Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walke under his huge legges, and peepe about
To finde our selves dishonourable Graves.
Men at sometime, are Masters of their Fates.
The fault (deere Brutus) is not in our Starres,
But in our Selves, that we are underlings.

Brutus and Casar: What should be in that Casar?
Why should that name be sounded more then yours?
Write them together: Yours, is as faire a Name :
Sound them, it doth become the mouth aswell :
Weigh them, it is as heavy: Conjure with 'em,
Brutus will start a Spirit as soone as Casar.
Now in the names of all the Gods at once,
Upon what meate doth this our Casar feede,
That he is growne so great? Age, thou art sham'd.
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of Noble Bloods.
When went there by an Age, since the great Flood,
But it was fam'd with more then with one man?
When could they say (till now) that talk'd of Rome,
That her wide Walkes incompast but one man?
Now is it Rome indeed, and Roome enough
When there is in it but one onely man.

O! you and I, have heard our Fathers say,
There was a Brutus once, that would have brook'd
Th'eternall Divell to keepe his State in Rome,
As easily as a King.

Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous :
What you would worke me too, I have some ayme:
How I have thought of this, and of these times
I shall recount heereafter. For this present,
I would not so (with love I might intreat you)
Be
any further moov'd: What
I will consider: what you

you

have said,

have to say

I will with patience heare, and finde a time

Both meete to heare, and answer such high things.

Till then, my Noble Friend, chew upon this:
Brutus had rather be a Villager,

Then to repute himselfe a Sonne of Rome
Under these hard Conditions, as this time
Is like to lay upon us.

Cassi. I am glad that my weake words

Have strucke but thus much shew of fire from Brutus.

Enter Casar and his Traine.

Bru. The Games are done,

And Casar is returning.

Cassi. As they passe by,
Plucke Caska by the Sleeve,
And he will (after his sowre fashion) tell
What hath proceeded worthy note to day.

you

Bru. I will do so: but looke you Cassius,
The angry spot doth glow on Casars brow,
And all the rest, looke like a chidden Traine;
Calphurnia's Cheeke is pale, and Cicero
Lookes with such Ferret, and such fiery eyes
As we have seene him in the Capitoll
Being crost in Conference, by some Senators.
Cassi. Caska will tell us what the matter is.
Cas. Antonio.

Ant. Cæsar.

Cas. Let me have men about me, that are fat,
Sleeke-headed men, and such as sleepe a-nights:
Yond Cassius has a leane and hungry looke,
He thinkes too much: such men are dangerous.

Ant. Feare him not Casar, he's not dangerous,

He is a Noble Roman, and well given.

Cas. Would he were fatter; But I feare him not:

Yet if my name were lyable to feare,

I do not know the man I should avoyd

So soone as that spare Cassius. He reades much,

He is a great Observer, and he lookes

Quite through the Deeds of men. He loves no Playes,
As thou dost Antony: he heares no Musicke ;
Seldome he smiles, and smiles in such a sort
As if he mock'd himselfe, and scorn'd his spirit
That could be mov'd to smile at any thing.
Such men as he, be never at hearts ease,
Whiles they behold a greater then themselves,
And therefore are they very dangerous.
I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd,
Then what I feare: for alwayes I am Cæsar.
Come on my right hand, for this eare is deafe,
And tell me truely, what thou think'st of him.

Sennit. Exeunt Cæsar and his Traine. Cask. You pul'd me by the cloake, would you speake with me?

Bru. I Caska, tell us what hath chanc'd to day

That Casar lookes so sad.

Cask. Why you were with him, were you not?

Bru. I should not then aske Caska what had chanc'd.

Cask. Why there was a Crowne offer'd him; & being offer'd him, he put it by with the backe of his hand thus, and then the people fell a shouting.

Bru. What was the second noyse for?

Cask. Why for that too.

Cassi. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for?

Cask. Why for that too.

Bru. Was the Crowne offer'd him thrice?

Cask. I marry was't, and hee put it by thrice, everie time

gentler then other; and at every putting by, mine honest Neighbors showted.

Cassi. Who offer'd him the Crowne?

Cask. Why Antony.

Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Caska.

Caska. I can as well bee hang'd as tell the manner of it: It

:

Then

but to

And

was meere Foolerie, I did not marke it. I sawe Marke Antony offer him a Crowne, yet 'twas not a Crowne neyther, 'twas one of these Coronets: and as I told you, hee put it by once: but for all that, to my thinking, he would faine have had it. hee offered it to him againe: then hee put it by againe my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. then he offered it the third time; hee put it the third time by, and still as hee refus'd it, the rabblement howted, and clapp'd their chopt hands, and threw uppe their sweatie Night-cappes, and uttered such a deale of stinking breath, because Casar refus'd the Crowne, that it had (almost) choaked Casar: for hee swoonded, and fell downe at it: And for mine owne part, I durst not laugh, for feare of opening my Lippes, and receyving the bad Ayre.

Cassi. But soft I pray you: what, did Cæsar swound?

Cask. He fell downe in the Market-place, and foam'd at mouth, and was speechlesse.

Brut. 'Tis very like he hath the Falling sicknesse.
Cassi. No, Casar hath it not: but you, and I,

And honest Caska, we have the Falling sicknesse.

Cask. I know not what you meane by that, but I am sure Casar fell downe. If the tag-ragge people did not clap him, and hisse him, according as he pleas'd, and displeas'd them, as they use to doe the Players in the Theatre, I am no true man.

Brut. What said he, when he came unto himselfe ?

Cask. Marry, before he fell downe, when he perceiv'd the common Heard was glad he refus'd the Crowne, he pluckt me ope his Doublet, and offer'd them his Throat to cut and I had beene a man of any Occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word, I would I might goe to Hell among the Rogues, and so hee fell. When he came to himselfe againe, hee said, If hee had done, or said any thing amisse, he desir'd their Worships to thinke it was his infirmitie. Three or foure Wenches where I stood, cryed, Alasse good Soule, and forgave him with all their hearts: But there's no heed to be taken of them; if Casar had stab'd their Mothers, they would have done no lesse.

Brut. And after that, he came thus sad away.

Cask. I.

Cassi. Did Cicero say any thing?

Cask. I, he spoke Greeke.

Cassi. To what effect?

Cask. Nay, and I tell you that, Ile ne're looke you i'th'face againe. But those that understood him, smil'd at one another, and shooke their heads: but for mine owne part, it was Greeke to me. I could tell you more newes too: Murrellus and Flavius, for pulling Scarffes off Cesars Images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more Foolerie yet; if I could remember it. Cassi. Will you suppe with me to Night, Caska? Cask. No, I am promis'd forth.

Cassi. Will Dine with me to morrow?

you

Cask. I, if I be alive, and your minde hold, and

your

Dinner worth the eating.

Cassi. Good, I will expect you.

Cask. Doe so: farewell both.

Exit.

Brut. What a blunt fellow is this growne to be?

He was quick Mettle, when he went to Schoole.

Cassi. So is he now, in execution

Of any bold, or Noble Enterprize,

How-ever he puts on this tardie forme :
This Rudenesse is a Sawce to his good Wit,

Which gives men stomacke to digest his words
With better Appetite.

Brut. And so it is:

For this time I will leave you :

To morrow, if you please to speake with me,

I will come home to you or if

you

will,

Come home to me, and I will wait for you.

Cassi. I will doe so: till then, thinke of the World.

Well Brutus, thou art Noble: yet I see,

Thy Honourable Mettle may be wrought

Exit Brutus.