Cæsar's ambition shall be glanced at: And, after this, let Cæsar seat him sure; For we will shake him, or worse days endure. SCENE III. The same. A Street. [Exit. Thunder and Lightning. Enter, from opposite sides, CASCA, with his Sword drawn, and CICERO. Cic. Good even, Casca: Brought you Cæsar home? I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds Cic. Why, saw you any thing more wonderful? Who glar'd upon me, and went surly by Upon a heap, a hundred ghastly women, Transformed with their fear; who swore, they saw Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: But men may construe things after their fashion, L. Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius Casca. Farewell, Cicero. [Exit Cicero. Casca, by your voice. Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this? Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men. Casca. Who ever knew the heavens menace so? Cas. Those that have known the earth so full of faults. For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, Submitting me unto the perilous night; And, thus unbraced, Casca, as you see, Have bar'd my bosom to the thunder-stone: And, when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open Even in the aim and very flash of it. Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the It is the part of men to fear and tremble, [heavens? When the most mighty gods, by tokens, send Such dreadful heralds to astonish us. Cas. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of life That should be in a Roman, you do want, Or else you use not: You look pale, and gaze, And put on fear, and cast yourself in wonder, To see the strange impatience of the heavens: But if you would consider the true cause, Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts, Why birds, and beasts, from quality and kind; Why old men fools, and children calculate; Why all these things change, from their ordinance, Their natures, and pre-formed faculties, To monstrous quality; why, you shall find, A man no mightier than thyself, or me, Casca. "Tis Cæsar that you mean: Is it not, Cassius? Casca. Indeed, they say, the senators to-morrow And he shall wear his crown by sea, and land, Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then; Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; If I know this, know all the world besides, I can shake off at pleasure. Casca. Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then? Begin it with weak straws: What trash is Rome, So vile a thing as Cæsar? But, O, grief! Casca. You speak to Casca; and to such a man, Cas. 6 There's a bargain made. Of honourable-dangerous consequence; Is favour'd, like the work we have in hand, Enter CINNA. Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. Cas. "Tis Cinna, I do know him by his gait; He is a friend.-Cinna, where haste you so? Cin. To find out you: Who's that? Metellus Cimber? Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate To our attempts. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Cin. I am glad on't. What a fearful night is this? There's two or three of us have seen strange sights. Cas. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Tell me. Cin. You are. O, Cassius, if you could but win The noble Brutus to our party Yes, Cas. Be you content: Good Cinna, take this paper, And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, B Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us. Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone [Exit Cinna. Come, Casca, you and I will, yet, ere day, Upon the next encounter, yields him ours. Will change to virtue, and to worthiness. Cas. Him, and his worth, and our great need of him, You have right well conceited. Let us go, For it is after midnight; and, ere day, We will awake him, and be sure of him. [Exeunt. |