Seldom he smiles; and smiles in such a sort And tell me truly what thou think'st of him. [Exeunt CESAR and his Train. CASCA stays behind. Casca. You pull'd me by the cloak: Would you speak with me? Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanc'd 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 chanc'd. 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 a'shouting. Bru. What was the second noise for? Casca. Why, for that too. Cas. They shouted thrice: What was the last cry for? Bru. Was the crown offer'd him thrice? Casca. Ay, marry was 't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other: and at every putting by, mine honest neighbours shouted. Cas. Who offer'd 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 Marc 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 loth 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 chapped hands, and threw up their sweaty nightcaps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choked Cæsar; for he swooned, 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 swoon? Casca. He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at mouth, and was speechless. Bru. 'Tis very like: he hath the falling sickness. Casca. I know not what you mean by that; but I am sure Cæsar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him and hiss him, according as he pleased and displeased them, as they used to do the players in the theatre, I am no true man. Bru. 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 I 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 Cæsar had stabbed their mothers they would have done no less. Bru. And after that he came, thus sad, away? Casca. Ay. Cas. Did Cicero say anything? Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek. Cas. To what effect? Casca. Nay, an I tell you that I'll ne'er look you i' the face again but those that understood him smiled at one another, and shook their heads : but, for mine own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæsar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it. Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca? Casca. No, I am promised forth. Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow? Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth the eating. Cas. Good; I will expect you. Casca. Do so: farewell both. Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be! He was quick mettle when he went to school. Cas. So he is now, in execution Of any bold or noble enterprise, However he puts on this tardy form. [Exit CASCA. Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave you : Cas. I will do so :-till then, think of the world. Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see [Exit BRUTUS. That Rome holds of his name; wherein obscurely And, after this, let Cæsar seat him sure; For we will shake him, or worse days endure. SCENE III.-The same. A Street. [Exit. Thunder and Lightning. Enter, from opposite sides, Casca, with his sword drawn, and CICERO. Cic. Good even, Casca: brought you Cæsar home? I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds Cic. Why, saw you anything more wonderful? Casca. A common slave (you know him well by sight) Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn Like twenty torches join'd; and yet his hand, Not sensible of fire, remain'd unscorch'd. (1) Has an unfavourable opinion of me. Against the Capitol I met a lion, Who glar'd upon me, and went surly by Transformed with their fear; who swore they saw Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius [Exit CICERO. Cas. Casca, by your voice. Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this? Casca. Who ever knew the heavens menace so? Cas. Those that have known the earth so full of faults. For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, Submitting me unto the perilous night; And, thus unbraced, Casca, as you see, Have bar'd my bosom to the thunder-storm. And when the cross-blue lightning seem'd to open The breast of heaven, I did present myself Even in the aim and very flash of it. Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens? It is the part of men to fear and tremble, When the most mighty gods, by tokens, send Such dreadful heralds to astonish us. Cas. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of life But if you would consider the true cause To monstrous quality,-why, you shall find, Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars A man no mightier than thyself, or me, In personal action; yet prodigious grown, And fearful, as these strange eruptions are. Casca. 'Tis Cæsar that you mean: is it not, Cassius? Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors, Casca. Indeed they say the senators to-morrow And he shall wear his crown by sea and land, Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then; Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; If I know this, know all the world besides, I can shake off at pleasure. Casca. So can I: So every bondsman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his captivity. Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then? Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf, [Thunder still. (1) "Why birds and beasts deviate from their quality and kind," i. e. why they change their nature. |