There was a Brutus* once, that would have brook'd
The eternal 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 t;
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 entreat you,
Be any further mov'd. What you 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.
Till then, my noble friend, chew | upon this;
Brutus had rather be a villager,
Than to repute himself a son of Rome
Under these hard conditions as this time
Is like to lay upon us.

Cas. I am glad, that my weak words Have struck but this much show of fire from Brutus.

Re-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:
Calphurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero
Looks with such ferretg and such fiery eyes,
As we have seen him in the Capitol,
Being cross'd iu couference by some senators.

Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is.
Cas. Antonius.
Ant. Cæsar.
Cæs. Let me have men about me that are fat;

* Lucius Junius Brutus.

+ Guess. Ruminate.

A ferret has red cyes.

Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o'nights :
Yond' 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.

Cas. 'Would he were fatter-But I fear him pot: 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, Whiles 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. Come on my right hand, for this ear is, deaf, And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.' [Ereunt Cæsar and his train. Casca stays

behind. Casca. You pulld 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 hath

chanc'd, Casca. Why, there was a crown offer'd him: and being offered 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 the other; and at every putting by, mine bonest neighbours shouted.

Cas. Who offered him the crown?
Casca. Why, Autony.
Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.

Casca. I can as well be hanged, as tell the man. ner of it: it was niere foolery. I did not mark it. I saw. 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 offered it to hiin again; then he put it by again :: but,''to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by: and still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted, and clapped their chopped hands, and threw up their sweaty night-caps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath, because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choked Cæsar; for he swooned, and fell dowo at it: And for mine own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips, and receiving the bad air. Cus. But, soft, I pray you: What? did Cæsar

swoon? Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at mouth, and was speechless,

Bru. 'fis 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 displeased them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no true* man.

Bru. What said he, when he came unto himself?
Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he per.

ceiv'd the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his doublet, and offered then 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 or 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 stabbed their mothers, they would

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' the face again : But those, that understood him, smiled 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 reniember it.

Cas. Will you sup with me to night, Casca?
Casca. No, I am promised forth.
Cas. Will you dine with me tomorrow?

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

Cas. Good; I will expect you.
Casca. Do so: Farewell, both. [Erit Casca.

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

Cas. So is he now, in execution Of any bold or noble enterprise, However he puts on this tardy form.

* A mechanick.

This rudeness is a sauce to bis good wit,
Which gives men stomach to digest his words
With better appetite.

Bru. Aud 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 with me, and I will wait for you.
Cas. I will do so :-till then, think of the world.

[Erit Brutus. Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see, Thy honourable metal may be wrought From that it is dispos’d* : Therefore 'tis meet That poble minds keep ever with their likes: For who so firm, that cannot be seduc'd? Cæsar doth bear me hard t; but he loves Brutus: If I were Brutus now, and he were Cassius, He should not humour I 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 pame; 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.

(Erit.

* Disposed to.
+ Has an unfavourable opinion of me.

Cajole.