READ STUDY GUIDE: Act I, scene ii |
|
Act I, Scene ii:
The same. A public place.
The same. A public place.
| [Enter, in procession, with music, Caesar; Antony, for thecourse; Calpurnia, Portia, Decius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, andCasca; a great crowd following, among them a Soothsayer.] |
| CAESAR: |
| Calpurnia,— |
| CASCA: |
| Peace, ho! Caesar speaks. |
| [Music ceases.] |
| CAESAR: |
| Calpurnia,— |
| CALPURNIA: |
| Here, my lord. |
| CAESAR: |
| Stand you directly in Antonius' way, |
| When he doth run his course.—Antonius,— |
| ANTONY: |
| Caesar, my lord? |
| CAESAR: |
| Forget not in your speed, Antonius, |
| To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say, |
| The barren, touched in this holy chase, |
| Shake off their sterile curse. |
| ANTONY: |
| I shall remember. |
| When Caesar says "Do this," it is perform'd. |
| CAESAR: |
| Set on; and leave no ceremony out. |
| [Music.] |
| SOOTHSAYER: |
| Caesar! |
| CAESAR: |
| Ha! Who calls? |
| CASCA: |
| Bid every noise be still.—Peace yet again! |
| [Music ceases.] |
| CAESAR: |
| Who is it in the press that calls on me? |
| I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music, |
| Cry "Caesar"! Speak, Caesar is turn'd to hear. |
| SOOTHSAYER: |
| Beware the Ides of March. |
| CAESAR: |
| What man is that? |
| BRUTUS: |
| A soothsayer bids you beware the Ides of March. |
| CAESAR: |
| Set him before me; let me see his face. |
| CASSIUS: |
| Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar. |
| CAESAR: |
| What say'st thou to me now? Speak once again. |
| SOOTHSAYER: |
| Beware the Ides of March. |
| CAESAR: |
| He is a dreamer; let us leave him. Pass. |
| [Sennet. Exeunt all but BRUTUS and CASSIUS.] |
| CASSIUS: |
| Will you go see the order of the course? |
| BRUTUS: |
| Not I. |
| CASSIUS: |
| I pray you, do. |
| BRUTUS: |
| I am not gamesome; I do lack some part |
| Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. |
| Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires; |
| I'll leave you. |
| CASSIUS: |
| Brutus, I do observe you now of late: |
| I have not from your eyes that gentleness |
| And show of love as I was wont to have: |
| You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand |
| Over your friend that loves you. |
| BRUTUS: |
| Cassius, |
| Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look, |
| I turn the trouble of my countenance |
| Merely upon myself. Vexed I am |
| Of late with passions of some difference, |
| Conceptions only proper to myself, |
| Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors; |
| But let not therefore my good friends be grieved— |
| Among which number, Cassius, be you one— |
| Nor construe any further my neglect, |
| Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, |
| Forgets the shows of love to other men. |
| CASSIUS: |
| Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion; |
| By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried |
| Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. |
| Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face? |
| BRUTUS: |
| No, Cassius, for the eye sees not itself |
| But by reflection, by some other thing. |
| CASSIUS: |
| 'Tis just: |
| And it is very much lamented, Brutus, |
| That you have no such mirrors as will turn |
| Your hidden worthiness into your eye, |
| That you might see your shadow. I have heard |
| Where many of the best respect in Rome,— |
| Except immortal Caesar!—speaking of Brutus, |
| And groaning underneath this age's yoke, |
| Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes. |
| BRUTUS: |
| Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, |
| That you would have me seek into myself |
| For that which is not in me? |
| CASSIUS: |
| Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear; |
| And since you know you cannot see yourself |
| So well as by reflection, I, your glass, |
| Will modestly discover to yourself |
| That of yourself which you yet know not of. |
| And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus; |
| Were I a common laugher, or did use |
| To stale with ordinary oaths my love |
| To every new protester; if you know |
| That I do fawn on men, and hug them hard |
| And after scandal them; or if you know |
| That I profess myself, in banqueting, |
| To all the rout, then hold me dangerous. |
| [Flourish and shout.] |
| BRUTUS: |
| What means this shouting? I do fear the people |
| Choose Caesar for their king. |
| CASSIUS: |
| Ay, do you fear it? |
| Then must I think you would not have it so. |
| BRUTUS: |
| I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well, |
| But wherefore do you hold me here so long? |
| What is it that you would impart to me? |
| If it be aught toward the general good, |
| Set honor in one eye and death i' the other |
| And I will look on both indifferently; |
| For let the gods so speed me as I love |
| The name of honor more than I fear death. |
| CASSIUS: |
| I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, |
| As well as I do know your outward favor. |
| Well, honor is the subject of my story. |
| I cannot tell what you and other men |
| Think of this life; but, for my single self, |
| I had as lief not be as live to be |
| In awe of such a thing as I myself. |
| I was born free as Caesar; so were you: |
| We both have fed as well; and we can both |
| Endure the winter's cold as well as he: |
| For once, upon a raw and gusty day, |
| The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores, |
| Caesar said to me, "Darest thou, Cassius, now |
| Leap in with me into this angry flood |
| And swim to yonder point?" Upon the word, |
| Accoutred as I was, I plunged in, |
| And bade him follow: so indeed he did. |
| The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it |
| With lusty sinews, throwing it aside |
| And stemming it with hearts of controversy; |
| But ere we could arrive the point proposed, |
| Caesar cried, "Help me, Cassius, or I sink! |
| I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor, |
| Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder |
| The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber |
| Did I the tired Caesar: and this man |
| Is now become a god; and Cassius is |
| A wretched creature, and must bend his body, |
| If Caesar carelessly but nod on him. |
| He had a fever when he was in Spain; |
| And when the fit was on him I did mark |
| How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake: |
| His coward lips did from their color fly; |
| And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world |
| Did lose his luster. I did hear him groan: |
| Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans |
| Mark him, and write his speeches in their books, |
| Alas, it cried, "Give me some drink, Titinius," |
| As a sick girl.—Ye gods, it doth amaze me, |
| A man of such a feeble temper should |
| So get the start of the majestic world, |
| And bear the palm alone. |
| [Shout. Flourish.] |
| BRUTUS: |
| Another general shout! |
| I do believe that these applauses are |
| For some new honors that are heap'd on Caesar. |
| CASSIUS: |
| Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world |
| Like a Colossus; and we petty men |
| Walk under his huge legs and peep about |
| To find ourselves dishonorable graves. |
| Men at some time are masters of their fates: |
| The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, |
| But in ourselves,that we are underlings. |
| "Brutus" and "Caesar": what should be in that "Caesar"? |
| Why should that name be sounded more than yours? |
| Write them together, yours is as fair a name; |
| Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well; |
| Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with them, |
| "Brutus" will start a spirit as soon as "Caesar." |
| Now, in the names of all the gods at once, |
| Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed |
| That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed! |
| Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods! |
| When went there by an age since the great flood, |
| But it was famed with more than with one man? |
| When could they say, till now, that talk'd of Rome, |
| That her wide walls encompass'd but one man? |
| Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough, |
| When there is in it but one only man. |
| O, you and I have heard our fathers say |
| There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd |
| Th' eternal devil to keep his state in Rome, |
| As easily as a king! |
| BRUTUS: |
| That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; |
| What you would work me to, I have some aim: |
| How I have thought of this, and of these times, |
| I shall recount hereafter; for this present, |
| I would not, so with love I might entreat you, |
| Be any further moved. What you have said, |
| I will consider; what you have to say, |
| I will with patience hear; and find a time |
| Both meet to hear and answer such high things. |
| Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this: |
| Brutus had rather be a villager |
| Than to repute himself a son of Rome |
| Under these hard conditions as this time |
| Is like to lay upon us. |
| CASSIUS: |
| I am glad that my weak words |
| Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus. |
| BRUTUS: |
| The games are done, and Caesar is returning. |
| CASSIUS: |
| As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve; |
| And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you |
| What hath proceeded worthy note today. |
| [Re-enter Caesar and his Train.] |
| BRUTUS: |
| I will do so.—But, look you, Cassius, |
| The angry spot doth glow on Caesar's brow, |
| And all the rest look like a chidden train: |
| Calpurnia's cheek is pale; and Cicero |
| Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes |
| As we have seen him in the Capitol, |
| Being cross'd in conference by some senators. |
| CASSIUS: |
| Casca will tell us what the matter is. |
| CAESAR: |
| Antonius,— |
| ANTONY: |
| Caesar? |
| CAESAR: |
| Let me have men about me that are fat; |
| Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights: |
| Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look; |
| He thinks too much: such men are dangerous. |
| ANTONY: |
| Fear him not, Caesar; he's not dangerous; |
| He is a noble Roman and well given. |
| CAESAR: |
| Would he were fatter! But I fear him not: |
| Yet, if my name were liable to fear, |
| I do not know the man I should avoid |
| So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much; |
| He is a great observer, and he looks |
| Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, |
| As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music: |
| Seldom he smiles; and smiles in such a sort |
| As if he mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit |
| That could be moved to smile at any thing. |
| Such men as he be never at heart's ease |
| Whiles they behold a greater than themselves; |
| And therefore are they very dangerous. |
| I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd |
| Than what I fear, for always I am Caesar. |
| Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf, |
| And tell me truly what thou think'st of him. |
| [Exeunt Caesar and his Train. Casca stays.] |
| CASCA: |
| You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me? |
| BRUTUS: |
| Ay, Casca, tell us what hath chanced today, |
| That Caesar looks so sad. |
| CASCA: |
| Why, you were with him, were you not? |
| BRUTUS: |
| I should not then ask Casca what had chanced. |
| CASCA: |
| Why, there was a crown offer'd him; and being offer'd him, |
| he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the |
| people fell a-shouting. |
| BRUTUS: |
| What was the second noise for? |
| CASCA: |
| Why, for that too. |
| CASSIUS: |
| They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for? |
| CASCA: |
| Why, for that too. |
| BRUTUS: |
| Was the crown offer'd him thrice? |
| CASCA: |
| Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler |
| than other; and at every putting-by mine honest neighbors |
| shouted. |
| CASSIUS: |
| Who offer'd him the crown? |
| CASCA: |
| Why, Antony. |
| BRUTUS: |
| Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. |
| CASCA: |
| I can as well be hang'd, as tell the manner of it: it was |
| mere foolery; I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a |
| crown;—yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of these |
| coronets;—and, as I told you, he put it by once: but, for all |
| that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he |
| offered it to him again: then he put it by again: but, to my |
| thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then |
| he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by; and |
| still, as he refused it, the rabblement shouted, and clapp'd |
| their chopt hands, and threw up their sweaty night-caps, and |
| uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Caesar refused |
| the crown, that it had almost choked Caesar, for he swooned and |
| fell down at it: and for mine own part, I durst not laugh for |
| fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air. |
| CASSIUS: |
| But, soft! I pray you. What, did Caesar swoon? |
| CASCA: |
| He fell down in the market-place, and foam'd at mouth, and was |
| speechless. |
| BRUTUS: |
| 'Tis very like: he hath the falling-sickness. |
| CASSIUS: |
| No, Caesar hath it not; but you, and I, |
| And honest Casca, we have the falling-sickness. |
| CASCA: |
| I know not what you mean by that; but I am sure Caesar fell |
| down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him and hiss him, |
| according as he pleased and displeased them, as they use to do |
| the players in the theatre, I am no true man. |
| BRUTUS: |
| What said he when he came unto himself? |
| CASCA: |
| Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common |
| herd was glad he refused the crown, he pluck'd me ope his |
| doublet, and offered them his throat to cut: an I had been a |
| man of any occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word, |
| I would I might go to hell among the rogues:—and so he fell. |
| When he came to himself again, he said, if he had done or said |
| any thing amiss, he desired their worships to think it was his |
| infirmity. Three or four wenches where I stood cried, "Alas, |
| good soul!" and forgave him with all their hearts. But there's |
| no heed to be taken of them: if Caesar had stabb'd their |
| mothers, they would have done no less. |
| BRUTUS: |
| And, after that he came, thus sad away? |
| CASCA: |
| Ay. |
| CASSIUS: |
| Did Cicero say any thing? |
| CASCA: |
| Ay, he spoke Greek. |
| CASSIUS: |
| To what effect? |
| CASCA: |
| Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' the face |
| again: but those that understood him smiled at one another and |
| shook their heads; but for mine own part, it was Greek to me. I |
| could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling |
| scarfs off Caesar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. |
| There was more foolery yet, if could remember it. |
| CASSIUS: |
| Will you sup with me tonight, Casca? |
| CASCA: |
| No, I am promised forth. |
| CASSIUS: |
| Will you dine with me tomorrow? |
| CASCA: |
| Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth |
| the eating. |
| CASSIUS: |
| Good; I will expect you. |
| CASCA: |
| Do so; farewell both. |
| [Exit CASCA.] |
| BRUTUS: |
| What a blunt fellow is this grown to be! |
| He was quick mettle when he went to school. |
| CASSIUS: |
| So is he now in execution |
| Of any bold or noble enterprise, |
| However he puts on this tardy form. |
| This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit, |
| Which gives men stomach to digest his words |
| With better appetite. |
| BRUTUS: |
| And so it is. For this time I will leave you: |
| Tomorrow, if you please to speak with me, |
| I will come home to you; or, if you will, |
| Come home to me, and I will wait for you. |
| CASSIUS: |
| I will do so: till then, think of the world.— |
| [Exit Brutus.] |
| Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see, |
| Thy honorable metal may be wrought, |
| From that it is disposed: therefore 'tis meet |
| That noble minds keep ever with their likes; |
| For who so firm that cannot be seduced? |
| Caesar doth bear me hard, but he loves Brutus; |
| If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius, |
| He should not humor me. I will this night, |
| In several hands, in at his windows throw, |
| As if they came from several citizens, |
| Writings all tending to the great opinion |
| That Rome holds of his name; wherein obscurely |
| Caesar's ambition shall be glanced at: |
| And after this let Caesar seat him sure; |
| For we will shake him, or worse days endure. |
| [Exit.] |
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