Casca.
Hence; home, you idle creatures, get you home;
Is this a holiday? what! know you not,
Being mechanical, you ought not walk
Upon a labouring day, without the sign
Of your profession? speak, what trade art thou?

Car.
Why, Sir, a carpenter.

Casca.
Where is thy leather apron, and thy rule?
What dost thou with thy best apparel on?
You, Sir,—What trade are you?

Cob.

Truly, Sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobler.

Casca.

But what trade art thou? answer me, directly.

Cob.

A trade, Sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience; which is, indeed, a mender of bad soals.

Casca.

What trade, thou knave? thou naughty knave, what trade?

Cob.

Nay, I beseech you, Sir, be not out with me: yet if you be out, Sir, I can mend you.

Casca.

What mean'st thou by that? mend me, thou saucy fellow?

Cob.

Why, Sir, cobble you.

Casca.

Thou art a cobler, art thou?

Cob.

Truly, Sir, all that I live by, is the awl: I meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor woman's matters; but with-all I am, indeed, Sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neats-leather, have gone upon my handy-work.

Casca.

But wherefore art not in thy shop, to-day? Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?

Cob.

Truly, Sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself into more work. But, indeed, Sir, we make holiday to see Cæsar, and to rejoice in his triumph.

Casca.* ^note
Wherefore rejoice!—what conquests brings he home;
What tributaries follow him to Rome,
To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels?
You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!
O you hard hearts! you cruel men of Rome!
Knew you not Pompey? many a time and oft,
Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements,
To tow'rs and windows, yea, to chimney tops,
Your infants in your arms; and there have sat,
The live-long day, with patient expectation,
To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome:
And when you saw his chariot but appear,
Have you not made an universal shout,
That Tiber trembled underneath his banks,
To hear the replication of your sounds,
Made in his concave shore?
And do you now put on your best attire;

And do you now cull out an holiday?
And do you now strew flowers in his way,
That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood?
Be gone—
Run to your houses, fall upon your knees,
Pray to the Gods to intermit the plague,
That needs must light on this ingratitude.

Dec. B.
Go, go, good countrymen. [Exeunt Commoners.
Go you down that way towards the capitol,
This way will I; disrobe the images,
If you do find them deck'd with ceremonies.
These growing feathers, pluck'd from Cæsar's wing,
Will make him fly an ordinary pitch;
Who else would soar above the view of men,
And keep us all in servile fearfulness. [Exeunt severally. Enter Cæsar, Antony for the course, Calphurnia, Decius Brutus, Cassius, Casca, a Southsayer, Trebonius, &c.

Cæs.
Calphurnia—

Casca.
Peace ho! Cæsar speaks.

Cæs.
Calphurnia—

Calp.
Here, my lord.

Cæs.
Stand you directly in Antonius's way,
When he doth run his course.—Antonius—

Ant.
Cæsar, my lord.

Cæs.
Forget not in your speed, Antonius,
To touch Calphurnia; for our elders say,
The barren touched in this holy chase,
Shake off their steril curse.

Ant.
I shall remember.
When Cæsar says, do this, it is performed.

Cæs.
Set on, and leave no ceremony out.

Sooth.
Cæsar.

Cæs.
Ha! who calls?

Casc.
Bid every noise be still; peace yet again.

Cæs.
Who is it in the press, that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the musick,
Cry, Cæsar. Speak; Cæsar is turn'd to hear.

Sooth.
Beware the ides of March.

Cæs.
What man is that?

Bru.
A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.

Cæs.
Set him before me, let me see his face.

Cas.
Fellow, come from the throng, look upon Cæsar.

Cæs.
What say'st thou to me, now? speak once again.

Sooth.
Beware the ides of March.

Cæs.* ^note
He is a dreamer, let us leave him; pass. [Exeunt Cæsar and train. Manent Brutus and Cassius.

Cas.† ^note
Will you go see the order of the course?

Bru.
Not I.

Cas.
I pray you, do.

Bru.
I am not gamesome; I do lack some part
Of that quick spirit that is in Antony:
Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires;
I'll leave you.

Cas.
Brutus, I do observe you now of late;
I have not from your eyes that gentleness
And shew of love, as I was wont to have:

You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand,
Over your friend that loves you.

Bru.
Cassius,
Be not deceiv'd: if I have veil'd my look,
I turn the trouble of my countenance,
Merely upon myself. Vexed I am,
Of late, with passions of some difference,
Conceptions only proper to myself;
Which gives some soil, perhaps, to my behaviour:
But let not therefore my good friends be griev'd,
Among which number, Cassius, be you one;
Nor construe any farther my neglect,
Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war,
Forgets the shews of love to other men.

Cas.
Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion,
By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried
Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?

Bru.
No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself,* ^note
But by reflection from some other thing.

Cas.
'Tis just.
And it is very much lamented. Brutus,
That you have no such mirrors as will turn
Your hidden worthiness into your eye,
That you might see your shadow. I have heard,
Where many of the best respect in Rome,
(Except immortal Cæsar) speaking of Brutus,
And groaning underneath this age's yoke,
Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes.

Bru.
Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius,
That you would have me seek into myself,
For that which is not in me?

Cas.
Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar'd to hear;
And since you know you cannot see yourself,
So well as by reflection; I, your glass,
Will modestly discover to yourself,
That of yourself which yet you know not of.
And be not jealous of me, gentle Brutus:
Were I a common laugher, or did use

To stale with ordinary oaths my love,
To every new protestor; if you know,
That I do fawn on men, and hug them hard,
And after scandal them; or if you know
That I profess myself in banqueting
To all the routs then hold me dangerous. [Flourish and three shouts.

Bru.
What means this shouting? I do fear the people
Chuse Cæsar for their king.

Cas.
Ay, do you fear it?
Then must I think you would not have it so.

Bru.
I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well.
But wherefore do you hold me here so long?
What is it, that you would impart to me?
If it be aught toward the general good,
Set honour in one eye, and death i'th' other,
And I will look on both indifferently:
For let the gods so speed me, as I love
The name of honour, more than I fear death.

Cas.
I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus,* ^note
As well as I do know your outward favour.
Well, honour is the subject of my story:
I cannot tell what you and other men
Think of this life; but for my single self,
I had as lief not be, as live to be
In awe of such a thing as I myself.
I was born free as Cæsar, so were you;
We both have fed as well; and we can both
Endure the winter's cold, as well as he.
For once upon a raw and gusty day,
The troubled Tiber, chafing with his shores,
Cæsar says to me, “Dar'st thou, Cassius, now,

“Leap in with me into this angry flood,
“And swim to yonder point;”—Upon the word,
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in,
And bade him follow: so indeed he did.
  The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it
With lusty sinews; throwing it aside,
And stemming it with hearts of controversy.
But ere we could arrive the point propos'd,
Cæsar cry'd, “Help me, Cassius, or I sink.”
I, as Æneas, our great ancestor,
Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
The old Anchises bear, so, from the waves of Tiber,
Did I the tired Cæsar: and this man
Is now become a god; and Cassius is
A wretched creature, and must bend his body,
If Cæsar carelessly but nod on him.
He had a fever when he was in Spain,
And when the fit was on him, I did mark
How he did shake: 'tis true, this God did shake;
His coward lips did from their colour fly;
And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world,
Did lose its lustre; I did hear him groan:
Ay, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans
Mark him, and write his speeches in their books,
Alas! it cry'd—“Give me some drink, Titinius”—
As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me,
A man of such a feeble temper, should
So get the start of the majestic world,
And bear the palm alone. [Shout. Flourish.

Bru.
Another general shout!
I do believe that these applauses are
For some new honours that are heap'd on Cæsar.

Cas.
Why, man he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus; and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs, and peep about
To find ourselves dishonourable graves.
Men at sometimes are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
Brutus and Cæsar! what should be in that Cæsar?

Why should that name be sounded more than your's?
Write them together; your's is as fair a name:
Sound them; it doth become the mouth as well:
Weigh them; it is as heavy: conjure with 'em;
Brutus will start a spirit, as soon as Cæsar.
Now in the names of all the gods at once,
Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed,
That he is grown so great? Age, thou art sham'd;
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods.
When went there by an age, since the great flood,
But it was fam'd with more than with one man?
When could they say, 'till now, that talk'd of Rome,
That her wide walls incompass'd but one man?
Oh! you and I have heard our fathers say,
There was a Brutus once, that would have brook'd
Th' eternal† ^note devil to keep his state in Rome,
As easily as a king.

Bru.
That you do love me, I am nothing jealous;
What you would work me to, I have some aim;
How I have thought of this, and of these times,
I shall recount hereafter: for this present,
I would not (so with love I might intreat you)
Be any further mov'd. What have said,
I will consider; what you have to say,
I will with patience hear; and find a time
Both meet to hear, and answer such high things.* ^note

Cas.
I am glad that my weak words
Have struck but thus much shew of fire from Brutus. Enter Cæsar and his train.

Bru.
The games are done, and Cæsar is returning.

Cas.
As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve,
And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you
What hath proceeded worthy note, to-day.

Bru.
I will do so; but look you, Cassius,—
The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow,
And all the rest look like a chidden train.

Cas.
Casca will tell us what the matter is.

Cæs.
Antonius—

Ant.
Cæsar?

Cæs.
Let me have men about me that are fat,
Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep a-nights:
Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look.
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.

Ant.
Fear him not, Cæsar, he's not dangerous;
He is a noble Roman, and well given.

Cæs.
Would he were fatter; but I fear him not:
Yet if my name were liable to fear,
I do not know the man I should avoid,
So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much;
He is a great observer; and he looks
Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays,
As thou dost, Antony; he hears no musick:
Seldom he smiles; and smiles in such a sort,
As if he mock'd himself, and scorn'd his spirit,
That could be mov'd to smile at any thing.
Such men as he be never at heart's ease,
Whilst they behold a greater than themselves;
And therefore are they very dangerous.
I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd,
Than what I fear; for always I am Cæsar.* ^note
Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,
And tell me truly, what thou think'st of him. [Exeunt Cæsar and his train Manent Brutus and Cassius: Casca to them.

Casca.† ^note

You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me?

Bru.

Ay, Casca, tell us what hath chanc'd to-day, That Cæsar looks so sad.

Casca.

Why, you were with him, were you not?

Bru.

I should not then ask Casca what had chanc'd.

Casca.

Why, there was a crown offer'd him; and being offer'd him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus, and then the people fell a shouting.

Bru.

What was the second noise for?

Casca.

Why for that too.

Cas.

They shouted thrice, what was the last cry for?

Casca.

Why, for that too.

Bru.

Was the crown offer'd him thrice?

Casca.

Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting by, mine honest neighbours shouted.

Cas.

Who offer'd him the crown?

Casca.

Why, Antony.

Bru.

Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.

Casca.

I can as well be hang'd, as tell the manner of it: it was mere foolery, I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown; and as I told you, he put it by once; but for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offer'd it to him again: then he put it by again; but to my thinking, he was very loth to lay his fingers off it. And then he offer'd it a third time; he put it the third time by; and still as he refus'd it, the rabblement houted, and clapp'd their chopt hands, and threw up their sweaty night-caps, and utter'd such a deal of stinking breath, because Cæsar refus'd the crown, that it had almost choaked Cæsar; for he swooned, and fell down at it: and for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips, and receiving the bad air.

Cas.

But soft, I pray you: what! did Cæsar swoon?

Casca.

He fell down in the market-place, and foam'd at mouth, and was speechless.

Bru.
'Tis very like; he hath the falling sickness.

Cas.
No, Cæsar hath it not; but you and I,
And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness.

Casca.

I know not what you mean by that; but I am sure Cæsar fell down; if the tag-rag people did not clap him and hiss him, according as he pleased

and displeas'd them, as they us'd to do the players in the theatre,* ^note I am no true man.

Bru.

What said he, when he came unto himself?

Casca.

Marry, before he fell down, when he perceiv'd the common herd was glad he refus'd the crown, he pluckt me ope his doublet, and offered them his throat to cut: an' I had been a man of any occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell among the rogues! and so he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, “If he had done, or said any thing amiss, he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity.” Three of four wenches, where I stood, cried, Alas, good soul!—and forgave him with all their hearts: but there's no heed to be taken of them; if Cæsar had stabb'd their mothers, they would have done no less.

Bru.

And after that, he came, thus sad, away?

Casca.

Ay.

Cas.

Did Cicero say any thing?

Casca.

Ay, he spoke Greek.

Cas.

To what effect?

Casca.

Nay, an' I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' th' face again. But those, that understood him, smil'd at one another, and shook their heads; but for mine own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæsar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it.

Cas.

Will you sup with me, to-night, Casca?

Casca.

No, I am promis'd forth.

Cas.

Will you dine with me, to-morrow?

Casca.

Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner be worth the eating.

Cas.
Good, I will expect you.

Casca.

Do so; farewel both.

Bru.
What a blunt fellow is this grown to be!
He was quick metal, when he went to school.

Cas.
So is he now, in execution
Of any bold or noble enterprize.
However he puts on this tardy form;
This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit,
Which gives men stomach to digest his words,
With better appetite.

Bru.
And so it is: for this time I will leave you.
To-morrow, if you please to speak with me,
I will come home to you; or if you will,
Come home to me, and I will wait for you.

Cas.
I will do so;* ^note

Bru.
'Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this:
Brutus had rather be a villager,
Than to repute himself a son of Rome,
Under such hard conditions, as this time
Is like to lay upon us. [Exit Brutus.

Cas.
Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet I see,
Thy honourable metal may be wrought
From what it is dispos'd; therefore 'tis meet,
That noble minds keep ever with their likes:
For who so firm, that cannot be seduc'd?
Cæsar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus.
If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius,
He should not humour me—I will, this night,
In several hands, in at his windows throw,
As if they came from several citizens,
Writings, all tending to the great opinion
That Rome holds of his name: wherein obscurely
Cæsar's ambition shall be glanced at.
And, after this, let Cæsar seat him sure;
For we will shake him, or worse days endure.† ^note