Cafea. Why, for that too.

Bru. Was the crown offer'd him thrice?

Cafca. Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting by, mine honest neighbours shouted.

Caf. Who offer'd him the crown?

Cafca. Why, Antony.

Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.

Cafca. I can as well be hang'd, as tell the manner of it: it was mere foolery, I did not mark it. I faw Mark Antony offer him a crown :-yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of thefe 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 offer'd 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 offer'd it the third time; he put it the third time by: and still as he refufed, the rabblement hooted, and clapp'd their chopp'd hands, and threw up their fweaty night-caps, and utter'd fuch a deal of flinking breath because Cæfar refufed the crown, that it had almoft choked Cæfar; for he fwoon'd, and fell down at it: And for mine own part, I durft not laugh, for fear of opening my lips, and receiving the bad air.

Caf. But, foft, I pray you: What, did Cæfar fwoon? Cafca. He fell down in the market-place, and foam'd at mouth, and was speechlefs.

Bru. 'Tis very like; he hath the falling-fickness. Caf. No, Cæfar hath it not; but you, and I, And honest Casca, we have the falling fickness.

Cafea. I know not what you mean by that; but, I am fure, Cæfar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him, and hifs Him, according as he pleafed, and displeased

them,

them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no

true man.

Bru. What faid he, when he came unto himself?

Cafca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceiv'd the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he pluck'd me ope his doublet, and offer'd 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 fo he fell. When he came to himself again, he faid, If he had done, or said, any thing amifs, he defired their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches, where I ftood, cried, Alas, good foul!-and forgave him with all their hearts: But there's no heed to be taken of them; if Cæfar had stabb'd their mothers, they would have done no less.

Bru. And after that, he came, thus fad, away?
Cafca. Ay.

Caf. Did Cicero say any thing?

Cafca. Ay, he fpoke Greek,

Caf. To what effect?

:

Cfca. Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' the face again But thofe, 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 Cæfar's images, are put to filence. Fare you well, There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it.

Caf. Will you fup with me to-night, Casca?

Cafca. No, I am promised forth.

Caf. Will you dine with me to-morrow?

Cafca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth the eating.

Caf. Good; I will expect you.

Cafea.

Cafca. Do fo : Farewell, both.

[Exit CASCA.

Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be?
He was quick mettle, when he went to fchool.
Caf. So he is now, in execution

Of any bold or noble enterprize,
However he puts on this tardy form.

This rudeness is a fauce to his good wit,

Which gives men stomach to digeft his words

With better appetite.

Bru. And fo it is. For this time I will leave you: To-morrow, if you please to speak with me,

I will come home to you; or, if you will,
Come home to me, and I will wait for you.
Caf. I will do fo-till then, think of the world.
[Exit BRUTUS.

Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see,
Thy honourable metal may be wrought
From that it is difpos'd: Therefore 'tis meet
That noble minds keep ever with their likes:
For who fo firm, that cannot be feduc'd?
Cæfar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus :
If I were Brutus now, and he were Caffius,
He should not humour me. I will this night,
In feveral hands, in at his windows throw,
As if they came from several citizens,
Writings, all tending to the great opinion

That Rome holds of his name; wherein obfcurely
Cafar's ambition shall be glanced at :

And, after this, let Cæfar feat him fure;

For we will shake him, or worse days endure.

[Exit.

SCENE

SCENE III.

The fame. A Street.

Thunder and lightning. Enter, from oppofite fides, CASCA, with bis fword drawn, and CICERO.

Cic. Good even, Cafca: Brought you Cæfar home? Why are you breathless? and why ftare you so?

Cafca. Are not you mov'd, when all the fway of earth Shakes, like a thing unfirm? O Cicero,

I have seen tempefts, when the fcolding winds
Have riv'd the knotty oaks; and I have seen
The ambitious ocean fwell, and rage, and foam,
To be exalted with the threat'ning clouds:
But never till to-night, never till now,
Did I go through a tempeft dropping fire.
Either there is a civil ftrife in heaven;
Or elfe the world, too faucy with the gods,
Incenses them to fend destruction.

Cic. Why, faw you any thing more wonderful?

Cafea. A common flave (you know him well by fight,)

Held up his left hand, which did flame, and burn

Like twenty torches join'd; and yet his hand,
Not fenfible of fire, remain'd unfcorch'd.
Besides, (I have not fince put up my sword,)

Against the Capitol I met a lion,

Who glar'd upon me, and went furly by,

Without annoying me: And there were drawn
Upon a beap a hundred ghastly women,

Transformed with their fear; who fwore, they faw
Men, all in fire, walk up and down the streets.
And, yesterday, the bird of night did fit,

Even at noon day, upon the market-place,
Hooting and thrieking. When thefe prodigies
Do fo conjointly meet, let not men say,
These are their reafons,-They are natural;
For, I believe, they are portentous things
Unto the climate that they point upon.

Cic. Indeed, it is a strange difpofed time:
But men may conftrue things after their fashion,
Clean from the purpose of the things themselves.
Comes Cæfar to the Capitol to-morrow?

Cafca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius
Send word to you, he would be there to-morrow.
Cic. Good night then, Casca: this disturbed sky
Is not to walk in.

Cafca. Your ear is good. Caffius, what night is this? Caf. A very pleafing night to honest men.

Cafca. Who ever knew the heavens menace fo?

Caf. Thofe, that have known the earth fo 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 fee,

Have bar'd my bofom to the thunder-tone:

And, when the cross blue lightning feem'd to open

The breast of heaven, I did present myself

Even in the aim and very flash of it.

Cafca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens?

It is the part of men to fear and tremble,

When