And, thus unbraced, Casca, as you see, Have bar'd my bosom to the thunder-stone; 48 52 Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens? It is the part of men to fear and tremble When the most mighty gods by tokens send 56 Cas. You are dull, Casca, and those sparks of life That should be in a Roman you do want, Or else you use not. You look pale, and gaze, 60 Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts, Why birds and beasts, from quality and kind, 64 Why all these things change from their ordinance, Their natures, and pre-formed faculties, To monstrous quality,-why, you shall find 68 That heaven hath infus'd them with these spirits To make them instruments of fear and warning Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man 72 Most like this dreadful night, That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars A man no mightier than thyself or me 48 unbraced: with doublet open 49 thunder-stone: supposedly cast from the sky by thunder 60 put on: exhibit the signs of 63 Why: i.e., why we have (or, ... cast.. in: give way to; cf. n. 64 from. kind: far from their proper character and nature 65 calculate: prophesy; cf. n. 76 66 ordinance: ordinary conduct 71 monstrous state: unnatural state of affairs In personal action, yet prodigious grown And fearful as these strange eruptions are. Casca. 'Tis Cæsar that you mean; is it not, Cassius? Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors; But, woe the while! our fathers' minds are dead, And we are govern'd with our mothers' spirits; Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish. Casca. Indeed, they say the senators to-morrow Mean to establish Cæsar as a king; And he shall wear his crown by sea and land, Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then; If I know this, know all the world besides, I can shake off at pleasure. So Casca. 80 84 88 92 96 Thunder still. every bondman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his captivity. Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then? Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf But that he sees the Romans are but sheep; 78 fearful: inspiring fear eruptions: freaks of nature 82 woe the while: alas for the times 84 yoke and sufferance: patience under the yoke 104 He were no lion, were not Romans hinds. But, O grief, 108 So vile a thing as Cæsar! Before a willing bondman; then I know My answer must be made: but I am arm'd, Casca. You speak to Casca, and to such a man Cas. There's a bargain made. Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans 116 120 Of honourable-dangerous consequence; And I do know by this they stay for me In Pompey's porch: for now, this fearful night, 124 And the complexion of the element 128 In favour's like the work we have in hand, Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible. Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. 106 hinds: female of red deer; also, servants, rustics 107-111 Cf. n. made: I shall have to answer for my words 117 That: as fleering: mocking 114 My handclasp as pledge 118 factious: active griefs: grievances 123 undergo: undertake 126 Pompey's porch; cf. n. Hold, my hand: here, take this 125 by this: by this time 128 complexion. element: visible condition of the sky 131 Stand close: avoid notice Cas. 'Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait: He is a friend. Enter Cinna. Cinna, where haste you so? Cin. To find out you. Who's that? Cimber? Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate 133 Metellus To our attempts. Am I not stay'd for, Cinna? this! There's two or three of us have seen strange sights. O Cassius, if you could 137 Yes, you are. But win the noble Brutus to our party— 140 Cas. Be you content. Good Cinna, take this paper, And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this 144 Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone 148 152 Exit Cinna. Come, Casca, you and I will yet ere day Upon the next encounter yields him ours. Casca. O, he sits high in all the people's hearts: 135 incorporate: joined, affiliated 143 prætor's chair: official seat of judge in Roman tribunal 150 hie: hasten away 156 And that which would appear offence in us, Will change to virtue and to worthiness. 160 Cas. Him and his worth and our great need of him You have right well conceited. Let us go, For it is after midnight; and ere day We will awake him and be sure of him. 164 Exeunt. ACT SECOND Scene One Enter Brutus in his Orchard. Bru. What, Lucius! ho! I cannot, by the progress of the stars, Give guess how near to day. Lucius, I say! I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly. 4 When, Lucius, when? Awake, I say! what, Lucius! Enter Lucius. Luc. Call'd you, my lord? Bru. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius: When it is lighted, come and call me here. Luc. I will, my lord. Exit. Bru. It must be by his death: and, for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, 12 But for the general. He would be crown'd: tion: It is the bright day that brings forth the adder; 159 countenance: patronage, support Scene One S. d. Orchard: garden alchemy: pseudo-science of 162 conceited: expressed figuratively 12 general: people's sake, public welfare |