Cœs. What man is that? 20 Bru. A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March. Beware the ides of March. Cæs. He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass. 25 [Sennet. Exeunt all but Brutus and Cassius. Cas. Will you go see the order of the course? Bru. Not I. Cas. I pray you, do. Bru. I am not gamesome: I do lack some part Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires; I'll leave you. Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late : Be not deceived: if I have veiled my look, Merely upon myself. Vexed I am Of late with passions of some difference, Conceptions only proper to myself, Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors; But let not therefore my good friends be grieved - 40 45 Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion; By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face? Bru. No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself, 50 But by reflection, by some other things. Cas. T is just: And it is very much lamented, Brutus, 55 That you have no such mirrors as will turn That you might see your shadow. I have heard, 60 Except immortal Cæsar, speaking of Brutus Bru. Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, That you would have me seek into myself For that which is not in me? 65 Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear: And since you know you cannot see yourself So well as by reflection, I, your glass, That of yourself which you yet know not of. 70 Will modestly discover to yourself And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus : To every new protester; if you know 75 [Flourish and shout. Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear, the people Choose Cæsar for their king. Cas. Ay, do you fear it? 80 Bru. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well. But wherefore do you hold me here so long? 85 Set honor in one eye and death i' the other, The name of honor more than I fear death. Cas. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, 90 As well as I do know your outward favor. I cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life; but, for my single self, I had as lief not be as live to be 95 In awe of such a thing as I myself. I was born free as Cæsar; so were you: We both have fed as well, and we can both Endure the winter's cold as well as he: For once, upon a raw and gusty day, 100 The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores, And swim to yonder point?" Upon the word, 105 And bade him follow; so indeed he did. And stemming it with hearts of controversy; But ere we could arrive the point proposed, 110 Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber 115 Is now become a god, and Cassius is A wretched creature and must bend his body, He had a fever when he was in Spain, And when the fit was on him, I did mark 120 How he did shake: 't is true, this god did shake: And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world Bru. Another general shout! I do believe that these applauses are 125 130 [Shout. Flourish. For some new honors that are heaped on Cæsar. Cas. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world 135 Like a Colossus, and we petty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about Men at some time are masters of their fates: 140 Brutus and Cæsar: what should be in that "Cæsar"? Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed, 145 That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed! 150 155 O, you and I have heard our fathers say, There was a Brutus once that would have brooked Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; Than to repute himself a son of Rome 160 165 170 |