Julius Caesar Act 1 Scene 2
Rome. A public place.
The Original
Plain Modern English
Flourish. Enter Caesar; Antony, dressed for the race; Calpurnia, Portia, Decius Brutus, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, and Casca; a great crowd following, among them a Soothsayer.
Caesar
Calpurnia!
Caesar
Calpurnia!
Casca
Peace, ho! Caesar speaks.
Casca
Quiet! Caesar is speaking.
Caesar
Calpurnia!
Caesar
Calpurnia!
Calpurnia
Here, my lord.
Calpurnia
Here, my lord.
Caesar
Stand you directly in Antonius' way,
When he doth run his course. Antonius!
Caesar
Stand directly in Antony's path
when he runs the race. — Antony!
Antony
Caesar, my lord?
Antony
Yes, Caesar, my lord?
Caesar
Forget not, in your speed, Antonius,
To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say,
The barren, touched in this holy chase,
Shake off their sterile curse.
Caesar
Don't forget, in your hurry, Antony,
to touch Calpurnia. Our elders say
that a childless woman, touched during this sacred race,
is freed from the curse of barrenness.
Antony
I shall remember:
When Caesar says 'do this,' it is perform'd.
Antony
I'll remember.
When Caesar says 'do this,' it's done.
Caesar
Set on; and leave no ceremony out.
Caesar
Carry on — and leave out no part of the ritual.
Soothsayer
Caesar!
Soothsayer
Caesar!
Caesar
Ha! who calls?
Caesar
Ha! Who's calling?
Casca
Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!
Casca
Silence, all of you! Quiet again!
Caesar
Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.
Caesar
Who is it in the crowd calling me?
I hear a voice, shriller than all the music,
crying 'Caesar!' Speak — Caesar has turned to listen.
Soothsayer
Beware the ides of March.
Soothsayer
Beware the fifteenth of March.
Caesar
What man is that?
Caesar
Who is that man?
Brutus
A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
Brutus
A fortune-teller telling you to beware the fifteenth of March.
Caesar
Set him before me; let me see his face.
Caesar
Bring him to me. Let me see his face.
Cassius
Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
Cassius
You there — come out of the crowd. Look at Caesar.
Caesar
What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.
Caesar
What are you saying to me? Say it again.
Soothsayer
Beware the ides of March.
Soothsayer
Beware the fifteenth of March.
Caesar
He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.
Caesar
He's a dreamer. Leave him. Move on.
Sennet. Exeunt all except Brutus and Cassius.
Cassius
Will you go see the order of the course?
Cassius
Are you coming to watch the race?
Brutus
Not I.
Brutus
Not me.
Cassius
I pray you, do.
Cassius
Please do.
Brutus
I am not gamesome: I do lack some part
Of that quick spirit that is in Antony.
Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires;
I'll leave you.
Brutus
I'm not one for games. I lack some of
that lively spirit Antony has.
Don't let me hold you back, Cassius.
I'll leave you to it.
Cassius
Brutus, I do observe you now of late:
I have not from your eyes that gentleness
And show of love as I was wont to have:
You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
Over your friend that loves you.
Cassius
Brutus, I've been watching you lately.
I don't get from your eyes the warmth
and affection I used to get.
You've been holding too tight and too cold a rein
over a friend who loves you.
Brutus
Cassius,
Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look,
I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myself. Vexed I am
Of late with passions of some difference,
Conceptions only proper to myself,
Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors;
But let not therefore my good friends be grieved—
Among which number, Cassius, be you one—
Nor construe any further my neglect,
Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war,
Forgets the shows of love to other men.
Brutus
Cassius,
don't misread it. If I've hidden my expression,
I've turned the trouble on my face
entirely inward. I've been troubled
lately by conflicting feelings,
thoughts that belong to me alone,
which may have stained my behaviour a little.
But don't let my good friends be hurt by it —
and you're one of them, Cassius —
and don't read anything more into my neglect
than that poor Brutus, at war with himself,
forgets to show affection to other people.
Cassius
Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion;
By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried
Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?
Cassius
Then, Brutus, I've badly misread your mood,
and because of it I've kept buried in my chest
thoughts of great value, ideas worth hearing.
Tell me, Brutus — can you see your own face?
Brutus
No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself,
But by reflection, by some other things.
Brutus
No, Cassius. The eye can't see itself
except by reflection, in something else.
Cassius
'Tis just:
And it is very much lamented, Brutus,
That you have no such mirrors as will turn
Your hidden worthiness into your eye,
That you might see your shadow. I have heard,
Where many of the best respect in Rome,
Except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus
And groaning underneath this age's yoke,
Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes.
Cassius
Exactly.
And it's a great pity, Brutus,
that you have no mirrors to show you
your own hidden worth,
so you could see your own reflection. I've heard
many of the most respected men in Rome —
except immortal Caesar — speaking of Brutus
and groaning under the burden of these times,
wishing that noble Brutus could see himself clearly. (Note the sarcasm buried in 'immortal Caesar.')
Brutus
Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius,
That you would have me seek into myself
For that which is not in me?
Brutus
What dangers are you leading me toward, Cassius,
wanting me to search inside myself
for something that isn't there?
Cassius
Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear:
And since you know you cannot see yourself
So well as by reflection, I, your glass,
Will modestly discover to yourself
That of yourself which you yet know not of.
And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus:
Were I a common laugher, or did use
To stale with ordinary oaths my love
To every new protester; if you know
That I do fawn on men and hug them hard
And after scandal them; or if you know
That I profess myself in banqueting
To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.
Cassius
Then listen carefully, good Brutus.
Since you admit you can't see yourself
except by reflection — I'll be your mirror
and show you, without exaggerating,
the part of yourself you don't yet know.
And don't be suspicious of me, Brutus.
If I were a common joker, or made a habit
of cheapening my friendship with easy promises
to every new acquaintance; if you knew
that I flatter men and embrace them warmly
and then slander them behind their backs; or if you knew
that at parties I declare myself a friend
to the whole crowd — then treat me as dangerous.
Flourish and shout offstage.
Brutus
What means this shouting? I do fear, the people
Choose Caesar for their king.
Brutus
What's that shouting? I'm afraid the people
are making Caesar their king.
Cassius
Ay, do you fear it?
Then must I think you would not have it so.
Cassius
You're afraid of it?
Then I take it you don't want it to happen.
Brutus
I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well.
But wherefore do you hold me here so long?
What is it that you would impart to me?
If it be aught toward the general good,
Set honour in one eye and death i' the other,
And I will look on both indifferently,
For let the gods so speed me as I love
The name of honour more than I fear death.
Brutus
I don't, Cassius — and yet I'm fond of him.
But why are you keeping me here so long?
What is it you want to tell me?
If it's anything for the public good,
put honour in one eye and death in the other
and I'll look at both the same,
because — so help me — I love
the name of honour more than I fear death.
Cassius
I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus,
As well as I do know your outward favour.
Well, honour is the subject of my story.
I cannot tell what you and other men
Think of this life; but, for my single self,
I had as lief not be as live to be
In awe of such a thing as I myself.
I was born free as Caesar; so were you:
We both have fed as well, and we can both
Endure the winter's cold as well as he:
For once, upon a raw and gusty day,
The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,
Caesar said to me 'Darest thou, Cassius, now
Leap in with me into this angry flood,
And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word,
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in
And bade him follow; so indeed he did.
The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it
With lusty sinews, throwing it aside
And stemming it with hearts of controversy;
But ere we could arrive the point proposed,
Caesar cried 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink!'
I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor,
Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber
Did I the tired Caesar. And this man
Is now become a god, and Cassius is
A wretched creature and must bend his body,
If Caesar carelessly but nod on him.
He had a fever when he was in Spain,
And when the fit was on him, I did mark
How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake;
His coward lips did from their colour fly,
And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world
Did lose his lustre: I did hear him groan:
Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans
Mark him and write his speeches in their books,
Alas, it cried 'Give me some drink, Titinius,'
As a sick girl. Ye gods! it doth amaze me
A man of such a feeble temper should
So get the start of the majestic world
And bear the palm alone.
Cassius
I know that quality is in you, Brutus,
as surely as I know your face.
Well — honour is exactly my subject.
I can't say what you and other men
think of this life. But speaking for myself,
I'd rather not exist than live in awe
of a creature no different from me.
I was born as free as Caesar. So were you.
We've both eaten as well, and we can both
stand the winter cold as well as he can.
Once, on a raw and blustery day,
with the churning Tiber grinding at its banks,
Caesar said to me: 'Do you dare, Cassius,
to leap into this raging river with me
and swim to that point over there?' At the word,
dressed exactly as I was, I plunged in
and told him to follow — and he did.
The current roared, and we fought it
with strong muscles, throwing it aside
and pushing through with competitive hearts.
But before we could reach the point we'd agreed on,
Caesar cried 'Help me, Cassius, or I'll drown!'
And I — like Aeneas, our great ancestor,
who carried old Anchises on his shoulder
out of the flames of Troy — carried tired Caesar
out of the waves of the Tiber. And this man
has now become a god, and Cassius is
a miserable creature who has to bow
if Caesar so much as carelessly nods at him.
He caught a fever when he was in Spain,
and when the fit was on him, I watched
how he shook. It's true — this god shook.
The colour fled from his cowardly lips,
and that same eye whose glance terrifies the world
lost its brightness. I heard him groan.
Yes — and that tongue of his that told Romans
to listen and write his speeches down in their books
cried out 'Give me a drink, Titinius,'
like a sick girl. Gods! It astounds me
that a man of such feeble constitution
should get so far ahead of this magnificent world
and carry off the prize alone.
Shout. Flourish.
Brutus
Another general shout!
I do believe that these applauses are
For some new honours that are heap'd on Caesar.
Brutus
Another roar from the crowd!
I think all this applause must be
for some new honours being piled on Caesar.
Cassius
Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves dishonourable graves.
Men at some time are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that 'Caesar'?
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
Write them together, yours is as fair a name;
Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well;
Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with 'em,
Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Caesar.
Now, in the names of all the gods at once,
Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed,
That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed!
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!
When went there by an age, since the great flood,
But it was famed with more than with one man?
When could they say till now, that talk'd of Rome,
That her wide walls encompassed but one man?
Now is it Rome indeed and room enough,
When there is in it but one only man.
O, you and I have heard our fathers say,
There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd
The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome
As easily as a king.
Cassius
Man, he straddles this narrow world
like a giant statue, while we small men
walk between his huge legs and peer around
looking for our own dishonourable graves.
Men are sometimes masters of their own fate.
The fault, dear Brutus, isn't in our stars —
it's in ourselves, that we are underlings.
Brutus and Caesar — what's so special about 'Caesar'?
Why should that name be shouted louder than yours?
Write them side by side — yours looks just as fine.
Say them aloud — yours sits in the mouth as well.
Weigh them — yours is as heavy. Use them as spells:
'Brutus' will raise a ghost as fast as 'Caesar' will.
Now, in the name of all the gods at once —
what is this Caesar of ours eating
that he's grown so huge? Our age is disgraced!
Rome, you've lost your breed of noble blood!
When has there been an age, since the great flood,
that was famous for more than a single man?
Until now, when could anyone talking about Rome
say her wide walls enclosed only one man?
Now it really is Rome — and room enough —
when there's only one man in it. (Rome and 'room' sounded alike; the pun is the point.)
You and I have both heard our fathers say
there was once a Brutus who would have put up with
the devil himself ruling in Rome
as readily as a king. (Brutus's own ancestor drove out Rome's last king. Cassius knows exactly where to press.)
Brutus
That you do love me, I am nothing jealous;
What you would work me to, I have some aim:
How I have thought of this and of these times,
I shall recount hereafter; for this present,
I would not, so with love I might entreat you,
Be any further moved. What you have said
I will consider; what you have to say
I will with patience hear, and find a time
Both meet to hear and answer such high things.
Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this:
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.
Brutus
I've no doubt that you care for me.
I have some idea what you're steering me toward.
What I've thought about this, and about these times,
I'll tell you later. For now,
I'd ask you, as a friend,
not to push me further. What you've said
I'll consider. What you still have to say
I'll hear patiently, and find a time
suitable for discussing such serious matters.
Until then, noble friend, chew on this:
Brutus would rather be a peasant
than call himself a son of Rome
under the harsh conditions this age
is likely to impose on us.
Cassius
I am glad that my weak words
Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.
Cassius
I'm glad my feeble words
have struck even this much fire out of Brutus.
Brutus
The games are done and Caesar is returning.
Brutus
The games are over and Caesar's coming back.
Cassius
As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve;
And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you
What hath proceeded worthy note to-day.
Cassius
As they pass, tug Casca's sleeve.
In his sour way he'll tell you
anything worth knowing that happened today.
Re-enter Caesar and his train.
Brutus
I will do so. But, look you, Cassius,
The angry spot doth glow on Caesar's brow,
And all the rest look like a chidden train:
Calpurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero
Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes
As we have seen him in the Capitol,
Being cross'd in conference by some senators.
Brutus
I will. But look, Cassius —
there's an angry flush on Caesar's forehead,
and the rest look like a scolded retinue.
Calpurnia's face is pale, and Cicero
has the red, blazing eyes
we've seen on him in the Capitol
when senators have contradicted him in debate.
Cassius
Casca will tell us what the matter is.
Cassius
Casca will tell us what happened.
Caesar
Antonius!
Caesar
Antony!
Antony
Caesar?
Antony
Yes, Caesar?
Caesar
Let me have men about me that are fat;
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights:
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.
Caesar
Let me have fat men around me —
smooth-haired men who sleep at night.
That Cassius has a lean and hungry look.
He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.
Antony
Fear him not, Caesar; he's not dangerous;
He is a noble Roman and well given.
Antony
Don't fear him, Caesar. He isn't dangerous.
He's a noble Roman and well disposed.
Caesar
Would he were fatter! 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;
He is a great observer and he looks
Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays,
As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music;
Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort
As if he mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit
That could be moved to smile at any thing.
Such men as he be never at heart's ease
Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,
And therefore are they very dangerous.
I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd
Than what I fear; for always I am Caesar.
Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,
And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.
Caesar
I wish he were fatter. But I'm not afraid of him.
Yet if I were the sort of man who feared anything,
I don't know anyone I'd avoid
sooner than that thin Cassius. He reads a great deal.
He's a sharp observer, and he sees
straight through what men do. He doesn't enjoy plays
the way you do, Antony. He doesn't listen to music.
He rarely smiles, and when he does it's as though
he were mocking himself and despising his own nature
for being capable of smiling at anything.
Men like him are never at peace
while they see someone greater than themselves,
and that makes them very dangerous.
I'm telling you what ought to be feared,
not what I fear — because I am always Caesar.
Come round to my right side; this ear is deaf.
And tell me honestly what you think of him. (He declares himself fearless and immediately admits a disability. Shakespeare puts the two lines side by side.)
Sennet. Exeunt Caesar and all his train but Casca.
Casca
You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me?
Casca
You tugged my cloak — did you want a word?
Brutus
Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanced to-day,
That Caesar looks so sad.
Brutus
Yes, Casca. Tell us what happened today
to make Caesar look so grim.
Casca
Why, you were with him, were you not?
Casca
Weren't you there with him?
Brutus
I should not then ask Casca what had chanced.
Brutus
If I had been, I wouldn't be asking Casca what happened.
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.
Casca
Well — he was offered a crown. And when it was
offered, he pushed it away with the back of his hand,
like this. And then the people started cheering.
Brutus
What was the second noise for?
Brutus
What was the second cheer for?
Casca
Why, for that too.
Casca
Same thing.
Cassius
They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for?
Cassius
They shouted three times. What was the last one for?
Casca
Why, for that too.
Casca
Same thing again.
Brutus
Was the crown offered him thrice?
Brutus
Was he offered the crown three times?
Casca
Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every
time gentler than other, and at every putting-by
mine honest neighbours shouted.
Casca
He certainly was, and he pushed it away three times —
each time more gently than the last. And at every refusal
my good neighbours cheered. (Each refusal weaker than the last. Casca is telling them Caesar wanted it.)
Cassius
Who offered him the crown?
Cassius
Who offered him the crown?
Casca
Why, Antony.
Casca
Antony.
Brutus
Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.
Brutus
Tell us how it went, Casca.
Casca
I can as well be hanged as tell the manner of it:
it was mere foolery; I did not mark it. I saw Mark
Antony offer him a crown;—yet 'twas not a crown
neither, 'twas 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 loath to lay his
fingers off it. And then he offered it the third
time; he put it the third time by: and still as he
refused it, the rabblement hooted and clapped their
chapped hands and threw up their sweaty night-caps
and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because
Caesar refused the crown that it had almost choked
Caesar; for he swounded 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.
Casca
I'd sooner be hanged than describe it properly.
It was pure nonsense; I wasn't paying attention. I saw Mark
Antony offer him a crown — though it wasn't a crown
exactly, more one of those small circlets — and as I said,
he pushed it away once. But even so, in my
opinion, he badly wanted it. Then Antony
offered it again, and he pushed it away again —
but I thought he was very reluctant to take his
fingers off it. And then it was offered a third
time, and he pushed it away a third time. And each time he
refused, the rabble hooted and clapped their
chapped hands and threw their sweaty nightcaps in the air
and breathed out so much stinking breath because
Caesar refused the crown that it nearly choked
him — he fainted and fell down at it. And
for my part, I didn't dare laugh, for fear of
opening my mouth and swallowing the bad air.
Cassius
But, soft, I pray you: what, did Caesar swound?
Cassius
Hold on — Caesar fainted?
Casca
He fell down in the market-place, and foamed at
mouth, and was speechless.
Casca
He fell down in the marketplace, foamed at the
mouth, and couldn't speak.
Brutus
'Tis very like: he hath the failing sickness.
Brutus
That sounds right — he has epilepsy.
Cassius
No, Caesar hath it not; but you and I,
And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness.
Cassius
No, Caesar doesn't have it. You and I,
and honest Casca — we're the ones who are falling. (A pun turned political: Rome is the one collapsing.)
Casca
I know not what you mean by that; but, I am sure,
Caesar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not
clap him and hiss him, according as he pleased and
displeased them, as they use to do the players in
the theatre, I am no true man.
Casca
I don't know what you mean by that. But I'm certain
Caesar fell down. And if the ragged mob didn't
clap him and hiss him depending on whether he pleased or
annoyed them, exactly as they do to actors in
the theatre — then I'm no honest man.
Brutus
What said he when he came unto himself?
Brutus
What did he say when he came round?
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 any thing amiss, he desired
their worships 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 Caesar had
stabbed their mothers, they would have done no less.
Casca
Well — before he fell, when he noticed the
common herd was pleased he'd refused the crown, he
tore open his shirt and offered them his
throat to cut. If I'd been a working man,
and hadn't taken him at his word,
may I go to hell with the villains. And so
he collapsed. When he came round he said
that if he'd done or said anything wrong, he'd ask
their worships to blame his illness. Three
or four girls near me cried 'Oh, the poor
soul!' and forgave him with all their hearts. But
take no notice of them — if Caesar had
stabbed their mothers they'd have done exactly the same.
Brutus
And after that, he came, thus sad, away?
Brutus
And after that he went off looking grim?
Casca
Ay.
Casca
Yes.
Cassius
Did Cicero say any thing?
Cassius
Did Cicero say anything?
Casca
Ay, he spoke Greek.
Casca
He spoke Greek.
Cassius
To what effect?
Cassius
Meaning what?
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 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 Caesar's images, are put to silence. Fare you
well. There was more foolery yet, if I could
remember it.
Casca
If I could tell you that, I'd never look you in the
face again. Those who understood him smiled at
each other and shook their heads. But for my own
part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more
news too — Marullus and Flavius, for pulling the scarves
off Caesar's statues, have been silenced. Goodbye.
There was more nonsense, if only I could
remember it. (The two men from Scene 1 have been dealt with. Casca mentions it as an afterthought.)
Cassius
Will you sup with me to-night, Casca?
Cassius
Will you have dinner with me tonight, Casca?
Casca
No, I am promised forth.
Casca
No, I'm engaged elsewhere.
Cassius
Will you dine with me to-morrow?
Cassius
Will you dine with me tomorrow?
Casca
Ay, if I be alive and your mind hold and your dinner
worth the eating.
Casca
Yes — if I'm alive, and you haven't changed your mind, and the dinner's
worth eating.
Cassius
Good: I will expect you.
Cassius
Good. I'll expect you.
Casca
Do so. Farewell, both.
Casca
Do that. Goodbye, both of you.
Exit Casca.
Brutus
What a blunt fellow is this grown to be!
He was quick mettle when he went to school.
Brutus
What a dull fellow he's become!
He was sharp enough at school.
Cassius
So is he now in execution
Of any bold or noble enterprise,
However he puts on this tardy form.
This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit,
Which gives men stomach to digest his words
With better appetite.
Cassius
He still is, when it comes to carrying out
any bold or noble undertaking,
however slow-witted he pretends to be.
This bluntness is a sauce to his good sense,
which gives people an appetite for his words
and helps them go down.
Brutus
And so 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.
Brutus
So it is. I'll leave you for now.
Tomorrow, if you'd like to talk,
I'll come to your house — or if you prefer,
come to mine and I'll be waiting.
Cassius
I will do so: till then, think of the world.
Cassius
I'll do that. Until then, think about the state of the world.
Exit Brutus.
Cassius
Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see,
Thy honourable metal may be wrought
From that it is disposed: therefore it is meet
That noble minds keep ever with their likes;
For who so firm that cannot be seduced?
Caesar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus:
If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius,
He should not humour me. I will this night,
In several 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 obscurely
Caesar's ambition shall be glanced at:
And after this let Caesar seat him sure;
For we will shake him, or worse days endure.
Cassius
Well, Brutus, you're noble — and yet I see
that your honourable character can be bent
away from its natural inclination. Which is why
noble minds should stay among their own kind:
who is so solid that they can't be seduced?
Caesar dislikes me, but he loves Brutus.
If I were Brutus and he were Cassius,
he wouldn't be manipulated the way I'm managing him. Tonight I'll
throw letters in at his windows, in different handwritings,
as though they came from several citizens,
all pointing to the high opinion
Rome has of his name — and hinting obliquely
at Caesar's ambition.
After that, let Caesar make his seat secure,
because we'll shake him — or suffer worse days.
Exit.