Cas. Casca, by your voice. 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, Submitting me unto the perilous night; Have bar'd my bosom to the thunder-stone: And, when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open Even in the aim and very flash of it. Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens? It is the part of men to fear and tremble, When the most mighty gods, by tokens, send Such dreadful heralds to astonish us. 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 monstrous quality; why, you shall find, To make them instruments of fear, and warning, A man no mightier than thyself, or me, Casca. 'Tis Cæsar that you mean: Is it not, Cassius? 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, In every place, save here in Italy. Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then ; If I know this, know all the world besides, I can shake off at pleasure. Casca. So can I: So 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, Cas. There's a bargain made. Now know you, Casca, I have mov'd already 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; 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. Yes, You are. O, Cassius, if you could but win The noble Brutus to our party— 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 In at his window: set this up with wax Upon old Brutus' statue: all this done, Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us. Is Decius Brutus, and Trebonius, there? 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. 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 alchymy, 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. |