ACT II. Cassius writes certain anonymous papers to Brutus, instigating him to join with the conspirators; these are secretly conveyed by Cinna, and are found by Brutus. In the morning, the whole of the conspirators, headed by Cassius, repair to Brutus, to urge their solicitations personally. - Bru. What, Lucius! ho! I cannot, by the progress of the stars, Give guess how near to day.-Lucius, I say !— Enter LUCIUS. Luc. Call'd you, my lord? Bru. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius: When it is lighted, come and call me here. Luc. I will, my lord. Bru. It must be by his death: and, for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, But for the general. He would be crown'd: How that might change his nature, there's the question. And that craves wary walking. Crown him?—That ;— That at his will he may do danger with. The abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins Remorse from power: And to speak truth of Cæsar, He then unto the ladder turns his back, Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel Will bear no color for the thing he is, Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented, Would run to these and these extremities: And therefore think him as a serpent's egg, Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mischievous ; [Exit. Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, sir. Bru. Get you to bed again, it is not day. Bru. Look in the calendar, and bring me word. Bru. The exhalations, whizzing in the air, [Exit. [Opens the letter, and reads, Brutus, thou sleep'st; awake, and see thyself. Such instigations have been often dropp'd What! Rome? Shall Rome, &c. Thus must I piece it out; To speak, and strike? O Rome! I make thee promise, Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. Sir, March is wasted fourteen days. [Knock within [Exit LUCIUS. Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate: somebody knocks. Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar, I have not slept. Between the acting of a dreadful thing, And the first motion, all the interim is The nature of an insurrection. Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, Who doth desire to see you. Bru. Is he alone? Luc. No, sir, there are more with him. Bru. Do you know them? Luc. No, sir; their hats are pluck'd about their ears, 1 And half their faces buried in their cloaks, That by no means I may discover them Bru. Let them enter. They are the faction! O conspiracy! Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night, When evils are most free? O, then, by day, Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough [Exit LUCIUS. To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy! For if thou put thy native semblance on, Not Erebus itself were dim enough To hide thee from prevention. Enter CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, CINNA, METELLUS CIMBER, and TREBONIUS. Cas. I think we are too bold upon your rest: Good morrow, Brutus. Do we trouble you? Bru. I have been up this hour; awake, all night. Cas. Yes, every man of them; and no man here, Which every noble Roman bears of you. They are all welcome. What watchful cares do interpose themselves Betwixt your eyes and night? Give me your hands all over, one by one. Cas. And let us swear our resolution. Bru. No, not an oath: If not the face of men, The melting spirits of women; then, countrymen, To urge us to redress? Cas. But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him? I think, he will stand very strong with us. Casca. Let us not leave him out. Cin. No, by no means. Met. O let us have him; for his silver hairs Will purchase us a good opinion, And buy men's voices to commend our deeds. Bru. O, name him not; let us not break with him : For he will never follow any thing That other men begin. Casca. Indeed, he is not fit. Dec. Shall no man else be touch'd but only Cæsar? Should outlive Cæsar: We shall find of him Let Antony, and Cæsar, fall together. Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, To cut the head off, and then hack the limbs; For Antony is but a limb of Cæsar. Let us be sacrificers, but no butchers, Caius. Cas. If he love Cæsar, all that he can do Is to himself; take thought, and die for Cæsar: [Clock strikes. Cas. The clock hath stricken three. Treb. 'Tis time to part. For I can give his humor the true bent; you, Cas. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him. Brutus: [Exeunt all but BRUTUS. Por. Enter PORTIA. Brutus, my lord! Bru. Portia, what mean you? Wherefore rise you now? It is not for your health, thus to commit Your weak condition to the raw-cold morning. Por. Nor for yours neither. You have ungently, Brutus, Stole from my room: And yesternight, at supper, You suddenly arose, and walked about, Musing and sighing, with your arms across : |