And, when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open 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 Cas. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of life A man no mightier than thyself, or me, In personal action; yet prodigious grown,7 Casca. 'Tis Cæsar that you mean: Is it not, Cassius? Have thewes and limbs like to their ancestors; 5 Why birds, and beasts, from quality and kind; &c.] that is, Why they deviate from quality and nature. 6 and children calculate:] Calculate here signifies to foretel or prophesy. 7 prodigious grown,] Prodigious is portentous. 8 Have thewes and limbs-] Thewes is an obsolese word implying nerves or muscular strength. But, woe the while! our fathers' minds are dead, 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; If I know this, know all the world besides, I can shake off at pleasure. So Casca. every So can I: bondman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his captivity. Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then? So vile a thing as Cæsar? But, O, grief! 9 My answer must be made:] I shall be called to account, and must answer as for seditious words. Casca. You speak to Casca; and to such a man, As who goes farthest. Cas. There's a bargain made. Now know you, Casca, I have mov'd already Of honourable-dangerous consequence; Is favour'd3, like the work we have in hand, Enter CINNA. Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. Cas. 'Tis Cinna, I do know him by his gait; He is a friend. Cinna, where haste you so? Cin. To find out you: Who's that? Metellus Cimber? Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate To our attempts. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Cin. I am glad on't. What a fearful night is this? There's two or three of us have seen strange sights. Cas. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Tell me. Cin. You are. O, Cassius, if you could but win The noble Brutus to our party 1 Yes, Cas. Be you content: Good Cinna, take this paper, Hold my hand:] is the same as, Here's my hand. 2 Be factious for redress-] Factious seems here to mean active. 3 Is favour'd,-] To favour is to resemble; but Mr. Malone reads "In favours," which was suggested by Dr. Johnson, i. e. in looks, appearances, &c. And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us. Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone [Exit CINNA. Come, Casca, you and I will, yet, ere day, Upon the next encounter, yields him ours. Casca. O, he sits high, in all the people's hearts: Will change to virtue, and to worthiness. Cas. Him, and his worth, and our great need of him, You have right well conceited. Let us go, For it is after midnight; and, ere day, We will awake him, and be sure of him. [Exeunt. SCENE I. ACT II. The same. Brutus's Orchard. Enter BRUTUS. Bru. What, Lucius! ho! I cannot, by the progress of the stars, Give guess how near to day. Lucius, I say! I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly. — When, Lucius, when? Awake, I say: What, Lucius! Enter LUCIUS. Luc. Call'd you, my lord? Bru. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius: When it is lighted, come and call me here. Luc. I will, my lord. Bru. It must be by his death: and, for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, But for the general. He would be crown'd: [Exit. How that might change his nature, there's the question. Remorse from power: And, to speak truth of Cæsar, Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind', grow mischievous; 4 Remorse from power:] Remorse is pity, tenderness. 3 common proof] Common proof means a matter proved by common experience. 6 base degrees] Low steps. 7 as his kind,] i. e. like the rest of his species. |