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Ant. These many then shall die; their names are prick'd.[3370]
Lep. I do consent—[3371]
Oct. Prick him down, Antony.
Ant. He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him.[3374]
But, Lepidus, go you to Cæsar's house;
Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine[3375]
How to cut off some charge in legacies.
But, Lepidus, go you to Cæsar's house;
Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine[3375]
How to cut off some charge in legacies.
Lep. What, shall I find you here? 10
Oct. Or here, or at the Capitol. [Exit Lepidus.
Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man,
Meet to be sent on errands: is it fit,
The three-fold world divided, he should stand
One of the three to share it?
Meet to be sent on errands: is it fit,
The three-fold world divided, he should stand
One of the three to share it?
Oct. So you thought him, 15
And took his voice who should be prick'd to die
In our black sentence and proscription.
And took his voice who should be prick'd to die
In our black sentence and proscription.
Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you:
And though we lay these honours on this man,
To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads, 20
He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold,
To groan and sweat under the business,
Either led or driven, as we point the way;[3376]
And having brought our treasure where we will,
Then take we down his load and turn him off, 25
Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears
And graze in commons.[3377]
And though we lay these honours on this man,
To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads, 20
He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold,
To groan and sweat under the business,
Either led or driven, as we point the way;[3376]
And having brought our treasure where we will,
Then take we down his load and turn him off, 25
Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears
And graze in commons.[3377]
Oct. You may do your will:
But he's a tried and valiant soldier.
But he's a tried and valiant soldier.
Ant. So is my horse, Octavius, and for that
I do appoint him store of provender: 30
It is a creature that I teach to fight,
To wind, to stop, to run directly on,
His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit.[3378]
And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;
He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth; 35
A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds[3379]
On abjects, orts and imitations,[3380]
Which, out of use and staled by other men,[3381]
Begin his fashion: do not talk of him
But as a property. And now, Octavius, 40
Listen great things: Brutus and Cassius
Are levying powers: we must straight make head:
Therefore let our alliance be combined,
Our best friends made, our means stretch'd;[3382]
And let us presently go sit in council, 45
How covert matters may be best disclosed,
And open perils surest answered.
I do appoint him store of provender: 30
It is a creature that I teach to fight,
To wind, to stop, to run directly on,
His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit.[3378]
And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;
He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth; 35
A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds[3379]
On abjects, orts and imitations,[3380]
Which, out of use and staled by other men,[3381]
Begin his fashion: do not talk of him
But as a property. And now, Octavius, 40
Listen great things: Brutus and Cassius
Are levying powers: we must straight make head:
Therefore let our alliance be combined,
Our best friends made, our means stretch'd;[3382]
And let us presently go sit in council, 45
How covert matters may be best disclosed,
And open perils surest answered.
Scene II. Camp near Sardis. Before Brutus's tent.[3385]
Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucilius, Lucius, and Soldiers; Titinius and Pindarus meet them.[3386]
Bru. Stand, ho![3387]
Lucil. Give the word, ho! and stand.[3388]
Bru. What now, Lucilius! is Cassius near?[3388]
Lucil. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come
To do you salutation from his master.[3389] 5
To do you salutation from his master.[3389] 5
Bru. He greets me well. Your master, Pindarus,
In his own change, or by ill officers,[3390]
Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
Things done undone: but if he be at hand,
I shall be satisfied.
In his own change, or by ill officers,[3390]
Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
Things done undone: but if he be at hand,
I shall be satisfied.
Pin. I do not doubt 10
But that my noble master will appear
Such as he is, full of regard and honour.
But that my noble master will appear
Such as he is, full of regard and honour.
Bru. He is not doubted. A word, Lucilius,[3391][3392][3393]
How he received you: let me be resolved.[3392][3393]
How he received you: let me be resolved.[3392][3393]
Lucil. With courtesy and with respect enough;[3392] 15
But not with such familiar instances,[3392]
Nor with such free and friendly conference,[3392]
As he hath used of old.[3392]
But not with such familiar instances,[3392]
Nor with such free and friendly conference,[3392]
As he hath used of old.[3392]
Bru. Thou hast described[3392]
A hot friend cooling: ever note, Lucilius,[3392]
When love begins to sicken and decay,[3392] 20
It useth an enforced ceremony.[3392]
There are no tricks in plain and simple faith:[3392]
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,[3392]
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle,[3392]
But when they should endure the bloody spur,[3392] 25
They fall their crests and like deceitful jades[3392][3394]
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?[3392][3395]
A hot friend cooling: ever note, Lucilius,[3392]
When love begins to sicken and decay,[3392] 20
It useth an enforced ceremony.[3392]
There are no tricks in plain and simple faith:[3392]
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,[3392]
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle,[3392]
But when they should endure the bloody spur,[3392] 25
They fall their crests and like deceitful jades[3392][3394]
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?[3392][3395]
Enter Cassius and his powers.[3398]
Cas. Stand, ho![3399]
Bru. Stand, ho! Speak the word along.[3400]
First Sol. Stand![3401]
Sec. Sol. Stand![3402] 35
Third Sol. Stand![3403]
Cas. Most noble brother, you have done me wrong.
Bru. Judge me, you gods! wrong I mine enemies?
And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother?[3404]
And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother?[3404]
Cas. Brutus this sober form of yours hides wrongs; 40
And when you do them—
And when you do them—
Bru. Cassius, be content;
Speak your griefs softly: I do know you well.
Before the eyes of both our armies here,
Which should perceive nothing but love from us,
Let us not wrangle: bid them move away; 45
Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
And I will give you audience.
Speak your griefs softly: I do know you well.
Before the eyes of both our armies here,
Which should perceive nothing but love from us,
Let us not wrangle: bid them move away; 45
Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
And I will give you audience.
Scene III. Brutus's tent.[3408]
Enter Brutus and Cassius.[3409]
Cas. That you have wrong'd me doth appear in this:
You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella
For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
Wherein my letters, praying on his side,[3410][3411]
Because I knew the man, were slighted off.[3411][3412] 5
You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella
For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
Wherein my letters, praying on his side,[3410][3411]
Because I knew the man, were slighted off.[3411][3412] 5
Bru. You wrong'd yourself to write in such a case.[3413]
Cas. In such a time as this it is not meet
That every nice offence should bear his comment.[3414]
That every nice offence should bear his comment.[3414]
Bru. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself[3415]
Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm, 10
To sell and mart your offices for gold
To undeservers.
Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm, 10
To sell and mart your offices for gold
To undeservers.
Cas. I an itching palm![3416]
You know that you are Brutus that speaks this,[3417]
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
You know that you are Brutus that speaks this,[3417]
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
Bru. The name of Cassius honours this corruption, 15
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.[3418]
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.[3418]
Cas. Chastisement!
Bru. Remember March, the ides of March remember:
Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?[3419]
What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, 20
And not for justice? What, shall one of us,
That struck the foremost man of all this world
But for supporting robbers, shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
And sell the mighty space of our large honours 25
For so much trash as may be grasped thus?
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,[3420]
Than such a Roman.[3421]
Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?[3419]
What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, 20
And not for justice? What, shall one of us,
That struck the foremost man of all this world
But for supporting robbers, shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
And sell the mighty space of our large honours 25
For so much trash as may be grasped thus?
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,[3420]
Than such a Roman.[3421]
Cas. Brutus, bait not me;
I'll not endure it: you forget yourself,
To hedge me in; I am a soldier, I,[3422] 30
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.[3423]
I'll not endure it: you forget yourself,
To hedge me in; I am a soldier, I,[3422] 30
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.[3423]
Bru. Go to; you are not, Cassius.
Cas. I am.
Bru. I say you are not.[3424]
Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; 35
Have mind upon your health, tempt me no farther.[3425]
Have mind upon your health, tempt me no farther.[3425]
Bru. Away, slight man!
Cas. Is't possible?
Bru. Hear me, for I will speak.
Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares? 40
Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares? 40
Cas. O ye gods, ye gods! must I endure all this?[3426]
Bru. All this! ay, more: fret till your proud heart break;
Go show your slaves how choleric you are,
And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?[3427]
Must I observe you? must I stand and crouch 45
Under your testy humour? By the gods,
You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
Though it do split you; for, from this day forth,[3428]
I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
When you are waspish.
Go show your slaves how choleric you are,
And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?[3427]
Must I observe you? must I stand and crouch 45
Under your testy humour? By the gods,
You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
Though it do split you; for, from this day forth,[3428]
I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
When you are waspish.
Cas. Is it come to this? 50
Bru. You say you are a better soldier:
Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well: for mine own part,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men.[3429]
Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well: for mine own part,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men.[3429]
Cas. You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus;[3430] 55
I said, an elder soldier, not a better:[3431]
Did I say, better?[3432]
I said, an elder soldier, not a better:[3431]
Did I say, better?[3432]
Bru. If you did, I care not.
Cas. When Cæsar lived, he durst not thus have moved me.
Bru. Peace, peace! you durst not so have tempted him.
Cas. I durst not! 60
Bru. No.
Cas. What, durst not tempt him!
Bru. For your life you durst not.
Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love;
I may do that I shall be sorry for.
I may do that I shall be sorry for.
Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for. 65
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats;
For I am arm'd so strong in honesty
That they pass by me as the idle wind
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certain sums of gold, which you denied me: 70
For I can raise no money by vile means:
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart,
And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection. I did send[3433] 75
To you for gold to pay my legions,
Which you denied me: was that done like Cassius?
Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so?
When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,
To lock such rascal counters from his friends, 80
Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts,[3434]
Dash him to pieces![3434]
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats;
For I am arm'd so strong in honesty
That they pass by me as the idle wind
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certain sums of gold, which you denied me: 70
For I can raise no money by vile means:
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart,
And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection. I did send[3433] 75
To you for gold to pay my legions,
Which you denied me: was that done like Cassius?
Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so?
When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,
To lock such rascal counters from his friends, 80
Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts,[3434]
Dash him to pieces![3434]
Cas. I denied you not.
Bru. You did.
Cas. I did not: he was but a fool
That brought my answer back. Brutus hath rived my heart:[3435]
A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,[3436] 85
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
That brought my answer back. Brutus hath rived my heart:[3435]
A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,[3436] 85
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
Bru. I do not, till you practise them on me.[3437]
Cas. You love me not.
Bru. I do not like your faults.
Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults.
Bru. A flatterer's would not, though they do appear[3438] 90
As huge as high Olympus.
As huge as high Olympus.
Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is a-weary of the world;
Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother; 95
Check'd like a bondman; all his faults observed,
Set in a note-book, learn'd and conn'd by rote,
To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep[3439]
My spirit from mine eyes! There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast; within, a heart 100
Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold:[3440]
If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth;[3441]
I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart:
Strike, as thou didst at Cæsar; for I know,
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better 105
Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is a-weary of the world;
Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother; 95
Check'd like a bondman; all his faults observed,
Set in a note-book, learn'd and conn'd by rote,
To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep[3439]
My spirit from mine eyes! There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast; within, a heart 100
Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold:[3440]
If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth;[3441]
I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart:
Strike, as thou didst at Cæsar; for I know,
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better 105
Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.
Bru. Sheath your dagger:
Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.[3442]
O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb,[3443]
That carries anger as the flint bears fire, 110
Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark[3444]
And straight is cold again.
Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.[3442]
O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb,[3443]
That carries anger as the flint bears fire, 110
Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark[3444]
And straight is cold again.
Cas. Hath Cassius lived
To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
When grief and blood ill-temper'd vexeth him?[3445]
To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
When grief and blood ill-temper'd vexeth him?[3445]
Bru. When I spoke that, I was ill-temper'd too. 115
Cas. Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.
Bru. And my heart too.[3446]
Cas. O Brutus!
Bru. What's the matter?
Cas. Have not you love enough to bear with me,[3447]
When that rash humour which my mother gave me
Makes me forgetful?
When that rash humour which my mother gave me
Makes me forgetful?
Bru. Yes, Cassius, and from henceforth,[3448] 120
When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,
He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so.
When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,
He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so.
Enter Poet, followed by Lucilius, Titinius, and Lucius.[3454]
Cas. How now! what's the matter?[3450]
Poet. For shame, you generals! what do you mean?[3450]
Love, and be friends, as two such men should be;[3450]
For I have seen more years, I'm sure, than ye.[3450] 130
Love, and be friends, as two such men should be;[3450]
For I have seen more years, I'm sure, than ye.[3450] 130
Bru. Get you hence, sirrah; saucy fellow, hence![3450]
Cas. Bear with him, Brutus; 'tis his fashion.[3450]
Bru. I'll know his humour when he knows his time:[3450]
What should the wars do with these jigging fools?[3450][3456] 135
Companion, hence![3450]
What should the wars do with these jigging fools?[3450][3456] 135
Companion, hence![3450]
Cas. Away, away, be gone! [Exit Poet.
Bru. Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders[3457]
Prepare to lodge their companies to-night.
Prepare to lodge their companies to-night.
Cas. And come yourselves, and bring Messala with you
Immediately to us. [Exeunt Lucilius and Titinius.
Immediately to us. [Exeunt Lucilius and Titinius.
Bru. Lucius, a bowl of wine! [Exit Lucius.[3458]140
Cas. I did not think you could have been so angry.
Bru. O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.
Cas. Of your philosophy you make no use,
If you give place to accidental evils.
If you give place to accidental evils.
Bru. No man bears sorrow better: Portia is dead.[3459] 145
Cas. Ha! Portia![3460]
Bru. She is dead.
Cas. How 'scaped I killing when I cross'd you so?
O insupportable and touching loss!
Upon what sickness?
O insupportable and touching loss!
Upon what sickness?
Bru. Impatient of my absence,[3461] 150
And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
Have made themselves so strong: for with her death
That tidings came: with this she fell distract,
And, her attendants absent, swallow'd fire.
And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
Have made themselves so strong: for with her death
That tidings came: with this she fell distract,
And, her attendants absent, swallow'd fire.
Bru. Even so.
Cas. O ye immortal gods![3462] 155
Re-enter Lucius, with wine and taper.[3463]
Bru. Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine.
In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius. [Drinks.
In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius. [Drinks.
Cas. My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge.
Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup;
I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. [Drinks. [3464]160
Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup;
I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. [Drinks. [3464]160
Bru. Come in, Titinius! [Exit Lucius.[3465]
Re-enter Titinius, with Messala.