His countenance, like richest alchemy, Cass. 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, 160 We will awake him, and be sure of him. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. Rome. BRUTUS's orchard. Enter BRUTUS. Brut. 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? Brut. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius: When it is lighted, come and call me here. Luc. I will, my lord. [Exit. Brut. It must be by his death: and, for my part, 10 I know no personal cause to spurn at him, question: It is the bright day that brings forth the adder; 15 And that craves wary walking. Crown him? that; And then, I grant, we put a sting in him, That at his will he may do danger with. Th' abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins Remorse from power; and, to speak truth of Cæsar, 20 I have not known when his affections sway'd 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, 25 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, 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, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mischievous, And kill him in the shell. Re-enter LUCIUS. 85 Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, sir. Searching the window for a flint, I found [Giving him a paper. This paper, thus seal'd up, and I am sure It did not lie there when I went to bed. Brut. Get you to bed again; it is not day. 40 Is not to-morrow, boy, the first of March? Luc. I know not, sir. Brut. Look in the calendar, and bring me word. Luc. I will, sir. [Exit. Brut. The exhalations, whizzing in the air, Give so much light, that I may read by them. [Opens the paper and reads. "Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake, and see thyself. Such instigations have been often dropp'd "Shall Rome, etc." Thus must I piece it out: Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What, Rome? My ancestor did from the streets of Rome To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise, Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. Sir, March is wasted fourteen days. [Knocking within. 45 50 55 Brut. 'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks. 60 [Exit Lucius. Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar, I have not slept. Between the acting of a dreadful thing 65 Like to a little kingdom, suffers then The nature of an insurrection. Re-enter LUCIUS. 70 Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, Who doth desire to see you. Brut. Is he alone? Luc. No, sir, there are more with him. Brut. Do you know them? Luc. No, sir; their hats are pluck'd about their ears, And half their faces buried in their cloaks, 75 That by no means I may discover them By any mark of favour. [Exit Lucius. They are the faction. O conspiracy, For if thou path, thy native semblance on, 85 To hide thee from prevention. Enter CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, CINNA, METELLUS Cass. I think we are too bold upon your rest: Good morrow, Brutus; do we trouble you? Brut. I have been up this hour; awake, all night. Know I these men that come along with you? 90 Cass. Yes, every man of them; and no man here But honours you; and every one doth wish |