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 such high things.
'Till then, my noble friend, ? chew upon this ;
Brucus had rather be a villager,
Than to repute himself a son of Rome
Under 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 few of fire from Brutus.

Enter Cæfar and bis train. Bru. The Games are done, and Cæsar is returning.

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

Bru. I will do so :-But look you, Cassius,
The angry spot doch glow on Cæsar's brow,
And all the rest look like a chidden train.
Calphurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero
Looks with such 8 ferret, and such fiery eyes,
As we have seen him in the Capitol,
Being croft in conference by some Senators.

Caf. Casca will tell us what the matter is.
Cæf. Antonius,
Ant. Cæsar.
Cæs. [To Ant. apart.] Let me have men about

me that are fat;
Sleek-headed men, and such as seep a-nights :'

Yon'

$

chew upon this;] Consider this at leisure ; ruminate on this.

JOHNSON. - ferret,-) A ferret has red eyes.

Johnson. 9 Sleek-headed men, &c.) “ So in Sir Tho. Noril's Translation " of Plutarch. 1579, When Cæsar's friends complained unto “.him of Antonius and Dolabella, that they pretended some “ mischief towards him; he answered, as for those fat men and

« smooth

Yon Callius has a lean and hungry look,
He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.

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

Cæf. ''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 ; He is a great observer ; and he looks Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays, As thou doft, Antony ; he hears no musick : Seldom he smiles; and smiles in such a sort, As if he mock'd himself, and scorn'd his spirit, 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, Than what I fear; for always I am Cæfar. Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf, And tell me truly, what thou think’lt of him.

[Exeunt Cæfar and his train. Manent Brutus and Cassius : Casca to them. Casca. You pulld me by the cloak : Would you

speak with me?

“ smooth-combed heads, (quoth he) I never reckon of them : “ but those pale-visaged and carrion-lean people, I fear them “ moft, meaning Brutas and Calius."

And again, “ Cæsar had Cassius in great jealousy, and suspected him much, “ whereupon he said on a time, to his friends, what will Caflius “ do, think you ? I like not his pale looks." STEEvens.

"'Would be were fatter ;-] Johnson in his Bartholom qu-fair, unjustly sneers at this passage, in Knockhain's speech to the Pigwoman. Come, there's no malice in fat folks ; I niver fear thee, and I can scape thy jean meon-calf there.

WARBURTON.

Bru,

Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanc'd to-day, That Cæsar looks so fad.

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

Cafia. 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 ?
Cafea. 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?

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.

Caf. Who offer'd him the crown? Casca. Why, Antony. Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. Casca. I can as well be hang', as tell the manner of it: it was meer foolery, I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown ;-—-yet 'cwas 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 offer’d it to him again : 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 still as he refus’d it, the rabblement hooted and clapp'd their chopt 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 choaked 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. Caf. But, foft, I pray you? What? did Cæfar

fwoon?

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

Bru. 'Tis very like; he hath the falling sickness.

Caf. No, Cælar 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 not clap him, and hiss him, according as he pleas’d, and displeas'd them, as they used to do the Players in the theatre, 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 he refus’d the Crown, he pluckt 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 done, or said any thing amiss, be defir'd their Worships to think it was bis infirmity. Three or four wenches, where I stood, cry'd, alas, good soul ! and forgave him with all their hearts : But there's no heed to be taken of them ; if Cæsar had stabb'd their mothers, 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, I'll ne'er look you i' the face again. But those, that understood him, smil'd at one another, 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 pull

? a man of any occupation,] Had I been a mechanick, one of the Plebeiaas to whom he offered his throat.

JOHNSON.

!

ing scarfs off Cæsar'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?
Casca. 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 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 mettie, when he went to school.

Caf. So is he now, in execution
Of any bold or noble enterprize,
However he puts on this tardy form.
This rudeness is a sauce to his 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,
WeH, Brutus, thou art noble: yet, I ree,
*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 fo firm, that cannot be seduc'd ?
Cæsar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus:
"If I were Brutus now, and he were Cailius,

He 3 Tby honourable metal may b: wrought

From wbal it is dilpos'd : ] The best metal or temper may be worked into qualities contrary to its original constitution.

JOHNSON * If I were Brutus norw, and he were Caffius,

He foould not humour me.] This is a reflection on Brutus's ingratitude; which concludes, as is usual on such occafions, in an

Vol. VIII.

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