THE QUARREL BETWEEN BRUTUS AND CASSrus. peare. Shakes Cas. That you have wronged me, doth appear in this You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella, For taking bribes here of the Sardians; Wherein my letters, praying on his side, Bru. You wronged yourself, to write in such a case. That every nice offence should bear its comment. Cas. I an itching palm? You know that you are Brutus that speak this, Bru. Remember March, the Ides of March remen ber Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? What villain touched his body, that did stab, I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon, Cas. Brutus, bay not me, I'll not endure it; you forget yourself, Bru. Go to; you're not, Cassius. Bru. I say you are not. Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; Have mind upon your health, tempt me no farther Bru. Away, slight man! Cas. le'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? 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? Cas. Is it come to this? Bru. You say you are a better soldier: Let it appear so; make your vaunting true, And it shall please me well: For mine own part, 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 lived, he durst not thus have moved me. Bru. Peace, peace; you durst not so have tempted 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; I may do that I shall be sorry for. Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for. That they pass by me as the idle wind, For certain sums of gold, which you denied me ;- By Heaven, I had rather coin my heart, And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring To you for gold to pay my legions, Which you denied me: was that done like Cassius! To lock such rascal counters from his friends Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts, Cas. I denied you nɔt. 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 his 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 aweary of the world: Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother; When thou didst hate him worst, then lovedst him better Bru. Sheathe 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 humor which my mother gave me, Makes me forgetful? Bru. Yes, Cassius; and from henceforth, When you are over-earnest with your Brutus, He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so. THE SOFT ANSWER.-T. S. Arthur. (Lawyer Trueman and Mr. Singleton.) Mr. Singleton. I'll give him law to his heart's content, the scoundrel! Lawyer Trueman. Don't call harsh names, Mr. Singleton. S. Every man should be known by his true name, Williams is a scoundrel, and so he ought to be called. |