Julius Caesar

CICERO.Good even, Casca: brought you Caesar home?Why are you breathless, and why stare you so?CASCA.Are not you moved, when all the sway of earthShakes like a thing unfirm? O Cicero, I have seen tempests, when the scolding windsHave riv'd the knotty oaks; and I have seenTh' ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam, To be exalted with the threatening clouds: But never till tonight, never till now, Did I go through a tempest dropping fire.Either there is a civil strife in heaven, Or else the world too saucy with the gods, Incenses them to send destruction.CICERO.Why, saw you anything more wonderful?CASCA.A common slave, you'd know him well by sight, Held up his left hand, which did flame and burnLike twenty torches join'd, and yet his hand, Not sensible of fire remain'd unscorch'd.Besides, I ha' not since put up my sword, Against the Capitol I met a lion, Who glared upon me, and went surly by, Without annoying me. And there were drawnUpon a heap a hundred ghastly women, Transformed with their fear; who swore they sawMen, all in fire, walk up and down the streets.And yesterday the bird of night did sit, Even at noonday upon the marketplace, Hooting and shrieking. When these prodigiesDo so conjointly meet, let not men say,"These are their reasons; they are natural";For I believe, they are portentous thingsUnto the climate that they point upon.CICERO.Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time.18But men may construe things after their fashion, Clean from the purpose of the things themselves.Comes Caesar to the Capitol tomorrow?CASCA.He doth, for he did bid AntoniusSend word to you he would be there tomorrow.CICERO.Goodnight then, Casca: this disturbed skyIs not to walk in.CASCA.Farewell, Cicero.[Exit CICERO.]Enter CASSIUS.CASSIUS.Who's there?CASCA.A Roman.CASSIUS.Casca, by your voice.CASCA.Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this!CASSIUS.A very pleasing night to honest men.CASCA.Who ever knew the heavens menace so?CASSIUS.Those that have known the earth so full of faults.For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, Submitting me unto the perilous night;And, thus unbraced, Casca, as you see, Have bar'd my bosom to the thunder-stone;And when the cross blue lightning seem'd to openThe breast of heaven, I did present myselfEven in the aim and