CASCA

Peace ho, Caesar speaks. Bid every noise be still: peace yet again. You pulled me by the cloak, would you speak with me? Why you were with him, were you not? Why there was a Crown offered him; & being offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand thus, and then the people fell a shouting. Why for that too. Why for that too. I marry was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler then other; and at every putting by, mine honest Neighbours shouted. Why Antony. He fell down in the Marketplace, and foamed at mouth, and was speechless. I know not what you mean by that, but I am sure Caesar fell down. If the tag-ragge people did not clap him, and hiss him, according as he pleased, and dis pleased them, as they use to do the Players in the Thena tre, I am no true man. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common Herd was glad he refused the Crown, he plucked me open his Doublet, and offered them his Throat to cut: and 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 any thing 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 Mother's, they would have done no less. I. I, he spoke Greek. Nay, and I tell you that, I'll never look you in the face again. But those that understood him, smiled at one another, and shook their heads: but for mine own partly, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Murrellus and Flavius, for pulling Scarffes off Caesars Images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more Foolery yet, if I could remem ber it. No, I am promised forth. I, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your Dinner worth the eating. Do so: farewell both. Are not you moved, when all the sway of Earth Shakes, Like a thing unfirm? Oh Cicero, I have seen Tempests, when the scolding Winds Have rived the knotty Oaks, and I have seen the ambitious Ocean swell, and rage and foam, To be exalted with the threatening Clouds: But never till to Night, never till now, Did I go through a Tempest-dropping-fire. Either there is a Civil strife in Heaven, Or else the World, too saucy with the Gods, Incenses them to send destruction. A common slave, you know him well by sighed, Held up his left Hand, which did flame and burn Like twenty Torches joined; and yet his Hand, Not sensible of fire, remained unscorched. Beside, I ha'not since put up my Sword, Against the Capitol I met a Lion, Who glazed upon me, and went surly by, Without annoying me. And there were drawn Upon a heap, a hundred ghastly Women, Transformed with their fear, who swore, they saw Men, all in fire, walk up and down the streets. And yesterday, the Bird of Night did fit. Even at Noonday, upon the Market place, Howting, and shrieking. When these Prodigies Do so conjointly meet, let not men say, These are their Reasons, they are Natural: For I believe, they are portentous things Unto the Climate, that they point upon. He does: for he did bid Antonio Send word to you, he would be there to morrow. Farewell Cicero. A Roman Your Ear is good. Cassius, what Night is this? Who ever knew the Heavens menace so? But wherefore did you so much tempt the Hea uens? It is the partly of men, to fear and tremble, When the most mighty Gods, by tokens send Such dreadful Heralds, to astonish us. It's Caesar that you mean: It is not, Cassius ? Indeed, they say, the Senators to morrow Mean to establish Caesar as a King: And he shall wear his Crown by Sea, and Land, In every place, save here in Italy. So can I: So every Bondman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his Captivity. You speak to Caska, and to such a man, That is no flearing Telltale. Hold, my Hand: Be factious for redress of all these Griefs, And I will set this foot of mine as far, As who goes farthest. Oh, he sits high in all the Peoples hearts: And that which would appear Offence in us, His Countenance, Like richest Alchemy, Will change to Virtue, and to Worthiness. No. You shall confess, that you are both deceived: Here, as I point my Sword, the Sun arises, Which is a great way growing on the South, Weighing the youthful Season of the year. Some two months hence, up higher towards the North He first presents his fire, and the high East Stands as the Capitol, directly here. Let us not leave him out. Indeed, he is not fit. Speak hands for me. Go to the Pulpit Brutus. 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 thin king, he would feign have had it. Then he offered it to him again: then he put it by again: but to my think king, 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 howted, 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 swooned, and fell down at it: And for mine own partly, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my Lips, and receiving the bade Air. Stand close a while, for here comes one in haste. Why he that cuts off twenty years of life, Cuts off so many years of fearing death.