The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. Уильям Шекспир

show us womanish.

        CASCA. Indeed they say the senators tomorrow

          Mean to establish Caesar as a king,

          And he shall wear his crown by sea and land

          In every place save here in Italy.

        CASSIUS. I know where I will wear this dagger then:

          Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius.

          Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong;

          Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat.

          Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass,

          Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron

          Can be retentive to the strength of spirit;

          But life, being weary of these worldly bars,

          Never lacks power to dismiss itself.

          If I know this, know all the world besides,

          That part of tyranny that I do bear

          I can shake off at pleasure. Thunder still.

        CASCA. So can I.

          So every bondman in his own hand bears

          The power to cancel his captivity.

        CASSIUS. And why should Caesar be a tyrant then?

          Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf

          But that he sees the Romans are but sheep.

          He were no lion, were not Romans hinds.

          Those that with haste will make a mighty fire

          Begin it with weak straws. What trash is Rome,

          What rubbish, and what offal, when it serves

          For the base matter to illuminate

          So vile a thing as Caesar? But, O grief,

          Where hast thou led me? I perhaps speak this

          Before a willing bondman; then I know

          My answer must be made. But I am arm'd,

          And dangers are to me indifferent.

        CASCA. You speak to Casca, and to such a man

          That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold, my hand.

          Be factious for redress of all these griefs,

          And I will set this foot of mine as far

          As who goes farthest.

        CASSIUS. There's a bargain made.

          Now know you, Casca, I have moved already

          Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans

          To undergo with me an enterprise

          Of honorable-dangerous consequence;

          And I do know by this, they stay for me

          In Pompey's Porch. For now, this fearful night,

          There is no stir or walking in the streets,

          And the complexion of the element

          In favor's like the work we have in hand,

          Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.

      Enter Cinna.

        CASCA. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste.

        CASSIUS. 'Tis Cinna, I do know him by his gait;

          He is a friend. Cinna, where haste you so?

        CINNA. To find out you. Who's that? Metellus Cimber?

        CASSIUS. No, it is Casca, one incorporate

          To our attempts. Am I not stay'd for, Cinna?

        CINNA. I am glad on't. What a fearful night is this!

          There's two or three of us have seen strange sights.

        CASSIUS. Am I not stay'd for? Tell me.

        CINNA. Yes, you are.

          O Cassius, if you could

          But win the noble Brutus to our party-

        CASSIUS. Be you content. Good Cinna, take this paper,

          And look you lay it in the praetor's chair,

          Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this

          In at his window; set this up with wax

          Upon old Brutus' statue. All this done,

          Repair to Pompey's Porch, where you shall find us.

          Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there?

        CINNA. All but Metellus Cimber, and he's gone

          To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie

          And so bestow these papers as you bade me.

        CASSIUS. 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 offense in us,

          His countenance, like richest alchemy,

          Will change to virtue and to worthiness.

        CASSIUS. 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

      Enter Brutus in his orchard.

        BRUTUS. What, Lucius, ho!

          I cannot, by the progress of the stars,

          Give guess how near to day. Lucius, I say!

          I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.

          When, Lucius, when? Awake, I say! What, Lucius!

      Enter Lucius.

        LUCIUS. Call'd you, my lord?

        BRUTUS. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius.

          When it is lighted, come and call me here.

        LUCIUS. I will, my lord. Exit.

        BRUTUS. 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 nature, there's the question.

          It is the bright day that brings forth the adder

          And that craves wary walking. Crown him that,

          And then, I grant, we put a sting in him

          That at his will he may do danger with.

          The abuse of greatness is when it