And I will set this foot of mine as far, As who goes farthest. Cas. There's a bargain made. Now know you, Casca, I have moved already Of honourable-dangerous consequence; * Is favour'd, like the work we have in hand, Enter CINNA. Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. He is a friend.-Cinna, where haste you so? Cin. To find out you: Who's that? Metellus Cimber? 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. Cin. Yes, You are. O, Cassius, if you could but win Cas. Be you content: Good Cinna, take this paper, Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us. Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone His countenance, like richest alchymy, Will change to virtue, and to worthiness. [Exit CINNA. Cas. Him, and his worth, and our great need of him, *Resembles. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I-The same. BRUTUS' Orchard. Enter BRUTUS. Bru. What, Lucius! ho! I cannot, by the progress of the stars, Give guess how near to day.-Lucius, I say!— When, Lucius, when!* Awake, I say: What, Lucius! 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, But for the general. He would be crown'd: How that might change his nature, there's the question. And that craves wary walking. Crown him?-That;- Remorset from power: And, to speak truth of Cæsar, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees § Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented, Would run to these, and these extremities: Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mischievous; Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, Sir. Bru. Look in the calendar, and bring me word. *An exclamation of impatience. [Exit. [Exit. + Pity. Low steps. Bru. The exhalations, whizzing in the air, Give so much light, that I may read by them. [Opens the letter, and reads. Brutus, thou sleep'st; awake, and see thyself. Such instigations have been often dropp'd Shall Rome, &c. Thus, must I piece it out; Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What! Rome ? My ancestors did from the streets of Rome The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king. To speak, and strike? O Rome! I make thee promise, Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus. Re-enter LUCIUS, Luc. Sir, March is wasted fourteen days. [Knock within. Bru. Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks. [Exit LUCIUS. Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar, I have not slept. Between the acting of a dreadful thing Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, Who doth desire to see you. મ Bru. Is he alone ? Luc. No, Sir, there are more with him. Bru. No you know them? Luc. No, Sir; their hats are pluck'd about their ears, And half their faces buried in their cloaks, That by no means I may discover them By any mark of favour.* Bru. Let them enter. They are the faction. O conspiracy! [Exit LUCIUS. Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night, When evils are most free! O, then, by day, Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy; Hide it in smiles, and affability: For if thou path thy native semblancet on, To hide thee from prevention. * Feature. Walk in thy true form. Enter CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, CINNA, METELLUS CIMBER, and TREBONIUS. Cas. I think we are too bold upon your rest: Bru. I have been up this hour; awake, all night. Which every noble Roman bears of you. Bru. He is welcome hither. Cas. This Decius Brutus. Bru. He is welcome too. Cas. This, Casca; this, Cinna; And this, Metellus Cimber. Bru. They are all welcome. What watchful cares do interpose themselves Betwixt your eyes and night? Cas. Shall I entreat a word? [They whisper. Dec. Here lies the east: Doth not the day break here? Cin. O, pardon, Sir, it doth; and yon grey lines, That fret the clouds, are messengers of day. Casca. You shall confess, that you are both deceived. Some two months hence, up higher toward the north Bru. Give me your hands all over, one by one. Bru. No, not an oath: If not the face of men, So let high-sighted tyranny rage on, Till each man drop by lottery. But if these, To kindle cowards, and to steel with valour The melting spirits of women; then, countrymen, That this shall be, or we will fall for it? * Public opinion. Cautious. Such creatures as men doubt: but do not stain Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits, To think, that, or our cause, or our performance, If he do break the smallest particle Of any promise that hath pass'd from him. Cas. But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him? I think, he will stand very strong with us. Cin. No, by no means. Met. O let us have him; for his silver hairs And buy men's voices to commend our deeds: Bru. O, name him not; let us not break† with him; Cas. Then leave him out. Casca. Indeed, he is not fit. Dec. Shall no man else be touch'd but only Cæsar? Should outlive Cæsar: We shall find of him Let Antony, and Cæsar, fall together. Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, To cut the head off, and then hack the limbs; Let us be sacrificers, but no butchers, Caius. And after seem to chide them. This shall make *Character. + Malice. |