388 THE NEW AMERICAN SPEAKER. That you would have me seek into myself Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear: Will modestly discover to yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of. That I do fawn on men, and hug them hard, That I profess myself in banqueting To all the rout, then hold me dangerous. (Flourish and shout.) Cas. Ay, do you fear it? Then must I think you would not have it so. Bru. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well: - I was born free as Cæsar; so were you: And bade him follow: so, indeed, he did. With lusty sinews; throwing it aside, And stemming it with hearts of controversy. 66 I, as Æneas, our great ancestor, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old Anchises bear, so, from the waves of Tiber And this man Is now become a god; and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body, He had a fever when he was in Spain, And, when the fit was on him, I did mark How he did shake: 't is true, this god did shake: And that same eye, whose bend doth awe the world, Bru. Another general shout! I do believe that these applauses are (Shout. Flourish. For some new honors that are heaped on Cæsar. Like a Colossus; and we petty men Walk under his huge legs, and peep about Men at some time are masters of their fates: Brutus, and Cæsar. What should be in that Cæsar ? Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well; That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed: (Shout.) But it was famed with more than with one man ? Oh! you and I have heard our fathers say, As easily as a king. Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous ; 1 will with patience hear: and find a time Both meet to hear, and answer, such high things. Brutus had rather be a villager, Than to repute himself a son of Rome, Under these hard conditions as this time Is like to lay upon us. Cas. I am glad that my weak words Have struck but this much show of fire from Brutus. Bru. The games are done, and Cæsar is returning. Bru. I will do so. But look you, Cassius, Being crossed in conference by some senators Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is. Cas. Let me have men about me that are fat; But I fear him not: Yet, if my name were liable to fear, I do not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much; Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanced to-day, Casca. Why you were with him, were you not? Bru. I should not then ask Casca what hath chanced. 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? Casca. Why, for that too. Bru. Was the crown offered 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 neighbors shouted. Cas. Who offered 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: i1 was mere foolery. I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown; — yet 't was not a crown neither, 't was 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 sull, as he refused it, the rabblement hooted, and clapped their chopped hands, and threw up their sweaty night-caps, 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. And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness. Casca. I know not what you mean by that; but, I am sure, Cæsar fell down. If the tagrag people did not clap him, and hiss him, according as he pleased and displeased them, as they used to do the players in the theater, 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 worsnips 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, |