But in ourselves, that we are underlings." Brutus and Cæsar: what should be in that 'Cæsar'? O, you and I have heard our fathers say, Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous ; 160 159. a Brutus once, Lucius Junius Brutus, who caused the expulsion of the last kings of Rome. 160. eternal (used as an expletive), 'infernal.' Both meet to hear and answer such high things. 170 Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this: Brutus had rather be a villager Than to repute himself a son of Rome Cas. I am glad that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. Bru. The games are done and Cæsar is re- Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve; Re-enter CESAR and his Train. Bru. I will do so. But, look you, Cassius, Ant. Cæsar ? Cæs. 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. Ant. Fear him not, Cæsar; he's not dangerous; He is a noble Roman and well given. Cas. Would he were fatter! But I fear him not: Yet if my name were liable to fear, 180 190 193. Sleek-headed; an excel- fact smooth-combed' (p. 180). 197. well given, well disposed. lent variant for North's matter-of I do not know the man I should avoid He reads much; He is a great observer and he looks Quite through the deeds of men; he loves no plays, [Sennet. Casca. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me? Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanced to-day, That Cæsar looks so sad. Casca. Why, you were with him, were you not? Bru. I should not then ask Casca what had chanced. 200 210 Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him: 220 and being offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell ashouting. Bru. What was the second noise for? Casca. Why, for that too. Cas. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for ? Casca. Why, for that too. Bru. Was the crown offered him thrice? 226. They shouted thrice; in Plutarch the offer was made twice. Casca. Ay, marry, was 't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other, and at 230 every putting-by mine honest neighbours shouted. Cas. Who offered him the crown? Casca. Why, Antony. Bru. 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 240 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 hooted and clapped their chopped hands and threw up their sweaty night-caps 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. : Cas. But, soft, I pray you: what, did Cæsar swound? Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and feamed at mouth, and was speechless. Bru. 'Tis very like: he hath the falling sickness. Cas. No, Cæsar hath it not; but you and I And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness. Casca. I know not what you mean by that; but, I am sure, Cæsar fell down. 250 If the tag-rag 260 people did not clap him and hiss him, according joy. 245. hooted, shouted with 246. chopped, chapped. as he pleased and displeased them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no true man. Bru. 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 would not have taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell among 270 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. Bru. And after that, he came, thus sad, away? Cas. Did Cicero say any thing? Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek. Cas. To what effect? 280 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 290 foolery yet, if I could remember it. Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca? Casca. No, I am promised forth. Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow? Casca. Ay, if I be alive and your mind hold and your dinner worth the eating. 268. a man of any occupation, of any trade; a mechanic. |