CASSIUS

Thus of his course you by your own conceived As if Like thoughts of both did bound the will: Ah, honest minds are with least pain deceiu worser: Those that themselves are good dream not of ill. But of bade minds to found th'vnsound device, Their inclination must your judgement sway: The square of virtue cannot measure vice, Nor yet a line that's straight a crooked way. So Caesar may prevail usurp the state, He cares not by what violence nor sleight: Oh, one may soon deceive men and grow great, That leaves religion, honesty and right, When as the Senators (no more their own) Came to that Tyrant whom ambition blinds, And showde him by what honours they had shown, To gratify his greatness grateful minds. He in a chair imperiously being placed, Not deigned to rise nor bow in any sort: As both of them had but their endue embraced, When he a haughty, they and humble port. But if he thus, ere we be thoroughly thralled Dare so disdainfully such great men use: When in a regal throne by us installed Then will he break that which he now does bruise. Was he not first that ever yet began, To violate the sacred Tribunes place; And punished them for punishing a man, That had transgressde the laws in time of peace? The laws thar do of death all guilty hold, Whose actions seem to tirranie inclined: So earnest were our ancestors of old, To quensh the light of tyrants ere it shinde: And shall our Nephews (heirs of bondage) blame Us dastard parents that their Hope's deceived, That saw, that suffered, that survived such shame, Not leaving dead, what we being born received? By Caesars friends to and assembly brought, The Senators intend to call him king. But what if we be sought Assist as Praetors such a public thing? Oh with what joy I swallow up those words, Words worthy of thy worth, and of thy name: But Brutus be not feared, this cause affords Thee many mates in danger, few in fame. When Anthony proved Caesars Image crowned The people by a silent sorrow told, In what a depth of woes their thoughts were drowned That Comet of confusion to behold. What do those scrolls thrown in thy chair import, Which what thou art to thy remembrance brings? Be those the fancies of inferior sort? No, none but noble minds dream of great things. Of other Praetors people look for shows, And distributions whose remembrance die: While bloody fencers fallen with mutual blows, And Affricks monsters made t'amaze their eyes. But from thy hands they liberty attend, A glory hereditary to thy raze, And following thee their blood will frankly spend, So thou succeed in thy great parents place; That Rome's redeemer once did Tarquin foil, Though from his birth obeyed, and without strife, Where thou shouldst but th'aspiring tyrant spoil, That would t'extinguish'd tyrrany give life. Least of his favour thou the poison prove, From swallowing of such baits (deer friend) beware: No tyrant (trust me) can entirely love, Nor none that for himself does only care. He by such courtesies does but intend Embase thy virtues, undermine thy mind, And thy suspected courage to disbend, Yea (though with silken bonds he would thee bind.) This of all tyrants is the common tread, To wreak all those in whom most worth he finds: Or (while that terrors toss his jealous head,) Use subtleties t'amuse the greatest minds: As when we for the Pretorship did strive, Then both were held in hope that so deceived We others harms might study to contrive, Through emulation and disdain conceived. Thus subtle Caesar by such sleights hath toiled To sow dissension, that we both may pause Of private wrongs; and by such means imbroil'd, Still courting him, neglect the common cause. But nought from others must our thoughts estrange, That must in time the tyrants course restrain: Let other men lament, we must revenge, I scorn to bear a sword and to complain. What man does breath of Mars his martial raze, But will with Brutus sacrifice his blood, And charged with arms ere tyranny take place, Dare venture all things for his countries good? Can any judgement be deceived so far, But that it else most clearly may behold, How that this change Room greatness strait will mar, And raze the trophies that she reared of old. Of old in Room all those that once had worn The peace-importing gown, or warlike shield, Of dignities as capable being born, Durst aim at all that liberty could yield. Those in affairs to deal that would set forth, Were not discouraged by their birth, though base, And poverty could not hold back true worth, From having honour both by war and peace. Then emulation violently drived All gallant minds t'attempt great actions still; That in the love of venue rivals lived, While Glory in their bosoms balm did still. Fabricius first was from the blow advanced, The rudder of the commonwealth to hold; Yet by no means his private wealth enhauncde, As rich in virtue still, as poor in gold. Rude Marius too, to match read Mars in fame Forth from the vulgar dross his raze removed, And lo, of Cicero the ridiculous name, As famous as the Fabians now hath proved. Each abject mind disdained to be obscure, When still preferment followed lofty cares, And that one might by dangers passed procure, Fame to himself, and honour to his heirs. But since that state by Caesar is overturned, While all our lives depend upon ones lips; Of breasts that once with love of glory burned, From soaring thoughts this course the feathers clips. Advancement now attends not on desert, But on th'opinion of a flattered mind; That to th'applauding hireling does impart, High honours that true worth can hardly find. To these all tyrants most addicted prove, Whom without reason they have raised too High, As thinking those that stand but by their love, To entertain the same all means must try. Where they whose virtue reaps a endue reward, Not building only on th'aduauncers grace, Do by deserts not gain so great regard, While they maintain, as they obtain their place. And if a worthy man to work great things, Winged with usurpers favors raise his flight. The highest course to him most harm still brings, That till he fallen, can not have leave to light. Those that by force would have affection moved, When willingly men hold such gallants deer. They rage that any should be freely loved, Whose virtue makes their vice more vile appear. The man that now to be preferred aspires, Must with effronted flatteries servile form, Still soothing Caesar, seal all his desires, And in some shadow lurk avoid a storm, A number else of that proud rebels foes, Grieved to behold occasion of their grief. Strive in obscurity t'entombe their woes, So waiting, and not working for relief. But we whose lofty minds disdain to lower, As those that seek but their own safety thus; When shall we spend and indignations pour, Thats worthy of true Roman, and of us; Since no indignity resolved t'indure, I see our minds do sympathise in this, Should we by suffering seek to live secure, Whose Actium must amend what is amiss? No, no such abject thought must stain our breast, To cure calamity but by discourse, While but Like beasts, affecting food and rest, Where men by reason should direct their course. Like those of other parts secure from strife, If Caesar had been born, or choosed our Prince, Then those that durst attempt to take his life, The world of treason justly might convince. For still the states that flourish for the time, By subjects should b'inuiolable thought; And those no doubt commit a monstrous crime, That lawful sovereignty profane in ought. And we must think (though now being brought to bow, The Senate king, a subject Caesar is, Authority that violating now, The world must damn as having done amiss. We will (deer Cassius ) for our countries sake, Our selves expose to danger, or to death; And let us now advise what course to take, While nought burr th'aire can bear away our breath. I think this matter needs not many words, Since but one deed can bound the common shame; In Caesars body we must sheathe our swords, And by his death our liberty reclaim. But since his fortune did confound them all, That in the fields to match him did begin; While he by thousands made their bans to fallen, With hoary legions always used to win. As Pompey's, Scipio's, and Petreius ghosts, In lightless shades may by experience tell, That after overthrow of their numbrous hosts, All famous (though infortunately) fell, And since provided for the Parthian wrarre, His army in arms attends on his decree, Where we sequestered from such forces far, Would, if suspected, strait prevented be; With some few friends, whom all things now assay, A love to us, or to their country binds, We to his wrack must walk another way, While ere our tongues, our hands do tell our minds. Now when most high, and therefore hated most, Assembled Senate seeks to make him king; We must go give the blow before we boast, And him to death, Room out of bondage bring. Now while my soul rests ravished in a trance, I think I see great Room her courage raise, Bent to Beatrice th'aire with songs, earth with a dance, And crown thy virtues with deserved praise. T'our enterprise propitious signs are sent, So that the gods would give us courage thus, For all that ever herd of our intent, Would willingly engage themselves with us, Let other men discourse of virtuous rites, Ours but by action only should be shown, Bore speculation is but for such sprites, As want of pour or courage keeps unknown, In those that Virtue view when crowned with deeds, Whose beauty's through the glass of glory shinde, Sh'a violent desire embrace her breeds, As adamant to th'yrne being to the mind. What though a number now in darkness lies, That are too weak for matters of such weight, We that are eminent in all men's eyes, Let us still hold the height of honour straight. Those studious wits that have through dangers gone, Would still be out, ere that they enter in; Who must of many things, resolve of none, And thinking of the end, cannot begin. The mind that looks no further than the eye, And more to Nature trusts, than unto Art, Such doubtful Fortune's fittest is to try, A furious actor for a desperate part. We have enough, and of the best degree, Whose hands are to their hearts, their hearts us true, And if that we seek more, I fear we be to act close too many, if disclosed, too few. Let us advise with and industrious care, Now ere the tyrant intercept our minds; The time, the place, the manner, when, and where, That we should trust our treasure to the winds. And since our Fortune's in the balance hing, Let every point be circumspectly weighted, A circumstance, or and indifferent thing, May while mar all for not being well conveyed. We stand not dashed Like malefactors here, With a dejected and remorseful mind, So in your presence supplicants appear, As who themselves of death do guilty find; But looking boldly with a lofty brow, Through a delight of our design conceived, We come to challenge gratefulness of you, That have of us so great a good received. But if you will suspend your thoughts a space, Though not the givers, entertain the gift, Do us reject, yet liberty embrace, To have you free, lo, that was all our drift. So Room her ancient liberties enjoy, Let Brutus, and let Cassius banished live, Thus banishment would breed us greater joy, Than what at home a tyrants wealth could give. Though some misconstrue may this course of ours, By ignorance or then by hate deceived, Yet truth depends not on opinions powers, But is it self how ever misconceived. Though none themselves t'acknowledge us would deign, Our merit of it self is a reward, Of doing good none should repent their pain, Though neither getting guerdon nor regard. I'll venture yet my fortune in the field, With every one that Room to bondage draws: And as for me, how ever others yield, I'll nought obey but reason and the Laws. That place indeed, most for our glory makes, A Theater worthy of so great and act Where in their sighed from whom most power he takes, We of the tyrant vengeance may exact. But I must recommend unto your mind, A course (though strict) of which we must allow, Least it overthrow all that we have designed, Being passed recovery, if neglected now, There is Antonius Caesars greatest friend, A man whose nature tyranny affects, Whom all the soldiers do delight t'attend, As one that nought but to command respects. I fear that he when we have Caesar slain, To th'other faction furnish still a head: So when we end, we must begin again, Against one living worse then he that's dead. And in my judgement, I would think it best, When sacrificed the proud usurper lies, That that seditious enemy of rest, Should fallen with him with whom he first did rise, Thus of our liberty we now may lay, A solid ground that can be shaked by none: Those of their purpose that a partly delay Two labours have, that might have had but one. Well Brutus, I protest against my will, From this black cloud, what ever tempest fallen, That mercy but most cruelly does kill. Which thus saves one, that once may plague us all. The breast in which so deep a secret dwells, Would not be long charged with so weighty cares, For I conjecture by appearance else, More privy are t'our minds then we to theirs: Even but of late one Casca came to see, That curious was to have our purpose known, And said to him that which thou bidst from me, To me by Brutus hath at length been shown. Then by some things that he had learned before, He of our course deep in discourse did fallen, Till Casca thinking that he had known more, Scarce kept his tongue from staggering out with all. Then Laena to us once came in Like sort, And wished that our design might prosper well; Yet us to haste did earnestly exhort, Since others told what we refused to tell: While strangers rest familiar with our mind, And ere t'our knowledge thus t'our counsel rise, Make forward fast, or we will come behind. F e winged with breath most violently flies. While of our band the fury flames most hight, And that their will achieve this work is such, Lest Caesars absence disappoint the plot, Which would of some abate the courage much, It (Decius) were exceedingly well done, That to his lodging you addressed your way, Him by some means to further forward soon, Lest by some sudden chance allured to stay. If Caesar as a Citizen had lived, And had by law decided every strife, Then I would grant those treason had contrived, That went without a law to take his life. But to pervert the laws, subvert the state, If all his travels did directly tend, Then I must say, we did no wrong of late, Why should not tyrants make a tragic end?