Think of this life; but, for my single self, In awe of such a thing as I myself. And bade him follow: so indeed, he did. Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder Is now become a god; and Cassius is 3- Dar'st thou, Cassius, now Leap in with me into this angry flood,] Shakspeare probably recollected the story which Suetonius has told of Cæsar's leaping into the sea, when he was in danger by a boat's being overladen, and swimming to the next ship with his Commentaries in his left hand. Holland's translation of Suetonius, 1606, p. 26. So also, ibid. p. 24: " Were rivers in his way to hinder his passage, cross over them he would, either swimming, or else bearing himself upon blowed leather bottles." MALONE. 4 But ere we could ARRIVE the point propos'd,] The verb arrive is used, without the preposition at, by Milton in the second book of Paradise Lost, as well as by Shakspeare in The Third Part of King Henry VI. Act V. Sc. III. : " -those powers, that the queen "Hath rais'd in Gallia, have arriv'd our coast." STEEVENS. A wretched creature, and must bend his body, [Shout. Flourish. BRU. Another general shout! I do believe, that these applauses are For some new honours that are heap'd on Cæsar. Cas. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world, 5 His COWARD lips did from their COLOUR FLY; A plain man would have said, the colour fled from his lips, and not his lip from their colour. But the false expression was for the sake of as false a piece of wit: a poor quibble, alluding to a coward flying from his colours. WARBURTON. 6 - feeble temper -] i. e. temperament, constitution. 7 STEEVENS. get the start of the majestick world, &c.] This image is extremely noble: it is taken from the Olympick games. The majestick world is a fine periphrasis for the Roman empire: their citizens set themselves on a footing with kings, and they called their dominion Orbis Romanus. But the particular allusion seems to be to the known story of Cæsar's great pattern, Alexander, who being asked, Whether he would run the course at the Olympick games, replied, "Yes, if the racers were kings." WARBURTON. That the allusion is to the prize allotted in games to the foremost in the race, is very clear. All the rest existed, I apprehend, only in Dr. Warburton's imagination. MALONE. Like a Colossus; and we petty men O! you and I have heard our fathers say, 8- and we petty men Walk under his huge legs,] So, as an anonymous writer has observed, in Spenser's Fairy Queen, b. iv. c. x. st. 19: "But I the meanest man of many more, "Yet much disdaining unto him to lout, " Or creep between his legs." MALONE. 9 Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well ;) A similar thought occurs in Heywood's Rape of Lucrece, 1630: "What diapason's more in Tarquin's name, I "Than in a subject's? or what's Tullia "Of a poor maid?" STEEVENS. Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar.] his Busiris, appears to have imitated this passage: Dr. Young, in "Nay, stamp not, tyrant; I can stamp as loud, " And raise as many dæmons with the sound." STEEVENS. There was a Brutus once, that would have brook'd BRU. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; What you would work me to, I have some aim; Than to repute himself a son of Rome Cas. I am glad, that my weak words' 2 There was a Brutus once, i. e. Lucius Junius Brutus. STEEVENS. 3 - eternal devil - I should think that our author wrote rather, infernal devil. JOHNSON. I would continue to read eternal devil. L. J. Brutus (says Cassius) would as soon have submitted to the perpetual dominion of a dæmon, as to the lasting government of a king. STEEVENS. 4-aim:] i. e. guess. So, in The Two Gentlemen of Verona : "But, fearing lest my jealous aim might err-." 5 this. STEEVENS. - chew upon this; Consider this at leisure; ruminate on JOHNSON. 6 Under these hard conditions as this time Is like to lay upon us.] As, in our author's age, was frequently used in the sense of that. So, in North's translation of Plutarch, 1579: - insomuch as they that saw it, thought he had been burnt." MALONE. 66 7 I am glad, THAT MY WEAK words - For the sake of regular measure, Mr. Ritson would read : "Cas. I am glad, my words "Have struck," &c. STEEVENS. Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. Re-enter CESAR, and his Train. BRU. The games are done, and Cæsar is return ing. Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve; And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you What hath proceeded, worthy note, to-day. BRU. I will do so:-But, look you, Cassius, The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow, And all the rest look like a chidden train : Calphurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes, As we have seen him in the Capitol, Being cross'd in conference by some senators. Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is. CES. Antonius. ANT. Cæsar. CES. 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. CES. 'Would he were fatter:-But I fear him not: 8-ferret-] A ferret has red eyes. JOHNSON. 9 Sleek-headed men, &c.] So, in Sir Thomas North's translation of Plutarch, 1579: "When Cæsar's friends complained unto him of Antonius and Dolabella, that they pretended some mischief towards him; he answered, as for those fat men and smooth-combed heads, (quoth he) I never reckon of them; but these pale-visaged and carrion-lean people, I fear them most; meaning Brutus and Cassius." And again : "Cæsar had Cassius in great jealousy, and suspected him much; whereupon he said on a time, to his friends, What will Cassius do, think you? I like not his pale looks." STEEVENS. ''Would he were fatter :) Ben Jonson, in his Bartholomew |