Assemble all the poor men of your sort;

Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears
Into the channel, till the lowest stream
Do kiss the most exalted shores of all.

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[Exeunt all the Commoners.

See, whether their basest metal° be not moved;
They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness.
Go you down that way towards the Capitol°;
This way will I disrobe the images,°

If you do find them decked with ceremonies.°
Mar. May we do so?

You know it is the feast of Lupercal.°
Flav. It is no matter; let no images

Be hung with Cæsar's trophies. I'll about,
And drive away the vulgar° from the streets:
So do you too, where you perceive them thick.
These growing feathers plucked from Cæsar's wing
Will make him fly an ordinary pitch,°

Who else would soar above the view of men
And keep us all in servile fearfulness.

20

70

[Exeunt.

1

Flourish.

SCENE II. A public place

Enter CESAR; ANTONY, for the course; CALPURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and CASCA; a great crowd following, among them a Soothsayer.

Coes. Stand you directly in Antonius' way, When he doth run his course. Antonius!

Ant. Cæsar, my lord?

Caes. Forget not,° in your speed, Antonius,
To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say,
The barren, touched in this holy chase,
Shake off their sterile curse.

I shall remember:

Ant.
When Cæsar says "do this," it is performed.
Cæs. Set on, and leave no ceremony out.

Sooth. Cæsar!

Caes. Ha! who calls?

[Flourish.

Casca. Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!

Caes. Who is it in the press that calls on me? I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,

Cry "Cæsar!" Speak; Cæsar is turned to hear.
Sooth. Beware the ides of March.°

Cœs.

What man is that?

Bru. A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.

Caes. Set him before me; let me see his face.

20

Cas. Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Cæsar.

Caes. What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.

Sooth. Beware the ides of March.

Cæs. He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.
[Sennet. Exeunt all but BRUTUS and CASSIUS.
Cas. Will you go see the order of the course°?
Bru. Not I.

Cas. I pray you, do.

Bru. 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.

Cas. 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:

30

You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
Over your friend that loves you.

Bru.

Cassius,

Be not deceived: if I have veiled 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.

40

Cas. 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?
Bru. No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself
But by reflection, by some other things.

Cas. 'Tis just:

And it is very much lamented, Brutus,
That you
Your hidden worthiness into your eye,

have no such mirrors as will turn

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60

That you might see your shadow. I have heard°
Where many of the best respect in Rome,
Except immortal Cæsar, speaking of Brutus,
And groaning underneath this age's yoke,
Have wished that noble Brutus had his eyes.
Bru. Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius,
That you would have me seek into myself
For that which is not in me?

Cas. 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.

[Flourish, and shout.

Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear,

people

Choose Cæsar for their king.

70

the