And let us presently go sit in council,
How covert matters may be best disclos'd,
And open perils surest answered.

Oct. Let us do so: for we are at the stake, 48
And bay'd about with many enemies;
And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,
Millions of mischiefs.

Exeunt.

Scene Two

[Camp near Sardis. Before Brutus' Tent] Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucilius, [Lucius,] and the

Army. Titinius and Pindarus meet them.
Bru. Stand, ho!
Lucil. Give the word, ho! and stand !
Bru. What now, Lucilius ! is Cassius near?

Lucil. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come 4
To do you salutation from his master.

Bru. He greets me well. Your master, Pindarus,
In his own change, or by ill officers,
Hath given me some worthy cause to wish

8
Things done, undone; but, if he be at hand,
I shall be satisfied.
Pin.

I do not doubt
But that my noble master will appear
Such as he is, full of regard and honour.

12
Bru. He is not doubted. A word, Lucilius;
How he receiv'd

you, let me be resolv'd. Lucil. With courtesy and with respect enough;

But not with such familiar instances,

16 Nor with such free and friendly conference, As he hath us'd of old. Bru.

Thou hast describ'd A hot friend cooling. Ever note, Lucilius, When love begins to sicken and decay,

20 It useth an enforced ceremony. There are no tricks in plain and simple faith; But hollow men, like horses hot at hand, Make gallant show and promise of their mettle; 24 But when they should endure the bloody spur, They fall their crests, and, like deceitful jades, Sink in the trial. Comes his army on? Lucil. They mean this night in Sardis to be quarter'd;

28 The greater part, the horse in general, Are come with Cassius. Bru.

Hark! he is arriv'd.

Low march within. March gently on to meet him.

Enter Cassius and his Powers.

Cas. Stand, ho!

32 Bru. Stand, ho! Speak the word along. [First Officer.] Stand! [Sec. Officer.] Stand! [Third Officer.] Stand!

36 Cas. Most noble brother, you have done me wrong.

Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine enemies? And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother?

Cas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs;

40 And when you do themBru.

Cassius, be content; Speak your griefs softly: I do know you well. Before the eyes of both our armies here, Which should perceive nothing but love from us, 44 Let us not wrangle: bid them move away; Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs, And I will give you audience. Cas.

Pindarus, Bid our commanders lead their charges off

48 A little from this ground.

Bru. Lucilius, do you the like; and let no man Come to our tent till we have done our conference. Let Lucius and Titinius guard our door.

Exeunt.

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Scene Three

[Within the Tent of Brutus]

[Enter] Brutus and Cassius. Cas. That you have wrong'd me doth appear in

this:
You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella
For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
Wherein my letters, praying on his side,
Because I knew the man, were slighted off.

Bru. You wrong'd yourself to write in such a case.
Cas. In such a time as this it is not meet

12

17

That every nice offence should bear his comment. 8

Bru. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm;
To sell and mart your offices for gold
To undeservers.
Cas.

I an itching palm!
You know that you are Brutus that speaks this,
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.

Bru. The name of Cassius honours this corruption, And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.

Cas. Chastisement!
Bru. Remember March, the ides of March remem-

ber:
Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?
What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, 20
And not for justice? What! shall one of us,
That struck the foremost man of all this world
But for supporting robbers, shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,

24 And sell the mighty space of our large honours For so much trash as may be grasped thus? I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon, Than such a Roman. Cas. Brutus, bay not me;

28 I'll not endure it: you forget yourself, To hedge me in. I am a soldier, I, Older in practice, abler than yourself To make conditions. Bru.

Cas. I am.
Bru. I say you are not.

Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; Have mind upon your health; tempt me no further.

36 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? Shall I be frighted when a madman stares ? 40

Cas. O ye gods, ye gods! Must I endure all this? Bru. All this ! ay, more: fret till your proud heart

break; Go show your slaves how choleric you are, And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge? 44 Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch Under your testy humour? By the gods, You shall digest the venom of your spleen, Though it do split you; for, from this day forth, 48 I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter, When you are waspish. Cas.

Is it come to this? Bru. You say you are a better soldier: Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,

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And it shall please me well. For mine own part,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men.
Cas. You wrong me every way; you wrong me,

Brutus;
I said an elder soldier, not a better:
Did I say, 'better'?
Bru.

If you did, I care not.
Cas. When Cæsar liv'd, he durst not thus have

56