Bru. I say you are not. Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further, Bru Away, slight man! Cas. Is't possible! Bru. Hear me, for I will speak. Must I give way and room to your rash choler? Cas. O ye Gods! ye Gods! must I endure all this! heart break: Go, show your slaves how cholerick you are, You shall digest the venom of your spleen, Cas. Is it come to this? Bru. You say you are a better soldier; Cas. You wrong me every way; you wrong me, I said an elder soldier, not a better. Did I I say better? Bru. If you did, I care not. Cas. When Cæsar lived, he durst not thus have moved me. Bru. Peace, peace; you durst not so have tempt ed him. Cas. I durst not!. Bru. No. Cas. What? durst not tempt him? Bru. For your life you durst not. Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love. may do that I shall be sorry for. Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for. There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats; For I am armed so strong in honesty, Which I respect not. For certain sums of gold, which you denied me:- And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring To you for gold to pay my legions; Was that done like Cassius? Cas. I denied you not. Bru. You did. Cas. I did not: he was but a fool That brought my answer back. Brutus hath rived my heart. A friend should bear a friend's infirmities; But Brutus makes mine greater than they are. Bru. I do not, like your faults. Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults. Bru. A flatterer's would not, though they do appear As huge as high Olympus. Cas. Come Antony! and young Octavius, come! Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius: For Cassius is a-weary of the world: Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother; When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better Than ever thou loved'st Cassius. Bru. Sheath your dagger: Be angry when you will, it shall have scope: Cas. Hath Cassius lived To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, Cas, O Brutus! Bru. What's the matter? Cas. Have you not love enough to bear with me, When that rash humour which my mother gave me, Makes me forgetful? Bru. Yes, Cassius; and henceforth, When you are over-earnest with your Brutus, KING JAMES AND RODERICK DHU. Scene....A rock, with a watch-fire burning near it. A covered sleeping by it. warrior's garb. Enter King James, in a Soldier, [grasping his sword and springing on his feet.] Thy name and purpose, Saxon?-stand! James. A stranger. Sold. What dost thou require? James. Rest and guide, and food and fire. My life's beset, my path is lost, The gale has chilled my limbs with frost. Sold. Thou durst not call thyself his foe? Sold. Bold words! But, though the beast of game The privilege of chase may claim; Though space and law the stag we lend, Ere hound we slip, or bow we bend, The prowling fox was trapped or slain? Thus treacherous scouts, yet sure they lie, James. They do, by heaven! Come Roderick Dhu, And of his clan the boldest two, And, let me but till morning rest, I'll write the falsehood on their crest. Sold. If by the blaze I mark aright, Thou bear'st the belt and spur of knight. James. Then by these tokens may'st thou know Each proud oppressor's mortal foe. Sold. Enough, enough; sit down and share A soldier's couch, a soldier's fare. [They sit down and eat together, and in a few moments the soldier continues the conversation.] Sold. Stranger, I am to Roderick Dhu From thence thy warrant is thy sword. James. I take thy courtesy, by Heaven; As freely as 'tis nobly given. Sold. Why seek these wilds, traversed by few, Without a pass from Roderick Dhu? James. Brave man, my pass, in danger tried, Yet sooth to tell, though nought I dread, Sold. Yet, why a second venture try? Sold. Thy secret keep; I urge thee not, James. No, by my word; of bands prepared Sold. Free be they flung! for we are loath |