SCENE II. The same. A public place. Enter, in procession, with musick, Cæsar; Antony, for the course: Calphurnia, Portia, Decius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, and Casca, a great crowd following, among them a Soothsayer. Cas. Calphurnia, Casca. Peace, ho! Cæsar speaks. Cal. Here, my lord. Cæs. Cas. Stand you directly in Antonius' way, When he doth run his course.-Antonius. Ant. Cæsar, my lord. Cas. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius, I shall remember: Ant. Sooth. Cæsar. Cas. Ha! who calls? [Musick. Casca. Bid every noise be still:-Peace yet again. [Musick ceases. Cas. Who is it in the presst, that calls on me? I hear a tongue, shriller than all the musick, Cry, Cæsar: Speak; Cæsar is turn'd to hear. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cas. What man is that? A ceremony observed at the feast of Lupercalia. + Crowd. Bru. A soothsayer, bids you beware the ides of March. Cæs. Set him before me, let me see his face. Cas. Fellow, come from the throng: Look upon Cæsar. Cas. What say'st thou to me now? Speak once again. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cas. He is a dreamer; let us leave him;-pass. Cas. I pray you, do. Bru. I am not gamesome: I do lack some part Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires; Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late: Bru. Cassius, Be not deceiv'd: if I have veil'd my look, Of late, with passions of some difference, Which give some soil, perhaps to my behaviours: Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Cus. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion t, By means whereof, this breast of mine hath buried *Flourish of instruments. + The nature of your feelings. ་ Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. Cas. 'Tis just: And it is very much lamented, Brutus, That you have no such mirrors, as will turn That you might see your shadow. I have heard, That you would have me seek into myself For that which is not in me? Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar'd to hear: And, since you know you cannot see yourself So well as by reflection, I, your glass, Will modestly discover to yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of. That I do fawn on men, and hug them hard, To all the rout, then hold me dangerous. [Flourish and shout. Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear, the people Choose Cæsar for their king. Cas. Ay, do you fear it? Then must I think you would not have it so. Bru. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well:But wherefore do you hold me here so long? * Allure. What is it that you would impart to me? For, let the gods so speed me, as I love In awe of such a thing as I myself. I was born free as Cæsar; so were you: And bade him follow: so, indeed, he did. I, as Æneas, our great ancestor, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder Is now become a god; and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body, 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: * Windy. His coward lips did from their colour fly; And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world, Did lose his lustre: I did hear him groan: Ay, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans Mark him, and write his speeches in their books, Give me some drink, Titinius, Alas! it cried, As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me, Bru. Another general shout! [Shout. Flourish. I do believe, that these applauses are For some new honours that are heap'd on Cæsar. Cas. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world, Like a Colossus; and we petty men Walk under his huge legs, and peep about Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure them, Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar. [Shout. Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed, * Temperament, constitution. |