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Julius Caesar (Modern)
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1970[4.3]
Cassius
That you have wronged me doth appear in this:
1971You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella
1972For taking bribes here of the Sardians,
1973Wherein my letters, praying on his side,
1974Because I knew the man, was slighted off
1975Brutus
You wronged yourself to write in such a case.
1976Cassius
In such a time as this, it is not meet
1977That every nice offense should bear his comment.
1978Brutus
Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
1979Are much condemned to have an itching palm,
1980To sell and mart your offices for gold
1981To undeservers.
1982Cassius
I, an itching palm?
1983You know that you are Brutus that speaks this,
1984Or by the gods, this speech were else your last!
1985Brutus
The name of Cassius honors this corruption,
1986And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
1987Cassius
Chastisement!
1988Brutus
Remember March, the ides of March remember.
1989Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?
1990What villain touched his body that did stab
1991And not for justice? What, shall one of us
1992That struck the foremost man of all this world
1993But for supporting robbers, shall we now
1994Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
1995And sell the mighty space of our large honors
1996For so much trash as may be graspèd thus?
1997I had rather be a dog and bay the moon
1998Than such a Roman.
1999Cassius
Brutus, bait not me!
2000I'll not endure it. You forget yourself
2001To hedge me in. I am a soldier, I,
2002Older in practice, abler than yourself
2003To make conditions.
2004Brutus
Go to. You are not Cassius.
2005Cassius
I am.
2006Brutus
I say, you are not.
2007Cassius
Urge me no more! I shall forget myself.
2008Have mind upon your health. Tempt me no farther.
2009Brutus
Away, slight man.
2010Cassius
Is't possible?
2011Brutus
Hear me, for I will speak.
2012Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
2013Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?
2014Cassius
O ye gods! Ye gods! Must I endure all this?
2015Brutus
All this? Ay, more. Fret till your proud heart break.
2016Go show your slaves how choleric you are,
2017And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?
2018Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch
2019Under your testy humor? By the gods,
2020You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
2021Though it do split you. For from this day forth,
2022I'll use you for my mirth, yea for my laughter,
2023When you are waspish.
2024Cassius
Is it come to this?
2025Brutus
You say you are a better soldier.
2026Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,
2027And it shall please me well. For mine own part,
2028I shall be glad to learn of noble men.
2029Cassius
You wrong me every way. 2030You wrong me, Brutus.
2031I said an elder soldier, not a better.
2032Did I say "better"?
2033Brutus
If you did, I care not.
2034Cassius
When Caesar lived, he durst not thus have moved me.
2035Brutus
Peace, peace! You durst not so have tempted him.
2036Cassius
I durst not?
2037Brutus
No.
2038Cassius
What? durst not tempt him?
2039Brutus
For your life you durst not.
2040Cassius
Do not presume too much upon my love;
2041I may do that I shall be sorry for.
2042Brutus
You have done that you should be sorry for.
2043There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats,
2044For I am armed so strong in honesty
2045That they pass by me as the idle wind,
2046Which I respect not. I did send to you
2047For certain sums of gold, which you denied me,
2048For I can raise no money by vile means.
2049By heaven, I had rather coin my heart
2050And drop my blood for drachmas than to wring
2051From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
2052By any indirection. I did send
2053To you for gold to pay my legions,
2054Which you denied me. Was that done like Cassius?
2055Should I have answered Caius Cassius so?
2056When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,
2057To lock such rascal counters from his friends,
2058Be ready, gods: with all your thunderbolts
2059Dash him to pieces.
2060Cassius
I denied you not.
2061Brutus
You did.
2062Cassius
I did not. He was but a fool
2063That brought my answer back. Brutus hath rived my hart.
2064A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,
2065But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
2066Brutus
I do not, till you practice them on me.
2067Cassius
You love me not.
2068Brutus
I do not like your faults.
2069Cassius
A friendly eye could never see such faults.
2070Brutus
A flatterer's would not, though they do appear
2071As huge as high Olympus.
2072Cassius
Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
2073Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
2074For Cassius is aweary of the world,
2075Hated by one he loves, braved by his brother,
2076Checked like a bondman, all his faults observed,
2077Set in a notebook, learned, and conned by rote
2078To cast into my teeth. Oh, I could weep
2079My spirit from mine eyes. There is my dagger,
2080And here my naked breast; within, a heart
2081Dearer than Pluto's mine, richer than gold.
2082If that thou be'est a Roman, take it forth.
2083I that denied the gold will give my heart.
2084Strike as thou did'st at Caesar, for I know,
2085When thou did'st hate him worst, thou loved'st him better
2086Than ever thou loved'st Cassius.
2087Brutus
Sheath your dagger.
2088Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
2089Do what you will, dishonor shall be humor.
2090O Cassius, you are yokèd with a lamb
2091That carries anger as the flint bears fire,
2092Who much enforcèd, shows a hasty spark,
2093And straight is cold again.
2094Cassius
Hath Cassius lived
2095To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
2096When grief and blood ill-tempered vexeth him?
2097Brutus
When I spoke that, I was ill-tempered too.
2098Cassius
Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.
2099Brutus
And my heart too.
2100Cassius
O Brutus!
2101Brutus
What's the matter?
2102Cassius
Have not you love enough to bear with me,
2103When that rash humor which my mother gave me
2104Makes me forgetful?
2105Brutus
Yes, Cassius, and from henceforth,
2106When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,
2107He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so.
2109Poet
Let me go in to see the generals!
2110There is some grudge between 'em. 'Tis not meet
2111They be alone.
2112Lucilius
You shall not come to them!
2113Poet
Nothing but death shall stay me.
2114Cassius
How now? What's the matter?
2115Poet
For shame, you generals! What do you mean?
Love, and be friends, as two such men should be,
2117For I have seen more years, I'm sure, than ye.
2118Cassius
Ha, ha! How vilely doth this cynic rhyme!
2119Brutus
Get you hence, sirrah! Saucy fellow, hence!
2120Cassius
Bear with him, Brutus; 'tis his fashion.
2121Brutus
I'll know his humor, when he knows his time.
2122What should the wars do with these jigging fools?
2123Companion, hence.
2124Cassius
Away, away be gone.
138.1Exit Poet
2125Brutus
Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders
2126Prepare to lodge their companies tonight.
2127Cassius
And come yourselves, and bring Messala with you
2128Immediately to us.
[Exeunt Lucilius and Titinius]
2129Brutus
Lucius, a bowl of wine.
2130Cassius
I did not think you could have been so angry.
2131Brutus
O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.
2132Cassius
Of your philosophy you make no use,
2133If you give place to accidental evils.
2134Brutus
No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead.
2135Cassius
Ha? Portia?
2136Brutus
She is dead.
2137Cassius
How scaped I killing, when I crossed you so?
2138O insupportable and touching loss!
2139Upon what sickness?
2140Brutus
Impatient of my absence,
2141And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
2142Have made themselves so strong--for with her death
2143That tidings came--with this she fell distract,
2144And, her attendants absent, swallowed fire.
2145Cassius
And died so?
2146Brutus
Even so.
2147Cassius
O ye immortal gods!
2149Brutus
Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine.
2150In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius.
159.1Drinks
2151Cassius
My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge.
2152Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup.
2153I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love.
162.1[Drinks. Exit Lucius.]
2155Brutus
Come in, Titinius. 2156Welcome, good Messala.
2157Now sit we close about this taper here,
2158And call in question our necessities.
2159Cassius
Portia, art thou gone?
2160Brutus
No more I pray you.
2161Messala, I have here received letters
2162That young Octavius and Mark Antony
2163Come down upon us with a mighty power,
2164Bending their expedition toward Philippi.
2165Messala
Myself have letters of the self-same tenor.
2166Brutus
With what addition?
2167Messala
That by proscription and bills of outlawry
2168Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus
2169Have put to death an hundred senators.
2170Brutus
Therein our letters do not well agree:
2171Mine speak of seventy senators that died
2172By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.
2173Cassius
Cicero one?
2174Messala
Cicero is dead,
And by that order of proscription.
2175Had you your letters from your wife, my Lord?
2176Brutus
No, Messala.
2177Messala
Nor nothing in your letters writ of her?
2178Brutus
Nothing, Messala.
2179Messala
That methinks is strange.
2180Brutus
Why ask you? 2181Hear you ought of her in yours?
2182Messala
No, my lord.
2183Brutus
Now as you are a Roman, tell me true.
2184Messala
Then like a Roman, bear the truth I tell.
2185For certain she is dead, and by strange manner.
2186Brutus
Why farewell Portia. We must die, Messala.
2187With meditating that she must die once,
2188I have the patience to endure it now.
2189Messala
Even so great men great losses should endure.
2190Cassius
I have as much of this in art as you,
2191But yet my nature could not bear it so.
2192Brutus
Well, to our work alive. What do you think
2193Of marching to Philippi presently?
2194Cassius
I do not think it good.
2195Brutus
Your reason?
2196Cassius
This it is:
2197'Tis better that the enemy seek us,
2198So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers,
2199Doing himself offense, whilst we, lying still,
2200Are full of rest, defense, and nimbleness.
2201Brutus
Good reasons must of force give place to better.
2202The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground
2203Do stand but in a forced affection,
2204For they have grudged us contribution.
2205The enemy, marching along by them,
2206By them shall make a fuller number up,
2207Come on refreshed, new-added, and encouraged,
2208From which advantage shall we cut him off,
2209If at Philippi we do face him there,
2210These people at our back.
2211Cassius
Hear me, good brother--
2212Brutus
Under your pardon. You must note, beside,
2213That we have tried the utmost of our friends,
2214Our legions are brim full, our cause is ripe.
2215The enemy increaseth every day;
2216We, at the height, are ready to decline.
2217There is a tide in the affairs of men,
2218Which taken at the flood leads on to fortune;
2219Omitted, all the voyage of their life
2220Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
2221On such a full sea are we now afloat,
2222And we must take the current when it serves,
2223Or lose our ventures.
2224Cassius
Then with your will go on.
We'll along 2225ourselves and meet them at Philippi.
2226Brutus
The deep of night is crept upon our talk,
2227And nature must obey necessity,
2228Which we will niggard with a little rest.
2229There is no more to say.
2230Cassius
No more, good night,
2231Early tomorrow will we rise, and hence.
2232Brutus
Lucius!
2233Enter Lucius.
My gown.
[Exit Lucius.]
Farewell, good Messala.
2234Good night Titinius. Noble, noble Cassius,
2235Good night, and good repose.
2236Cassius
O my dear brother!
2237This was an ill beginning of the night.
2238Never come such division 'tween our souls;
2239Let it not, Brutus.
2240Enter Lucius with the gown.
2241Brutus
Everything is well.
2242Cassius
Good night, my lord.
2243Brutus
Good night, good brother.
2244Titinius, Messala
Good night, Lord Brutus.
2245Brutus
Farewell, everyone.
240.1Exeunt [Cassius, Titinius, Messala].
2246Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument?
2247Lucius
Here in the tent.
2248Brutus
What? Thou speak'st drowsily!
2249Poor knave, I blame thee not; thou art o'er-watched.
2250Call Claudio and some other of my men.
2251I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.
2252Lucius
Varrus and Claudio!
2254Varrus
Calls my Lord?
2255Brutus
I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep.
2256It may be I shall raise you by and by
2257On business to my brother Cassius.
2258Varrus
So please you, we will stand 2259and watch your pleasure.
2260Brutus
I will not have it so. Lie down, good sirs.
2261It may be I shall otherwise bethink me.
2262Look, Lucius, here's the book I sought for so:
2263I put it in the pocket of my gown.
2264Lucius
I was sure your lordship did not give it me.
2265Brutus
Bear with me, good boy. I am much forgetful.
2266Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile,
2267And touch thy instrument a strain or two?
2268Lucius
Ay, my lord, an't please you.
2269Brutus
It does, my boy:
2270I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing.
2271Lucius
It is my duty, sir.
2272Brutus
I should not urge thy duty past thy might;
2273I know young bloods look for a time of rest.
2274Lucius
I have slept, my lord, already.
2275Brutus
It was well done, and thou shalt sleep again.
2276I will not hold thee long. If I do live,
2277I will be good to thee.
2279This is a sleepy tune. O murd'rous slumber,
2280Layest thou thy leaden mace upon my boy
2281That plays the music? Gentle knave, good night.
2282I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee.
2283If thou dost nod, thou break'st thy instrument.
2284I'll take it from thee, and, good boy, good night.
2285Let me see, let me see. Is not the leaf turned down
2286Where I left reading? Here it is I think.
2287Enter the Ghost of Caesar.
2288How ill this taper burns. Ha! Who comes here?
2289I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
2290That shapes this monstrous apparition.
2291It comes upon me! Art thou anything?
2292Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil
2293That mak'st my blood cold and my hair to stare?
2294Speak to me what thou art!
2295Ghost
Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
2296Brutus
Why com'st thou?
2297Ghost
To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.
2298Brutus
Well; then I shall see thee again?
2299Ghost
Ay, at Philippi.
2300Brutus
Why, I will see thee at Philippi, then.
2301Now I have taken heart, thou vanishest.
288.1[Exit Ghost.]
2302Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.
2303Boy! Lucius! Varrus! Claudio! Sirs! Awake!
2304Claudio!
2305Lucius
The strings, my lord, are false.
2306Brutus
He thinks he still is at his instrument.
2307Lucius, awake!
2308Lucius
My lord?
2309Brutus
Did'st thou dream, Lucius, that thou so criedst 2310out?
2311Lucius
My Lord, I do not know that I did cry.
2312Brutus
Yes that thou did'st. Did'st thou see anything?
2313Lucius
Nothing my Lord.
2314Brutus
Sleep again, Lucius. Sirrah Claudio!
Fellow! 2315Thou! Awake!
2316Varrus
My lord?
2317Claudio
My lord?
2318Brutus
Why did you so cry out, sirs, in your sleep?
2319Varrus; Claudio
Did we my Lord?
2320Brutus
Ay. Saw you anything?
2321Varrus
No, my lord. I saw nothing.
2322Claudio
Nor I my Lord.
2323Brutus
Go, and commend me to my brother Cassius.
2324Bid him set on his powers betimes before,
2325And we will follow.
2326Varrus; Claudio
It shall be done, my lord.
307.1Exeunt