I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myfelf. Vexed I am

Of late with paffions of fome difference,
Conceptions only proper to myself;

9

Which give fome foil perhaps to my behaviour:
But let not therefore my good friends be griev❜d,
Among which number, Caffius, be you one;
Nor conftrue any farther my neglect,

Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war,
Forgets the fhews of love to other men.

Caf. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your paffion;
By means whereof, this breaft of mine hath buried
Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
Tell me, good Brutus, can you fee your face?
Bru. No, Caffius; for the eye fees not itself,
But by reflection from fome other things.
Caf. 'Tis juft.

And it is very much lamented, Brutus,
That you have no fuch mirrors as will turn
Your hidden worthiness into your eye,

That you might fee your fhadow. I have heard,
Where many of the best respect in Rome,
(Except immortal Cæfar), fpeaking of Brutus,
And groaning underneath this age's yoke,
Have wifh'd that noble Brutus had his eyes.

Bru Into what dangers would you lead me, Caffius,
That you would have me feek into myself
For that which is not in me?

Caf. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar❜d to hear; And fince you know you cannot see yourself So well as by reflection, I, your glass,

Will modeftly difcover to yourself

That of yourself which yet you know not of.

And be not jealous of me, gentle Brutus:

Were I a common laugher, or did use
To ftale with ordinary oaths my love
To every new proteftor; if you know,
That I do fawn on men, and hug them hard,
And after fcandal them; or if you know,
That I profefs myfelf in banqueting
To all the rout; then hold me dangerous.
[Flourish and fout.

Brue

Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear the people Chule Cæfar for their king.

Caf. Ay, do you fear it?

Then must I think you would not have it fo.

Bru. I would not, Caffius; yet I love him well.
But wherefore do you hold me here fo long?
What is it that you would impart to me?
If it be aught toward the general good,
Set Honour in one eye, and Death i'th' other,
And I will look on death indifferently:
For iet the Gods fo peed me, as I love
The name of Honour more than I fear Death.
Caf. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus,
As well as do know your outward favour.
Well, honour is the fubject 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 fuch a thing as I myself.

I was born free as Cæfar. fo were you;
We both have fed as well; and we can both
Endure the winter's cold as well as he.
"For once upon a raw and gufty day,

66

"The troubled Tyber chafing with his fhores, "Cæfar fays to me, Dar'ft thou, Caffius, now Leap in with me into this angry flood, And swim * to yonder point? Upon the word, "Accoutred as I was, I plunged in, "And bid him follow; fo indeed he did. "The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it "With lufty finews; throwing it afide, "And ftemming it with hearts of controverfy. "But ere we could arrive the point propos'd," Cæfar cry'd, Help me, Caffius, or I fink.

I, as Æneas, our great ancestor,

Did from the flames of Troy upon his fhoulder
The old Anchifes bear; fo from the waves of Tyber
Did I the tired Cæfar: and this man

Is now become a god, and Caffius is

Swimming was one of the generous exercifes practifed at Rome, and learned by all the youth of the beft birth ayd quality as a neceffary qualification towards good foldiership,

2

A wretched creature; and muft bend his body,
If Cæfar 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;
His coward lips did from their colour fly,

And that fame eye whofe bend doth awe the world,
Did lofe its luftre; I did hear him grone:

Ay, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans
Mark him, and write his fpeeches in their books,
Alas! it cry'd-Give me fome drink, Titinius-
As a fick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me,
A man of fuch a feeble temper should

"So get the start of the majestic world,
"And bear the palm alone."

Bru. Another general shout!

I do believe, that thefe applaufes are

[Shout. Flourish.

For fome new honours that are heap'd on Cæfar.
Caf. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
• Like a Coloffus; and we petty men

• Walk under his huge legs, and peep about
To find ourselves difhonourable graves.

• Men at fome times are mafters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,

But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

Brutus and Cæfar! what fhould be in that Cæfar? 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 start a spirit as foon as Cæfar.. Now, in the names of all the gods at once, Upon what meat does this our Cæfar feed, That he is grown fo great? Age, thou are fham'd; Rome, thou haft loft the breed of noble bloodș. • When went there by an age, fince the great flood, 6 But it was fam'd with more than with one man' • When could they fay, till now, that talk'd of Rome, • That her wide walls encompass'd but one man? *

Oh !

but one man?

Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough,

VOL. VII.

B

When

Oh ! you and I have heard our fathers fay,
There was a Brutus once, that would have brook'd
Th' eternal devil to keep his state in Rome

As eafily 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 fhall recount hereafter: for this prefent,
I would not (fo with love I might intreat you)
Be any further mov'd. What you have faid,
I will confider; what you have to fay,

I will with patience hear; and find a time
Both meet to hear, and answer fuch high things.
Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this;
Brutus had rather be a villager,

Than to repute himself a fon of Rome

Under fuch harsh conditions, as this time

Is like to lay upon us.

Caf. I am glad that my weak words

Have ftruck but thus much fhew of fire from Brutus.

SCENE IV. Enter Cæfar and his train.
Bru. The games are done, and Cæfar is returning.
Caf. As they pafs by, pluck Cafca by the fleeve,
And he will, after his four fashion, tell you
What hath proceeded worthy note to-day.

Bru. I will do fo; but look you Caffius,-
The angry fpot doth glow on Cæfar's brow,
And all the reft look like a chidden train.
Calphurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero
Looks with fuch ferret, and fuch fiery eyes,
As we have seen him in the Capitol,
Being cros'd in conf'rence by fome fenators.
Caf. Cafca will tell us what the matter is.
Cef. Antonius,—

Ant. Cæfar?

Caf. "Let me have men about me that are fat, "Sleek-headed men, and fuch as fleep a nights: "Yond Caffius has a lean and hungry look, "He thinks too much; fuch men are dangerous.

When there is in it but one only man.

Oh! you and I, &c.

Ant.

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

Caf. '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 foon as that spare Caffius. He reads much; He is a great obferver; and he looks

Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays,
As thou doft, Antony; he hears no mufic;

• Seldom he fmiles; and fmiles in fuch a fort,
As if he mock'd himself, and fcorn'd his spirit,
• That could be mov'd to finile at any thing.
Such men as he be never at heart's ease,
Whilft 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'st of him.

[Exeunt Cæfar and his train.

Manent Brutus and Caffius: Cafca, to them. Cafca. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me?

Bru. Ay, Cafca, tell us what hath chance'd to-day, That Cæfar looks fo fad.

Cafea. Why, you were with him, were you not? Bru. I fhould not then ask Cafca what had chance'd. Cafca. 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 fhouting.. Bru. What was the second noise for? Cafea. Why, for that too.

Caf. They fhouted thrice. What was the last cry for? Cafea. Why, for that too.

Bra Was the crown offer'd him thrice?

Cafca. Ay, marry was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting by, mine honeft neighbours fhouted.

Caf. Who offer'd him the crown?