175

The first time ever Cæsar put it on.
'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent,
That day he overcame the Nervii.
Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through;
See what a rent the envious Casca made;
Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd,
And as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Cæsar followed it,
As rushing out of doors, to be resolv'd
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no;
For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel.
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Cæsar lov'd
him!

181

186

1. Pleb. Never, never! Come, away, away! We'll burn his body in the holy place, And with the brands fire the traitors' houses. Take up the body.

2. Pleb. Go fetch fire.

3. Pleb. Pluck down benches.

4. Pleb. Pluck down forms, windows, anything. [Exeunt Plebeians [with the body). Ant. Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot,

Take thou what course thou wilt!

Enter a SERVANT.

How now, fellow? Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome. Ant. Where is he?

Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house. Ant. And thither will I straight to visit him;

He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will give us anything.

271

Serv. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius

Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.

Ant. Belike they had some notice of the people,

How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius. [Ereunt.

26

Then take we down his load, and turn him off,
Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears
And graze in commons.
Oct.
You may do your will;
But he's a tried and valiant soldier.
Ant. So is my horse, Octavius; and for that
I do appoint him store of provender.

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.
And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;

He must be taught and train'd and bid go forth;

A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds
On abjects, orts, and imitations,

Which, out of use and stal'd by other men,
Begin his fashion. Do not talk of him

ruption,

15

And Chastisement doth therefore hide his head. Cas. Chastisement!

Bru. Remember March, the ides of March remember:

Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?
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
For so much trash as may be grasped thus ? s
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,
Than such a Roman.

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 Cas. O ye gods, ye gods! must I endure all this?

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?

46

Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch
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,
I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
When you are waspish.

Cas.

Is it come to this? 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.

Mes. No, my lord.

Bru. Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true, Mes. Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell:

For certain she is dead, and by strange manner.
Bru. Why, farewell, Portia. We must die,
Messala.

With meditating that she must die once,
I have the patience to endure it now.

Mes. Even so great men great losses should endure.

Cas. I have as much of this in art as yon,
But yet my nature could not bear it so.
Bru. Well, to our work alive. What do you
think

Of marching to Philippi presently?
Cas. I do not think it good.

Bru. Cas.

Your reason?

'Tis better that the enemy seek us.

This it is:

So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers, Doing himself offence; whilst we, lying still, Are full of rest, defence, and nimbleness.

Bru. Good reasons must, of force, give place to better.

The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground
Do stand but in a forc'd affection,

For they have grudg'd us contribution.
The enemy, marching along by them,

By them shall make a fuller number up,
Come on refresh'd, new-added, and encour

ag'd;

From which advantage shall we cut him off
If at Philippi we do face him there,
These people at our back.

Cas.
Hear me, good brother.
Bru. Under your pardon. You must note

beside,