It is the part of men to fear and tremble, Cas. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of life A man no mightier than thyself, or me, Cassius? Is it not, Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now Have thewes9 and limbs like to their ancestors; But, woe the while! our fathers' minds are dead, And we are govern'd with our mothers' spirits; Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish. 6 i. e. why birds and beasts deviate from their condition and nature; why old men, fools, and children calculate; i. e. foretel or prophesy. At the suggestion of Sir William Blackstone this last line has been erroneously pointed in all the late editions:Why old men fools, and children calculate.' He observed, that there was no prodigy in old men's calculating; but who were so likely to listen to prophecies as children, fools, and the superstitious eld?' 8 Portentous. 9 i. e. sinews, muscular strength. See note on King Henry IV. Part 1. Act iii. Sc. 2. Casca. Indeed, they say, the senators to-morrow Mean to establish Cæsar as a king: And he shall wear his crown by sea and land, Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then; Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius: Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; If I know this, know all the world besides, I can shake off at pleasure. Casca. So can I: So every bondman in his own hand bears Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then? So vile a thing as Cæsar? But, O, grief! Casca. You speak to Casca; and to such a man, 10 Thus in Cymbeline, Act v. Posthumus, speaking of his chains:take this life, And cancel these cold bonds." 11 I know I shall be called to account, and must answer for having uttered seditious words. So in Much Ado about Nothing:Sweet prince, let me go no further to mine answer; do you hear me, and let this count kill me.' That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold my hand: Cas. In favour's13, like the work we have in hand, Enter CINNA. Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. Cas. 'Tis Cinna, I do know him by his gait: He is a friend.-Cinna, where haste you so? Cin To find out you: Who's that? Metellus Cimber? Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate To our attempts. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Cin. I am glad on't. What a fearful night is this! There's two or three of us have seen strange sights. Cas. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Tell me. Cin. Yes, Cas. Be you content: Good Cinna, take this paper, And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this In at his window: set this up with wax • Be 12 Hold my hand' is the same as Here's my hand.' factious for redress' means, be contentious, enterprising for redress. 13 The old copy reads, Is favours.' Favour here is put for appearance, look, countenance: to favour is to resemble. Upon old Brutus' statue: all this done, Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us. Is Decius Brutus, and Trebonius, there? Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone Come, Casca, you and I will, yet, ere day, Upon the next encounter, yields him ours. Casca. O, he sits high in all the people's hearts: And that, which would appear offence in us, His countenance, like richest alchymy, Will change to virtue, and to worthiness. Cas. Him, and his worth, and our great need of him, You have right well conceited. Let us go, We will awake him, and be sure of him. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. The same. Brutus's Orchard1. Enter BRUTUS. Bru. What, Lucius! ho! I cannot, by the progress of the stars, 1 Orchard and garden appear to have been synonymous with our ancestors. In Romeo and Juliet Capulet's garden is twice called orchard. The word was anciently written hort-yard; but it is a mistake to suppose this points at the Latin hortus. The word is from the Saxon ortgeard, which is itself put for pyrtgeard, Give guess how near to day.-Lucius, I say!- Luc. Call'd you, my lord? Bru. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius: When it is lighted, come and call me here. Luc. I will, my lord. [Exit. Bru. It must be by his death: and, for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, But for the general. He would be crown'd:How that might change his naturé, there's the question. It is the bright day, that brings forth the adder; And then, I grant, we put a sting in him, a place for herbs. In a subsequent scene of this play orchard is again used for garden: he hath left you all his walks, His private arbours, and new planted orchards On this side Tyber.' 2 See note on King Richard II. Act ii. Sc. 2. 3 Shakspeare usually uses remorse for pity, tenderness of heart. Daniel's Civil Wars, 1602. |