I, as Æneas, our great ancestor, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder Is now become a god; and Cassius is, A wretched creature, and must bend his body, He had a fever when he was in Spain, And, when the fit was on him, I did mark And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world, Ay, and that tongue of his, that bade the Romans So get the start of the majestic world, Bru. Another general shout! [Shout. Flourish. 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 some time are masters of their fates: But in ourselves, that we are underlings. Brutus, and Cæsar: What should be in that Cæsar? *Temperament, constitution. A A [Shout. 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 walks encompass'd but one man? PATRIOTISM. What is it that you would impart to me? CÆSAR'S DISLIKE OF CASSIUS. '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; Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd, SPIRIT OF LIBERTY. I know where I will wear this dagger then; Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius: Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat: Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass, Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit; But life, being weary of these worldly bars, ACT II. AMBITION CLOTHED IN SPECIOUS HUMILITY. BUT 'tis a common proof*, That lowliness is young ambition's ladder, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees + CONSPIRACY DREADFUL TILL EXECUTED. Between the acting of a dreadful thing ENVY. My heart laments, that virtue cannot live BRUTUS'S APOSTROPHE TO CONSPIRACY. O conspiracy! Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night, To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspi- For if thou path thy native semblance || on, * Experience. § Envy. [racy; Not Erebus itself were dim enough AGAINST CRUELTY. Gentle friends, Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; SLEEP. Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber: Thou hast no figures†, nor no fantasies, Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep'st so sound. FORTIA'S SPEECH TO BRUTUS. You have ungently, Brutus, Which seem'd too much enkindled; and, withal, * Hell. CALPHURNIA'S ADDRESS TO CÆSAR ON THE PRODIGIES SEEN THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS DEATH. Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies*, Yet now they fright me. There is one within, Besides the things that we have heard and seen, Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. A lioness hath whelped in the streets; And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead: In ranks, and squadrons, and right form of war, The noise of battle hurtled+ in the air, And I do fear them. Cæs. What can be avoided, Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods? Yet Cæsar shall go forth: for these predictions Are to the world in general, as to Cæsar. Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. AGAINST THE FEAR OF DEATH. Cowards die many times before their deaths; It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Will come, when it will come. DANGER. Danger knows full well That Cæsar is more dangerous than he. * Never paid a regard to prodigies or omens. + Encountered. Cry with pain. |