Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, If I know this, know all the world besides, So Casca. So can I : every bondman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his captivity. Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then? So vile a thing as Cæsar? But, O, grief! Casca. 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. Cas. There's a bargain made. Now know you, Casca, I havè moy'd already 8 Deer. 9 Here's my hand. 1 Active. Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans, Is favour'd, like the work we have in hand, Enter CINNA. Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. Cas. "Tis Cinna, I do know him by his gait ;3 He is a friend.-Cinna, where haste you so? Cin. To find out you: Who's that? Metellus Cimber? Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate To our attempts. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Cin. I am glad on't. What a fearful night is this? There's two or three of us have seen strange sights. Cas. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Tell me. Cin. You are. O, Cassius, if you could but win The noble Brutus to our party Yes, Cas. Be you content: Good Cinna, take this paper, And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this Upon old Brutus' statue: all this done, Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us. Is Decius Brutus, and Trebonius, there? 2 Resembles. 3 Air of walking. Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie, And so bestow these papers as you bade me. Cas. That done, repair to Pompey's theatre. [Exit CINNA. Come, Casca, you and I will, yet, ere day, Casca. O, he sits high, in all the people's hearts: Will change to virtue, and to worthiness. Cas. Him, and his worth, and our great need of him, You have right well conceited. Let us go, For it is after midnight; and, ere day, We will awake him, and be sure of him. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. The same. Brutus's Orchard. Enter BRUTUS. Bru. What, Lucius! ho! I cannot, by the progress of the stars, 4 An exclamation of impatience. Enter LUCIUS. Luc. Call'd you, my lord? Bru. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius: When it is lighted, come and call me here. Luc. I will, my lord. [Exit. Bru. It must be by his death: and, for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, But for the general. 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. Crown him?-That;And then, I grant, we put a sting in him, That at his will he may do danger with. The abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins Remorse 5 from power: And, to speak truth of Cæsar, Would run to these, and these extremities : Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mischievous; And kill him in the shell. 5 Pity, tenderness. 6 Experience. 7 Low steps. • Nature. Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, sir. Bru. Look in the calendar, and bring me word. Bru. The exhalations, whizzing in the air, Give so much light, that I may read by them. [Exit. [Opens the Letter, and Reads. Brutus, thou sleep'st; awake, and see thyself. Shall Rome, &c. Speak, strike, redress! Brutus, thou sleep'st; awake, Such instigations have been often dropp'd Where I have took them up. Shall Rome, &c. Thus, must I piece it out; Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What! Rome? My ancestors did from the streets of Rome The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king.' To speak, and strike? O Rome! I make thee promise, Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus ! Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. Sir, March is wasted fourteen days. [Knock within. Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks. [Exit LUCIUS. |