In favor's like the work we have in hand, Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. Cas. 'Tis Cinna, I do know him by his gait; He is a friend. Enter CINNA Cinna, where haste you so? Cin. To find out you. Who's that? Cimber? Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate Metellus To our attempts. Am I not stayed 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 stayed for? Tell me. O Cassius, if you could But win the noble Brutus to our party 130 Yes, you are. 140 Cas. Be you content. Good Cinna, take this paper, And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, only Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this In at his window: set this up with was Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us. Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone stow [Exit CINNA Come, Casca, you and I will yet, ere day, Upon the next encounter, yields him ours. 160 Casca. O, he sits high in all the people's hearts: And that which would appear offence in us His countenance, like richest alchemy, 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. АСТ П SCENE I Rome. Brutus' Orchard Enter BRUTUS Bru. What, Lucius! ho! I cannot, by the progress of the stars, Give guess how near to day. Lucius, I say! I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.- Enter LUCIUS Luc. Called 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. 10 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 crowned: How that might change his nature, there's the question. 78 JULIUS CESAR time of two arity [ACT II It is the bright day that brings forth the adder; That at his will he may do danger with.wix. The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of Cæsar, 20 I have not known when his affections swayed More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof 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 color for the thing he is, 30 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, hatched, would, as his kind, grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell. Reënter LUCIUS Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, sir. Searching the window for a flint, I found This paper thus sealed up; and I am sure, It did not lie there when I went to bed. [Gives him the letter. Bru. Get you to bed again, it is not day. Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March? Bru. Look in the calendar, and bring me word. Bru. The exhalations, whizzing in the air, [Exit. [Opens the letter, and reads. Brutus, thou sleep'st; awake, and see thyself. Such instigations have been often dropped 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 called a king. "Speak, strike, redress!"— Am I entreated To speak and strike? O Rome! I make thee promise, 40 50 |