15 Julius Caesar ACT I.sc.

CAESAR
Set him before me. Let me see his face.
CASSIUS

Will you go see the order of the course? 30

BRUTUS Not I.
CASSIUS I pray you, do.
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. 35
I'll leave you.
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 stubbom and too strange a hand 40
Over your friend that loves you.
BRUTUS Cassius,
Be not deceived. If I have veiled my look,
I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myself. Vexed I am 45
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) 50
Fellow, come from the throng. 25 The Soothsayer
comesforward Look upon Caesar.
CAESAR
What sayst thou to me now? Speak once again.
SOOTHSAYER Beware the ides of March.
 He is a dreamer. Let us leave him. Pass.
Sennet. All but Brutus and Cassius exit.

CASSIUS
17 Julius Caesar Acv 1. sc.'
Nor construe any further my neglect
Than that poor Brutus, with himself at
war, Forgets the shows of love to other
men.
CASSIUS
Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion,
By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried
Thoughts ofgreat value, worthy cogitations.
Tell me, good Brutus. can you see your face?
BRUTUS

No, Cassius, for the eye sees not itself

But by reflection, by some other things.
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, 6
Except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus
And groaning underneath this age's yoke.
Have wished that noble Brutus had his eyes.
BRUTUS

Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius,

That you would have me seek into myself 7
For that which is not in me?
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. 75
To stale with ordinary oaths my love
 To every new protester; if you know

That I do fawn on men and hug them hard 80

And after scandal them. or if you know
19 Julius Caesar Acer 1 sc.'

That I profess myself in banqueting

To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.
Flourish and shout.
BRUTUS
What means this shouting? I do fear the people 85
Choose Caesar for their king.
CASSIUS Ay, do you fear it?
Then must I think you would not have it so. BRUTUS
I would not, Cassius, yet I love him well.
But wherefore do you hold me here so long? 90
What is it that you would impart to me?
If it be aught toward the general good,
Set honor in one eye and death i' th' other
And I will look on both indifferently;
For let the gods so speed me as I love 95
The name of honor more than I fear death.
CASSIUS
I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus,
As well as I do know your outward
favor. Well. honor is the subject of my
story.
I cannot tell what you and other men 100
Think of this life; but, for my single self,
I had as lief not be as live to be
 In awe of nich a thing as I myself.
I was bom free as Caesar; so were you;
We both have fed as well, and we can both 105
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 110
And swim to yonder point?" Upon the word,
Accoutered as I was, I plunged in
And bade him follow; so indeed he did.
The torrent roared, and we did buffet it
21 Julius Caesar Acr

With lusty sinews, throwing it aside 115

And stemming it with hearts of
controversy. But ere we could arrive the
point proposed, Caesar cried "Help me,
Cassius, or I sink!" l, as Aeneas. our great
ancestor.
Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder 120
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. 125
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 color fly,
And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world Did 130
lose his luster. 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. You gods, it doth amaze me 135
A man of such a feeble temper should
So get the start of the majestic world
And bear the palm alone.
Shout. Flourish.
BRUTUS Another general shout!
I do believe that these applauses are 140
For some new honors that are heaped on Caesar.
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 dishonorable graves. 145
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.
 Julius Caesar
23 ACT 1. SC.:

"Brutus" and should be in that

"Caesar'? 150
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, 155
"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 shamed!
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods! 160
When went there by an age, since the great flood,
But it was famed with more than with one man?
When could they say, till now, that talked of Rome,
That her wide walks encompassed but one man?
Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough 165
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 brooked
Th' etemal devil to keep his state in Rome
As easily as a king. 170
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 tirnes.
I shall recount hereafter. For this present,
I would not, so with love I might entreat you, 175
Be any further moved. 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: 180
 Julius Caesar
Brutus had rather be a villager
Than to repute himself a son of Rome
ACT l. SC. 2
25

Under these hard conditions as this time

Is like to lay upon us.
CASSIUS I am glad that my weak words 185 Have struck but thus
much show of fire from Brutus.

Enter Caesar and his train.

BRUIVS
The games are done, and Caesar is returning.
CASSIUS
As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve,
And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you 190 What hath
proceeded worthy note today.
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.
Calphumia 's cheek is pale, and Cicero 195
Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes
As we have seen him in the Capitol,
Being crossed in conference by some senators.
CASSIUS
Casca will tell us what the matter is.
CAESAR Antonius.
ANTONY 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. 205
 Julius Caesar
ANTONY
Fear him not. Caesar; he's not dangerous.
He is a noble Roman, and well given.
CAESAR
Would he were fatter! But I fear him not.
Yet if my name were liable to fear,
27 ACT l,sc_ 2
 Julius Caesar
I do not know the
man I should avoid 210
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 215
As if he mocked himself and scomed his
spirit That could be moved 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. 220
I rather tell thee what is to be feared
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.
Sennet. Caesar and his train exit
rbut Casca remains behind.
CASCA You pulled me by the cloak. Would you speak with 225
me?
BRUTUS
Ay, Casca- Tell us what hath chanced today That
Caesar looks so sad.
CASCA Why, you were with him, were you not?
BRUTUS
I should not then ask Casca what had chanced. 230
CASCA Why, there was a crown offered him; and, being
offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus,
and then the people fell a-shouting. BRUTUS What was
the second noise for?
CASCA Why, for that too. 235
CASSIUS
They shouted thrice. What was the last cry for?
CASCA Why, for that too.
BRUTUS Was the crown offered him thrice?
CASCA Ay, marry, was 't, and he put it by thrice, every 240
 Julius Caesar
time gentler than other; and at every putting-by, mine honest
neighbors shouted.
ACTI,SC 2 29

CASSIUS Who offered him the crown?

CASCA Why, Antony.
BRUTUS
Tell us the manner of it. gentle Casca.
CASCA I can as well be hanged as tell the manner of it. 245
CASCA He fell down in the marketplace and foamed at mouth
and was speechless.
BRUIVS 250
'TIS very like; he hath the falling sickness. 265
CASSIUS
No. Caesar hath it not; but you and I
And honest Casca. we have the falling sickness. 255
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 270
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
refused it the rabblement hooted and clapped their chopped hands
and threw up their sweaty nightcaps and uttered such a deal of
stinking breath because Caesar refused 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.
CASSIUS
But soft. I pray you. What, did Caesar swoon?
 Julius Caesar
displeased them. as they use to do the players in the
theater. I am no true man.
 Julius Caesar

BRUTUS
What said he when he came unto
himself?
 CASCA Marry. before he fell down, when he perceived 27
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 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 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 Caesar had stabbed their 285
mothers, they would have done no less.
BRUTUS

And, after that. he came thus sad away?

CASCA Ay.
CASSIUS Did Cicero say anything?
CASCA Ay. he spoke G reek.
CASSIUS To what effect?
CASCA Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' th'
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 scarves 295
off Caesar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well.
There was more foolery yet, if I could remember

ASSIUS Will you sup with me tonight, Casca?

ASCA No, J am promised forth.
Us Will you dine with me tomorrow?
Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your
dinner worth the eating.
SSIUS Good. I will expect you.
SCA Do so. Farewell both 305
 Julius Caesar
He exits.
ACT 1. SC. 2
33. Julius
BRUTUS
What a blunt fellow is this grown to be!
He was quick mettle when he went to
school.
CASSIUS 31 So is he now in execution
Of any
bold or
noble
enterpnse.

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.
BRUNS 31 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 horne to me, and I will wait for you.
CASSIUS
I will do so. Till then, think of the world.
B
r
u
 t
u
s
e
x
i
t
s
.
Well. Brutus, thou art noble. Yet I see
Thy honorable mettle may be wrought
From that it is
disposed. Therefore it
is meet That noble
minds keep ever with
their likes; For who
so firm that cannot be
seduced?
Caesar doth bear me hard, but he loves
Brutus.
If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius,
He should not humor 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 opinion330
That Rome holds of his name, wherein
obscurely
Caesar's ambition shall be glancéd at
And after this, let Caesar seat him sure,
For we will shake him, or worse days
endure.
Julius Caesar
He
exits
.