Enter Caesar, Antony for the course, Calpurnia, Portia, 85Decius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, a Soothsayer; 86after them Murellus and Flavius. Calpurnia.
Calpurnia. Peace ho! Caesar speaks.
Calpurnia. Peace ho! Caesar speaks. Calpurnia!
Here, my Lord.
Stand you directly in Antonio's way
1.2.492When he doth run his course. Antonio!
Caesar, my Lord?
Forget not in your speed, Antonio,
1.2.795To touch Calpurnia, for our elders say,
1.2.896The barren touchèd in this holy chase,
1.2.997Shake off their sterile curse.
Shake off their sterile curse. I shall remember.
1.2.1099When Caesar says, "Do this," it is performed.
Set on, and leave no ceremony out.
Caesar!
Ha? Who calls?
Bid every noise be still! Peace yet again!
Who is it in the press that calls on me?
1.2.16105I hear a tongue shriller than all the music
1.2.17106Cry "Caesar." Speak! Caesar is turned to hear.
Beware the ides of March.
Beware the ides of March. What man is that?
A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
Set him before me. Let me see his face.
Fellow, come from the throng! Look upon Caesar.
What say'st thou to me now? Speak once again.
Beware the ides of March.
He is a dreamer. Let us leave him. Pass.
1.2.24.2Exeunt [all but Brutus and Cassius]. Will you go see the order of the course?
Not I.
I pray you, do.
I am not gamesome. I do lack some part
1.2.29120Of that quick spirit that is in Antony.
1.2.30121Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires.
Brutus, I do observe you now of late.
1.2.33124I have not from your eyes that gentleness
1.2.34125And show of love as I was wont to have.
1.2.35126You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
Over your friend that loves you. Cassius,
1.2.37129Be not deceived. If I have veiled my look,
1.2.38130I turn the trouble of my countenance
1.2.40132Of late with passions of some difference,
1.2.42134Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviors;
1.2.43135But let not therefore my good friends be grieved,
1.2.44136Among which number, Cassius, be you one,
1.2.46138Than that poor Brutus with himself at war,
1.2.47139Forgets the shows of love to other men.
Then Brutus, I have much mistook your passion,
1.2.49141By means whereof, this breast of mine hath buried
1.2.50142Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
1.2.51143Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?
No, Cassius,
145for the eye sees not itself
1.2.53But by reflection,
146by some other things.
'Tis just.
1.2.55148And it is very much lamented, Brutus,
1.2.56149That you have no such mirrors as will turn
1.2.57150Your hidden worthiness into your eye,
1.2.59153Where many of the best respect in Rome,
1.2.60154Except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus
1.2.61155And groaning underneath this age's yoke,
1.2.62156Have wished that noble Brutus had his eyes.
Into what dangers, would you
158lead me, Cassius,
1.2.64159That you would have me seek into myself
Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear;
1.2.67162And since you know you cannot see yourself
1.2.68163So well as by reflection, I, your glass,
1.2.70165That of yourself which you yet know not of.
1.2.71166And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus.
1.2.72167Were I a common laughter, or did use
1.2.73168To stale with ordinary oaths my love
1.2.75170That I do fawn on men and hug them hard
1.2.76171And after scandal them; or if you know
1.2.78173To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.
What means this shouting?
176I do fear the people
Choose Caesar for their king. Ay, do you fear it?
1.2.81179Then must I think you would not have it so.
I would not, Cassius, yet I love him well.
1.2.83181But wherefore do you hold me here so long?
1.2.84182What is it that you would impart to me?
1.2.85183If it be ought toward the general good,
1.2.86184Set honor in one eye and death i'th'other,
1.2.87185And I will look on both indifferently.
1.2.88186For let the gods so speed me, as I love
1.2.89187The name of honor more than I fear death.
I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus,
1.2.91189As well as I do know your outward favor.
1.2.92190Well, honor is the subject of my story.
1.2.93191I cannot tell what you and other men
1.2.94192Think of this life, but for my single self,
1.2.97195I was born free as Caesar, so were you;
1.2.98196We both have fed as well; and we can both
1.2.99197Endure the winter's cold, as well as he.
1.2.101199The troubled Tiber, chafing with her shores,
1.2.102200Caesar said to me, "Dar'st thou, Cassius, now
1.2.104202And swim to yonder point?" Upon the word,
1.2.107205The torrent roared, and we did buffet it
1.2.109207And stemming it with hearts of controversy.
1.2.110208But ere we could arrive the point proposed,
1.2.111209Caesar cried, "Help me, Cassius, or I sink."
1.2.113211Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
1.2.114212The old Anchises bear, so, from the waves of Tiber
1.2.117215A wretched creature and must bend his body
1.2.121219How he did shake. 'Tis true, this god did shake.
1.2.122220His coward lips did from their color fly,
1.2.123221And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world,
1.2.124222Did lose his luster. I did hear him groan.
1.2.125223Ay, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans
1.2.126224Mark him and write his speeches in their books,
1.2.127225"Alas," it cried, "Give me some drink, Titinius,"
1.2.128226As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me
Another general shout?
1.2.134233For some new honors that are heaped on Caesar.
Why man, he doth bestride the narrow world
1.2.137236Walk under his huge legs, and peep about
1.2.139238Men at some time are masters of their fates.
1.2.140239The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
1.2.141240But in ourselves that we are underlings.
1.2.142241"Brutus" and "Caesar." What should be in that "Caesar"?
1.2.143242Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
1.2.144243Write them together: yours is as fair a name.
1.2.145244Sound them: it doth become the mouth as well.
1.2.146245Weigh them: it is as heavy. Conjure with 'em:
1.2.147246"Brutus" will start a spirit as soon as "Caesar."
1.2.148247Now in the names of all the gods at once,
1.2.149248Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed
1.2.150249That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed!
1.2.151250Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!
1.2.152251When went there by an age since the great flood,
1.2.153252But it was famed with more than with one man?
1.2.154253When could they say, till now, that talked of Rome,
1.2.155254That her wide walks encompassed but one man?
1.2.158257Oh, you and I have heard our fathers say
1.2.159258There was a Brutus once that would have brooked
1.2.160259Th'eternal devil to keep his state in Rome
That you do love me, I am nothing jealous.
1.2.163262What you would work me to, I have some aim.
1.2.164263How I have thought of this and of these times
1.2.165264I shall recount hereafter. For this present,
1.2.166265I would not, so with love I might entreat you,
1.2.167266Be any further moved. What you have said,
1.2.169268I will with patience hear, and find a time
1.2.170269Both meet to hear and answer such high things.
1.2.171270Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this:
1.2.174273Under these hard conditions as this time
1.2.176I am glad that my weak words
1.2.177276Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.
The games are done,
279and Caesar is returning.
As they pass by,
281pluck Casca by the sleeve,
1.2.180282And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you
I will do so. But look you, Cassius,
1.2.183285The angry spot doth glow on Caesar's brow,
1.2.184286And all the rest look like a chidden train:
1.2.186288Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes
1.2.188290Being crossed in conference by some senators.
Casca will tell us what the matter is.
Antonio!
Caesar?
Let me have men about me that are fat,
1.2.193295Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o'nights.
1.2.194296Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look.
1.2.195297He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.
Fear him not Caesar, he's not dangerous,
Would he were fatter! But I fear him not.
1.2.201303So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much,
1.2.203305Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays,
1.2.204306As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music;
1.2.205307Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort
1.2.206308As if he mocked himself and scorned his spirit
1.2.207309That could be moved to smile at anything.
1.2.209311Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,
1.2.212314Than what I fear, for always I am Caesar.
1.2.213315Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,
1.2.214316And tell me truly, what thou think'st of him.
You pulled me by the cloak. Would you speak
319with me?
Ay, Casca. Tell us what hath chanced today,
Why, you were with him, were you not?
I should not then ask Casca what had chanced.
Why, there was a crown offered him; and being
325offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus,
326and then the people fell a-shouting.
What was the second noise for?
Why, for that too.
They shouted thrice. What was the last cry for?
Why, for that too.
Was the crown offered him thrice?
Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every
333time gentler than other; and at every putting by, mine
334honest neighbors shouted.
Who offered him the crown?
Why, Antony.
Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.
I can as well be hanged as tell the manner of it.
339It was mere foolery. I did not mark it. I saw
340Mark Antony offered him a crown; yet 'twas not a
341crown, neither; 'twas one of these coronets. And as I
342told you, he put it by once; but for all that, to my
343thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to
344him again; then he put it by again. But to my
345thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then
346he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by.
347And still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted, and clapped
348their chapped hands, and threw up their sweaty
349nightcaps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath,
350because Caesar refused the crown, that it
351had almost choked Caesar, for he swooned, and fell
352down at it. And for mine own part, I durst not laugh,
353for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad
354air.
But soft, I pray you: what, did Caesar swoon?
He fell down in the marketplace and foamed
357at mouth, and was speechless.
'Tis very like. He hath the falling sickness.
No, Caesar hath it not, but you and I,
1.2.235360And honest Casca: we have the falling sickness.
I know not what you mean by that, but I am
362sure Caesar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not
363clap him, and hiss him, according as he pleased, and
364displeased them, as they use to do the players in the
365theater, I am no true man.
What said he, when he came unto himself?
Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived
368the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he
369plucked me ope his doublet, and offered them his throat
370to cut. And I had been a man of any occupation, if I
371would not have taken him at a word, I would I might
372go to hell among the rogues, and so he fell. When
373he came to himself again, he said, if he had done or
374said anything amiss, he desired their worships to think
375it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches where I
376stood, cried, "Alas, good soul," and forgave him with
377all their hearts. But there's no heed to be taken of them.
378If Caesar had stabbed their mothers, they would have done
379no less.
And after that, he came thus sad away.
Ay.
Did Cicero say anything?
Ay, he spoke Greek.
To what effect?
Nay, and I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you
386i'th'face again. But those that understood him, smiled
387at one another and shook their heads. But for mine
388own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more
389news too: Murellus and Flavius, for pulling scarves
390off Caesar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well.
391There was more foolery yet, if I could
392remember it.
Will you sup with me tonight, Casca?
No, I am promised forth.
Will you dine with me tomorrow?
Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your
397dinner worth the eating.
Good, I will expect you.
Do so. Farewell both.
What a blunt fellow is this grown to be?
1.2.252401He was quick mettle when he went to school.
So is he now, in execution
1.2.256405This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit,
1.2.257406Which gives men stomach to digest his words
With better appetite. And so it is.
1.2.260410Tomorrow, if you please to speak with me,
1.2.261411I will come home to you, or if you will,
1.2.262412Come home to me, and I will wait for you.
I will do so. Till then, think of the world.
1.2.266417From that it is disposed. Therefore it is meet
1.2.267418That noble minds keep ever with their likes,
1.2.269420Caesar doth bear me hard, but he loves Brutus.
1.2.270421If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius,
1.2.271422He should not humor me. I will this night
1.2.272423In several hands in at his windows throw,
1.2.274425Writings, all tending to the great opinion
1.2.275426That Rome holds of his name, wherein obscurely
1.2.277428And after this, let Caesar seat him sure,
1.2.278429For we will shake him, or worse days endure.