Cas. Ay, do you fear it? 80 Then must I think you would not have it so. Bru. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well. But wherefore do you hold me here so long? What is it that you would impart to me? If it be aught toward the general good, Set honor in one eye and death i' the other, And I will look on both indifferently: For let the gods so speed me as I love The name of honor more than I fear death. Cas. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, As well as I do know your outward favor.° Well, honor is the subject of my story. 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 In awe of such a thing as I myself. I was born free as Cæsar; so were you: 66 The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores, And swim to yonder point?" Upon the word, Accoutred as I was, I plunged in And bade him follow: so indeed he did. Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder 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 990 120 So get the start of the majestic world And bear the palm° alone. Bru. Another general shout! 130 [Shout. Flourish. I do believe that these applauses are For some new honors that are heaped on Cæsar. Cas. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about To find ourselves dishonorable graves. Men at some time are masters of their fates: 140 The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed, That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed! 150 That her wide walls encompassed but one man? O, you and I have heard our fathers say Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous°; I will with patience hear, and find a time Than to repute himself a son of Rome Under these hard conditions as this time Is like to lay upon us. Cas. I am glad that my weak words 160 170 Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. 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 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: chidden Calpurnia's cheek is pale, and Cicero Being crossed in conference by some senators. Ant. Cæsar? Cæs. Let me have men about me that are fat,° Caes. 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; 180 190 200 |