JULIUS CÆSAR.

9

In awe of fuch a thing as I myself.
I was born free as Cæfar; so were you:
We both have fed as well; and we can both
Endure, the winter's cold, as well as he.
For once, upon a raw and gusty day,

The troubled Tyber chafing with his shores,
Cæfar faid to me, Dar'ft thou, Caffius, nou
Leap in with me into this angry flood,
And swim to yonder point ? Upon the word,
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in,
And bade him follow: so, indeed, he did.
The torrent roar'd; and we did buffet it
With lufty finews; throwing it aside,
And stemming it with hearts of controverfy.
But ere we could arrive the point propos'd,
Cæfar cry'd, Help me, Caffius, or I fink.
I, as Æneas, our great ancestor,

Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
The old Anchises bear, so, from the waves of Tyber
Did I the tired Cæfar: And this man

Is now become a god; and Caffius is

A wretched creature, and must bend his body, If Cæfar carelessly but nod on him. 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 colour fly; And that fame eye, whose bend doth awe the world, Did lose his luftre: 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 cry'd, Give me fome drink, Titinius, As a fick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me, A man of fuch a feeble temper should

So

1,

[Shout. Flourish.

So get the start of the majestic world,
And bear the palm alone.

Bru. Another general shout!

I do believe, that these applaufes are
For fome new honours that are heap'd on Cæfar.

Caf. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world,

Like a Coloffus; and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs, and peep about
To find ourselves dishonourable graves.
Men at fome time are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
Brutus, and Cæfar: What should be in that Cæfar?
Why should that name be founded 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 them,
Brutus will start a spirit as foon as Cæfar.
Now in the names of all the gods at once,
Upon what meat doth this our Cæfar feed,
That he is grown so great? Age, thou art sham'd:
Rome, thou haft loft the breed of noble bloods!
When went there by an age, since the great flood,
But it was fam'd with more than with one man?
When could they say, 'till now, that talk'd of Rome,
That her wide walls encompass'd but one man?
Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough,
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 brook'd
The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome,
As easily as a king.

Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous;
What you would work me to, I have fome aim;

How JULIUS CÆSAR.

How I have thought of this, and of these times,
I shall recount hereafter; for this present,
I would not, so with love I might entreat you,
Be any further mov'd. What you have faid,
I will confider; 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;
Brutus had rather be a villager,
Than to repute himself a fon of Rome
Under fuch hard conditions as this time
Is like to lay upon us.

11

Caf. I am glad, that my weak words
Have struck but this much shew of fire from Brutus.

Re-enter CÆSAR, and his Train.
Bru. The games are done, and Cæfar is returning.
Caf. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve ;
And he will, after his four fashion, tell you
What hath proceeded, worthy note, to-day.
Bru. I will do so:-But, look you, Caffius,
The angry spot doth glow on Cæfar's brow,
And all the rest look like a chidden train :
Calphurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero
Looks with fuch ferret and such fiery eyes,
As we have seen him in the Capitol,
Being cross'd in conference by fome senators.
Caf. Cafca will tell us what the matter is.
Caf. Antonius.

Ant. Cæfar.

Cef. Let me have men about me, that are fat;
Sleek-headed men, and fuch as fleep o' nights :
Yon Caffius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much: fuch men are dangerous.

Ant.

i

Ant. Fear him not, Cæfar, he's not dangerous;

He is a noble Roman, and well given.

Caf. 'Would he were fatter:-But I fear him not:

Yet if my name were liable to fear,
I do not know the man I should avoid
So foon as that spare Caffius. 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 mufic:
Seldom he smiles; and smiles in fuch a fort,
As if he mock'd himself, and scorn'd his fpirit
That could be mov'd to smile at any thing.
Such men as he be never at heart's ease,
Whiles they behold a greater than themselves;
And therefore are they very dangerous.
I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd,
Than what I fear; for always I am Cæfar.
Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,
And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.

[Exeunt CÆSAR, and his Train.

Manent BRUTUS, and CASSIUS: CASCA to them. Cafca. You pull'd me by the cloak; Would you speak with me?

Bru. Ay, Cafca; tell us what hath chanc'd to-day, That Cæfar looks so sad.

Cafca. Why you were with him, were you not? Bru. I should not then ask Casca what had chanc'd. Cafca. Why, there was a crown offer'd him: and being offer'd him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a' fhouting. Bru. What was the fecond noise for?

Cafca. Why for that too.

Caf

JULIUS CÆSAR.

13

a I.

;

Caf. They shouted thrice; What was the last cry for?

Cafca. Why for that too.

not: Bru. Was the crown offer'd him thrice?

Cafca. Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting by, mine honeft neighbours shouted.

Caf. Who offer'd him the crown?

a Cafca. Why, Antony.

Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Cafca. Cafca. I can as well be hang'd, as tell the manner of it: it was mere foolery, or I did not mark it. I faw 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 offer'd it to him again; then he put it by again: but, to my thinking, he was very loth to lay his fingers off it. And then he offer'd it a third time; he put it the third time by: and still as he refus'd it, the rabblement hooted, and clapp'd their chopt hands, and threw up their sweaty night-caps, and utter'd fuch a deal of stinking breath because Cæfar refus'd the crown, that it had almost choak'd Cæfar; for he fwooned, and fell down at it: And for mine own part, I durft not laugh, for fear of opening my lips, and receiving the bad air.

Caf. But, foft, I pray you: What? did Cæfar swoon? Cafca. He fell down in the market-place, and foam'd at mouth, and was speechless. Bru. 'Tis very like; he hath the falling-fickness. Caf. No, Cæfar hath it not; but you, and I, And honeft Cafca, we have the falling-fickness. Cafca. I know not what you mean by that; but, I

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