I, as Æneas, 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 Cæsar. And this man 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 So get the start of the majestic world, And bear the palm alone. [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 Men at some time are masters of their fates: I12. Eneas, regarded in Roman legend as the progenitor of the Roman people. He was said to have borne his father Anchises on his shoulders from the flames of Troy (Vergil, Æn. ii.). 120 130 140 123. bend, look (i.e. the gaze bent upon a particular object). 136. Colossus, the Colossus of Rhodes; a huge figure of bronze traditionally said to have stood astride the entrance of the harbour. But in ourselves, that we are underlings. Brutus and Cæsar: what should be in that 'Cæsar'? O, you and I have heard our fathers say, Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; 153. famed with, made famous by. 156. Rome was pronounced like 'doom,' Lucr. 715, and 'groom,' ib. 1644, as well as 'room' (cf. King John, iii. 1. 180); but these words were still probably on the way from the M.E. ō to the modern u. 150 160 159. a Brutus once, Lucius Junius Brutus, who caused the expulsion of the last kings of Rome. 160. eternal (used as an expletive), 'infernal.' Both meet to hear and answer such high things. Than to repute himself a son of Rome Cas. I am glad that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Bru. The games are done and Cæsar is returning. Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve; Re-enter CESAR and his Train. Bru. I will do so. But, look you, Cassius, Ant. Cæsar? Cas. Let me have men about me that are fat: Cæs. Would he were fatter! But I fear him not: 170 180 190 193. Sleek-headed; an excel- fact smooth-combed' (p. 180). lent variant for North's matter-of- 197. well given, well disposed. 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, [Sennet. Exeunt Cæsar and all his Train, but Casca. Casca. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me ? Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanced to-day, That Cæsar looks so sad. Casca. Why, you were with him, were you not? Bru. I should not then ask Casca what had chanced. 200 210 Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him: 220 and being offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell ashouting. 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 offered him thrice? 226. They shouted thrice; in Plutarch the offer was made twice. Casca. Ay, marry, was 't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other, and at 230 every putting-by mine honest neighbours shouted. Cas. Who offered him the crown? Casca. Why, Antony. Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. Casca. I can as well be hanged 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 night-caps and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Cæsar refused the crown that it had almost choked Cæsar; 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. Cas. But, soft, I pray you: what, did Cæsar swound? Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and feamed at mouth, and was speechless. Bru. 'Tis 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. 240 250 If the tag-rag 260 people did not clap him and hiss him, according joy. 245. hooted, shouted with 246. chopped, chapped. |