Reading Help THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR
Till each man drop by lottery. But if these, `
` As I am sure they do, bear fire enough `
` To kindle cowards and to steel with valor `
` The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen, `
` What need we any spur but our own cause `
` To prick us to redress? What other bond `
` Than secret Romans that have spoke the word `
` And will not palter? And what other oath `
` Than honesty to honesty engaged `
` That this shall be or we will fall for it? `
` Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous, `
` Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls `
` That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear `
` Such creatures as men doubt; but do not stain `
` The even virtue of our enterprise, `
` Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits, `
` To think that or our cause or our performance `
` Did need an oath; when every drop of blood `
` That every Roman bears, and nobly bears, `
` Is guilty of a several bastardy `
` If he do break the smallest particle `
` Of any promise that hath pass'd from him. `
` CASSIUS. But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him? `
` I think he will stand very strong with us. `
` CASCA. Let us not leave him out. `
` CINNA. No, by no means. `
` METELLUS. O, let us have him, for his silver hairs `
` Will purchase us a good opinion, `
` And buy men's voices to commend our deeds. `
` It shall be said his judgement ruled our hands; `
` Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear, `
` But all be buried in his gravity. `
` BRUTUS. O, name him not; let us not break with him, `
` For he will never follow anything `
` That other men begin. `
` CASSIUS. Then leave him out. `
` CASCA. Indeed he is not fit. `
` DECIUS. Shall no man else be touch'd but only Caesar? `
` CASSIUS. Decius, well urged. I think it is not meet `
` Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar, `
` Should outlive Caesar. We shall find of him `
` A shrewd contriver; and you know his means, `
` If he improve them, may well stretch so far `
` As to annoy us all, which to prevent, `
` Let Antony and Caesar fall together. `
` BRUTUS. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, `
` To cut the head off and then hack the limbs `
` Like wrath in death and envy afterwards; `
` For Antony is but a limb of Caesar. `
` Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. `
` We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar, `
` And in the spirit of men there is no blood. `
` O, that we then could come by Caesar's spirit, `
` And not dismember Caesar! But, alas, `
` Caesar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends, `
` Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; `
` Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods, `
` Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds; `
` And let our hearts, as subtle masters do, `
` Stir up their servants to an act of rage `
` And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make `
` Our purpose necessary and not envious, `
` Which so appearing to the common eyes, `
` We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers. `
` And for Mark Antony, think not of him, `
` For he can do no more than Caesar's arm `
` When Caesar's head is off. `
` CASSIUS. Yet I fear him, `
` For in the ingrated love he bears to Caesar- `
` BRUTUS. Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him. `
` If he love Caesar, all that he can do `
` Is to himself, take thought and die for Caesar. `
` And that were much he should, for he is given `
` To sports, to wildness, and much company. `
` TREBONIUS. There is no fear in him-let him not die, `
` For he will live and laugh at this hereafter. `
` Clock strikes. `
` BRUTUS. Peace, count the clock. `
` CASSIUS. The clock hath stricken three. `
` TREBONIUS. 'Tis time to part. `
` CASSIUS. But it is doubtful yet `
` Whether Caesar will come forth today or no, `
` For he is superstitious grown of late, `
` Quite from the main opinion he held once `
` Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies. `
` It may be these apparent prodigies, `
` The unaccustom'd terror of this night, `
` And the persuasion of his augurers `
` May hold him from the Capitol today. `
` DECIUS. Never fear that. If he be so resolved, `
` I can o'ersway him, for he loves to hear `
` That unicorns may be betray'd with trees, `
` And bears with glasses, elephants with holes, `
` Lions with toils, and men with flatterers; `
` But when I tell him he hates flatterers, `
` He says he does, being then most flattered. `
` Let me work; `
` For I can give his humor the true bent, `
` And I will bring him to the Capitol. `
` CASSIUS. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him. `
` BRUTUS. By the eighth hour. Is that the utter most? `
` CINNA. Be that the uttermost, and fail not then. `
` METELLUS. Caius Ligarius doth bear Caesar hard, `
` Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey. `
` I wonder none of you have thought of him. `
` BRUTUS. Now, good Metellus, go along by him. `
` He loves me well, and I have given him reasons; `
` Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him. `
` CASSIUS. The morning comes upon 's. We'll leave you, Brutus, `
` And, friends, disperse yourselves, but all remember `
` What you have said and show yourselves true Romans. `
` BRUTUS. Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily; `
` Let not our looks put on our purposes, `
` But bear it as our Roman actors do, `
` With untired spirits and formal constancy. `
` And so, good morrow to you every one. `
` Exeunt all but Brutus. `
` Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep? It is no matter. `
` 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. `
` `
` Enter Portia. `
` `
` PORTIA. Brutus, my lord! `
` BRUTUS. Portia, what mean you? Wherefore rise you now? `
` It is not for your health thus to commit `
` Your weak condition to the raw cold morning. `
` PORTIA. Nor for yours neither. have ungently, Brutus, `
` Stole from my bed; and yesternight at supper `
` You suddenly arose and walk'd about, `
` Musing and sighing, with your arms across; `
` And when I ask'd you what the matter was, `
` You stared upon me with ungentle looks. `
` I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head, `
` And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot. `
` Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not, `
` But with an angry waiter of your hand `
` Gave sign for me to leave you. So I did, `
` Fearing to strengthen that impatience `
` Which seem'd too much enkindled, and withal `
` Hoping it was but an effect of humor, `
` Which sometime hath his hour with every man. `
` It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep, `
` And, could it work so much upon your shape `
` As it hath much prevail'd on your condition, `
` I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord, `
` Make me acquainted with your cause of grief. `
` BRUTUS. I am not well in health, and that is all. `
` PORTIA. Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health, `
` He would embrace the means to come by it. `
` BRUTUS. Why, so I do. Good Portia, go to bed. `
` PORTIA. Is Brutus sick, and is it physical `
` To walk unbraced and suck up the humors `
` Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick, `
` And will he steal out of his wholesome bed `
` To dare the vile contagion of the night `
` And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air `
` To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus, `
` You have some sick offense within your mind, `
` Which by the right and virtue of my place `
` I ought to know of; and, upon my knees, `
` I charm you, by my once commended beauty, `
` By all your vows of love and that great vow `
` Which did incorporate and make us one, `
` That you unfold to me, yourself, your half, `
` Why you are heavy and what men tonight `
` Have had resort to you; for here have been `
` Some six or seven, who did hide their faces `
` Even from darkness. `
` BRUTUS. Kneel not, gentle Portia. `
` PORTIA. I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus. `
` Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, `
` Is it excepted I should know no secrets `
` That appertain to you? Am I yourself `
` But, as it were, in sort or limitation, `
` To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, `
` And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs `
` Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, `
` Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife. `
` BRUTUS. You are my true and honorable wife, `
` As dear to me as are the ruddy drops `
` That visit my sad heart. `
` PORTIA. If this were true, then should I know this secret. `
` I grant I am a woman, but withal `
` A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife. `
` I grant I am a woman, but withal `
` A woman well reputed, Cato's daughter. `
` Think you I am no stronger than my sex, `
` Being so father'd and so husbanded? `
` Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em. `
` I have made strong proof of my constancy, `
` Giving myself a voluntary wound `
` Here in the thigh. Can I bear that with patience `
` And not my husband's secrets? `
` BRUTUS. O ye gods, `
` Render me worthy of this noble wife! Knocking within. `
` Hark, hark, one knocks. Portia, go in awhile, `
` And by and by thy bosom shall partake `
` The secrets of my heart. `
`
` As I am sure they do, bear fire enough `
` To kindle cowards and to steel with valor `
` The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen, `
` What need we any spur but our own cause `
` To prick us to redress? What other bond `
` Than secret Romans that have spoke the word `
` And will not palter? And what other oath `
` Than honesty to honesty engaged `
` That this shall be or we will fall for it? `
` Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous, `
` Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls `
` That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear `
` Such creatures as men doubt; but do not stain `
` The even virtue of our enterprise, `
` Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits, `
` To think that or our cause or our performance `
` Did need an oath; when every drop of blood `
` That every Roman bears, and nobly bears, `
` Is guilty of a several bastardy `
` If he do break the smallest particle `
` Of any promise that hath pass'd from him. `
` CASSIUS. But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him? `
` I think he will stand very strong with us. `
` CASCA. Let us not leave him out. `
` CINNA. No, by no means. `
` METELLUS. O, let us have him, for his silver hairs `
` Will purchase us a good opinion, `
` And buy men's voices to commend our deeds. `
` It shall be said his judgement ruled our hands; `
` Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear, `
` But all be buried in his gravity. `
` BRUTUS. O, name him not; let us not break with him, `
` For he will never follow anything `
` That other men begin. `
` CASSIUS. Then leave him out. `
` CASCA. Indeed he is not fit. `
` DECIUS. Shall no man else be touch'd but only Caesar? `
` CASSIUS. Decius, well urged. I think it is not meet `
` Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar, `
` Should outlive Caesar. We shall find of him `
` A shrewd contriver; and you know his means, `
` If he improve them, may well stretch so far `
` As to annoy us all, which to prevent, `
` Let Antony and Caesar fall together. `
` BRUTUS. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, `
` To cut the head off and then hack the limbs `
` Like wrath in death and envy afterwards; `
` For Antony is but a limb of Caesar. `
` Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. `
` We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar, `
` And in the spirit of men there is no blood. `
` O, that we then could come by Caesar's spirit, `
` And not dismember Caesar! But, alas, `
` Caesar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends, `
` Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; `
` Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods, `
` Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds; `
` And let our hearts, as subtle masters do, `
` Stir up their servants to an act of rage `
` And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make `
` Our purpose necessary and not envious, `
` Which so appearing to the common eyes, `
` We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers. `
` And for Mark Antony, think not of him, `
` For he can do no more than Caesar's arm `
` When Caesar's head is off. `
` CASSIUS. Yet I fear him, `
` For in the ingrated love he bears to Caesar- `
` BRUTUS. Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him. `
` If he love Caesar, all that he can do `
` Is to himself, take thought and die for Caesar. `
` And that were much he should, for he is given `
` To sports, to wildness, and much company. `
` TREBONIUS. There is no fear in him-let him not die, `
` For he will live and laugh at this hereafter. `
` Clock strikes. `
` BRUTUS. Peace, count the clock. `
` CASSIUS. The clock hath stricken three. `
` TREBONIUS. 'Tis time to part. `
` CASSIUS. But it is doubtful yet `
` Whether Caesar will come forth today or no, `
` For he is superstitious grown of late, `
` Quite from the main opinion he held once `
` Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies. `
` It may be these apparent prodigies, `
` The unaccustom'd terror of this night, `
` And the persuasion of his augurers `
` May hold him from the Capitol today. `
` DECIUS. Never fear that. If he be so resolved, `
` I can o'ersway him, for he loves to hear `
` That unicorns may be betray'd with trees, `
` And bears with glasses, elephants with holes, `
` Lions with toils, and men with flatterers; `
` But when I tell him he hates flatterers, `
` He says he does, being then most flattered. `
` Let me work; `
` For I can give his humor the true bent, `
` And I will bring him to the Capitol. `
` CASSIUS. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him. `
` BRUTUS. By the eighth hour. Is that the utter most? `
` CINNA. Be that the uttermost, and fail not then. `
` METELLUS. Caius Ligarius doth bear Caesar hard, `
` Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey. `
` I wonder none of you have thought of him. `
` BRUTUS. Now, good Metellus, go along by him. `
` He loves me well, and I have given him reasons; `
` Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him. `
` CASSIUS. The morning comes upon 's. We'll leave you, Brutus, `
` And, friends, disperse yourselves, but all remember `
` What you have said and show yourselves true Romans. `
` BRUTUS. Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily; `
` Let not our looks put on our purposes, `
` But bear it as our Roman actors do, `
` With untired spirits and formal constancy. `
` And so, good morrow to you every one. `
` Exeunt all but Brutus. `
` Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep? It is no matter. `
` 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. `
` `
` Enter Portia. `
` `
` PORTIA. Brutus, my lord! `
` BRUTUS. Portia, what mean you? Wherefore rise you now? `
` It is not for your health thus to commit `
` Your weak condition to the raw cold morning. `
` PORTIA. Nor for yours neither. have ungently, Brutus, `
` Stole from my bed; and yesternight at supper `
` You suddenly arose and walk'd about, `
` Musing and sighing, with your arms across; `
` And when I ask'd you what the matter was, `
` You stared upon me with ungentle looks. `
` I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head, `
` And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot. `
` Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not, `
` But with an angry waiter of your hand `
` Gave sign for me to leave you. So I did, `
` Fearing to strengthen that impatience `
` Which seem'd too much enkindled, and withal `
` Hoping it was but an effect of humor, `
` Which sometime hath his hour with every man. `
` It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep, `
` And, could it work so much upon your shape `
` As it hath much prevail'd on your condition, `
` I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord, `
` Make me acquainted with your cause of grief. `
` BRUTUS. I am not well in health, and that is all. `
` PORTIA. Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health, `
` He would embrace the means to come by it. `
` BRUTUS. Why, so I do. Good Portia, go to bed. `
` PORTIA. Is Brutus sick, and is it physical `
` To walk unbraced and suck up the humors `
` Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick, `
` And will he steal out of his wholesome bed `
` To dare the vile contagion of the night `
` And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air `
` To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus, `
` You have some sick offense within your mind, `
` Which by the right and virtue of my place `
` I ought to know of; and, upon my knees, `
` I charm you, by my once commended beauty, `
` By all your vows of love and that great vow `
` Which did incorporate and make us one, `
` That you unfold to me, yourself, your half, `
` Why you are heavy and what men tonight `
` Have had resort to you; for here have been `
` Some six or seven, who did hide their faces `
` Even from darkness. `
` BRUTUS. Kneel not, gentle Portia. `
` PORTIA. I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus. `
` Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, `
` Is it excepted I should know no secrets `
` That appertain to you? Am I yourself `
` But, as it were, in sort or limitation, `
` To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, `
` And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs `
` Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, `
` Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife. `
` BRUTUS. You are my true and honorable wife, `
` As dear to me as are the ruddy drops `
` That visit my sad heart. `
` PORTIA. If this were true, then should I know this secret. `
` I grant I am a woman, but withal `
` A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife. `
` I grant I am a woman, but withal `
` A woman well reputed, Cato's daughter. `
` Think you I am no stronger than my sex, `
` Being so father'd and so husbanded? `
` Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em. `
` I have made strong proof of my constancy, `
` Giving myself a voluntary wound `
` Here in the thigh. Can I bear that with patience `
` And not my husband's secrets? `
` BRUTUS. O ye gods, `
` Render me worthy of this noble wife! Knocking within. `
` Hark, hark, one knocks. Portia, go in awhile, `
` And by and by thy bosom shall partake `
` The secrets of my heart. `
`