Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night That part of tyranny that I do bear,
is this?

I can shake off at pleasure.
Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men. Casca. So can I;
Casca. Who ever knew the heavens menace so? So every bondman in his own hand bears
Cas. Those, that have known the earth so The power to cancel his captivity.
full of faults.

Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then? For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, Poor man! I know, he would not be a wolf, Submitting me unto the perilous night; But that he sees the Romans are but sheep: And, thus unbraced, Casca, as you see,

He were no lion, were not Romans hinds. Have bar'd my bosom to the thunder-stone: Those that with haste will make a mighty fire, And, when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open Begin it with weak straws: What trash is Rome, The breast of heaven, I did present myself What rubbish, and what offal, when it serves Even in the aim and very flash of it.

For the base matter to illuminate Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt So vile a thing as Cæsar ? But, O grief ! the heavens ?

Where hast thou led me? I, perhaps, speak this It is the part of men to fear and tremble, Before a willing bondman : then I know When the most mighty gods, by tokens, send My answer must be made : But I am arm'd, Such dreadful heralds to astonish us.

And dangers are to me indifferent. Cas. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks Casca. You speak to Casca, and to such a man, of life

That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold my hand : That should be in a Roman, you do want, Be factious for redress of all these griefs; Or else you use not : You look pale, and gaze, And I will set this foot of mine as far, And put on fear, and cast yourself in wonder, As who

goes farthest. To see the strange impatience of the heavens: Cas. There's a bargain made. But if you would consider the true cause, Now know you, Casca, I have mov'd already Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts, Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans Why birds, and beasts, from quality and kind; To undergo with me an enterprize Why old men, fools, and children calculate ; Of honourable-dangerous consequence; Why all these things change, from their ordi- And I do know, by this, they stay for me nance,

In Pompey's porch : For now, this fearful night, Their natures, and pre-formed faculties, There is no stir, or walking in the streets; To monstrous quality ; why, you shall find, And the complexion of the element That heaven hath infus'd them with these spirits, is favour’d, like the work we have in hand, To make them instruments of fear, and warning, Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible. Unto some monstrous state. Now could I, Casca, Name to thee a man most like this dreadful night;

Enter Cinna. That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one As doth the lion in the Capitol:

in haste. A man no mightier than thyself, or me,

Cas. 'Tis Cinna, I do know him by his gait; In personal action; yet prodigious grown, He is a friend.-Cinna, where haste you so ? And fearful, as these strange eruptions are. Cin. To find out you: Who's that? MetelCasca. 'Tis Cæsar that you mean : Is it not,

lus Cimber? Cassius?

Cas. No, it is Casca ; one incorporate Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now To our attempts. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Have thewes and limbs like to their ancestors ; Cin. I am glad on't. What a fearful night is But, woe the while! our fathers' minds are dead, this? And we are govern'd with our mothers' spirits; There'stwo or three of us have seen strange sights. Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish. Cas. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Tell me.

Casca. Indeed, they say, the senators to-morrow Cin. Yes, Mean to establish Cæsar as a king:

0, Cassius, if you could but win And he shall wear his crown by sea, and land, The noble Brutus to our partyIn every place, save here in Italy.

Cas. Be you content: Good Cinna, take this Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then; paper, Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius : And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, Therein, yegods, you make the weak most strong; Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat: In at his window : set this up with wax Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass, Upon old Brutus' statue: all this done, Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall findus. Can be retentive to the strength of spirit; Is Decius Brutus, and Trebonius, there? But life, being weary of these worldly bars, Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone Never lacks power to dismiss itself.

To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie, If I know this, know all the world besides, And so bestow these papers as you bade me.

a

You are.

Cas. That done, repair to Pompey's theatre. His countenance, like richest alchymy,

[Erit Cinna. Will change to virtue, and to worthiness. Come, Casca, you and I will, yet, ere day, Cas. Him, and his worth, and our great need See Brutus at his house : three parts of him

of him, Is ours already ; and the man entire,

You have right well conceited. Let us go, Upon the next encounter, yields him ours. For it is after midnight ; and, ere day,

Casca. 0, he sits high in all the people's hearts; We will awake him, and be sure of him.
And that, which would appear offence in us,

[Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I.-The same. BRUTUS's Orchard.

Re-enter LUCIUS.
Enter BRUTUS.

Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, sir. Bru. What, Lucius! ho !

Searching the window for a flint, I found I cannot, by the progress of the stars,

This paper, thus seald up; and, I am sure, Give guess how near to day.-Lucius, I say !- It did not lie there, when I went to bed. I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.- Bru. Get you to bed again, it is not day, When, Lucius, when? Awake, I say: What, Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March? Lucius!

Luc. I know not, sir.

Bru. Look in the calendar, and bring me word.
Enter Lucius.
Luc. I will, sir.

[Erit. Lauc. Call'd you, my lord ?

Bru. The exhalations, whizzing in the air, Bru. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius : Give so much light, that I may read by them.

I When it is lighted, come and call me here.

[Opens the letter, and reads. Luc. I will, my lord.

[Exit. Brutus, thou sleep'st; awake, and see thyself. Bru. It must be by his death : and, for my part, Shall Rome, &c. Speak, strike, redress ! I know no personal cause to spurn at him, Brutus, thou sleep'st; awake, But for the general. He would be crown'd:- Such instigations have been often dropp'd How that might change his nature, there's the Where I have took them up. question.

Shall Rome, &c. Thus must I piece it out;
It is the bright day, that brings forth the adder; Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What!
And that craves wary walking. Crown him?

Rome?
That

My ancestors did from the streets of Rome
And then, I grant, we put a sting in him, The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king.
That at his will he may do danger with. Speak, strike, redress !

-Am I entreated then
The abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins To speak, and strike ? O Rome! I make thee
Remorse from power : And, to speak truth of promise,
Cæsar,

If the redress will follow, thou receivest
I have not known when his affections sway'd Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus !
More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof,
That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,

Re-enter Lucius.
Whereto the climber-upward turns his face:
But when he once attains the upmost round, Luc. Sir, March is wasted fourteen days.
He then unto the ladder turns his back,

[Knock within. Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate ; somebody By which he did ascend : So Cæsar may;

knocks.

[Exit Lucius. Then, lest be may, prevent. And, since the Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar, quarrel

I have not slept. Will bear no colour for the thing he is, Between the acting of a dreadful thing Fashion it thus ; that what he is, augmented, And the first motion, all the interim is Would run to these, and these extremities : Like a phantasma, or a hideous dream : And therefore think him as a serpent's egg, The genius, and the mortal instruments, Which, hatch’d, would, as his kind, grow mis- Are then in council ; and the state of man, chievous ;

Like to a little kingdom, suffers then And kill him in the shell.

The nature of an insurrection,

their ears,

Bru. No, not an oath : If not the face of men, Re-enter Lucius.

The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse,Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, If these be motives weak, break off betimes, Who doth desire to see you.

And every man hence to his idle bed; Bru. Is he alone?

So let high-sighted tyranny range on, Luc. No, sir, there are more with him. Till each man drop by lottery. But if these, Bru. Do you know them?

As I am sure they do, bear fire enough Luc. No, sir ; their hats are pluck'd about To kindle cowards, and to steel with valour

The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen, And half their faces buried in their cloaks, What need we any spur, but our own cause, That by no means I may discover them To prick us to redress ? what other bond, By any mark of favour.

Than secret Romans, that have spoke the word, Bru. Let them enter. [Erit Lucius. And will not palter? and what other oath, They are the faction. O conspiracy !

Than honesty to honesty engag’d, Sham’st thou to show thy dangerous brow by That this shall be, or we will fall for it? night,

Swear priests, and cowards, and men cautelous, When evils are most free? O, then, by day, Old feeble carrions, and such suffering souls Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough That welcome wrongs ; unto bad causes swear To mask thy monstrous visage ? Seek none, con- Such creatures as men doubt: but do not stain spiracy;

The even virtue of our enterprize, Hide it in smiles, and affability :

Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits, For if thou path, thy native semblance on, To think, that, or our cause, or our performance, Not Erebus itself were dim enough

Did need an oath ; when every drop of blood, To hide thee from prevention.

That every Roman bears, and nobly bears,

Is guilty of a several bastardy, Enter Cassius, Casca, Decius, Cinna, ME- If he do break the smallest particle TELLUS CIMBER, and TREBONIUS.

Of any promise that hath pass'd from him. Cas. I think we are too bold upon your rest : Cas. But what of Cicero. Shall we sound him? Good-morrow, Brutus; Do we trouble you? I think he will stand very strong with us. Bru. I have been up this hour; awake, all Casca. Let us not leave him out. night.

Cin. No, by no means. Know I these men, that come along with you? Met. O let us have him ; for his silver hairs Cas. Yes, every man of them; and no man Will purchase us a good opinion, here,

And buy men's voices to commend our deeds: But honours you: and every one doth wish, It shall be said, his judgment ruld our hands; You had but that opinion of yourself,

Our youths, and wildness, shall no whit appear, Which every noble Roman bears of you. But all be buried in his gravity. This is Trebonius.

Bru. O, name him not ; let us not break with Bru. He is welcome hither.

him ; Cas. This Decius Brutus.

For he will never follow any thing Bru. He is welcome too.

That other men begin. Cas. This, Casca; this, Cinna;

Cas. Then leave him out. * And this, Metellus Cimber.

Casca. Indeed, he is not fit. Bru. They are all welcome.

Dec. Shall no man else be touch’d, but only What watchful cares do interpose themselves

Cæsar? Betwixt your eyes and night?

Cas. Decius, well urg'd:- I think it is not meet, Cas. Shall I entreat a word ? [They whisper. Mark Antony, so well belov'd of Cæsar, Dec. Here lies the east: Doth not the day Should outlive Cæsar : We shall find of him break here?

A shrewd contriver ; and, you know, his means, Casca. No.

If he improve them, may well stretch so far, Cin. O, pardon, sir, it doth ; and yon grey lines, As to annoy us all : which to prevent, That fret the clouds, are messengers of day; Let Antony, and Cæsar, fall together. Casca. You shall confess, that you are both Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius deceiv'd.

Cassius, Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises ; To cut the head off, and then hack the limbs; Which is a great way growing on the south, Like wrath in death, and envy afterwards: Weighing the youthful season of the year. For Antony is but a limb of Cæsar. Some two months hence, up higher toward the Let us be sacrificers, but no butchers, Caius. north,

We all stand up against the spirit of Cæsar ; He first presents his fire; and the high east And in the spirit of men there is no blood : Stands, as the Capitol, directly here.

O, that we then could come by Cæsar's spirit, Bru. Give ine your hands all over, one by one. And not dismember Cæsar ! But, alas, Cas. And let us swear our resolution. Cæsar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends.

you now?

Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; But bear it as our Roman actors do,
Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods, With untir'd spirits, and formal constancy:
Not hew him as a carcase fit for hounds: And so, good-morrow to you every one.
And let our hearts, as subtle masters do,

[Exeunt all but Brutus.
Stir up their servants to an act of rage, Boy! Lucius !--Fast asleep? It is no matter ;
And after seem to chide them. This shall make Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber :
Our purpose necessary, and not envious: Thou hast no figures, nor no fantasies,
Which so appearing to the common eyes, Which busy care draws in the brains of men ;
We shall be callid purgers, not murderers. Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.
And for Mark Antony, think not of him;
For he can do no more than Cæsar's arm,

Enter PORTIA. When Cæsar's head is off.

Por. Brutus, my lord ! Cas. Yet I do fear him:

Bru. Portia, what mean you? Wherefore rise For in the ingrafted love he bears to Cæsar,

Bru. Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him: It is not for your health, thus to commit If he love Cæsar, all that he can do

Your weak condition to the raw-cold morning. Is to himself; take thought, and die for Cæsar : Por. Nor for yours neither. You have unAnd that were much he should; for he is given gently, Brutus, To sports, to wildness, and much company. Stole from my bed : And yesternight, at supper, Treb. There is no fear in him ; let him not You suddenly arose, and walk'd about, die ;

Musing, and sighing, with your arms across : For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter. And, when I ask'd you what the matter was,

[Clock strikes. You star'd upon me with ungentle looks : Bru. Peace, count the clock.

I urg'd you further ; then you scratch'd your Cas. The clock hath stricken three.

head, Treb. 'Tis time to part.

And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot : Cas. But it is doubtful yet,

Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not ; Whe'r Cæsar will come forth to-day, or no : But, with an angry wafture of your hand, For he is superstitious grown of late ;

Gave sign for me to leave you: So I did;
Quite from the main opinion he held once Fearing to strengthen that impatience,
Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies:

Which seem'd too much enkindled ; and withal, It may be, these apparent prodigies,

Hoping it was but an effect of humour, The unaccustom'd terror of this night,

Which sometime hath his hour with every man. And the persuasion of his augurers,

It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep; May hold him from the Capitol to-ılay. And, could it work so much upon your shape,

Dec. Never fear that: If he be so resolv’d, As it hath much prevaild on your condition, I can o'ersway him: for he loves to hear, I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord, That unicorns may be betray'd with trees, Make me acquainted with your cause of grief. And bears with glasses, elephants with holes, Bru. I am not well in liealth, and that is all. Lions with toils, and men with Matterers: Por. Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health, But, when I tell him, he hates flatterers, He would embrace the means to come by it. He says, he does ; being then most flattered. Bru. Why, so I do :-Good Portia, go to bed. Let me work:

Por. Is Brutus sick ? and is it physical For I can give his humour the true bent; To walk unbraced, and suck up the humours And I will bring him to the Capitol.

Of the dank morning ? What, is Brutus sick; l'us. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch And will he steal out of his wholesome bed, him.

To dare the vile contagion of the night? Eru. By the eighth hour: Isthat theuttermost? And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air Cin. Be that the uttermost, and fail not then. To add unto his sickness ? No, my Brutus; Met. Caius Ligarius doth bear Cæsar hard, You have some sick offence within your mind, Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey; Which, by the right and virtue of my place, I wonder, none of you have thought of him. I ought to know of: And upon my knees

Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along by him : I charm you, by my once commended beauty, He loves me well, and I have given him reasons ; | By all your vows of love, and that great vow Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him. Which did incorporate and make us one, Cas. The morning comes upon us: We'll That you unfold to me, yourself, your balf, leave you, Brutus :

Why you are heavy; and what men to-night And, friends, disperse yourselves : but all re- Have had resort to you: for here have been member

Some six or seven, who did hide their faces What you have said, and show yourselves true Even from darkness. Romans.

Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia. Bru. Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily Por. I should not need, if you were gentle Let not our looks put on our purposes ;

Brutus.

to

Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, I shall unfold to thee, as we are going,
Is it excepted, I should know no secrets To whom it must be done.
That appertain to you? Am I yourself,

Lig. Set on your foot ;
But, as it were, in sort, or limitation ;

And, with a heart new-fir'd, I follow you, To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, To do I know not what: but it sufficeth, And talk to you sometimes ? Dwell I but in the That Brutus leads me on. suburbs

Bru. Follow me then.

[Exeunt. Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.

SCENE II.-The same. Aroom in Cæsar's palace. Bru. You are my true and honourable wife ; Thunder and lightning. Enter Cæsar, in his As dear to me, as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart.

night-gown. Por. If this were true, then should I know Cæs. Nor heaven, nor earth, have been at peace this secret.

to-night: I grant, I am a woman ; but, withal,

Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, A woman that lord Brutus took to wife:

Help, ho! They murder Cæsar. Who's within? I grant, I am a woman : but, withal,

Enter a Servant.
A woman well-reputed ; Cato's daughter.
Think you, I am no stronger than my sex, Serv. My lord ?
Being so father’d, and so husbanded

Cæs. Go'bid the priests do present sacrifice,
Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose them: And bring me their opinions of success.
I have made strong proof of my constancy, Serv. I will, my lord.

[Erit. Giving myself a voluntary wound Here, in the thigh: Can I bear that with patience,

Enter CALPHURNIA. And not my husband's secrets ?

Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? Think you Bru. O ye gods,

walk forth? Render me worthy of this noble wife!

You shall not stir out of your house to-day.

[Knocking within. Cæs. Cæsar shall forth : The things, that Hark, hark ! one knocks : Portia, go in a while; threaten’d me, And by and by thy bosom shall partake Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see The secrets of my heart.

The face of Cæsar, they are vanished. All my engagements I will construe to thee, Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, All the charactery of my sad brows :

Yet now they fright me. There is one within, Leave me with haste.

[Exit Portia. Besides the things that we have heard and seen,

Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. Enter Lucius and LIGARIUS.

A lioness hath whelped in the streets ; Lucius, who is that, knocks?

And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their Luc. Here is a sick man, that would speak dead :

Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds, Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of.- In ranks, and squadrons, and right form of war, Boy, stand aside.--Caius Ligarius ! how ? Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol : Lig. Vouchsafe good-morrow from a feeble The noise of battle hurtled in the air, tongue.

Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan ; Bru. 0, what a time have you chose out, Andghosts did shriek, and squealabout the streets. brave Caius,

O Cæsar ! these things are beyond all use, To wear a kerchief? 'Would you were not sick! And I do fear them.

Lig. I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand Cæs. What can be avoided, Any exploit worthy the name of honour. Whose end is purpos’d by the mighty gods?

Bru. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Yet Cæsar shall go forth: for these predictions Had you a healthful ear to hear of it.

Are to the world in general, as to Cæsar. Lig. By all the gods, that Romans bow before, Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen; I here discard my sickness. Soul of Rome! The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of Brave son, deriv'd from honourable loins !

princes. Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjur'd up Cæs. Cowards die many times before their deaths; My mortified spirit. Now bid me run, The valiant never taste of death but once. And I will strive with things impossible; Of all the wonders, that I yet have heard, Yea, get the better of them. What's to do? It seems to memost strange, that men should fext; Bru. A piece of work, that will make sick Seeing that death, a necessary end, men whole.

Will come, when it will come. Lig. But are not some whole, that we must make sick ?

Re-enter a Servant. Bru. That must we also. What it is, my Caius, What say the augurers ?

with you.