So vile a thing as Cæsar! But, O grief! Before a willing bondman: then I know My answer must be made: but I'm prepar'd, [Casca.] You speak to Casca; and to such a one [Cassius.] There's a bargain made. Now, know you, Casca, I have mov'd already Of honourable, dangerous consequence; For now, this fearful night, There is no stir nor walking in the streets; Is like unto the work we have in hand, [Casca.] O Cassius! if the brother of your wife, The noble Brutus, could be brought to join us, That, what in us might seem offence, his countenance [Cassius.] Him and his worth, and our great need of him, You have right well conceited. Yet ere day We'll see him at his house: three parts of him Are ours already, and the man entire Upon the next encounter yields him ours. Go, lay this paper in the prætor's chair Where Brutus may but find it: and throw this Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us. but We do not follow the conspirators to their conference, go before them to the house of Brutus: he is alone in his garden. [Brutus.] I cannot, by the progress of the stars, Give guess how near to day.-Lucius, I say! When it is lighted, come and call me here. [a pause.] It must be by his death: and, for my part, Then lest it may,-prevent. And, since the quarrel Fashion it thus,-that what he is, augmented, Would run to these extremities; And therefore think him as a serpent's egg, Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mischievous, [Lucius.] The taper burneth in your closet, sir.- [Brutus.] Get you to bed again; it is not day.Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March? [Lucius.] I know not, sir. [Brutus.] Look in the calendar, and bring me word.- Give so much light that I may read by them. Such instigations have been often dropp'd "Shall Rome, et cetera?" Thus must I piece it— Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What! Rome ? My ancestors did from the streets of Rome The Tarquin drive when he was call'd a king: 'Speak, strike, redress!" Am I entreated then To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise, Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus. [Lucius.] Sir, March is wasted fourteen days. [Brutus.] Tis good.-Go to the gate; somebody knocks.— Since Cassius first Did whet me against Cæsar, I've not slept. [Lucius.] Sir, your brother Cassius, [Brutus.] Is he alone? [Lucius.] No, sir; there are more with him. [Lucius.] No, sir. They have their faces buried in their cloaks. [Brutus.] Well, let them enter.-O conspiracy, Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night? O then by day, Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough To mask thy monstrous visage ? Seek none, Conspiracy; Hide it in smiles and affability, Or Erebus will not be dim enough To hide thee from prevention. Cassius enters, and with him several men with their faces muffled in their gowns: Cassius speaks: [Cassius.] I think we are too bold upon your rest: Good morrow, Brutus do we trouble you ? [Brutus.] I have been up this hour; awake, all night.— Know I these men that come along with you? [Cassius.] Yes, every man of them; and no man here [Brutus.] Welcome; they are all welcome! Cassius takes Brutus aside, and detains him some minutes in whispered conference: Brutus then comes to the rest, and speaks: Give me your hands all over, one by one. [Cassius.] And let us swear [Brutus.] No, Cassius, not an oath; No other bond Than honesty to honesty engag'd, That this shall be, or we will fall by it. Swear knaves, and cowards, and such suffering souls To think that or our cause or our performance If he do break the smallest particle Of any promise that hath pass'd his lips. [Cassius.] But what of Cicero did you say, Metellus ? [Metellus.] That we should sound him; for his silver hairs Will purchase us a good opinion, And buy men's voices to commend our deeds; [Brutus.] Not to break with him; For he will never follow anything, That other men begin; pray, leave him out. [Casca.] Shall no man else be touch'd but only Cæsar ? [Cassius.] Casca, well urg'd: I do not think it meet, Mark Antony, so well belov'd of Cæsar, Should outlive Cæsar: we shall find in him A shrewd contriver; and, to' make sure prevention, [Brutus.] Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, |