Under these hard conditions as this time

Is like to lay upon us.

Cas. I am glad that my weak words

Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.

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Bru.

The games are done and Cæsar is returning.
Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve;
And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you
What hath proceeded worthy note to-day.

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Re-enter CESAR and his Train.

Bru. I will do so. But, look you, Cassius,
The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow,
And all the rest look like a chidden train:
Calpurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero
Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes
As we have seen him in the Capitol,
Being crossed in conference by some senators.
Casca will tell us what the matter is.
Antonius !

Cas.

Cæs.

Cæs.

Let me have men about me that are fat,
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights:
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.

Fear him not, Cæsar; he 's not dangerous;

He is a noble Roman and well given.

Cæs. Would he were fatter ! But I fear him not:

Yet if my name were liable to fear,

I do not know the man I should avoid

So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much ;
He is a great observer, and he looks

Quite through the deeds of men; he loves no plays,
As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music;

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Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort
As if he mocked himself and scorned his spirit
That could be moved to smile at any thing.
Such men as he be never at heart's ease

Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,
And therefore are they very dangerous.

I rather tell thee what is to be feared

Than what I fear; for always I am Cæsar.
Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,
And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.

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[Sennet. Exeunt Cæsar and all his Train but Casca. Casca. You pulled me by the cloak; would you speak with me?

Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanced to-day, That Cæsar looks so sad.

Casca. Why, you were with him, were you not? 218 Bru. I should not then ask Casca what had chanced. Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him and being offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a-shouting.

Bru.

What was the second noise for?

Casca. Why, for that too.

Cas. They shouted thrice: what was the last

Casca. Why, for that too.

Bru. Was the crown offered him thrice?

cry for?

Casca. Ay, marry, was 't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting-by mine honest neighbors shouted.

Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.

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Casca. I can as well be hanged as tell the manner of

:

it it was mere foolery; I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown; - yet 't was not a crown neither, 't was one of these coronets; — and, as I told you, he put it by once: but, for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again; then he put it by again: but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by: and still as he refused it, the rabblement shouted and clapped their chopt hands and threw up their sweaty nightcaps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choked Cæsar; for he swounded and fell down at it: and for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air.

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Cas. But, soft, I pray you: what, did Cæsar swound? Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at mouth, and was speechless.

Bru. 'Tis very like: he hath the falling-sickness. Cas. No, Cæsar hath it not; but you, and I, And honest Casca, we have the falling-sickness.

255

Casca. I know not what you mean by that; but, I am sure Cæsar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him and hiss him, according as he pleased and displeased them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no true man.

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Bru. What said he when he came unto himself? Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his doublet and offered them his throat to An I had been a man of any occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell

cut.

among the rogues. And so he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, If he had done or said any thing amiss, he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches, where I stood, cried, "Alas, good soul!" and forgave him with all their hearts: but there's no heed to be taken of them; if Cæsar had stabbed their mothers, they would have done no less. 273 Bru. And after that, he came, thus sad, away? Casca. Ay.

Cas. Did Cicero say any thing?

Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek.

Cas. To what effect?

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Casca. Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' the face again: but those that understood him smiled at one another and shook their heads; but, for mine own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæsar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it.

Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca?

Casca. No, I am promised forth.

Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow?

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Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and

your dinner worth the eating.

Cas. Good: I will expect you.

Casca. Do so. Farewell, both.

Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be!

He was quick mettle when he went to school.

Cas. So is he now in execution

Of any bold or noble enterprise,
However he puts on this tardy form.

This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit,

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[Exit.

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Which gives men stomach to digest his words

With better appetite.

Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave you: To-morrow, if you please to speak with me, I will come home to you; or, if you will, Come home to me, and I will wait for you. Cas. I will do so: till then, think of the world.

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[Exit Brutus.

Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see,
Thy honorable metal may be wrought
From that it is disposed: therefore it is meet
That noble minds keep ever with their likes;
For who so firm that cannot be seduced?
Cæsar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus:
If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius,
He should not humor me. I will this night,

In several hands, in at his windows throw,
As if they came from several citizens,
Writings all tending to the great opinion.

That Rome holds of his name; wherein obscurely.
Cæsar's ambition shall be glanced at:

And after this let Cæsar seat him sure;

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For we will shake him, or worse days endure.

[Exit.

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?

Why are you breathless? and why stare you so?

Casca. Are not you moved, when all the sway of earth Shakes like a thing unfirm? O Cicero,

I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds

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