Tell. SCALING yonder peak! I saw an eagle, wheeling near its brow That buoy'd him proudly up!-Instinctively Of measuring the ample range beneath, The death that threaten'd him!-I couldn't shoot! And let him soar away! When I wedded thee The land was free!-O with what pride, I us'd How happy was I in it then!-I lov'd Its very storms!-Yes, Emma!—I have sat In my boat, at night, when down the mountain gorge The wind came, roaring-sat in it, and ey'd Knowles. Brutus and Cassius. Cas. That you have wrong'd me doth appear in this: You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella, For taking bribes here of the Sardians; Wherein, my letters, praying on his side, Because I knew the man, were slighted off. Bru. You wrong'd yourself, to write in such a case. Cas. In such a time as this, it is not meet That every nice offence should bear its comment. Bru. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm; To sell and mart your offices for gold, To undeservers. Cas. I an itching palm? You know that you are Brutus that speak this, Cas. Chastisement! Bru. Remember March, the ides of March remember! Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, And not for justice? What! shall one of us, That struck the foremost man of all this world, But for supporting robbers; shall we now Contaminate our fingers with base bribes? And sell the mighty space of our large honours, For so much trash as may be grasped thus?I'd rather be a dog, and bay the moon, Than such a Roman. Cas. Brutus, bay not me, I'll not endure it: you forget yourself, Bru. Go to; you're not, Cassius. Bru. I say, you are not. Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further. Bru. Away, slight man! Cas. Is't possible? Bru. Hear me, for I will speak. Must I give way and room to your rash choler? Cas. O gods! ye gods! Must I endure all this? Bru. All this? ay, more: Fret, till your proud heart break; Go, show your slaves how cholerick you are, And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge? Cas. Is it come to this? Bru. You say, you are a better soldier: Let me appear so; make your vaunting true, I shall be glad to learn of noble men. Cas. You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus. I said, an elder soldier, not a better; Did I say better? Bru. If you did, I care not. Cas. When Cæsar liv'd, he durst not thus have mov'd me. Bru. Peace, peace; you durst not so have tempted him. Cas. I durst not? Bru. No. Cas. What! durst not tempt him? Bru. For your life you durst not. Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love, I may do that I shall be sorry for. Bru. You have done that you For certain sums of gold, which you deny'd me ;- To you for gold to pay my legions, Which you denied me: Was that done like Cassius? When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous, To lock such rascal counters from his friends, Cas. I denied you not. Bru. You did. Cas. I did not:-he was but a fool, That brought my answer back.—Brutus hath riv'n my heart: A friend should bear his friend's infirmities, Bru. I do not like your faults. Cas. A friendly eye can never see such faults. As huge as high Olympus. Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come, Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius, For Cassius is aweary of the world: Hated by one he loves; brav'd by his brother; When thou didst hate him worst, thou lov'dst him better Bru. Sheath your dagger: Be angry when you will, it shall have scope; Cas. Hath Cassius liv'd To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, Cas. O Brutus! Bru. What's the matter? Cas. Have you not love enough to bear with me, When that rash humour, which my mother gave me, Makes me forgetful? Bru. Yes, Cassius; and, henceforth, When you are over-earnest with your Brutus, Shakspeare. |