Julius Caesar

Act 1, Scene 2 (Caissus)

START OF SCENE

Will you go see the order of the course?

BRUTUS: Not I.

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.

Brutus, I do observe you now as of late. I have not from your eyes that gentleness and show of love as I 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 veiled 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 no therefore my good friends be grieved (Among which number, Caissus, 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.

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 things.

‘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 wished 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?

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 laughter, 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.

BRUTUS: What means this shouting? I do fear the people choose Caesar for their king.

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’ th’ 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.

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 you 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 as 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. 

PART 2 OF SPEECH

For once, upon a raw and gusty day, the troubled Tiber chafing with her shores, Caesar said to me “Dar’st thou, Cassius, now leap in with me into this angry flood and swim to yonder point?” Upon the word, Accoutered as I was, I plunged in and bade him follow; so indeed he did. The torrent roared, 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.

PART 3 OF SPEECH

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. You 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.

BRUTUS: Another general shout! I do believe that these applauses are for some new honors that are heaped on Caesar.

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 at 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 more sounded 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 “Caesar.” 

SPEECH PART 2

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 talked of Rome, that her wide walks encompassed 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 brooked 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 would you 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.

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.

END