But for the general. He would be crown'd "How that might change his nature, there's the que ftion. "It is the bright day that brings forth the adder; "And that craves wary walking: crown him-that"And then I grant we put a fting in him, "That at his will he may do danger with. "Th' abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins "Remorfe * from power: and, to speak truth of Cæsar, I have not known when his affections fway'd More than his reafon. But 'tis a common proof, That lowlinefs is young ambition's ladder, • Whereto the climber-upward turns his face; • But when he once attains the upmost round, * He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, fcorning the base degrees By which he did afcend: fo Cæfar may : Then, left he may, prevent. And fince the quarrel Will bear no colour, for the thing he is, Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented, Would run to these, and these extremities: And therefore think him as a ferpent's egg, Which hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mifchieAnd kill him in the fhell. Enter Lucius. Lue. The taper burneth in your closet, Sir. It did not lie there when I went to bed. [vous, [Gives him a letter. Bru. Get you to bed again, it is not day. Bru. Look in the kalendar, and bring me word. Bru. The exhalations whizzing in the air, Give so much light, that I may read by them. [Exite [Opens the letter, and reads Brutus, thou sleep ft; awake, and fee thyfelf: Shall Rome-Speak, frike, redress. ⚫ remorse, for mercy. Brutus, thou fleep'ft: awake. Such inftigations have been often dropt, Shall Rome thus mult I piece it out, Shall Rome ftand under one man's awe? what! Rome? The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a King.. Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus! Enter Lucius.. Luc. Sir, March is wafted fourteen days.. [Knock within.. Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate; fome body knocks: [Exit Lucius.. Since Caffius firft did whet me against Cæfar, I have not flept. Between the acting of a dreadful thing,. Enter Lucius. Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Caffius at the door,, Who doth defire to fee you. Bru. Is he alone? Luc. No, Sir, there are more with him. Bru. Do you know them? Luc. No, Sir, their hats are pluck'd about their ears, ̧ And half their faces buried in their cloaks; That by no means I may difscover them By any mark of favour. Bru Let them enter, They are the faction. "O Confpiracy! [Exit Lucius. "Sham' thou to fhew thy dang rous brow by night, When evils are, moft free? O then, by day Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough, "To mafk thy monftrous vifage? Seek none, Confpi"Hide it in fmiles and affability: "For if thou path, thy native femblance on, Not Erebus itself were dim enough. "To hide thee from prevention.. SCENE II. [racy ;: Enter Caffius, Cafca, Decius, Cinna, Metellus, and Trebonius. Caf. I think we are too bold upon your reft; Good morrow, Brutus, do we trouble you? Bru. I have been up this hour, awake all night. Which every noble Roman bears of you.. Bru. He is welcome hither. Bru. They are all welcome. What watchful cares do interpofe themselves Betwixt your eyes and night ? Caf. Shall I intreat a word? [They whisper. Dec. Here lies the eaft: doth not the day break here? Cafca. No. Cin. O pardon, Sir, it doth; and yon grey lines That fret the clouds, are meffengers of day. Cafca. You fhall confefs, that you are both deceiv'd: Here, as I point my fword, the fun arifes, Which is a great way growing on the fouth, Some two months hence, up higher toward the north Bru. Give me your hands all over, one by one. Bru, "No, not an oath: if that the fate of men, "The fufferance of our fouls, the time's abuse,- "That this fhall be, or we will fall for it? "Nor th' infuppreffive mettle of our fpirits, "To think, that or our caufe, or our performance,, Doth need an oath; when ev'ry drop of blood That ev'ry Roman bears, and nobly bears, Is guilty of a feveral bastardy, If he doth break the fmalleft particle: Of any promife that hath pass'd from him. Caf. But what of Cicero ? fhall we found him? Cin. No, by no means. Met. O let us have him, for his filver hairs And buy mens' voices to commend our deeds; Bru. O, name him not let us not break with him For he will never follow any thing That other men begin. Alluding to a hawk foaring on high, and intent upon its prey. † fecret, for federate; used because fecrecy is an effential quality in confederations. Gaf. Then leave him out. Cafca. Indeed he is not fit. Dec. Shall no man else be touch'd, but only Cæfar? Caf. Decius, well urg'd: I think it is not meet, Mark Antony, fo well belov'd of Cæfar, Should outlive Cæfar A fhrewd contriver. If he improve them, we fhall find of him And you know, his means, may well ftretch fo far, As to annoy us all; which to prevent, Let Antony and Cæfar fall together. Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Caffius, Let us be facrificers, but not butchers, Caius; This fhall make Cæfar muft bleed for it--" And, gentle friends, Caf. Yet do I fear him; For in the ingrafted love he bears to Cæfar-- Is to himself, take thought, and die far Cæfar : Treb. There is no fear in him; let him not die; |