The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar

1 Enter Brutus and Cassius.
2 CASSIUS.
3 That you have wrong’d me doth appear in this:
4 You have condemn’d and noted Lucius Pella
5 For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
6 Wherein my letters, praying on his side
7 Because I knew the man, were slighted off.
8 BRUTUS.
9 You wrong’d yourself to write in such a case.
10 CASSIUS.
11 In such a time as this it is not meet
12 That every nice offence should bear his comment.
13 BRUTUS.
14 Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
15 Are much condemn’d to have an itching palm,
16 To sell and mart your offices for gold
17 To undeservers.
18 CASSIUS.
19 I an itching palm!
20 You know that you are Brutus that speak this,
21 Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
22 BRUTUS.
23 The name of Cassius honours this corruption,
24 And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
25 CASSIUS.
26 Chastisement!
27 BRUTUS.
28 Remember March, the Ides of March remember:
29 Did not great Julius bleed for justice’ sake?
30 What villain touch’d his body, that did stab,
31 And not for justice? What! Shall one of us,
32 That struck the foremost man of all this world
33 But for supporting robbers, shall we now
34 Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
35 And sell the mighty space of our large honours
36 For so much trash as may be grasped thus?
37 I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,
38 Than such a Roman.
39 CASSIUS.
40 Brutus, bait not me,
41 I’ll not endure it. You forget yourself,
42 To hedge me in. I am a soldier, I,
43 Older in practice, abler than yourself
44 To make conditions.
45 BRUTUS.
46 Go to; you are not, Cassius.
47 CASSIUS.
48 I am.
49 BRUTUS.
50 I say you are not.
51 CASSIUS.
52 Urge me no more, I shall forget myself;
53 Have mind upon your health, tempt me no farther.
54 BRUTUS.
55 Away, slight man!
56 CASSIUS.
57 Is’t possible?
58 BRUTUS.
59 Hear me, for I will speak.
60 Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
61 Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?
62 CASSIUS.
63 O ye gods, ye gods! Must I endure all this?
64 BRUTUS.
65 All this? ay, more: fret till your proud heart break;
66 Go show your slaves how choleric you are,
67 And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?
68 Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch
69 Under your testy humour? By the gods,
70 You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
71 Though it do split you; for, from this day forth,
72 I’ll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
73 When you are waspish.
74 CASSIUS.
75 Is it come to this?
76 BRUTUS.
77 You say you are a better soldier:
78 Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,
79 And it shall please me well. For mine own part,
80 I shall be glad to learn of noble men.
81 CASSIUS.
82 You wrong me every way, you wrong me, Brutus.
83 I said, an elder soldier, not a better:
84 Did I say better?
85 BRUTUS.
86 If you did, I care not.
87 CASSIUS.
88 When Caesar liv’d, he durst not thus have mov’d me.
89 BRUTUS.
90 Peace, peace! you durst not so have tempted him.
91 CASSIUS.
92 I durst not?
93 BRUTUS.
94 No.
95 CASSIUS.
96 What? durst not tempt him?
97 BRUTUS.
98 For your life you durst not.
99 CASSIUS.
100 Do not presume too much upon my love.
101 I may do that I shall be sorry for.
102 BRUTUS.
103 You have done that you should be sorry for.
104 There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats,
105 For I am arm’d so strong in honesty,
106 That they pass by me as the idle wind,
107 Which I respect not. I did send to you
108 For certain sums of gold, which you denied me;
109 For I can raise no money by vile means:
110 By Heaven, I had rather coin my heart,
111 And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
112 From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
113 By any indirection. I did send
114 To you for gold to pay my legions,
115 Which you denied me: was that done like Cassius?
116 Should I have answer’d Caius Cassius so?
117 When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,
118 To lock such rascal counters from his friends,
119 Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts,
120 Dash him to pieces!
121 CASSIUS.
122 I denied you not.
123 BRUTUS.
124 You did.
125 CASSIUS.
126 I did not. He was but a fool
127 That brought my answer back. Brutus hath riv’d my heart.
128 A friend should bear his friend’s infirmities;
129 But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
130 BRUTUS.
131 I do not, till you practise them on me.
132 CASSIUS.
133 You love me not.
134 BRUTUS.
135 I do not like your faults.
136 CASSIUS.
137 A friendly eye could never see such faults.
138 BRUTUS.
139 A flatterer’s would not, though they do appear
140 As huge as high Olympus.
141 CASSIUS.
142 Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
143 Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
144 For Cassius is a-weary of the world:
145 Hated by one he loves; brav’d by his brother;
146 Check’d like a bondman; all his faults observ’d,
147 Set in a note-book, learn’d and conn’d by rote,
148 To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep
149 My spirit from mine eyes! There is my dagger,
150 And here my naked breast; within, a heart
151 Dearer than Plutus’ mine, richer than gold:
152 If that thou be’st a Roman, take it forth.
153 I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart:
154 Strike as thou didst at Caesar; for I know,
155 When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better
156 Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.
157 BRUTUS.
158 Sheathe your dagger.
159 Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
160 Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.
161 O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb
162 That carries anger as the flint bears fire,
163 Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark,
164 And straight is cold again.
165 CASSIUS.
166 Hath Cassius liv’d
167 To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
168 When grief and blood ill-temper’d vexeth him?
169 BRUTUS.
170 When I spoke that, I was ill-temper’d too.
171 CASSIUS.
172 Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.
173 BRUTUS.
174 And my heart too.
175 CASSIUS.
176 O Brutus!
177 BRUTUS.
178 What’s the matter?
179 CASSIUS.
180 Have not you love enough to bear with me,
181 When that rash humour which my mother gave me
182 Makes me forgetful?
183 BRUTUS.
184 Yes, Cassius; and from henceforth,
185 When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,
186 He’ll think your mother chides, and leave you so.
187 Enter Poet, followed by Lucilius, Titinius and Lucius.
188 POET.
189 [_Within._] Let me go in to see the generals,
190 There is some grudge between ’em; ’tis not meet
191 They be alone.
192 LUCILIUS.
193 [_Within._] You shall not come to them.
194 POET.
195 [_Within._] Nothing but death shall stay me.
196 CASSIUS.
197 How now! What’s the matter?
198 POET.
199 For shame, you generals! What do you mean?
200 Love, and be friends, as two such men should be;
201 For I have seen more years, I’m sure, than ye.
202 CASSIUS.
203 Ha, ha! How vilely doth this cynic rhyme!
204 BRUTUS.
205 Get you hence, sirrah. Saucy fellow, hence!
206 CASSIUS.
207 Bear with him, Brutus; ’tis his fashion.
208 BRUTUS.
209 I’ll know his humour when he knows his time.
210 What should the wars do with these jigging fools?
211 Companion, hence!
212 CASSIUS.
213 Away, away, be gone!
214 [_Exit Poet._]
215 BRUTUS.
216 Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders
217 Prepare to lodge their companies tonight.
218 CASSIUS.
219 And come yourselves and bring Messala with you
220 Immediately to us.
221 [_Exeunt Lucilius and Titinius._]
222 BRUTUS.
223 Lucius, a bowl of wine.
224 [_Exit Lucius._]
225 CASSIUS.
226 I did not think you could have been so angry.
227 BRUTUS.
228 O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.
229 CASSIUS.
230 Of your philosophy you make no use,
231 If you give place to accidental evils.
232 BRUTUS.
233 No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead.
234 CASSIUS.
235 Ha? Portia?
236 BRUTUS.
237 She is dead.
238 CASSIUS.
239 How ’scap’d I killing, when I cross’d you so?
240 O insupportable and touching loss!
241 Upon what sickness?
242 BRUTUS.
243 Impatient of my absence,
244 And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
245 Have made themselves so strong; for with her death
246 That tidings came. With this she fell distract,
247 And, her attendants absent, swallow’d fire.
248 CASSIUS.
249 And died so?
250 BRUTUS.
251 Even so.
252 CASSIUS.
253 O ye immortal gods!
254 Enter Lucius, with wine and a taper.
255 BRUTUS.
256 Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine.
257 In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius.
258 [_Drinks._]
259 CASSIUS.
260 My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge.
261 Fill, Lucius, till the wine o’erswell the cup.
262 I cannot drink too much of Brutus’ love.
263 [_Drinks._]
264 [_Exit Lucius._]
265 Enter Titinius and Messala.
266 BRUTUS.
267 Come in, Titinius!
268 Welcome, good Messala.
269 Now sit we close about this taper here,
270 And call in question our necessities.
271 CASSIUS.
272 Portia, art thou gone?
273 BRUTUS.
274 No more, I pray you.
275 Messala, I have here received letters,
276 That young Octavius and Mark Antony
277 Come down upon us with a mighty power,
278 Bending their expedition toward Philippi.
279 MESSALA.
280 Myself have letters of the selfsame tenor.
281 BRUTUS.
282 With what addition?
283 MESSALA.
284 That by proscription and bills of outlawry
285 Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus
286 Have put to death an hundred Senators.
287 BRUTUS.
288 Therein our letters do not well agree.
289 Mine speak of seventy Senators that died
290 By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.
291 CASSIUS.
292 Cicero one!
293 MESSALA.
294 Cicero is dead,
295 And by that order of proscription.
296 Had you your letters from your wife, my lord?
297 BRUTUS.
298 No, Messala.
299 MESSALA.
300 Nor nothing in your letters writ of her?
301 BRUTUS.
302 Nothing, Messala.
303 MESSALA.
304 That, methinks, is strange.
305 BRUTUS.
306 Why ask you? Hear you aught of her in yours?
307 MESSALA.
308 No, my lord.
309 BRUTUS.
310 Now as you are a Roman, tell me true.
311 MESSALA.
312 Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell,
313 For certain she is dead, and by strange manner.
314 BRUTUS.
315 Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala.
316 With meditating that she must die once,
317 I have the patience to endure it now.
318 MESSALA.
319 Even so great men great losses should endure.
320 CASSIUS.
321 I have as much of this in art as you,
322 But yet my nature could not bear it so.
323 BRUTUS.
324 Well, to our work alive. What do you think
325 Of marching to Philippi presently?
326 CASSIUS.
327 I do not think it good.
328 BRUTUS.
329 Your reason?
330 CASSIUS.
331 This it is:
332 ’Tis better that the enemy seek us;
333 So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers,
334 Doing himself offence, whilst we, lying still,
335 Are full of rest, defence, and nimbleness.
336 BRUTUS.
337 Good reasons must of force give place to better.
338 The people ’twixt Philippi and this ground
339 Do stand but in a forced affection;
340 For they have grudg’d us contribution.
341 The enemy, marching along by them,
342 By them shall make a fuller number up,
343 Come on refresh’d, new-added, and encourag’d;
344 From which advantage shall we cut him off
345 If at Philippi we do face him there,
346 These people at our back.
347 CASSIUS.
348 Hear me, good brother.
349 BRUTUS.
350 Under your pardon. You must note besides,
351 That we have tried the utmost of our friends,
352 Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe.
353 The enemy increaseth every day;
354 We, at the height, are ready to decline.
355 There is a tide in the affairs of men,
356 Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
357 Omitted, all the voyage of their life
358 Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
359 On such a full sea are we now afloat,
360 And we must take the current when it serves,
361 Or lose our ventures.
362 CASSIUS.
363 Then, with your will, go on:
364 We’ll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi.
365 BRUTUS.
366 The deep of night is crept upon our talk,
367 And nature must obey necessity,
368 Which we will niggard with a little rest.
369 There is no more to say?
370 CASSIUS.
371 No more. Good night:
372 Early tomorrow will we rise, and hence.
373 Enter Lucius.
374 BRUTUS.
375 Lucius! My gown.
376 [_Exit Lucius._]
377 Farewell now, good Messala.
378 Good night, Titinius. Noble, noble Cassius,
379 Good night, and good repose.
380 CASSIUS.
381 O my dear brother!
382 This was an ill beginning of the night.
383 Never come such division ’tween our souls!
384 Let it not, Brutus.
385 Enter Lucius with the gown.
386 BRUTUS.
387 Everything is well.
388 CASSIUS.
389 Good night, my lord.
390 BRUTUS.
391 Good night, good brother.
392 TITINIUS and MESSALA.
393 Good night, Lord Brutus.
394 BRUTUS.
395 Farewell, everyone.
396 [_Exeunt Cassius, Titinius and Messala._]
397 Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument?
398 LUCIUS.
399 Here in the tent.
400 BRUTUS.
401 What, thou speak’st drowsily?
402 Poor knave, I blame thee not, thou art o’er-watch’d.
403 Call Claudius and some other of my men;
404 I’ll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.
405 LUCIUS.
406 Varro and Claudius!
407 Enter Varro and Claudius.
408 VARRO.
409 Calls my lord?
410 BRUTUS.
411 I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep;
412 It may be I shall raise you by-and-by
413 On business to my brother Cassius.
414 VARRO.
415 So please you, we will stand and watch your pleasure.
416 BRUTUS.
417 I will not have it so; lie down, good sirs,
418 It may be I shall otherwise bethink me.
419 Look, Lucius, here’s the book I sought for so;
420 I put it in the pocket of my gown.
421 [_Servants lie down._]
422 LUCIUS.
423 I was sure your lordship did not give it me.
424 BRUTUS.
425 Bear with me, good boy, I am much forgetful.
426 Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile,
427 And touch thy instrument a strain or two?
428 LUCIUS.
429 Ay, my lord, an’t please you.
430 BRUTUS.
431 It does, my boy.
432 I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing.
433 LUCIUS.
434 It is my duty, sir.
435 BRUTUS.
436 I should not urge thy duty past thy might;
437 I know young bloods look for a time of rest.
438 LUCIUS.
439 I have slept, my lord, already.
440 BRUTUS.
441 It was well done, and thou shalt sleep again;
442 I will not hold thee long. If I do live,
443 I will be good to thee.
444 [_Lucius plays and sings till he falls asleep._]
445 This is a sleepy tune. O murd’rous slumber,
446 Layest thou thy leaden mace upon my boy,
447 That plays thee music? Gentle knave, good night;
448 I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee.
449 If thou dost nod, thou break’st thy instrument;
450 I’ll take it from thee; and, good boy, good night.
451 Let me see, let me see; is not the leaf turn’d down
452 Where I left reading? Here it is, I think.
453 Enter the Ghost of Caesar.
454 How ill this taper burns! Ha! who comes here?
455 I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
456 That shapes this monstrous apparition.
457 It comes upon me. Art thou anything?
458 Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil,
459 That mak’st my blood cold and my hair to stare?
460 Speak to me what thou art.
461 GHOST.
462 Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
463 BRUTUS.
464 Why com’st thou?
465 GHOST.
466 To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.
467 BRUTUS.
468 Well; then I shall see thee again?
469 GHOST.
470 Ay, at Philippi.
471 BRUTUS.
472 Why, I will see thee at Philippi then.
473 [_Ghost vanishes._]
474 Now I have taken heart, thou vanishest.
475 Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.
476 Boy! Lucius! Varro! Claudius! Sirs, awake! Claudius!
477 LUCIUS.
478 The strings, my lord, are false.
479 BRUTUS.
480 He thinks he still is at his instrument.
481 Lucius, awake!
482 LUCIUS.
483 My lord?
484 BRUTUS.
485 Didst thou dream, Lucius, that thou so criedst out?
486 LUCIUS.
487 My lord, I do not know that I did cry.
488 BRUTUS.
489 Yes, that thou didst. Didst thou see anything?
490 LUCIUS.
491 Nothing, my lord.
492 BRUTUS.
493 Sleep again, Lucius. Sirrah Claudius!
494 Fellow thou, awake!
495 VARRO.
496 My lord?
497 CLAUDIUS.
498 My lord?
499 BRUTUS.
500 Why did you so cry out, sirs, in your sleep?
501 VARRO. CLAUDIUS.
502 Did we, my lord?
503 BRUTUS.
504 Ay. Saw you anything?
505 VARRO.
506 No, my lord, I saw nothing.
507 CLAUDIUS.
508 Nor I, my lord.
509 BRUTUS.
510 Go and commend me to my brother Cassius;
511 Bid him set on his powers betimes before,
512 And we will follow.
513 VARRO. CLAUDIUS.
514 It shall be done, my lord.
515 [_Exeunt._]