Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, If I know this, know all the world besides, I can shake off at pleasure. Casca. Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then? So vile a thing as Cæsar? But, O, grief! Cacsa. You speak to Casca; and to such a man, As who goes farthest. Cas. Of honourable-dangerous consequence ; Is favour'd§, like the work we have in hand, * Deer. Here's my hand. Active. § Resembles. 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. Cas. Be you content: Good Cinna, take this paper, And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone 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, * Air of walking. You have right well conceited. Let us go, 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, Give guess how near to day.-Lucius, I say !- 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 then, I grant, we put a sting in him, I have not known when his affections sway'd More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof, + Pity, tenderness. * An exclamation of impatience. ↑ Experience. That lowliness is young ambition's ladder, Whereto the climber-upward turns his face : But when he once attains the upmost round, He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees * By which he did ascend: So Cæsar may; Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel -Will bear no colour for the thing he is, 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, hatch'd, would, as his kindt, grow mischievous; And kill him in the shell. 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. 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. * Low steps. + Nature. To speak, and strike? O Rome! I make thee promise, If the redress will follow, thou receivest Re-enter Lucius. Luc. Sir, March is wasted fourteen days. [Knock within. [Exit Lucius. Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks. Between the acting of a dreadful thing Re-enter Lucius. Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, Who doth desire to see you. Bru. Is he alone? Do you know them? Luc. No, sir, there are more with him. Bru. Luc. No, sir; their hats are pluck'd about their ears, And half their faces buried in their cloaks, That by no means I may discover them Bru. Let them enter. [Exit Lucius. They are the faction. O conspiracy! Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night, When evils are most free? O, then, by day, Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy; * Visionary. + Countenance. |