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Over your friend that loves you. `
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BRUTUS. Cassius, `
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Be not deceived; if I have veil'd my look, `
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I turn the trouble of my countenance `
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Merely upon myself. Vexed I am `
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Of late with passions of some difference, `
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Conceptions only proper to myself, `
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Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors; `
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But let not therefore my good friends be grieved- `
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Among which number, Cassius, be you one- `
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Nor construe any further my neglect `
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Than that poor Brutus with himself at war `
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Forgets the shows of love to other men. `
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CASSIUS. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion, `
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By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried `
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Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. `
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Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face? `
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BRUTUS. No, Cassius, for the eye sees not itself `
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But by reflection, by some other things. `
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CASSIUS. 'Tis just, `
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And it is very much lamented, Brutus, `
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That you have no such mirrors as will turn `
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Your hidden worthiness into your eye `
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That you might see your shadow. I have heard `
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Where many of the best respect in Rome, `
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Except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus `
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And groaning underneath this age's yoke, `
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Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes. `
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BRUTUS. Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, `
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That you would have me seek into myself `
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For that which is not in me? `
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CASSIUS. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear, `
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And since you know you cannot see yourself `
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So well as by reflection, I your glass `
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Will modestly discover to yourself `
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That of yourself which you yet know not of. `
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And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus; `
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Were I a common laugher, or did use `
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To stale with ordinary oaths my love `
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To every new protester, if you know `
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That I do fawn on men and hug them hard `
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And after scandal them, or if you know `
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That I profess myself in banqueting `
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To all the rout, then hold me dangerous. `
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Flourish and shout. `
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BRUTUS. What means this shouting? I do fear the people `
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Choose Caesar for their king. `
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CASSIUS. Ay, do you fear it? `
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Then must I think you would not have it so. `
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BRUTUS. I would not, Cassius, yet I love him well. `
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But wherefore do you hold me here so long? `
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What is it that you would impart to me? `
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If it be aught toward the general good, `
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Set honor in one eye and death i' the other `
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And I will look on both indifferently. `
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For let the gods so speed me as I love `
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The name of honor more than I fear death. `
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CASSIUS. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, `
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As well as I do know your outward favor. `
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Well, honor is the subject of my story. `
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I cannot tell what you and other men `
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Think of this life, but, for my single self, `
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I had as lief not be as live to be `
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In awe of such a thing as I myself. `
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I was born free as Caesar, so were you; `
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We both have fed as well, and we can both `
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Endure the winter's cold as well as he. `
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For once, upon a raw and gusty day, `
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The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores, `
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Caesar said to me, "Darest thou, Cassius, now `
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Leap in with me into this angry flood `
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And swim to yonder point?" Upon the word, `
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Accoutred as I was, I plunged in `
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And bade him follow. So indeed he did. `
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The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it `
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With lusty sinews, throwing it aside `
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And stemming it with hearts of controversy. `
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But ere we could arrive the point proposed, `
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Caesar cried, "Help me, Cassius, or I sink! `
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I, as Aeneas our great ancestor `
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Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder `
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The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber `
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Did I the tired Caesar. And this man `
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Is now become a god, and Cassius is `
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A wretched creature and must bend his body `
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If Caesar carelessly but nod on him. `
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He had a fever when he was in Spain, `
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And when the fit was on him I did mark `
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How he did shake. 'Tis true, this god did shake; `
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His coward lips did from their color fly, `
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And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world `
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Did lose his luster. I did hear him groan. `
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Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans `
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Mark him and write his speeches in their books, `
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Alas, it cried, "Give me some drink, Titinius," `
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As a sick girl. Ye gods! It doth amaze me `
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A man of such a feeble temper should `
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So get the start of the majestic world `
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And bear the palm alone. Shout. Flourish. `
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BRUTUS. Another general shout! `
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I do believe that these applauses are `
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For some new honors that are heap'd on Caesar. `
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CASSIUS. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world `
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Like a Colossus, and we petty men `
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Walk under his huge legs and peep about `
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To find ourselves dishonorable graves. `
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Men at some time are masters of their fates: `
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The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, `
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But in ourselves that we are underlings. `
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Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that "Caesar"? `
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Why should that name be sounded more than yours? `
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Write them together, yours is as fair a name; `
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Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well; `
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Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with 'em, `
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"Brutus" will start a spirit as soon as "Caesar." `
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Now, in the names of all the gods at once, `
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Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed `
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That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed! `
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Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods! `
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When went there by an age since the great flood `
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But it was famed with more than with one man? `
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When could they say till now that talk'd of Rome `
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That her wide walls encompass'd but one man? `
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Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough, `
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When there is in it but one only man. `
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O, you and I have heard our fathers say `
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There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd `
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The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome `
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As easily as a king. `
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BRUTUS. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; `
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What you would work me to, I have some aim. `
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How I have thought of this and of these times, `
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I shall recount hereafter; for this present, `
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I would not, so with love I might entreat you, `
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Be any further moved. What you have said `
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I will consider; what you have to say `
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I will with patience hear, and find a time `
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Both meet to hear and answer such high things. `
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Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this: `
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Brutus had rather be a villager `
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Than to repute himself a son of Rome `
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Under these hard conditions as this time `
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Is like to lay upon us. `
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CASSIUS. I am glad that my weak words `
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Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. `
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Re-enter Caesar and his Train. `
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BRUTUS. The games are done, and Caesar is returning. `
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CASSIUS. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve, `
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And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you `
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What hath proceeded worthy note today. `
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BRUTUS. I will do so. But, look you, Cassius, `
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The angry spot doth glow on Caesar's brow, `
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And all the rest look like a chidden train: `
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Calpurnia's cheek is pale, and Cicero `
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Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes `
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As we have seen him in the Capitol, `
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Being cross'd in conference by some senators. `
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CASSIUS. Casca will tell us what the matter is. `
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CAESAR. Antonio! `
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ANTONY. Caesar? `
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CAESAR. Let me have men about me that are fat, `
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Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights: `
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Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; `
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He thinks too much; such men are dangerous. `
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ANTONY. Fear him not, Caesar; he's not dangerous; `
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He is a noble Roman and well given. `
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CAESAR. Would he were fatter! But I fear him not, `
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Yet if my name were liable to fear, `
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I do not know the man I should avoid `
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So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much, `
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He is a great observer, and he looks `
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Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays, `
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As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music; `
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Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort `
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As if he mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit `
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That could be moved to smile at anything. `
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Such men as he be never at heart's ease `
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Whiles they behold a greater than themselves, `
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And therefore are they very dangerous. `
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I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd `
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Than what I fear, for always I am Caesar. `
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Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf, `
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And tell me truly what thou think'st of him. `
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Sennet. Exeunt Caesar and all his Train but Casca. `
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CASCA. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me? `
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BRUTUS. Ay, Casca, tell us what hath chanced today `
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That Caesar looks so sad. `
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CASCA. Why, you were with him, were you not? `
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BRUTUS. I should not then ask Casca what had chanced. `
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CASCA. Why, there was a crown offered him, and being offered `
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him, `
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he put it by with the back of his hand, thus, and then the `
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people fell ashouting. `
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BRUTUS. What was the second noise for? `
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CASCA. Why, for that too. `
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CASSIUS. They shouted thrice. What was the last cry for? `
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CASCA. Why, for that too. `
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BRUTUS. Was the crown offered him thrice? `
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CASCA. Ay, marry, wast, and he put it by thrice, every time `
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