![The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 7 of 9] cover](/books/content/47715/OEBPS/3302079346510739149_cover.jpg)
ACT II.
Scene I. Rome. Brutus's orchard.[3004]
Enter Brutus.[3005]
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![3006] 5
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![3006] 5
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.
When it is lighted, come and call me here.
Luc. I will, my lord. [Exit.
Bru. It must be by his death: and, for my part, 10
I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
But for the general. He would be crown'd:
How that might change his nature, there's the question:
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder;
And that craves wary walking. Crown him?—that;—[3007] 15
And then, I grant, we put a sting in him,
That at his will he may do danger with.
The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins
Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of Cæsar,
I have not known when his affections sway'd 20
More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof,
That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;[3008]
But when he once attains the upmost round,[3009]
He then unto the ladder turns his back, 25
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend: so Cæsar may;
Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel[3010]
Will bear no colour for the thing he is,
Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented, 30
Would run to these and these extremities:
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
Which hatch'd would as his kind grow mischievous,
And kill him in the shell.
I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
But for the general. He would be crown'd:
How that might change his nature, there's the question:
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder;
And that craves wary walking. Crown him?—that;—[3007] 15
And then, I grant, we put a sting in him,
That at his will he may do danger with.
The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins
Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of Cæsar,
I have not known when his affections sway'd 20
More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof,
That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;[3008]
But when he once attains the upmost round,[3009]
He then unto the ladder turns his back, 25
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend: so Cæsar may;
Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel[3010]
Will bear no colour for the thing he is,
Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented, 30
Would run to these and these extremities:
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
Which hatch'd would as his kind grow mischievous,
And kill him in the shell.
Re-enter Lucius.[3011]
Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, sir. 35
Searching the window for a flint I found
This paper thus seal'd up, and I am sure
It did not lie there when I went to bed. [Gives him the letter.[3012]
Searching the window for a flint I found
This paper thus seal'd up, and I am sure
It did not lie there when I went to bed. [Gives him the letter.[3012]
Bru. Get you to bed again; it is not day.
Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March?[3013] 40
Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March?[3013] 40
Luc. I know not, sir.
Bru. Look in the calendar and bring me word.
Luc. I will, sir. [Exit.
Bru. The exhalations whizzing in the air
Give so much light that I may read by them. 45
Give so much light that I may read by them. 45
[Opens the letter and reads.
'Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake and see thyself.
Shall Rome, &c. Speak, strike, redress.[3014]
Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake.'
Such instigations have been often dropp'd
Where I have took them up.[3015] 50
'Shall Rome, &c.' Thus must I piece it out:[3015]
Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What, Rome?[3016]
My ancestors did from the streets of Rome[3017]
The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king.
'Speak, strike, redress.' Am I entreated[3018] 55
To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise,[3019]
If the redress will follow, thou receivest[3020]
Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!
Shall Rome, &c. Speak, strike, redress.[3014]
Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake.'
Such instigations have been often dropp'd
Where I have took them up.[3015] 50
'Shall Rome, &c.' Thus must I piece it out:[3015]
Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What, Rome?[3016]
My ancestors did from the streets of Rome[3017]
The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king.
'Speak, strike, redress.' Am I entreated[3018] 55
To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise,[3019]
If the redress will follow, thou receivest[3020]
Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!
Re-enter Lucius.
Luc. Sir, March is wasted fifteen days.[3021]
[Knocking within.
Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks.[3022] 60
[Exit Lucius.
Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar
I have not slept.
Between the acting of a dreadful thing
And the first motion all the interim is
Like a phantasma or a hideous dream: 65
The Genius and the mortal instruments[3023]
Are then in council, and the state of man[3024]
Like to a little kingdom suffers then
The nature of an insurrection.
I have not slept.
Between the acting of a dreadful thing
And the first motion all the interim is
Like a phantasma or a hideous dream: 65
The Genius and the mortal instruments[3023]
Are then in council, and the state of man[3024]
Like to a little kingdom suffers then
The nature of an insurrection.
Re-enter Lucius.[3025]
Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, 70
Who doth desire to see you.
Who doth desire to see you.
Bru. Is he alone?
Luc. No, sir, there are moe with him.[3026]
Bru. Do you know them?
Luc. No, sir; their hats are pluck'd about their ears,[3027]
And half their faces buried in their cloaks,[3028]
That by no means I may discover them 75
By any mark of favour.[3029]
And half their faces buried in their cloaks,[3028]
That by no means I may discover them 75
By any mark of favour.[3029]
Bru. Let 'em enter. [Exit Lucius.
They are the faction. O conspiracy,
Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night,
When evils are most free? O, then, by day
Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough 80
To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy;[3030]
Hide it in smiles and affability:[3031]
For if thou path, thy native semblance on,[3032]
Not Erebus itself were dim enough
To hide thee from prevention.[3033] 85
They are the faction. O conspiracy,
Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night,
When evils are most free? O, then, by day
Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough 80
To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy;[3030]
Hide it in smiles and affability:[3031]
For if thou path, thy native semblance on,[3032]
Not Erebus itself were dim enough
To hide thee from prevention.[3033] 85
Enter the conspirators, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Cinna, Metellus Cimber, and Trebonius.[3034]
Cas. I think we are too bold upon your rest:
Good morrow, Brutus; do we trouble you?
Good morrow, Brutus; do we trouble you?
Bru. I have been up this hour, awake all night.
Know I these men that come along with you?[3035]
Know I these men that come along with you?[3035]
Cas. Yes, every man of them; and no man here 90
But honours you; and every one doth wish
You had but that opinion of yourself
Which every noble Roman bears of you.
This is Trebonius.
But honours you; and every one doth wish
You had but that opinion of yourself
Which every noble Roman bears of you.
This is Trebonius.
Bru. He is welcome hither.
Bru. He is welcome too. 95
Cas. This, Casca; this, Cinna; and this, Metellus Cimber.[3036]
Bru. They are all welcome.[3037]
What watchful cares do interpose themselves[3038]
Betwixt your eyes and night?
What watchful cares do interpose themselves[3038]
Betwixt your eyes and night?
Cas. Shall I entreat a word? [They whisper.[3039]100
Dec. Here lies the east: doth not the day break here?
Casca. No.
Cin. O, pardon, sir, it doth, and yon grey lines
That fret the clouds are messengers of day.
That fret the clouds are messengers of day.
Casca. You shall confess that you are both deceived. 105
Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises;
Which is a great way growing on the south,
Weighing the youthful season of the year.
Some two months hence up higher toward the north
He first presents his fire, and the high east 110
Stands as the Capitol, directly here.
Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises;
Which is a great way growing on the south,
Weighing the youthful season of the year.
Some two months hence up higher toward the north
He first presents his fire, and the high east 110
Stands as the Capitol, directly here.
Bru. Give me your hands all over, one by one.
Cas. And let us swear our resolution.
Bru. No, not an oath: if not the face of men,[3040]
The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse,—[3041] 115
If these be motives weak, break off betimes,
And every man hence to his idle bed;
So let high-sighted tyranny range on[3042]
Till each man drop by lottery. But if these,
As I am sure they do, bear fire enough 120
To kindle cowards and to steel with valour
The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen,[3043]
What need we any spur but our own cause
To prick us to redress? what other bond
Than secret Romans that have spoke the word,[3044] 125
And will not palter? and what other oath[3045]
Than honesty to honesty engaged
That this shall be or we will fall for it?[3046]
Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous,
Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls 130
That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear[3047]
Such creatures as men doubt: but do not stain[3048]
The even virtue of our enterprise,
Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits,
To think that or our cause or our performance 135
Did need an oath; when every drop of blood[3049]
That every Roman bears, and nobly bears,
Is guilty of a several bastardy
If he do break the smallest particle[3050]
Of any promise that hath pass'd from him. 140
The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse,—[3041] 115
If these be motives weak, break off betimes,
And every man hence to his idle bed;
So let high-sighted tyranny range on[3042]
Till each man drop by lottery. But if these,
As I am sure they do, bear fire enough 120
To kindle cowards and to steel with valour
The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen,[3043]
What need we any spur but our own cause
To prick us to redress? what other bond
Than secret Romans that have spoke the word,[3044] 125
And will not palter? and what other oath[3045]
Than honesty to honesty engaged
That this shall be or we will fall for it?[3046]
Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous,
Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls 130
That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear[3047]
Such creatures as men doubt: but do not stain[3048]
The even virtue of our enterprise,
Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits,
To think that or our cause or our performance 135
Did need an oath; when every drop of blood[3049]
That every Roman bears, and nobly bears,
Is guilty of a several bastardy
If he do break the smallest particle[3050]
Of any promise that hath pass'd from him. 140
Cas. But what of Cicero? shall we sound him?
I think he will stand very strong with us.
I think he will stand very strong with us.
Casca. Let us not leave him out.
Cin. No, by no means.
Met. O, let us have him, for his silver hairs
Will purchase us a good opinion 145
And buy men's voices to commend our deeds:
It shall be said his judgement ruled our hands;
Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear,
But all be buried in his gravity.
Will purchase us a good opinion 145
And buy men's voices to commend our deeds:
It shall be said his judgement ruled our hands;
Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear,
But all be buried in his gravity.
Bru. O, name him not; let us not break with him, 150
For he will never follow any thing
That other men begin.
For he will never follow any thing
That other men begin.
Cas. Then leave him out.
Casca. Indeed he is not fit.[3051]
Dec. Shall no man else be touch'd but only Cæsar?[3051]
Cas. Decius, well urged: I think it is not meet 155
Mark Antony, so well beloved of Cæsar,
Should outlive Cæsar: we shall find of him
A shrewd contriver; and you know his means,
If he improve them, may well stretch so far
As to annoy us all: which to prevent, 160
Let Antony and Cæsar fall together.
Mark Antony, so well beloved of Cæsar,
Should outlive Cæsar: we shall find of him
A shrewd contriver; and you know his means,
If he improve them, may well stretch so far
As to annoy us all: which to prevent, 160
Let Antony and Cæsar fall together.
Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius,
To cut the head off and then hack the limbs,
Like wrath in death and envy afterwards;
For Antony is but a limb of Cæsar: 165
Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.[3052]
We all stand up against the spirit of Cæsar,
And in the spirit of men there is no blood:[3053]
O, that we then could come by Cæsar's spirit,[3054]
And not dismember Cæsar! But, alas, 170
Cæsar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends,
Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;
Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods,
Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds:
And let our hearts, as subtle masters do,[3055] 175
Stir up their servants to an act of rage
And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make[3056]
Our purpose necessary and not envious:
Which so appearing to the common eyes,
We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers.[3057] 180
And for Mark Antony, think not of him;
For he can do no more than Cæsar's arm
When Cæsar's head is off.[3058]
To cut the head off and then hack the limbs,
Like wrath in death and envy afterwards;
For Antony is but a limb of Cæsar: 165
Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.[3052]
We all stand up against the spirit of Cæsar,
And in the spirit of men there is no blood:[3053]
O, that we then could come by Cæsar's spirit,[3054]
And not dismember Cæsar! But, alas, 170
Cæsar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends,
Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;
Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods,
Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds:
And let our hearts, as subtle masters do,[3055] 175
Stir up their servants to an act of rage
And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make[3056]
Our purpose necessary and not envious:
Which so appearing to the common eyes,
We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers.[3057] 180
And for Mark Antony, think not of him;
For he can do no more than Cæsar's arm
When Cæsar's head is off.[3058]
Bru. Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him: 185
If he love Cæsar, all that he can do
Is to himself, take thought and die for Cæsar:[3060]
And that were much he should, for he is given
To sports, to wildness and much company.[3061]
If he love Cæsar, all that he can do
Is to himself, take thought and die for Cæsar:[3060]
And that were much he should, for he is given
To sports, to wildness and much company.[3061]
Treb. There is no fear in him; let him not die; 190
For he will live and laugh at this hereafter.[3062] [Clock strikes.
For he will live and laugh at this hereafter.[3062] [Clock strikes.
Bru. Peace! count the clock.
Cas. The clock hath stricken three.[3063]
Treb. 'Tis time to part.
Cas. But it is doubtful yet
Whether Cæsar will come forth to-day or no;[3064]
For he is superstitious grown of late, 195
Quite from the main opinion he held once[3065]
Of fantasy, of dreams and ceremonies:[3066]
It may be these apparent prodigies,
The unaccustom'd terror of this night
And the persuasion of his augurers, 200
May hold him from the Capitol to-day.
Whether Cæsar will come forth to-day or no;[3064]
For he is superstitious grown of late, 195
Quite from the main opinion he held once[3065]
Of fantasy, of dreams and ceremonies:[3066]
It may be these apparent prodigies,
The unaccustom'd terror of this night
And the persuasion of his augurers, 200
May hold him from the Capitol to-day.
Dec. Never fear that: if he be so resolved,
I can o'ersway him; for he loves to hear
That unicorns may be betray'd with trees[3067]
And bears with glasses, elephants with holes,[3067] 205
Lions with toils and men with flatterers:[3068]
But when I tell him he hates flatterers,
He says he does, being then most flattered.
Let me work;[3069]
For I can give his humour the true bent, 210
And I will bring him to the Capitol.
I can o'ersway him; for he loves to hear
That unicorns may be betray'd with trees[3067]
And bears with glasses, elephants with holes,[3067] 205
Lions with toils and men with flatterers:[3068]
But when I tell him he hates flatterers,
He says he does, being then most flattered.
Let me work;[3069]
For I can give his humour the true bent, 210
And I will bring him to the Capitol.
Cas. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him.
Bru. By the eighth hour: is that the uttermost?[3070]
Cin. Be that the uttermost, and fail not then.
Met. Caius Ligarius doth bear Cæsar hard,[3071] 215
Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey:
I wonder none of you have thought of him.
Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey:
I wonder none of you have thought of him.
Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along by him:[3072]
He loves me well, and I have given him reasons;[3073]
Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him. 220
He loves me well, and I have given him reasons;[3073]
Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him. 220
Cas. The morning comes upon's: we'll leave you, Brutus:[3074]
And, friends, disperse yourselves: but all remember
What you have said and show yourselves true Romans.
And, friends, disperse yourselves: but all remember
What you have said and show yourselves true Romans.
Bru. Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily;
Let not our looks put on our purposes; 225
But bear it as our Roman actors do,
With untired spirits and formal constancy:
And so, good morrow to you every one.[3075]
Let not our looks put on our purposes; 225
But bear it as our Roman actors do,
With untired spirits and formal constancy:
And so, good morrow to you every one.[3075]
[Exeunt all but Brutus.
Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep! It is no matter;
Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber:[3076] 230
Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies,
Which busy care draws in the brains of men;
Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.
Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber:[3076] 230
Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies,
Which busy care draws in the brains of men;
Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.
Enter Portia.[3077]
Por. Brutus, my lord!
Bru. Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now?
It is not for your health thus to commit 235
Your weak condition to the raw cold morning.[3078]
It is not for your health thus to commit 235
Your weak condition to the raw cold morning.[3078]
Por. Nor for yours neither. You've ungently, Brutus,[3079]
Stole from my bed: and yesternight at supper[3080]
You suddenly arose and walk'd about,
Musing and sighing, with your arms across; 240
And when I ask'd you what the matter was,
You stared upon me with ungentle looks:
I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head[3081]
And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot:
Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not, 245
But with an angry wafture of your hand[3082]
Gave sign for me to leave you: so I did,
Fearing to strengthen that impatience
Which seem'd too much enkindled, and withal
Hoping it was but an effect of humour, 250
Which sometime hath his hour with every man.
It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep,
And, could it work so much upon your shape
As it hath much prevail'd on your condition,
I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord,[3083] 255
Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.
Stole from my bed: and yesternight at supper[3080]
You suddenly arose and walk'd about,
Musing and sighing, with your arms across; 240
And when I ask'd you what the matter was,
You stared upon me with ungentle looks:
I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head[3081]
And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot:
Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not, 245
But with an angry wafture of your hand[3082]
Gave sign for me to leave you: so I did,
Fearing to strengthen that impatience
Which seem'd too much enkindled, and withal
Hoping it was but an effect of humour, 250
Which sometime hath his hour with every man.
It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep,
And, could it work so much upon your shape
As it hath much prevail'd on your condition,
I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord,[3083] 255
Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.
Bru. I am not well in health, and that is all.
Por. Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health,
He would embrace the means to come by it.
He would embrace the means to come by it.
Bru. Why, so I do: good Portia, go to bed. 260
Por. Is Brutus sick, and is it physical
To walk unbraced and suck up the humours
Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick,[3084]
And will he steal out of his wholesome bed,
To dare the vile contagion of the night 265
And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air
To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus;[3085]
You have some sick offence within your mind,
Which by the right and virtue of my place
I ought to know of: and, upon my knees,[3086] 270
I charm you, by my once commended beauty,[3087]
By all your vows of love and that great vow
Which did incorporate and make us one,
That you unfold to me, yourself, your half,
Why you are heavy, and what men to-night 275
Have had resort to you; for here have been
Some six or seven, who did hide their faces
Even from darkness.
To walk unbraced and suck up the humours
Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick,[3084]
And will he steal out of his wholesome bed,
To dare the vile contagion of the night 265
And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air
To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus;[3085]
You have some sick offence within your mind,
Which by the right and virtue of my place
I ought to know of: and, upon my knees,[3086] 270
I charm you, by my once commended beauty,[3087]
By all your vows of love and that great vow
Which did incorporate and make us one,
That you unfold to me, yourself, your half,
Why you are heavy, and what men to-night 275
Have had resort to you; for here have been
Some six or seven, who did hide their faces
Even from darkness.
Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia.[3088]
Por. I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus.
Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,[3089] 280
Is it excepted I should know no secrets
That appertain to you? Am I yourself
But, as it were, in sort or limitation,
To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,[3090]
And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs[3091] 285
Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,
Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.
Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,[3089] 280
Is it excepted I should know no secrets
That appertain to you? Am I yourself
But, as it were, in sort or limitation,
To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,[3090]
And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs[3091] 285
Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,
Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.
Bru. You are my true and honourable wife,
As dear to me as are the ruddy drops
That visit my sad heart. 290
As dear to me as are the ruddy drops
That visit my sad heart. 290
Por. If this were true, then should I know this secret.
I grant I am a woman, but withal
A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife:
I grant I am a woman, but withal
A woman well reputed, Cato's daughter.[3092] 295
Think you I am no stronger than my sex,
Being so father'd and so husbanded?
Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em:[3093]
I have made strong proof of my constancy,
Giving myself a voluntary wound 300
Here in the thigh: can I bear that with patience
And not my husband's secrets?[3094]
I grant I am a woman, but withal
A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife:
I grant I am a woman, but withal
A woman well reputed, Cato's daughter.[3092] 295
Think you I am no stronger than my sex,
Being so father'd and so husbanded?
Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em:[3093]
I have made strong proof of my constancy,
Giving myself a voluntary wound 300
Here in the thigh: can I bear that with patience
And not my husband's secrets?[3094]
Bru. O ye gods,
Render me worthy of this noble wife! [Knocking within.[3095]
Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in awhile;
And by and by thy bosom shall partake 305
The secrets of my heart:
All my engagements I will construe to thee,
All the charactery of my sad brows.
Leave me with haste. [Exit Portia.] Lucius, who's that knocks?[3096]
Render me worthy of this noble wife! [Knocking within.[3095]
Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in awhile;
And by and by thy bosom shall partake 305
The secrets of my heart:
All my engagements I will construe to thee,
All the charactery of my sad brows.
Leave me with haste. [Exit Portia.] Lucius, who's that knocks?[3096]
Re-enter Lucius with Ligarius.
Luc. Here is a sick man that would speak with you. 310
Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of.
Boy, stand aside. Caius Ligarius! how?[3097]
Boy, stand aside. Caius Ligarius! how?[3097]
Lig. Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue.
Bru. O, what a time have you chose out, brave Caius,
To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick! 315
To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick! 315
Lig. I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand
Any exploit worthy the name of honour.
Any exploit worthy the name of honour.
Bru. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius,
Had you a healthful ear to hear of it.[3098]
Had you a healthful ear to hear of it.[3098]
Lig. By all the gods that Romans bow before,[3099] 320
I here discard my sickness! Soul of Rome!
Brave son, derived from honourable loins!
Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjured up
My mortified spirit. Now bid me run,
And I will strive with things impossible, 325
Yea, get the better of them. What's to do?[3100]
I here discard my sickness! Soul of Rome!
Brave son, derived from honourable loins!
Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjured up
My mortified spirit. Now bid me run,
And I will strive with things impossible, 325
Yea, get the better of them. What's to do?[3100]
Bru. A piece of work that will make sick men whole.[3101]
Lig. But are not some whole that we must make sick?
Bru. That must we also. What it is, my Caius,[3102]
I shall unfold to thee, as we are going[3103] 330
To whom it must be done.[3103]
I shall unfold to thee, as we are going[3103] 330
To whom it must be done.[3103]
Lig. Set on your foot,
And with a heart new-fired I follow you,
To do I know not what: but it sufficeth
That Brutus leads me on.
And with a heart new-fired I follow you,
To do I know not what: but it sufficeth
That Brutus leads me on.
Bru. Follow me then. [Exeunt.[3104]
Scene II. Cæsar's house.[3105]
Thunder and lightning. Enter Cæsar, in his night-gown.[3106]