Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. Ant. Where is he? Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house. Ant. And thither will I straight to visit him: He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry, And in this mood will give us any thing. Serv. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome. Ant. Belike, they had some notice of the people How I had mov'd them. Bring me to Octavius. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-A STREET. Enter Cinna, the Poet. 3 Cit. Ay, and truly, you were best. Cin. What is my name? Whither am I going? Where do I dwell? Am I a married man, or a bachelor? Then to answer every man directly and briefly, wisely, and truly. Wisely I say, I am a bachelor. 2 Cit. That's as much as to say they are fools that marry-You'll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed; directly. Cin. Directly, I am going to Cæsar's funeral. 2 Cit. That matter is answered directly. 1 About fifty shillings, poet. 4 Cit. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his bad verses. Cin. I am not Cinna the conspirator. 2 Cit. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but his name out of his heart, and turn him going. 3 Cit. Tear him, tear him. Come, brands, ho! firebrands. To Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all. Some to Decius' house, and some to Casca's: some to Ligarius': away; go. [Exeunt. damn him. But, Lepidus, go you to Cæsar's house; Or here, or at The three-fold world divided, he should stand One of the three to share it? Oct. So you thought him; And took his voice who should be prick'd to die, In our black sentence and proscription. [you; Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than And though we lay these honours on this man, To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads, He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold, To groan and sweat under the business, Either led or driven, as we point the way; Oct. Which, out of use, and stal'd by other men, 2 Condemn. 1 Marked down. Begin his fashion: Do not talk of him, And let us presently go sit in council, Oct. Let us do so; for we are at the stake, SCENE II.-BEFORE BRUTUS' TENT, IN THE Luc. Give the word, ho! and stand. Bru. What now, Lucilius? is Cassius near? Luc. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come To do you salutation from his master. [Pindarus gives a letter to Brutus. Bru. He greets me well.-Your master, Pindarus, In his own charge, or by ill offices, Pin. Luc. With courtesy, and with respect enough; Bru. Thou hast describ'd Enter Cassius and Soldiers. Cas. Stand, ho! Bid our commanders lead their charges off Bru. Lucilius, do the like; and let no man SCENE III.-WITHIN THE TENT OF BRutus. Enter Brutus and Cassius. Cas. That you have wrong'd me doth appear in this: You know that you are Brutus that speak this, Bru. Remember March, the ides of March Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? C. Most noble brother, you have done me wrong. (mies? Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine ene1 Surrounded. Bru. Cas. I am. Go to; you're not, Cassius. Must I give way and room to your rash choler? Go show your slaves how cholerick yon are, Cas. Is it come to this? Bru. You say, you are a better soldier: Let it appear so; make your vaunting true, And it shall please me well: For mine own part, I shall be glad to learn of noble men. Cas. You wrong me every way; you wrong me, I said, an elder soldier, not a better: [Brutus: Did I say, better? If you did, I care not. Bru. Cas. When Cæsar lived, he durst not thus have mov'd me. B. Peace, peace; you durst not so have tempted Cas. I durst not? Bru. No. Cas. What? durst not tempt him? Bru. Set in a note-book, learn'd and conn'd by rote, Sheathe your dagger: Than ever thou lov❜dst Cassius. Cas. [him. Bru. For your life you durst not. Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love, I may do that I shall be sorry for. B. You have done that you should be sorry for. There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats: For I am arm'd so strong in honesty, That they pass by me, as the idle wind, Which I respect not. I did send to you For certain sums of gold, which you denied me;For I can raise no money by vile means: By heaven, I had rather coin my heart, And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash By any indirection.1 I did send To you for gold to pay my legions, Which you denied me: Was that done like Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so? When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous, To lock such rascal counters from his friends, Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts, Dash him to pieces! [Cassius? I did not:-he was but a fool, That brought my answer back.-Brutus hath riv'd my heart: A friend should bear his friend's infirmities, But Brutus makes mine greater than they are. Bru. I do not, till you practise them on me. Cas. You love me not. Bru. I do not like your faults. C. A friendly eye could never see such faults. Bru. A flatterer's would not, though they do As huge as high Olympus. [appear Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius, [come, For Cassius is aweary of the world: Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother; Check'd like a bondman; all his faults observ'd, 1 Dishonest practice. [hand. O Brutus!What's the matter? Cas. Have you not love enough to bear with me, When that rash humour, which my mother gave Makes me forgetful? [me, Bru. Yes, Cassius: and henceforth, When you are over-earnest with your Brutus, He'll think your mother chides, and leave you [Noise within. So. Poet. [Within.] Let me go in to see the generals: There is some grudge between them, 'tis not meet They be alone. Luc. [Within.] You shall not come to them. Poet. [Within.] Nothing but death shall stay [fools! Away, away, begone. [Exit Poet. Enter Lucilius and Titinius. Bru. Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders Prepare to lodge their companies to-night. Cas. And come yourselves, and bring Messala with you, Immediately to us. [Exeunt Lucilius and Titinius. Bru. Lucius, a bowl of wine. C. I did not think, you could have been so angry. Bru. O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs. Cas. Of your philosophy you make no use, If you give place to accidental evils. |