Shakespeare's First Folio Part 535

Ca.s.si. I know that vertue to be in you Brutus, As well as I do know your outward fauour.

Well, Honor is the subiect of my Story: I cannot tell, what you and other men Thinke of this life: But for my single selfe, I had as liefe not be, as liue to be In awe of such a Thing, as I my selfe.

I was borne free as Caesar, so were you, We both haue fed as well, and we can both Endure the Winters cold, as well as hee.

For once, vpon a Rawe and Gustie day, The troubled Tyber, chafing with her Sh.o.r.es, Caesar saide to me, Dar'st thou Ca.s.sius now Leape in with me into this angry Flood, And swim to yonder Point? Vpon the word, Accoutred as I was, I plunged in, And bad him follow: so indeed he did.

The Torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it With l.u.s.ty Sinewes, throwing it aside, And stemming it with hearts of Controuersie.

But ere we could arriue the Point propos'd, Caesar cride, Helpe me Ca.s.sius, or I sinke.

I (as Aeneas, our great Ancestor, Did from the Flames of Troy, vpon his shoulder The old Anchyses beare) so, from the waues of Tyber Did I the tyred Caesar: And this Man, Is now become a G.o.d, and Ca.s.sius is A wretched Creature, and must bend his body, If Caesar carelesly but nod on him.

He had a Feauer when he was in Spaine, And when the Fit was on him, I did marke How he did shake: Tis true, this G.o.d did shake, His Coward lippes did from their colour flye, And that same Eye, whose bend doth awe the World, Did loose his l.u.s.tre: I did heare him grone: I, and that Tongue of his, that bad the Romans Marke him, and write his Speeches in their Bookes, Alas, it cried, Giue me some drinke t.i.tinius, As a sicke Girle: Ye G.o.ds, it doth amaze me, A man of such a feeble temper should So get the start of the Maiesticke world, And beare the Palme alone.

Shout. Flourish.

Bru. Another generall shout?

I do beleeue, that these applauses are For some new Honors, that are heap'd on Caesar

Ca.s.si. Why man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men Walke vnder his huge legges, and peepe about To finde our selues dishonourable Graues.

Men at sometime, are Masters of their Fates.

The fault (deere Brutus) is not in our Starres, But in our Selues, that we are vnderlings.

Brutus and Caesar: What should be in that Caesar?

Why should that name be sounded more then yours Write them together: Yours, is as faire a Name: Sound them, it doth become the mouth aswell: Weigh them, it is as heauy: Coniure with 'em, Brutus will start a Spirit as soone as Caesar.

Now in the names of all the G.o.ds at once, Vpon what meate doth this our Caesar feede, That he is growne so great? Age, thou art sham'd.

Rome, thou hast lost the breed of n.o.ble Bloods.

When went there by an Age, since the great Flood, But it was fam'd with more then with one man?

When could they say (till now) that talk'd of Rome, That her wide Walkes incompast but one man?

Now is it Rome indeed, and Roome enough When there is in it but one onely man.

O! you and I, haue heard our Fathers say, There was a Brutus once, that would haue brook'd Th' eternall Diuell to keepe his State in Rome, As easily as a King

Bru. That you do loue me, I am nothing iealous: What you would worke me too, I haue some ayme: How I haue thought of this, and of these times I shall recount heereafter. For this present, I would not so (with loue I might intreat you) Be any further moou'd: What you haue said, I will consider: what you haue to say I will with patience heare, and finde a time Both meete to heare, and answer such high things.

Till then, my n.o.ble Friend, chew vpon this: Brutus had rather be a Villager, Then to repute himselfe a Sonne of Rome Vnder these hard Conditions, as this time Is like to lay vpon vs

Ca.s.si. I am glad that my weake words Haue strucke but thus much shew of fire from Brutus, Enter Caesar and his Traine.

Bru. The Games are done, And Caesar is returning

Ca.s.si. As they pa.s.se by, Plucke Caska by the Sleeue, And he will (after his sowre fashion) tell you What hath proceeded worthy note to day

Bru. I will do so: but looke you Ca.s.sius, The angry spot doth glow on Caesars brow, And all the rest, looke like a chidden Traine; Calphurnia's Cheeke is pale, and Cicero Lookes with such Ferret, and such fiery eyes As we haue seene him in the Capitoll Being crost in Conference, by some Senators

Ca.s.si. Caska will tell vs what the matter is

Caes Antonio

Ant. Caesar

Caes Let me haue men about me, that are fat, Sleeke-headed men, and such as sleepe a-nights: Yond Ca.s.sius has a leane and hungry looke, He thinkes too much: such men are dangerous

Ant. Feare him not Caesar, he's not dangerous, He is a n.o.ble Roman, and well giuen

Caes Would he were fatter; But I feare him not: Yet if my name were lyable to feare, I do not know the man I should auoyd So soone as that spare Ca.s.sius. He reades much, He is a great Obseruer, and he lookes Quite through the Deeds of men. He loues no Playes, As thou dost Antony: he heares no Musicke; Seldome he smiles, and smiles in such a sort As if he mock'd himselfe, and scorn'd his spirit That could be mou'd to smile at any thing.

Such men as he, be neuer at hearts ease, Whiles they behold a greater then themselues, And therefore are they very dangerous.

I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd, Then what I feare: for alwayes I am Caesar.

Come on my right hand, for this eare is deafe, And tell me truely, what thou think'st of him.

Sennit.

Exeunt. Caesar and his Traine.

Cask. You pul'd me by the cloake, would you speake with me?

Bru. I Caska, tell vs what hath chanc'd to day That Caesar lookes so sad

Cask. Why you were with him, were you not?

Bru. I should not then aske Caska what had chanc'd

Cask. Why there was a Crowne offer'd him; & being offer'd him, he put it by with the backe of his hand thus, and then the people fell a shouting

Bru. What was the second noyse for?

Cask. Why for that too

Ca.s.si. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for?

Cask. Why for that too

Bru. Was the Crowne offer'd him thrice?

Cask. I marry was't, and hee put it by thrice, euerie time gentler then other; and at euery putting by, mine honest Neighbors showted

Ca.s.si. Who offer'd him the Crowne?

Cask. Why Antony

Bru. Tell vs the manner of it, gentle Caska

Caska. I can as well bee hang'd as tell the manner of it: It was meere Foolerie, I did not marke it. I sawe Marke Antony offer him a Crowne, yet 'twas not a Crowne neyther, 'twas one of these Coronets: and as I told you, hee put it by once: but for all that, to my thinking, he would faine haue had it. Then hee offered it to him againe: then hee put it by againe: but to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time; hee put it the third time by, and still as hee refus'd it, the rabblement howted, and clapp'd their chopt hands, and threw vppe their sweatie Night-cappes, and vttered such a deale of stinking breath, because Caesar refus'd the Crowne, that it had (almost) choaked Caesar: for hee swoonded, and fell downe at it: And for mine owne part, I durst not laugh, for feare of opening my Lippes, and receyuing the bad Ayre

Ca.s.si. But soft I pray you: what, did Caesar swound?

Cask. He fell downe in the Market-place, and foam'd at mouth, and was speechlesse

Brut. 'Tis very like he hath the Falling sicknesse

Ca.s.si. No, Caesar hath it not: but you, and I, And honest Caska, we haue the Falling sicknesse

Cask. I know not what you meane by that, but I am sure Caesar fell downe. If the tag-ragge people did not clap him, and hisse him, according as he pleas'd, and displeas'd them, as they vse to doe the Players in the Theatre, I am no true man

Brut. What said he, when he came vnto himselfe?

Cask. Marry, before he fell downe, when he perceiu'd the common Heard was glad he refus'd the Crowne, he pluckt me ope his Doublet, and offer'd them his Throat to cut: and I had beene a man of any Occupation, if I would not haue taken him at a word, I would I might goe to h.e.l.l among the Rogues, and so hee fell. When he came to himselfe againe, hee said, If hee had done, or said any thing amisse, he desir'd their Worships to thinke it was his infirmitie. Three or foure Wenches where I stood, cryed, Ala.s.se good Soule, and forgaue him with all their hearts: But there's no heed to be taken of them; if Caesar had stab'd their Mothers, they would haue done no lesse

Brut. And after that, he came thus sad away

Cask. I

Ca.s.si. Did Cicero say any thing?

Cask. I, he spoke Greeke