But in our felves, that we are underlings. Brutus and Cæfar! what should be in that Cæfar? Oh! you and I have heard our fathers fay, There was a Brutus once, that would have brook'd As eafily as a King. Ι Bru. That do love me, Than to repute himself a fon of Rome Is like to lay upon us. Caf. I am glad that my weak words Have ftruck but thus much fhew of fire from Brutus. Enter Cæfar and his Train. Bru. The Games are done, and Cæfar is returning. Caf. Caf. As they pass by, pluck Cafca by the fleeve, Bru. I will do fo; but look you, Caffius, Ant. Cæfar? Caf. Let me have men about me that are fat, Caf. 'Would he were fatter; but I fear him not: I do not know the man I should avoid, So foon as that spare Caffius. He reads much; [Exeunt Cæfar and his Train. Manent Manent Brutus and Caffius: Cafca, to them. Cafca. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me? Bru. Ay, Cafca, tell us what hath chanc'd to day, That Cafar looks so fad. Cafca. Why, you were with him, were you not? Bru. I fhould not then ask Casca what had chanc'd. Cafca. 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 fhouting. Bru. What was the fecond noise for? Caf. They fhouted thrice: what was the laft cry for ? Cafca. Why, for that too. Bru. Was the crown offer'd him thrice? Cafea. Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting by, mine honest neighbours fhouted. : Caf. Who offer'd him the crown? Cafca. Why, Antony. Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Cafca. Cafca I can as well be hang'd, as tell the manner of it it was meer foolery, I did not mark it. I faw Mark Antony offer him a crown; yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of these coronets; 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 the third time; he put it the third time by; and ftill as he refus'd it, the rabblement houted, and clapp'd their chopt hands, and threw up their sweaty night caps, and utter'd fuch a deal of ftinking breath, because Cæfar refus'd the crown, that it had almost choaked Cafar; for he fwooned, and fell down at it: and for mine own part, I durft not laugh, for fear of opening my lips, and receiving the bad air. Caf. But, foft, I pray you; what, did Cafar fwoon? Cafca. Cafca. He fell down in the market-place, and foam'd at mouth, and was speechless. Bru. 'Tis very like; he hath the falling Sickness. Caf. No, Cafar hath it not; but you and I, And honeft Cafca, we have the falling-fickness. Cafca. I know not what you mean by that; but, I am fure, Cafar fell down: If the tag-rag people did not clap him, and hifs him, according as he pleas'd, and difpleas'd them, as they used to do the Players in the Theatre, I am no true man. Bru. What faid he, when he came unto himself? Cafca. 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 offer'd 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 fo he fell. When he came to himself again, he faid, "If he had done, or "faid any thing amifs, he defir'd their Worships to "think it was his infirmity." Three or four wenches where I ftood, cry'd," alas, good foul!". -and forgave him with all their hearts: but there's no heed to be taken of them; if Cæfar had stabb'd their mothers, they would have done no lefs. Bru. And after that, he came, thus fad, away? Caf. Did Cicero fay any thing? Cafca. Ay, he spoke Greek. Cafca. Nay, an' I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i'th' face again. But thofe, that understood him, fmil'd at one another, and fhook 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 Cafar's Images, are put to filence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it. Caf. Will you fup with me to night, Cafca? Caf. Will you dine with me to morrow? Cafca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner be worth the eating. Caf. Caf. Good, I will expect you. Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be? Of any bold or noble enterprize, [Exit. Bru. And fo it is: for this time I will leave you. And, after this, let Cæfar feat him fure; Exit. Thunder and lightning. Enter Cafca, his fword drawn; and Cicero, meeting him. Cic. Good even, Cafca; brought you Cafar home? Why are you breathless, and why ftare you fo? Cafea. Are not you mov'd, when all the fway of earth Shakes likes a thing unfirm? O Cicero ! I have feen tempeits, when the scolding winds |