Hor. Armi'd, my lord. anger. a hundred. Ham. His beard was grisl'd?-noHør. It was, as I have seen it in his life, A sable silver'd. Ham. I'll watch to night; perchance 'twill walk again. Hor. I warrant you, it will. Ham. If it assumes my noble father's person, I'll speak to it, tho'hell itself should gape, And bid me hold my peace. I pray you, If you have hitherto conceal'd this sight, Let it be ten'ble in your silence still: And whatsoever shall befal to night, Give it an understanding, but no tongue; will requite your love: so fare you well. Upon the platform 'twixt eleven and twelve KESPEARL. CHA P. X I V. Cas. VV jil you go see the order of the course? Bru. I am not gamesome; I do lack some part Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late: Bru. Cassius, 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? Bru. No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself, But by reflection from some other thing. Cas. 'Tis just. Cassius, Cas. Cas. Tlorofore , good Brutus, be prepard to I 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 yet you know not of. And be not jealous of me gentle Brutus : Were I a coinmon laugher, or did use To stale with ordinary oaths my love To every new protestor ; 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. Bru. What means this shouting; I do fear the people Cas. Ay, do you fear it? Bru. I would not Cassius; yet I love him well, Cas. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, As well as I do know your outward favour. W ell, honour 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 Cæsar ; 30 were you; We both have fed as well; and we can both Endure th: winter's cold as well as he. For once upon a raw and gusty day The troubled Tyber chafing with his shores, Cæsar says tɔ me, Dar'st thou , Cassius, now Leap in with me into this angry lood K And swim to yonder point?-Upon the word, Accoutre das I was, I plunged in, And bid him follow; so indeed he did. The torrent roard, and we did buffet it With lusty sinews; throwing it aside, And stèmming it with hearts of controversy. But ere we could arrive the point propos'd, Cæsar cry'd help me, Cassius, or I sink! i 1, as AEneas, our great ancestor, Did from the dames of Troy upon his shonlder The old Anchises bear; so from the waves of Tyber Did I the tired Cæsar: and this man is now become a god; and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body, If Cæsar 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 colour fly, And that same eye whose bend does awe the world, Did lase its lustre; 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 cry'd-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. . Bru. Another general shout! I do believe that these applauses are For some new honours that are heap'd on Cæsar. Cas. 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 dishonourable graves. Men, at sometimes, are masters of their fates : The fault, dear Brutus , is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings. Brutus - and Cæsar - what should be in that Cæsar ? 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 'em, Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar. Now, in the names of all the gods at once, Upon what meats does this our Cæsar feed, That he is grown 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 lood, But it was fam'd 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? Oh! you and I have heard our fathers say There was a Brutus, one that would have brook'd Th'eternal devil to keep his state in Rome As easily as a king. Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; What you would work me to, 1 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 intreat you) Be any further mov'd. What you have said, I will consider ; what you have to say, I will with patience hear; and find a tine, Both moet 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 such hard conditions as this time Is like to lay upon us. . Cas. I am glad that my weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brus tus. SUAKESPEARI. |