Julius Caesar - The Original Classic Edition. Shakespeare William

thought of this and of these times, I shall recount hereafter; for this present,

       I would not, so with love I might entreat you, Be any further moved. What you have said

       I will consider; what you have to say

       I will with patience hear, and find a time

       Both meet to hear and answer such high things. Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this: Brutus had rather be a villager

       Than to repute himself a son of Rome Under these hard conditions as this time Is like to lay upon us.

       CASSIUS. I am glad that my weak words

       Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.

       Re-enter Caesar and his Train.

       BRUTUS. The games are done, and Caesar is returning. CASSIUS. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve, And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you

       What hath proceeded worthy note today. BRUTUS. I will do so. But, look you, Cassius, The angry spot doth glow on Caesar's brow, And all the rest look like a chidden train:

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       Calpurnia's cheek is pale, and Cicero Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes As we have seen him in the Capitol,

       Being cross'd in conference by some senators. CASSIUS. Casca will tell us what the matter is. CAESAR. Antonio!

       ANTONY. Caesar?

       CAESAR. Let me have men about me that are fat, Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights: Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;

       He thinks too much; such men are dangerous. ANTONY. Fear him not, Caesar; he's not dangerous; He is a noble Roman and well given.

       CAESAR. Would he were fatter! But I fear him not, Yet if my name were liable to fear,

       I do not know the man I should avoid

       So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much, He is a great observer, and he looks

       Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays, As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music;

       Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort

       As if he mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit That could be moved to smile at anything. Such men as he be never at heart's ease

       Whiles they behold a greater than themselves, And therefore are they very dangerous.

       I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd

       Than what I fear, for always I am Caesar. Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf, And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.

       Sennet. Exeunt Caesar and all his Train but Casca. CASCA. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me? BRUTUS. Ay, Casca, tell us what hath chanced today

       That Caesar looks so sad.

       CASCA. Why, you were with him, were you not? BRUTUS. I should not then ask Casca what had chanced. CASCA. Why, there was a crown offered him, and being offered him,

       he put it by with the back of his hand, thus, and then the people fell ashouting.

       BRUTUS. What was the second noise for? CASCA. Why, for that too.

       CASSIUS. They shouted thrice. What was the last cry for? CASCA. Why, for that too.

       BRUTUS. Was the crown offered him thrice?

       CASCA. Ay, marry, wast, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler

       than other, and at every putting by mine honest neighbors shouted.

       CASSIUS. Who offered him the crown? CASCA. Why, Antony.

       BRUTUS. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.

       CASCA. I can as well be hang'd as tell the manner of it. It was mere foolery; I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him

       a

       crown (yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of these coronets) and, as I told you, he put it by once. But for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he

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       offered

       it to him again; then he put it by again. But, to my thinking, he

       was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered

       it

       the third time; he put it the third time by; and still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted and clapped their chopped

       hands

       and threw up their sweaty nightcaps and uttered such a deal

       of

       stinking breath because Caesar refused the crown that it had almost choked Caesar, for he swounded and fell down at it.

       And

       for mine own part, I durst not laugh for fear of opening my lips

       and receiving the bad air.

       CASSIUS. But, soft, I pray you, what, did Caesars wound?

       CASCA. He fell down in the marketplace and foamed at mouth and was

       speechless.

       BRUTUS. 'Tis very like. He hath the falling sickness. CASSIUS. No, Caesar hath it not, but you, and I, And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness.

       CASCA. I know not what you mean by that, but I am sure Caesar fell

       down. If the tagrag people did not clap him and hiss him according as he pleased and displeased them, as they use to

       do

       the players in the theatre, I am no true man. BRUTUS. What said he when he came unto himself ?

       CASCA. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his

       doublet

       and offered them his throat to cut. An had been a man of any occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word, I would

       I

       might go to hell among the rogues. And so he fell. When he

       came

       to himself again, he said, if he had done or said anything amiss,

       he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity.

       Three or

       four wenches where I stood cried, "Alas, good soul!" and forgave

       him with all their hearts. But there's no heed to be taken of them; if Caesar had stabbed their mothers, they would have

       done

       no less.

       BRUTUS. And after that he came, thus sad, away? CASCA. Ay.

       CASSIUS. Did Cicero say anything? CASCA. Ay, he spoke Greek. CASSIUS. To what effect?

       CASCA. Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' the face again; but those that understood him smiled at one another

       and

       shook their heads; but for mine own part, it was Greek to me.

       I

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       could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling

       scarfs off Caesar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well.

       There was more foolery yet, if could remember it. CASSIUS. Will you sup with me tonight, Casca? CASCA. No, I am promised forth.

       CASSIUS. Will you dine with me tomorrow?

       CASCA. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth

       the eating.

       CASSIUS. Good, I will expect you. CASCA. Do so, farewell, both. Exit.

       BRUTUS. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be! He was quick mettle when he went to school. CASSIUS. So is he now in execution

       Of any bold or noble enterprise, However he puts on this tardy form. This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit,

       Which gives