Have thews1 and limbs like to their ancestors: Casca. Indeed, they say, the senators to-morrow Mean to establish Cæsar as a king: And he shall wear his crown by sea and land, Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then; 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? 2 But, O grief! I, perhaps, speak this 1 i. e. sinews, muscular strength. See note on King Henry IV. Part II. Act iii. Sc. 2. 2 "I know I shall be called to account, and must answer for having uttered seditious words." Casca. You speak to Casca; and to such a man, That is no fleering telltale. Hold my hand:1 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 have moved already In favor's 2 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; Cimber? Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate Metellus 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, Good Cinna, take this paper, And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, 1 "Hold my hand" is the same as "Here's my hand." for redress," means, be contentious, enterprising for redress. "Be factious 2 The old copy reads, "Is favors." Favor here is put for appearance, look. In at his window; set this up with wax Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us. Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone [Exit CINNA. Come, Casca, you and I will yet, ere day, Upon the next encounter, yields him ours. Casca. O, he sits high in all the people's hearts; And that which would appear offence in us, His countenance, like richest alchemy, 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, [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. The same. Brutus's Orchard.1 Enter BRUTUS. Bru. What, Lucius! ho! I cannot, by the progress of the stars, Give guess how near to day.-Lucius, I say!- When, Lucius, when? Awake, I say. What, Lucius! 1 Orchard and garden appear to have been synonymous with our ancestors. Enter LUCIUS. Luc. Called 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 crowned ; How that might change his nature, there's the question. That at his will he may do danger with. Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented, Would run to these, and these extremities; And therefore think him as a serpent's egg, Which, hatched, would, as his kind,3 grow mischievous. And kill him in the shell. Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, sir. Bru. Get you to bed again; it is not day. Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March? Bru. Look in the calendar, and bring me word. Bru. The exhalations, whizzing in the air, [Exit. [Opens the letter, and reads. Such instigations have been often dropped 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 called a king. Speak, strike, redress!—Am I entreated To speak, and strike? O Rome! I make thee promise, If the redress will follow, thou receivest Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus! Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. Sir, March is wasted fourteen days.2 [Knock within. Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks. [Exit LUCIUS. Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar, I have not slept. Between the acting of a dreadful thing 1 The old copy erroneously reads, "the first of March." The correction was made by Theobald; as was the following. 2 Here again the old copy reads, fifteen. This was only the dawn of the fifteenth when the boy makes his report. |