect you.

CASCA. Do so. Farewell, both.

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[Exit.

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

He was quick mettle when he went to school.

CASSIUS.

So is he now in execution

Of any bold or noble enterprise,

However he puts on this tardy form.

This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit,

Which gives men stomach to digest his words

With better appetite.

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BRUTUS. And so it is. For this time I will leave you :