And put on fear, and cast yourself in wonder, A man no mightier than thyself, or me, Casca. "Tis Cæsar that you mean: Is it not, Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now Have thewes 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. 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; Why birds, and beasts, from quality and kind; &c.] That is, Why they deviate from quality and nature. and children calculate;] Calculate here signifies to foretel or prophesy. prodigious grown,] Prodigious is portentous. "Have thewes and limbs -] Thewes is an obsolete word implying nerves or muscular strength. Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius: If I know this, know all the world besides, I can shake off at pleasure. Casca. So can I: Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then? So vile a thing as Cæsar! But, O, grief! My answer must be made: But I am arm'd, Casca. You speak to Casca; and to such a man, And I will set this foot of mine as far, As who goes farthest. Cas. There's a bargain made. 9 My answer must be made :] I shall be called to account, and must answer as for seditious words. Hold my hand:] Is the same as, Here's my hand. Be factious for redress-] Factious seems here to mean active. Now know you, Casca, I have mov'd already Is favour'd,3 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. You are. O, Cassius, if you could but win The noble Brutus to our party 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 Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone Is favour'd, -] To favour is to resemble. Cas. That done, repair to Pompey's theatre. [Exit CINNA. Come, Casca, you and I will, yet, ere day, See Brutus at his house: three parts of him Is ours already; and the man entire, 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, For it is after midnight; and, ere day, We will awake him, and be sure of him. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. The same. Brutus's Orchard. Enter BRUTUS. Bru. What, Lucius! ho! I cannot, by the progress of the stars, Give guess how near to day.-Lucius, I say!- Enter LUCIUS. 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:- question. It is the bright day, that brings forth the adder; And then, I grant, we put a sting in him, I have not known when his affections sway'd Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented, And kill him in the shell. Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, sir. Searching the window for a flint, I found This paper, thus seal'd up; and, I am sure, Remorse from power:] Remorse is pity, tenderness. common 7 base degrees] Low steps. as his kind,] i. e. like the rest of his species. |