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II. The same. A public place.
II. ROMAe _Platea quaedam._
Enter, in procession, with music, Caesar; Antony, for the course; Calphurnia, Portia, Decius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius and Casca; a great crowd following, among them a Soothsayer.
_Pompa quaedam._ CAeSAR, ANTONIUS (_in cursum paratus_), CALPURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, _Turba pone sequens_, ARUSPEX.
CAESAR. Calphurnia.
_Caes._--Calpurnia,--
CASCA. Peace, ho! Caesar speaks.
_Casc._--Tacendum. Caesar loquitur.
[_Music ceases._]
[_Music ceases._]
CAESAR. Calphurnia.
CAESAR. Calphurnia.
CALPHURNIA. Here, my lord.
_Calp._--Adsum, Caesar.
CAESAR. Stand you directly in Antonius’ way, When he doth run his course. Antonius.
_Caes._--Antonio cursum agenti te obviam habeto. Antoni--
ANTONY. Caesar, my lord?
_Ant._--Quid? Caesar, domine.
CAESAR. Forget not in your speed, Antonius, To touch Calphurnia; for our elders say, The barren, touched in this holy chase, Shake off their sterile curse.
_Caes._--Ne negligas, Antoni, cursus studio, Calpurniam tangere: fertur enim ab antiquis mulieres hoc sacro currentium tactu sterilitatis vinculis exsolvi posse.
ANTONY. I shall remember. When Caesar says “Do this,” it is perform’d.
_Ant._--Non negligam: quum Caesar 'Fiat' dixerit, factum est.
CAESAR. Set on; and leave no ceremony out.
_Caes._--Ordinentur jam ludi, et ne quis absit ritus.
[_Music._]
[_Musica. Tubae._
SOOTHSAYER. Caesar!
_Arusp._--Caesar--
CAESAR. Ha! Who calls?
_Caes._--Quis me vocat?
CASCA. Bid every noise be still; peace yet again!
_Casc._--Taceant omnes. Taceant, inquam.
[_Music ceases._]
[_Silent tubae._
CAESAR. Who is it in the press that calls on me? I hear a tongue shriller than all the music, Cry “Caesar”! Speak. Caesar is turn’d to hear.
_Caes._--Quis ex turba me appellat? Vocem audio exsuperantem tubas, quae Caesarem clamat: Dic iterum; Caesar dat aurem.
SOOTHSAYER. Beware the Ides of March.
_Arusp._--Idus caveto Martios.
CAESAR. What man is that?
_Caes._--Quisnam ille est?
BRUTUS. A soothsayer bids you beware the Ides of March.
_Brut._--Aruspex, qui te cavere Idus Martios jubet?
CAESAR. Set him before me; let me see his face.
_Caes._--Coram adducite, ut intuear.
CASSIUS. Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
_Casc._--Heus tu, e turba veni; in Caesarem converte oculos.
CAESAR. What say’st thou to me now? Speak once again.
_Caes_--Jam quid ais? repetas velim.
SOOTHSAYER. Beware the Ides of March.
_Arusp._--Idus caveto Martios.
CAESAR. He is a dreamer; let us leave him. Pass.
_Caes._--Somniat iste; eamus.
[_Sennet. Exeunt all but Brutus and Cassius._]
[_Exeunt_--BRUTO CASSIOQUE _relictis_.
CASSIUS. Will you go see the order of the course?
_Cass._--Annon ad ludos spectandos, Brute?
BRUTUS. Not I.
_Brut._--Minime quidem.
CASSIUS. I pray you, do.
_Cass._--Venias, precor.
BRUTUS. I am not gamesome: I do lack some part Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires; I’ll leave you.
_Brut._--Non sum ad ludos aptus. Carei Antoniana ista alacritate. Ne autem tibi impedimento sim, abibo.
CASSIUS. Brutus, I do observe you now of late: I have not from your eyes that gentleness And show of love as I was wont to have. You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand Over your friend that loves you.
_Cass._--Jamdudum te observo, Brute. In vultu tuo minus quam olim benignitatis et amoris erga me elucescit: te nimis durum et severum habes in amicum amantissimum tui.
BRUTUS. Cassius, Be not deceived: if I have veil’d my look, I turn the trouble of my countenance Merely upon myself. Vexed I am Of late with passions of some difference, Conceptions only proper to myself, Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors; But let not therefore my good friends be grieved (Among which number, Cassius, be you one) Nor construe any further my neglect, Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Forgets the shows of love to other men.
_Brut._--Erras, mi Cassi: si quando aspectum hunc meum mutaverim, non nisi in memet ipsum mutavi. Jactatus sum nuper variis quibusdam animi motibus, cogitationibus mihimet ipsi propriis, quae me fortasse austeriorem faciunt. Sed ne idcirco doleant mei, (quorum tu Cassi, semper esto) neve neglectum meum alioqui interpretentur, quam quod Brutus infelix, ipse sibi confligens benevolentiam suam non satis constanter indicet.
CASSIUS. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion; By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?
_Cass._--Ergo, Brute, mentem tuam hactenus parum intellexi; ideoque cogitationes quasdam graves, neque indignas, in hoc sinu meo, quasi in sepulchro habui. Dic mihi, Brute optime; num in faciem tuam potes ipse inspicere?
BRUTUS. No, Cassius, for the eye sees not itself But by reflection, by some other thing.
_Brut._--Nequaquam, Cassi; oculos enim non seipsum intuetur, nisi in speculo quodam depictum.
CASSIUS. ’Tis just: And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you have no such mirrors as will turn Your hidden worthiness into your eye, That you might see your shadow. I have heard Where many of the best respect in Rome, (Except immortal Caesar) speaking of Brutus, And groaning underneath this age’s yoke, Have wish’d that noble Brutus had his eyes.
_Cass._--Verum dicis. Multum igitur dolemus, Brute, te non istiusmodi speculo potiri, quod virtutes occultas tuas tibi aperte reddat, ut tuam ipsius imaginem agnoscere queas. Audivi quidem, cum plures optimi in Roma, divo Caesare excepto, de Bruto colloquerentur, et sub hujusce saeculi jugo gementes optarent nobili Bruto suos oculos non deesse.
BRUTUS. Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, That you would have me seek into myself For that which is not in me?
_Brut._--Quaenam in discrimina me vis, Cassi, ducere, qui, ut id a meipso exposcam quod meum non est, me ita provoces?
CASSIUS. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear; And since you know you cannot see yourself So well as by reflection, I, your glass, Will modestly discover to yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of. And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus: Were I a common laugher, or did use To stale with ordinary oaths my love To every new protester; if you know That I do fawn on men, and hug them hard, And after scandal them; or if you know That I profess myself in banqueting, To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.
_Cass._--Idcirco, Brute optime, auscultes velim; et quum fatearis te non in posse imaginem tuam, nisi alia quadam materia repercussam, inspicere, ego, tanquam ipse speculum, ea quae, quamvis tua sint, teipsum adhuc latent, modeste tibi ostendam. Et ne me suspectum habeas, Brute, utpote levem assentatorem, solitumque, Dis invocatis, amorem meum cuilibet obtrudere. Quod si cognoveris me quemvis adulari, amplectique; dein eundem calumniari; vel me in epulis compotori cuilibet praecordia aperire, me cavendum esse concedam.
[_Flourish and shout._]
[_Tubae, acclamationes._
BRUTUS. What means this shouting? I do fear the people Choose Caesar for their king.
_Brut._--Sed quid vult acclamatio ista? vereor ne plebs Caesarem regem fecerit.
CASSIUS. Ay, do you fear it? Then must I think you would not have it so.
_Cass._--"Vereor" dicis? Habeo igitur te nolle Caesarem regem.
BRUTUS. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well, But wherefore do you hold me here so long? What is it that you would impart to me? If it be aught toward the general good, Set honour in one eye and death i’ the other, And I will look on both indifferently; For let the gods so speed me as I love The name of honour more than I fear death.
_Brut._--Nollem, Cassi; eum tamen bene diligo. Sed quare me hic tamdiu moraris? Quid est quod mihi communicatum velis? Si quid, quod ad Reipublicae bonum spectat, ex hac parte honorem, ex illa mortem proponas; ego in alterutrum aequis oculis inspiciam. Ita enim me Di adjuvent, plus apud me valet honesti nomen quam mortis timor.
CASSIUS. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, As well as I do know your outward favour. Well, honour is the subject of my story. I cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life; but, for my single self, I had as lief not be as live to be In awe of such a thing as I myself. I was born free as Caesar; so were you; We both have fed as well, and we can both Endure the winter’s cold as well as he: For once, upon a raw and gusty day, The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores, Caesar said to me, “Dar’st thou, Cassius, now Leap in with me into this angry flood, And swim to yonder point?” Upon the word, Accoutred as I was, I plunged in, And bade him follow: so indeed he did. The torrent roar’d, and we did buffet it With lusty sinews, throwing it aside And stemming it with hearts of controversy. But ere we could arrive the point propos’d, Caesar cried, “Help me, Cassius, or I sink!” I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber Did I the tired Caesar. And this man Is now become a god; and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body, If Caesar 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 his 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.
_Cass._--Istam in te esse virtutem, Brute, non minus quam lineamenta oris tui agnosco. Age vero; honor sermonis nostri argumentum esto. Quid nimirum tu et populares nostri de hac vivendi conditione censeant non satis scio; sed, quod ad me attinet, malim omnino non vivere, quam ita vivere, ut alium quemvis, mihi ipsi similem et aequalem, continue pertimescam. Uterque nostrum, aeque ac Caesar, liber natus et nutritus: uterque nostrum, aeque ac Caesar, hibernum gelu potest pati. Olim, memini, die ventoso frigidoque, cum turbidus Tiber ripas indignabatur, mihi Caesar, "Audesne, Cassi, mecum in iratas illas undas insilire, et ad adversam ripam natare?" Dicto, togatus insilui, eum sequi jubens. Secutus est Caesar; et uterque nervosis brachiis huc illuc fluctus rejicientes animose in adversum contendimus. Sed priusquam ad metam adventum est, "Fer opem Cassi," clamitabat Caesar, "ne peream." Tum, ut Aeneas, atavus illustris noster, ex Ilio flagrante senem Anchisem humeris deportavit, ita ego ex Tiberinis fluctibus Caesarem defatigatum eripui. Ecce autem! idem iste Caesar nunc Divus habetur: Cassius vilis est, et ad merum Caesaris nutum corpus inclinare coactus. Olim in Iberia hic Caesar in febrem incidit; notabam ego ut, ingravescente morbo, tremeret: immo, Divus hic tremebat. Notabam labia ejus prae timore pallescere; istiusque oculi aciem hebetari, cujus obtutu totus jam trepidat terrarum orbis. Gemere illum praeterea audiebam. Immo, et illa ipsa lingua, quae nuper civibus Romanis jussit verba observare, et in tabellis inscribere, ea, inquam, lingua, "Eheu, da mihi potum, Titini;" flebiliter clamitabat, more puellulae aegrotantis. Dii immortales! stupeo attonitus hominem vili adeo et male temperato animo totius humani generis majestatem antecedere, et palmam solum sibi auferre potuisse.
[_Shout. Flourish._]
[_Acclamationes. Tubae._
BRUTUS. Another general shout? I do believe that these applauses are For some new honours that are heap’d on Caesar.
_Brut._--Acclamationes iterum audio. Vix dubito quin hi plausus novos quosdam honores in Caesarem cumulatos indicent.
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: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings. “Brutus” and “Caesar”: what should be in that “Caesar”? 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 ’em, “Brutus” will start a spirit as soon as “Caesar.” Now in the names of all the gods at once, Upon what meat doth this our Caesar 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 Th’ eternal devil to keep his state in Rome, As easily as a king!
_Cass._--Quid mirum, mi bone! Ille, veluti colossus alter, orbem hunc angustum, divaricatis cruribus, superstat; et nos, pusilli, nanique, subter hujus ingentia crura repimus, timide circumspicientes, modo liceat sepulcra, etiamsi inhonesta sint, nobismet reperire. Quid tamen! singulo nos nostrae ipsorum fortunae aliquando imperamus. Non astra, mi Brute, sed nosmet ipsi inculpandi, si inferiores existimus. "Brutus," "Caesar:" quid nimirum in isto "Caesare?" Cur nomen hoc magis quam illud per aures hominum resonet? Ambo simul inscribas; tuum non minus decorum est; ambo voce pronuntientur; tuum non minus ora hominum complet; ambo expendas; tuum non minus grave est; ambobus ad manes evocandos utaris; Bruti nomini non minus quam Caesaris manes obsequentur.Nunc, per Deos omnes et singulos, quali cibo nutritus est hic noster Caesar ut in tantum creverit? Aetas nostra, tui te pudeat! O Roma, illustrium virorum stirpe orbata es! Quando enim praeteriit aetas ulla post Deucalionem, quae uno solo, quantumvis eximio, viro inclaruerit? Quando ante haec nostra tempora, quisquam, de Roma sermonem habens, dicere potuisset, ingentem ejus ambitum uni soli sufficere? Haec Roma nostra profecto eadem videtur; et Romae abunde loci est, quae unum tantummodo virum in se hodie complectatur. Proh pudor! ego et tu, Brute, a patribus nostris accepimus quemdam olim fuisse Brutum qui κακοὺς quos δαiμονας pompam regni Romae ostentare non minus quam Regem pertulisset.
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, 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.
_Brut._--Amori tuo, Cassi, nunquam diffisus sum. Quid istud sit ad quod me provocatum velis partim suspicor. Quid autem, et de hac re, et de his temporibus ipse jamdudum cogitaverim, postea tibi explicabo. In praesenti, obsecro te, per amorem nostrum, ne mihi amplius instes. Quae jam locutus es, perpendam; quae postea locuturus sis, patienter audiam: et tempus inveniam aptum et ad audiendum, et ad, ut in re tam gravi, respondendum. Interea, mi Cassi, hanc meam sententiam rumineris velim: Brutum malle paganum esse, quam sub horum temporum conditionibus, praesentibus futurisque, se civem Romanum inscribere.
CASSIUS. I am glad that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.
_Cass._--Gaudeo me, tenui sermone licet, scintillam, vel tantulam, ex Bruto excudisse.
Enter Caesar and his Train.
[_Redit_ CAeSAR _cum suis_
BRUTUS. The games are done, and Caesar is returning.
_Brut._--Transacti ludi sunt: redit Caesar.
CASSIUS. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve, And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you What hath proceeded worthy note today.
_Cass._--Cascae praetereuntis manicam velle: ille, acri more suo, nobis, si quid hodie momenti acciderit, narrabit.
BRUTUS. I will do so. But, look you, Cassius, The angry spot doth glow on Caesar’s brow, And all the rest look like a chidden train: Calphurnia’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.
_Brut._--Faciam:--sed animadverte, Cassi--quae in Caesaris fronte iratae ferveant maculae! qui aliis omnibus demissi et castigati vultus! Pallet Calpurniae gena; et Cicero oculis mustelinis igneisque intuetur, uti in Capitolio solet, si aliquando Senatores illi male obtemperaverint.
CASSIUS. Casca will tell us what the matter is.
_Cass._--Casca quid sit nos certos faciet.
CAESAR. Antonius.
_Caes._--Antoni.
ANTONY. Caesar?
_Ant._--Quid jubes, Caesar?
CAESAR. Let me have men about me that are fat, Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep a-nights: Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
_Caes._--Qui mihi astant, Antoni, obesi sint; bene curata cute; qui noctem edormiunt. Cassius iste aspectu macro nimis aridoque est. Cogitat nimis. Tales cavendi sunt.
ANTONY. Fear him not, Caesar; he’s not dangerous; He is a noble Roman and well given.
_Ant._--Ne illum metuas, Caesar; non est ille cavendus; bene natus est, optime affectus.
CAESAR. 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 mov’d to smile at anything. 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 Caesar. Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf, And tell me truly what thou think’st of him.
_Caes._--Utinam pinguior esset:--nihil metuo tamen: sin autem Caesaris nomini aliquid cum formidine commune esset, neminem novi quem aeque vitandum judicarem, ac macrum istum Cassium. Multa legit; notat multa; acta hominum usque ad imum perspicit; ludos non, ut tu, Antoni, frequentat; musicam fastidit; raro faciem in risum relaxat; aut si unquam riserit, id quasi seipsum irridens facit, et sui animi contemptu, qui ad hoc ullomodo moveri possit. Tales semper aegre ferunt, si quando alium sibi ipsis superiorem animadverterint: idcirco imprimis cavendi sunt. Quod vulgo metuendum est, non quod ego metuo, tibi ostendo; ego enim Caesar. Sed veni in dextram, altera enim aure surdior sum, et dic mihi quid de illo vere censeas.
[_Exeunt Caesar and his Train. Casca stays._]
[_Exit_ CAeSAR _cum suis--manet_ CASCA.
CASCA. You pull’d me by the cloak; would you speak with me?
_Casc._--Togam meam, Brute, vellebas; visne aliquid loqui?
BRUTUS. Ay, Casca, tell us what hath chanc’d today, That Caesar looks so sad.
_Brut._--Immo, Casca; dic nobis quid hodie acciderit ut Caesar aspectum adeo tristem et severum ferat.
CASCA. Why, you were with him, were you not?
_Casc._--Quid? Nonne et tu cum eo eras?
BRUTUS. I should not then ask Casca what had chanc’d.
_Brut._--Si cum eo fuissem, quid istud fuerit non a Casca peterem.
CASCA. Why, there was a crown offer’d him; and being offer’d him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a-shouting.
_Casc._--Diadema nempe illi oblatum erat: oblatumque ille, versa manu, ad hunc morem dimovit; plebs statim acclamavit.
BRUTUS. What was the second noise for?
_Brut._--Cur autem iterum plausus iste?
CASCA. Why, for that too.
_Casc._--Propter idem.
CASSIUS. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for?
_Cass._--Ter plaudebant; quid tertius iste clamor?
CASCA. Why, for that too.
_Casc._--Propter idem.
BRUTUS. Was the crown offer’d him thrice?
_Brut._--Num igitur ter oblatum erat diadema?
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.
_Casc._--Scilicet, ter; et ille ter repudiavit; sed lentius lentiusque; plebs autem simplex et ingenua in singulam quamque vicem vehementius plaudebant.
CASSIUS. Who offer’d him the crown?
_Cass._--Quis illi diadema obtulit?
CASCA. Why, Antony.
_Casc._--Quis nisi Antonius?
BRUTUS. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.
_Brut._--Rem totam nobis, optime, enarra.
CASCA. I can as well be hang’d, 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 refus’d it, the rabblement hooted, and clapp’d their chopt hands, and threw up their sweaty night-caps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Caesar refus’d the crown, that it had, almost, choked Caesar, 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.
_Casc._--Peream, si potero. Merae ineptiae erant. Vix notabam. Vidi tamen M. Antonium diadema illi offerre;--nec tamen diadema, corollam potius talem qualem--et, ut antea dixi, ille eam pro hac vice dimovit. Nihilominus tamen, ut opinor, eam desiderabat. Tum iterum obtulit Antonius; dimovit iterum Caesar: sed, me judice, ut manus abstineret vix sibi persuasit. Tum tertio obtulit; ille tertio dimovit. In unamquamque vicem ululabat turba, scabris manibus plaudebat, pileos sordidos sursum jactabat, tantumque male olentis halitus emittebat, eo quod Caesar corollam rejiceret, ut Magnus ille pene suffocaretur: ibi enim animo defecit, et succubuit: equidem, quod meum erat, non ausus sum ridere, ne, ore aperto, faedum et ipse halitum foedum perciperem.
CASSIUS. But, soft! I pray you. What, did Caesar swoon?
_Cass._--Verumne dicis, Caesarem animo defecisse?
CASCA. He fell down in the market-place, and foam’d at mouth, and was speechless.
_Casc._--In ipso Foro collapsus est, mutus, spumamque ex faucibus edens.
BRUTUS. ’Tis very like: he hath the falling-sickness.
_Brut._--Morbo, fortasse, comitiali captus est.
CASSIUS. No, Caesar hath it not; but you, and I, And honest Casca, we have the falling-sickness.
_Cass._--Non isto morbo Caesar; sed tu, Brute, et ego, et bonus hic noster Casca, illo laboramus.
CASCA. I know not what you mean by that; but I am sure Caesar 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.
_Casc._--Quid vis hercle non intelligo. Caesarem collapsum certo scio. Et per fidem meam faex ista populi ei plaudebat, et sibilabat, prout ille placebat aut displicebat, tanquam quivis actor esset.
BRUTUS. What said he when he came unto himself?
_Brut._--Quid vero dixit, quando in se rediit?
CASCA. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he pluck’d me ope his doublet, and offer’d them his throat to cut. And 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 anything amiss, he desir’d 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 Caesar had stabb’d their mothers, they would have done no less.
_Casc._--Prius nimirum quam defecit, simul ac percepit vulgus laetatum esse quod ille corollam rejiceret, tunicam divellit, et guttur feriendum obtulit. (Quodsi ex eo grege unus fuissem, meum sit cum damnatis posthac in Erebo versari, si non illico percusissem.) Deinde collapsus est; et quando sui compos factus est, supplicabat istos praestantissimos suos, ut, si quid male fecisset aut dixisset, morbum, non ipsum, in culpa haberent. Paucae quaedam mulierculae, quae mihi adstabant, 'O hominem miserandum' clamaverunt, et illi ex imo pectore condonaverunt. Sed quid vis? Istae Caesari non minus condonassent, etiamsi matres earum trucidasset.
BRUTUS. And, after that, he came thus sad away?
_Brut._--Deinde tristis, uti vidimus, rediit.
CASCA. Ay.
_Casc._--Scilicet.
CASSIUS. Did Cicero say anything?
_Cass._--Annon Cicero locutus est?
CASCA. Ay, he spoke Greek.
_Casc._--Immo, Graece aliquid.
CASSIUS. To what effect?
_Cass._--Quanam, obsecro te, sententia?
CASCA. Nay, and I tell you that, I’ll ne’er look you i’ the face again. But those that understood him smil’d 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 Caesar’s images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it.
_Casc._--Per oculos, interpretari nequo! Qui intelligebant inter se ridebant, et capite annuebant: mihi certe Graecum quoddam erat. Jam vero aliud novi est quod vobis dictum velim. Marullus Flaviusque, ausi Caesaris imaginibus ornatus detrahere in carcerem ducti sunt. Valeatis. Plus ineptiarum erat quarum vix satis memini.
CASSIUS. Will you sup with me tonight, Casca?
_Cass._--Caenamne hac nocte mecum, Casca?
CASCA. No, I am promis’d forth.
_Casc._--Nequeo, alibi jussus sum.
CASSIUS. Will you dine with me tomorrow?
_Cass._--Prandiumne cras?
CASCA. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth the eating.
_Casc._--Immo, si vivus ego, et tu eadem mente, et prandium gula dignum.
CASSIUS. Good. I will expect you.
_Cass._--Te expectabo.
CASCA. Do so; farewell both.
_Casc._--Bene est. Valeatis ambo.
[_Exit Casca._]
[_Exit_ CASCA.
BRUTUS. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be! He was quick mettle when he went to school.
_Brut._--Obtusior sane hic noster factus est: apud scholam prompto eum ingenio memini.
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.
_Cass._--Atque adhuc promptus ad agendam rem aliquam gravem et honestam, etiamsi hunc obtusum morem prae se ferat. Asperitatem illam in sermonibus pro condimento uti solet, ut eorum major sit appetentia.
BRUTUS. And so it is. For this time I will leave you: Tomorrow, 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.
_Brut._--Ita credo. Jam te relinquo: cras, si vis mecum loqui, aut ego ad te, aut tu ad me; ego domi manebo.
CASSIUS. I will do so: till then, think of the world.
_Cass._--Veniam ego. Valeas interim: de statu nostro mediteris.
[_Exit Brutus._]
[_Exit_ BRUTUS.
Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet I see, Thy honourable metal may be wrought From that it is dispos’d: therefore ’tis meet That noble minds keep ever with their likes; For who so firm that cannot be seduc’d? Caesar doth bear me hard, but he loves Brutus. If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius, He should not humour me. I will this night, In several hands, in at his windows throw, As if they came from several citizens, Writings, all tending to the great opinion That Rome holds of his name; wherein obscurely Caesar’s ambition shall be glanced at. And after this, let Caesar seat him sure, For we will shake him, or worse days endure.
Brutus ille vir profecto nobilis: accidit tamen ut metallum, quamvis generosum, in pejus cudi possit. Quam convenit ergo probos cum probis semper versari! Quis enim ita constans ut omnes illecebras aspernari queat? Caesar me aversatur; Brutum amat: quod si ego Brutus essem, et Brutus Cassius, Cassius non Brutum immutaret. Hac nocte scripta quaedam in Bruti fenestras injiciam, varia manu, ut plurium esse videantur, quae quanti eum Roma aestimet declarabunt, et quae sit Caesaris ambitio tectius indicabunt. Tunc cavet Caesar; eum enim vel summovebimus, vel in pejus ipsi ruemus.