Bru. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well. For, let the gods so speed me, as I love The troubled Tyber chafing with her shores, And swim to yonder point?"-Upon the word, And bade him follow: so, indeed, he did. And stemming it, with hearts of controversy; I, as Æneas, our great ancestor, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder Did I the tired Cæsar. And this man Is now become a god; and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body, If Cæsar carelessly but nod on him. He had a fever when he was in Spain, And, when the fit was on him, I did mark How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake: And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world, Did lose his lustre. I did hear him groan; Ay, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans Bru. [Shout. Flourish. Another general shout! I do believe, that these applauses are For some new honours that are heap'd 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 dishonourable graves. Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings. Brutus, and Cæsar: what should be in that Cæsar? 12 Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough, O! you and I have heard our fathers say, There was a Brutus once, that would have brook'd As easily as a king. 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 Cas. I am glad, that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. Bru. The games are done, and Cæsar is returning. Re-enter CESAR, and his Train. Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve; Bru. I will do so.-But, look you, Cassius; Ant. Cæsar. Cæs. Let me have men about me that are fat; Cæs. '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; Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, [Exeunt CESAR and his Train. CASCA stays behind. Casca. You pull'd me by the cloak: would you speak with me? Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanc'd to-day, That Cæsar looks so sad. Casca. Why you were with him, were you not? Bru. I should not, then, ask Casca what hath chanc'd. Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him: and, being offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a shouting. Bru. What was the second noise for? Casca. Why, for that too. Cas. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for? Casca. Why, for that too. Bru. Was the crown offer'd him thrice? Casca. Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting by mine honest neighbours shouted. Cas. Who offered him the crown? Casca. Why, Antony. Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. Casca. I can as well be hanged, as tell the manner of it it was mere foolery, I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown:-yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of these coronets;—and, as I told you, he put it by once; but, for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again; then he put it by again, but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time: he put it the third time by; and still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted, and clapped their chapped hands, and threw up their sweaty night-caps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath, because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choked Cæsar; for he swooned, and fell down at it. And for mine own part I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips, and receiving the bad air. Cas. But, soft, I pray you. What! did Cæsar swoon? Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at mouth, and was speechless. Bru. "Tis very like he hath the falling-sickness. Cas. No, Cæsar hath it not; but you, and I, And honest Casca, we have the falling-sickness. Casca. I know not what you mean by that; but, I am sure, Cæsar fell down. If the tag-rag people did If the tag-rag people-] The expression "tag and rag" is old in our poetry: thus in "The worthie Historie of the most valiant knight, Plasidas," by John Partridge, 8vo, 1566, "To walles they goe, both tagge and ragge, Their citie to defende," &c.-Sign. C. 7. VOL. VII. C |