Julius Caesar Page #2

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and therefore is he 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.

Casca!

- Would you speak with me?

- Ay, Casca.

tell us what hath chanced today, that Caesar looks so sad.

Why, there was a crown offered him.

and being offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand,

thus.

What was the second noise for?

Why, for that too.

They shouted thrice.

What was the last cry for?

Why, for that too.

Was the crown offered him thrice?

Ay, marry, was't,

and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other,

and at every putting-by mine honest neighbours shouted.

- Who offered him the crown?

- Why, Antony.

Tell us the manner of it, gentle 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 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 3rd time.

he put it the 3rd time by. Still as he refused it,

the rabblement hooted and clapped their chapped hands and threw up their sweaty night-caps

and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Caesar refused the crown

that it had almost choked Caesar, for he swounded and fell down at it.

But, soft, I pray you:

what, did Caesar swound?

He fell down in the market- place, and foamed at mouth, and was speechless.

'Tis very like:
he hath the falling sickness.

Caesar hath it not.

But you and I, and honest Casca,

we have the falling sickness..

I know not what you mean by that. but he fell down,

when he perceived the common herd was glad he refused the crown,

he offered them his throat to cut.

And so he fell.

3 or 4 wenches, where I stood, cried

'Alas, good soul!'...

and forgave him with all their hearts.

There's no heed to be taken of them; if Caesar had stabbed their mothers, they would have done no less.

- And after that, he came, thus sad, away?

- Ay.

Did Cicero say any thing?

Ay, he spoke Greek.

- To what effect?

- 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.

Will you sup with me tonight, Casca?

No, I am promised forth.

- Will you dine with me tomorrow?

- Ay, if I be alive

and your mind hold and your dinner worth the eating.

Good:
I will expect you.

Do so. Farewell,

both.

Till then,

think of the world.

And after this

let Caesar seat him sure.

For we will shake him,

or worse days endure.

Who's there?

A Roman.

Cassius.

what night is this!

Who ever knew the heavens menace so?

Those that have known the earth so full of faults.

Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man most like this dreadful night,

A man no mightier than thyself or me

in personal action,

yet prodigious grown

and fearful, as these strange eruptions are.

'Tis Caesar that you mean.

Is it not, Cassius?

Let it be who it is.

Indeed, they say the senators tomorrow mean to establish Caesar as a king.

And he shall wear his crown by sea and land, in every place,

save here in Italy.

I know where I will wear this dagger then.

Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius.

If I know this, know all the world besides,

that part of tyranny that I do bear I can shake off at pleasure.

So can I!

So every bondman in his own hand bears the power to cancel his captivity.

And why should Caesar be a tyrant then?

What trash is Rome?

What rubbish and what offal, when it serves for the base matter to illuminate so vile a thing as Caesar!

But,

O grief, where hast thou led me?

I perhaps speak this Before a willing bondman.

You speak to Casca,

and to such a man that is no fleering tell-tale.

Hold,

my hand.

Be factious for redress of all these griefs,

And I will set this foot of mine as far as who goes farthest.

There's a bargain made.

Now know you, Casca,

I have moved already some certain of the noblest- minded Romans

to undergo with me an enterprise of honourable-

dangerous consequence.

Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste.

Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait. He is a friend.

Cinna!...

- Where haste you so?

- To find out you.

Who's that? Metellus Cimber?

No, it is Casca;

one incorporate to our attempts.

I am glad on 't.

What a fearful night is this!

There's two or three of us have seen strange sights.

- Am I not stay'd for? tell me.

- Yes, you are.

O Cassius, if you could but win the noble Brutus to our party--

Be you content.

Good Cinna,

take this paper,

and look you lay it in the praetor's chair, where Brutus may but find it

and throw this in at his window.

set this up with wax upon old Brutus' statue

all this done, repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us.

- I will hie. And so bestow these papers as you bade me.

- Do so.

Come, Casca,

you and I will yet ere day See Brutus at his house.

three parts of him is ours already,

and the man entire upon the next encounter yields him ours.

It must be by his death!

And for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him.

He would be crown'd.

How that might change his nature, there's the question.

It is the bright day that brings forth the adder

and that craves wary walking.

The taper burneth in your closet, sir.

Searching the window for a flint, I found this paper, thus seal'd up.

And, I am sure, it did not lie there when I went to bed.

Get you to bed again; it is not day.

Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March?

I know not, sir.

'Brutus, thou sleep'st.

Awake, and see thyself.

Shall Rome stand under one man's awe?"

What?

Rome?

'Speak,

strike,

redress!'

O Rome, I make thee promise.

Thou shall receive thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!

They are the faction.

O conspiracy!

I think we are too bold upon your rest:.

Good morrow, Brutus.

Do we trouble you?

I have been up this hour, awake all night.

Know I these men that come along with you?

Yes, every man of them.

and no man here but honours you.

And every one doth wish you had but that opinion of yourself

which every noble Roman bears of you.

This is Trebonius.

He is welcome hither.

This, Decius Brutus.

He is welcome too.

This, Casca.

This, Cinna.

And this, Metellus Cimber.

They are all welcome.

Shall I entreat a word?

Here lies the east.

Doth not the day break here?

No.

O, pardon, sir, it doth.

And yon gray lines that fret the clouds are messengers of day.

You shall confess that you are both deceived.

Here, as I point my sword,

the sun arises.

Give me your hands all over, one by one.

- And let us swear our resolution.

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