The Torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it
With lusty Sinewes, throwing it aside,
And stemming it with hearts of Controversie.
But ere we could arrive the Point propos'd,
Cæsar cride, Helpe me Cassius, or I sinke.
I (as Æneas, our great Ancestor,

Did from the Flames of Troy, upon his shoulder

The old Anchyses beare) so, from the waves of Tyber Did I the tyred Cæsar: And this Man,

Is now become a God, and Cassius is

A wretched Creature, and must bend his body,
If Cæsar carelesly but nod on him.

He had a Feaver when he was in Spaine,

And when the Fit was on him, I did marke

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How he did shake: Tis true, this God did shake,
His Coward lippes did from their colour flye,
And that same Eye, whose bend doth awe the World,
Did loose his Lustre: I did heare him grone:

I, and that Tongue of his, that bad the Romans
Marke him, and write his Speeches in their Bookes,
Alas, it cried, Give me some drinke Titinius,
As a sicke Girle: Ye Gods, it doth amaze me,
A man of such a feeble temper should

So get the start of the Majesticke world,
And beare the Palme alone.

Shout.

Bru. Another generall shout?

Flourish.

I do beleeve, that these applauses are

140

For some new Honors, that are heap'd on Cæsar. 150 Cassi. Why man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men

Walke under his huge legges, and peepe about

To finde our selves dishonourable Graves.

Men at sometime, are Masters of their Fates.

The fault (deere Brutus) is not in our Starres,
But in our Selves, that we are underlings.

Brutus and Casar: What should be in that Cæsar?
Why should that name be sounded more then yours?
Write them together: Yours, is as faire a Name: 160
Sound them, it doth become the mouth aswell:
Weigh them, it is as heavy: Conjure with 'em,
Brutus will start a Spirit as soone as Cæsar.
Now in the names of all the Gods at once,
Upon what meate doth this our Cæsar feede,
That he is growne so great? Age, thou art sham'd.
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of Noble Bloods.
When went there by an Age, since the great Flood,
But it was fam'd with more then with one man?
When could they say (till now) that talk'd of Rome,
That her wide Walkes incompast but one man?
Now is it Rome indeed, and Roome enough
When there is in it but one onely man.

O! y

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you and I, have heard our Fathers say, There was a Brutus once, that would have brook'd Th'eternall Divell to keepe his State in Rome, As easily as a King.

Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous:
What you would worke me too, I have some ayme:
How I have thought of this, and of these times
I shall recount heereafter.

For this present,
I would not so (with love I might intreat you)
Be any further moov'd: What you have said,
I will consider: what you have to say

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I will with patience heare, and finde a time
Both meete to heare, and answer such high things."
Till then, my Noble Friend, chew upon this:

171. Walkes: walls-2RowE.

Brutus had rather be a Villager,
Then to repute himselfe a Sonne of Rome
Under these hard Conditions, as this time
Is like to lay upon us.

Cassi. I am glad that my weake words

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Have strucke but thus much shew of fire from Brutus.

Enter Cæsar and his Traine.

Brn. The Games are done,

And Cæsar is returning.

Cassi. As they passe by,

Plucke Caska by the Sleeve,

And he will (after his sowre fashion) tell
What hath proceeded worthy note to day.

you

Bru. I will do so: but looke you Cassius,
The angry spot doth glow on Casars brow,
And all the rest, looke like a chidden Traine;
Calphurnia's Cheeke is pale, and Cicero
Lookes with such Ferret, and such fiery eyes
As we have seene him in the Capitoll
Being crost in Conference, by some Senators.
Cassi. Caska will tell us what the matter is.
Cæs. Antonio.

Ant. Cæsar.

Cas. Let me have men about me, that are fat,
Sleeke-headed men, and such as sleepe a-nights:
Yond Cassius has a leane and hungry looke,
He thinkes too much: such men are dangerous.
Ant. Feare him not Cæsar, he's not dangerous,
He is a Noble Roman, and well given.

200

210

Cas. Would he were fatter; But I feare him not: Yet if my name were lyable to feare,

195-8. 2 five-accent 11.-RowE. 212. a-: o'-CAPELL.

195. Brn.: misprint 1F.

I do not know the man I should avoyd

So soone as that spare Cassius. He reades much,
He is a great Observer, and he lookes

221

Quite through the Deeds of men. He loves no Playes,
As thou dost Antony: he heares no Musicke;
Seldome he smiles, and smiles in such a sort
As if he mock'd himselfe, and scorn'd his spirit
That could be mov'd to smile at any thing.
Such men as he, be never at hearts ease,
Whiles they behold a greater then themselves,
And therefore are they very dangerous.
I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd,
Then what I feare: for alwayes I am Cæsar.
Come on my right hand, for this eare is deafe,
And tell me truely, what thou think'st of him. Sennit.
Exeunt Cæsar and his Traine.

230

Cask. You pul'd me by the cloake, would you speake with me?

Bru. I Caska, tell us what hath chanc'd to day That Caesar lookes so sad.

238 Cask. Why you were with him, were you not? Bru. I should not then aske Caska what had chanc'd. Cask. Why there was a Crowne offer'd him; & being offer'd him, he put it by with the backe of his hand thus, and then the people fell a shouting.

Bru. What was the second noyse for?

Cask. Why for that too.

Cassi. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for? Cask. Why for that too.

Bru. Was the Crowne offer'd him thrice?

Cask. I marry was't, and hee put it by thrice, everie time gentler then other; and at every putting by, mine honest Neighbors showted.

235-6. verse-POPE.

251

Cassi. Who offer'd him the Crowne?

Cask. Why Antony.

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

Caska. I can as well bee hang'd as tell the manner of it: It was meere Foolerie, I did not marke it. I sawe Marke Antony offer him a Crowne, yet 'twas not a Crowne neyther, 'twas one of these Coronets: and as I told you, hee put it by once: but for all that, to my thinking, he would faine have had it. Then hee offered it to him againe: then hee put it by againe: but to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time; hee put it the third time by, and still as hee refus'd it, the rabblement howted, and clapp'd their chopt hands, and threw uppe their sweatie Night-cappes, and uttered such a deale of stinking breath, because Cæsar refus'd the Crowne, that it had (almost) choaked Cæsar: for hee swoonded, and fell downe at it: And for mine owne part, I durst not laugh, for feare of opening my Lippes, and receyving the bad Ayre.

271

Cassi. But soft I pray you: what, did Cæsar swound? Cask. He fell downe in the Market-place, and foam'd at mouth, and was speechlesse.

Brut. 'Tis very like he hath the Falling sicknesse. Cassi. No, Cæsar hath it not: but you, and I, And honest Caska, we have the Falling sicknesse.

Cask. I know not what you meane by that, but I am sure Cæsar fell downe. If the tag-ragge people did not clap him, and hisse him, according as he pleas'd, and displeas'd them, as they use to doe the Players in the Theatre, I am no true man.

282

Brut. What said he, when he came unto himselfe?

264. bowted: hooted-JOHNSON.