A wretched creature; and must bend his body,
If Cælar carelessly but rod 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 make;
His coward lips did from their colour fly,
And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world,
Did lose its lustre ; I did hear him grone :
Ay, and that tongue of his, that bad the Romans
Mark him, and write his speeches in their books,
Alas! it cry'd Give me some drink, Titinius–
As a lick girl Ye gods, it doth amaze me,
A man of such a feeble temper should
a So get the start of the majestic world,
" And bear the palm alone.” [Shout. Flourish.

Bru, Another general shout!
I do believe, that there applauses are
For some new honours that are heap'd on Cæsar. -

Caf. · Why, man, be 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 times are matters of their fates :: i The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, s. But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

Brutus and Cæfar! what should be in that Cæsar?

Why should that name be founded more than your's?' .Write them together; your's is as fair a name : « Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well;

Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with 'em,
Brutus will Itart a fpirit as soon as Cæfar.
Now, in the names of all the gods at once,
Upon what meat does this our Cæsar feed,
'That he is grown fo great! Age, thou art sham'd;:
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods.
When went tbere by an age, since the great flood,
But it was fam'd with more than with one man ?
When could they fay, till now, that talk'd cf Rome,
That her wide walls incompass’d but one man ?*

but one man?
Now is it Rome indeed; and room enough,

When

Oh! you and I have heard our fathers say,
There was a Brutus once, that would have brook'd
Th'eternal devil to keep his itate in Rome
As easily as a King.

Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous ; What

you

would work me to, I have some aim :
How i have thought of this, and of these times,
I shall recount hereafter : for this prefe:it,
I would not (so with love I might intreat you).
Be any further mov’d. What you have said,
I will consider ; what you have to say,
I will with patience hear; and find a time
Both meet to hear, and answer luch high things.
Till then, my noble friend, chew

upon

this;
Brutus had rather be a villager,
Then to repute himself a ton of Rome
Inder such hard conditions, as this time
Is like to lay upon us.

Caf. I am glad that my weak words
Have struck but thus much shew of fire from Brutus,

SCENE IV. Enter Cæfar and his train. Bru. The games are done, and Cæfar is returning.

Caf. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the fleeve,
And he will, after his four fashion, tell you
What hath proceeded worthy note to-day.

Bru, I will do so; but look you, Caflius,-
The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow,
And all the rest look like a chidden train,
Calphurnia's cheek is pale ; and Cicero
Looks with such ferret, and such fiery eyes,
As we have seen him in the Capitol,
Being cross'd in conf'rence by some senators.

Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is.
Caf. Antonius,
Ant. Cæsar?

Cer. “ Let me have men about me that are fat,
* Sleek headed men, and such as sleep a-nights :
“ Yond Callius has a lean and hun ry Jook,
“ He thinks too much ; such men are dangerouis.
When there is in it but one only man.
Oh! you and I, 6C.

Ant. Fear him not, Cæfar, he's not dangerous; He is a noble Roman, and well given.

Cæs. 'Would he were fatter ; but I fear him not: - Yet if my name were liable to fear, · I do not koow the man I fliould avoid, • So soon as that spare Caffius. He reads much; . He is a great observer; and he looks

Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays. • As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music; • Seldom he smiles; and smiles in such a fort, • As if he mock'd himself, and scoro'd his fpirit, I That could be mov'd to smile at any thing. · Such men as he be never at heart's ease, • Whilst they behold a greater than themselves; " And therefore are they very dangerous. "I rather tell thee what is to be fear’d, • Thao what I fear ; for always l am Cæsar. Come on my right hand, for tbis ear is deaf, And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.

[Exeunt Cæfar and his train. S CE NE V. Manent Brutus and Calius: Carca to them, Cafca. You pull'd me by the clock; would you speak

with me? Bru. Ay, Casca, tell us what hath chane'd to day, That Cæsar looks so fad.

Cafca. Why, you were with him, were you not ? Bru I should not then ask Casca what had chanc'd.

Casca. Why, there was a crown offer'd him; and being offer'd 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, Caf. They shouted thrice. What was the last cry for: Casca Why, for that too. Bru. Was the crown offer'd him thrice? Cufca, Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, very time gentler than another; and at every putting by, nine honest neighbours thouted.

Qaf. Who offer'd hin the crown?

Casca. Why, Antony.
Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.

Casca I can as well be hang'd, 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 pot 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 offer'd it to him a. gain : then he put it by again; but, to my thinking, he was very loth to lay his fingers off it. And then he offer'd it the third time : he put it the third time by ; and fill as he refus'd it, the rabblement shouted, and clapp'd their chopp'd hands, and threw up their sweaty night caps, and utter'd such a deal of stinking breath, because Cæsar refus'd the crown, that it had almost choked Cæfar; for he fwooned, and fell down at it : and for mine own part I durft not laugh, for fear of opening my lips, and receving the bad air.

Caf. But, soft, I pray you ; what, did Cæsar (woon?

Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and foam'd at mouth, and was speechless.

Bru. 'Tis very like ; he hath the falling-fickness.

Caf. No, Cæsar hath it not; but you and I, And honest Casca, we have the falling-fickness.

Casca. I know not what you mean by that; but I am fure Cæsar fell down. If the tag.rag people did not clap him, and hiss him, according as he pleas'd, and displeas'd them, as they used to do the players in the threatre, I am no true man.

Bru. What said he when he came unto himself ?

Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceiv'd the common herd was glad be refus'd 'the crown, he pluck'd me ope his doublet, and offer'd them his throat to cut : an' I had been a man of any occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell among the rogues; and so he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, “ If he had doue " or faid any thing amiís, he defir'd their Worships to os think it was his infirmity.” Three or four wenches where I stood, cry'd, " Alas, good soul!"_and orgave him with all their hearts: but there's no heed

4

to be taken of them; if Cæfar had stabb'd their mo. thers, they would have done no less.

Bru. And after that, he came, thus sad, away.
Casca. Ay.
Caf. Did Cicero say any thing?
Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek,
Caf. To what effect?

Casca. Nay, an' I tell you that, Ull ne'er look you i'ch' face again. But those that understood him, smil'd at one anotber, and shook their heads; but for mine own part it was Greek to me.

I could tell you more news too. Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæfar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it,

Caf. Will you sup with me to night, Casca ?
Calca. No, I am promis d forth,
Caf. Will you dine with me to-morrow ?

Casca Ay, If i be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner be worth the eating.

Caf, Good, I will expect you.
Casca. Do so: farewell both.

[Exit. Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be? He was quick mettle when he went to school.

Caf. So is he now, in execution
of any bold or noble enterprise,
However he puts on this tardy form.
This rudeness is a sauce to bis good wit,
Which gives men stomach to digest his words
With better appetite.

Bru. And so it is : for this time I will leave you,
To-morrow, if you please to speak with me,
I will come home to you; or, if you will,
Come home to me, and I will wait for you.
Caf. I will do so ; till then think of the world.

[Exit Brutus.
Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet I see
Thy honourable metal may be wrought
From what it is dispos'd ; therefore tis meet,
That noble minds keep ever with their likes :
For who to firm that cannot be reduc'd?
Cæsar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus.
If I were Brutus now, and he were Waflius,