Casca. De so: Farewell both. [Exit CASCA. Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be?. He was quick mettle, when he went to school. Of any bold or noble enterprize, Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave you: [Exit BRUTUS. Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see, And, after this, let Cæsar seat him sure; For we will shake him, or worse days endure. Thy honourable metal may be wrought [Exit. From that it is dispos'd:] The best metal or temper may be worked into qualities contrary to its original constitution. -JOHNSON. Disposed is for disposed to: we have many instances of a similar phraseology. MALONE. ▼ doth bear me hard:] i. e. Has an unfavourable opinion of me. STEEVENS. He should not humour me.] The meaning, I think, is this: Casar loves Brutus, but if Brutus and I were to change places, his love should not humour me, should not take hold of my affection, so as to make me forget my principles.JOHNSON. SCENE III. The same. A Street. Thunder and Lightning. Enter, from opposite sides, CASCA, with his Sword drawn, and CICERO. Cic. Good even, Casca: Brought you Cæsar home?w Why are you breathless? and why stare you so? Casca. Are not you mov'd, when all the sway of earth* Shakes, like a thing unfirm? O Cicero, I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds Have riv'd the knotty oaks; and I have seen The ambitious ocean swell, and rage, and foam, To be exalted with the threat'ning clouds: But never till to-night, never till now, Did I go through a tempest dropping fire. Either there is a civil strife in heaven; Or else the world, too saucy with the gods, Incenses them to send destruction. Cic. Why, saw you any thing more wonderful? Besides, (I have not since put up my sword,) Brought you Cesur home?] i. e. Did you attend Cæsar home? JOHNSON. y A common slave (you know him well by sight)] So in the old translation of Plutarch:-" A slave of the souldiers that did cast a marvelous burning flame out of his hande, insomuch as they that saw it, thought he had been burnt; but when the fire was out, it was found he had no hurt."-STEEVENS. : Do so conjointly meet, let not men say, Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this? Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men. Casca. Who ever knew the heavens menace so? Cas. Those, that have known the earth so full of faults, For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens? It is the part of men to fear and tremble, Cas. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of life That should be in a Roman, you do want, Or else you use not: You look pale, and gaze, To see the strange impatience of the heavens: a Clean-] i. e. Altogether, entirely. b thunder-stone:] A stone fabulously supposed to be discharged by thun der.-STEEVENS. But if you would consider the true cause, Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now Casca. Indeed, they say, the senators to-morrow Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then; ► Why birds, and beasts, from quality and kind; &c.] That is, Why they deviate from quality and nature.-JOHNSON. calculate:] i. e. Foretel or prophesy. This use of the word is taken from the technical term of calculating a nativity. thewes-] An obsolete word implying nerves or muscular strength. d prodigious-] i. e. Portentous. e STEEVENS. If I know this, know all the world besides, That part of tyranny, that I do bear, I can shake off at pleasure. So every bondman in his own hand bears 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, 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 have mov'd already Of honourable-dangerous consequence; And I do know, by this, they stay for me Is favour'd, like the work we have in hand, f My answer must be made :) I shall be called to account, and must answer as for seditious words. --JOHNSON. - Hold my hand:]-is the same as, Here's my hand. - JOHNSON. -factious-] i. e. Active, says Dr. Johnson. Does it not rather mean clamorous? Is favour'd,] i. e. Is like in appearance or countenance. STEEVENS. |