Reading Help THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR
I was born free as Caesar, 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 her shores, `
` Caesar said to me, "Darest 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 proposed, `
` Caesar cried, "Help me, Cassius, or I sink! `
` I, as Aeneas 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 Caesar. And this man `
` Is now become a god, and Cassius is `
` A wretched creature and must bend his body `
` If Caesar 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 color fly, `
` And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world `
` Did lose his luster. 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 cried, "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. `
` BRUTUS. Another general shout! `
` I do believe that these applauses are `
` For some new honors that are heap'd on Caesar. `
` CASSIUS. 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 dishonorable graves. `
` Men at some time are masters of their fates: `
` The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, `
` But in ourselves that we are underlings. `
` Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that "Caesar"? `
` Why should that name be sounded more than yours? `
` Write them together, yours 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 "Caesar." `
` Now, in the names of all the gods at once, `
` Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed `
` That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed! `
` Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods! `
` When went there by an age since the great flood `
` But it was famed with more than with one man? `
` When could they say till now that talk'd of Rome `
` That her wide walls encompass'd but one man? `
` Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough, `
` When there is in it but one only man. `
` O, you and I have heard our fathers say `
` There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd `
` The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome `
` As easily as a king. `
` BRUTUS. 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 entreat you, `
` Be any further moved. 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. `
` CASSIUS. I am glad that my weak words `
` Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. `
` `
` Re-enter Caesar and his Train. `
` `
` BRUTUS. The games are done, and Caesar is returning. `
` CASSIUS. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve, `
` And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you `
` What hath proceeded worthy note today. `
` BRUTUS. I will do so. But, look you, Cassius, `
` The angry spot doth glow on Caesar's brow, `
` And all the rest look like a chidden train: `
` Calpurnia's cheek is pale, and Cicero `
` Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes `
` As we have seen him in the Capitol, `
` Being cross'd in conference by some senators. `
` CASSIUS. Casca will tell us what the matter is. `
` CAESAR. Antonio! `
` ANTONY. Caesar? `
` CAESAR. Let me have men about me that are fat, `
` 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. `
` ANTONY. Fear him not, Caesar; he's not dangerous; `
` He is a noble Roman and well given. `
` CAESAR. 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 music; `
` Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort `
` As if he mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit `
` That could be moved to smile at anything. `
` 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 Caesar. `
` Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf, `
` And tell me truly what thou think'st of him. `
` Sennet. Exeunt Caesar and all his Train but Casca. `
` CASCA. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me? `
` BRUTUS. Ay, Casca, tell us what hath chanced today `
` That Caesar looks so sad. `
` CASCA. Why, you were with him, were you not? `
` BRUTUS. I should not then ask Casca what had chanced. `
` CASCA. Why, there was a crown offered him, and being offered `
` him, `
` he put it by with the back of his hand, thus, and then the `
` people fell ashouting. `
` BRUTUS. What was the second noise for? `
` CASCA. Why, for that too. `
` CASSIUS. They shouted thrice. What was the last cry for? `
` CASCA. Why, for that too. `
` BRUTUS. Was the crown offered him thrice? `
` CASCA. Ay, marry, wast, and he put it by thrice, every time `
` gentler `
` than other, and at every putting by mine honest neighbors `
` shouted. `
` CASSIUS. Who offered him the crown? `
` CASCA. Why, Antony. `
` BRUTUS. 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 (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 him 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 nightcaps and uttered such a deal `
` of `
` stinking breath because Caesar refused the crown that it had `
` almost choked Caesar, for he swounded 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. `
` CASSIUS. But, soft, I pray you, what, did Caesars wound? `
` CASCA. He fell down in the marketplace and foamed at mouth and `
` was `
` speechless. `
` BRUTUS. 'Tis very like. He hath the falling sickness. `
` CASSIUS. No, Caesar 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 Caesar `
` fell `
` down. If the tagrag 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. `
` BRUTUS. What said he when he came unto himself? `
` CASCA. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common `
` herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his `
` doublet `
` and offered them his throat to cut. An 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 anything `
` 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 Caesar had stabbed their mothers, they would have `
` done `
` no less. `
` BRUTUS. And after that he came, thus sad, away? `
` CASCA. Ay. `
` CASSIUS. Did Cicero say anything? `
` CASCA. Ay, he spoke Greek. `
`
` 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 her shores, `
` Caesar said to me, "Darest 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 proposed, `
` Caesar cried, "Help me, Cassius, or I sink! `
` I, as Aeneas 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 Caesar. And this man `
` Is now become a god, and Cassius is `
` A wretched creature and must bend his body `
` If Caesar 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 color fly, `
` And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world `
` Did lose his luster. 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 cried, "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. `
` BRUTUS. Another general shout! `
` I do believe that these applauses are `
` For some new honors that are heap'd on Caesar. `
` CASSIUS. 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 dishonorable graves. `
` Men at some time are masters of their fates: `
` The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, `
` But in ourselves that we are underlings. `
` Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that "Caesar"? `
` Why should that name be sounded more than yours? `
` Write them together, yours 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 "Caesar." `
` Now, in the names of all the gods at once, `
` Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed `
` That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed! `
` Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods! `
` When went there by an age since the great flood `
` But it was famed with more than with one man? `
` When could they say till now that talk'd of Rome `
` That her wide walls encompass'd but one man? `
` Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough, `
` When there is in it but one only man. `
` O, you and I have heard our fathers say `
` There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd `
` The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome `
` As easily as a king. `
` BRUTUS. 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 entreat you, `
` Be any further moved. 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. `
` CASSIUS. I am glad that my weak words `
` Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. `
` `
` Re-enter Caesar and his Train. `
` `
` BRUTUS. The games are done, and Caesar is returning. `
` CASSIUS. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve, `
` And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you `
` What hath proceeded worthy note today. `
` BRUTUS. I will do so. But, look you, Cassius, `
` The angry spot doth glow on Caesar's brow, `
` And all the rest look like a chidden train: `
` Calpurnia's cheek is pale, and Cicero `
` Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes `
` As we have seen him in the Capitol, `
` Being cross'd in conference by some senators. `
` CASSIUS. Casca will tell us what the matter is. `
` CAESAR. Antonio! `
` ANTONY. Caesar? `
` CAESAR. Let me have men about me that are fat, `
` 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. `
` ANTONY. Fear him not, Caesar; he's not dangerous; `
` He is a noble Roman and well given. `
` CAESAR. 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 music; `
` Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort `
` As if he mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit `
` That could be moved to smile at anything. `
` 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 Caesar. `
` Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf, `
` And tell me truly what thou think'st of him. `
` Sennet. Exeunt Caesar and all his Train but Casca. `
` CASCA. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me? `
` BRUTUS. Ay, Casca, tell us what hath chanced today `
` That Caesar looks so sad. `
` CASCA. Why, you were with him, were you not? `
` BRUTUS. I should not then ask Casca what had chanced. `
` CASCA. Why, there was a crown offered him, and being offered `
` him, `
` he put it by with the back of his hand, thus, and then the `
` people fell ashouting. `
` BRUTUS. What was the second noise for? `
` CASCA. Why, for that too. `
` CASSIUS. They shouted thrice. What was the last cry for? `
` CASCA. Why, for that too. `
` BRUTUS. Was the crown offered him thrice? `
` CASCA. Ay, marry, wast, and he put it by thrice, every time `
` gentler `
` than other, and at every putting by mine honest neighbors `
` shouted. `
` CASSIUS. Who offered him the crown? `
` CASCA. Why, Antony. `
` BRUTUS. 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 (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 him 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 nightcaps and uttered such a deal `
` of `
` stinking breath because Caesar refused the crown that it had `
` almost choked Caesar, for he swounded 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. `
` CASSIUS. But, soft, I pray you, what, did Caesars wound? `
` CASCA. He fell down in the marketplace and foamed at mouth and `
` was `
` speechless. `
` BRUTUS. 'Tis very like. He hath the falling sickness. `
` CASSIUS. No, Caesar 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 Caesar `
` fell `
` down. If the tagrag 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. `
` BRUTUS. What said he when he came unto himself? `
` CASCA. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common `
` herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his `
` doublet `
` and offered them his throat to cut. An 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 anything `
` 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 Caesar had stabbed their mothers, they would have `
` done `
` no less. `
` BRUTUS. And after that he came, thus sad, away? `
` CASCA. Ay. `
` CASSIUS. Did Cicero say anything? `
` CASCA. Ay, he spoke Greek. `
`