Enter CINNA. Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste, Cas. 'Tis Cinna, I know him by his gait; He is a friend.-Cinna, where haste you so? Cin. To find out you: Who's that? Metellus Cimber? Cin. I am glad on't. What a fearful night is this? You are. O, Cassius, if you could but win Yes, Cas. Be you content: Good Cinna, take this paper, And look you lay it in the prætor's chair, Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this Upon old Brutus' statue: all this done, Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us. Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone Well, I will hie, as you And so bestow these papers Come, Casca, you and I will, yet, ere day, See Brutus at his house: three parts of him Upon the next encounter, yields him ours. [Exit CINNA. Casca. O, he sits high, in all the people's hearts : And that, which would appear offence in us, His countenance, like richest alchymy, Will change to virtue, and to worthiness. Cas. Him, and his worth, and our great need of him, You have right well conceited. Let us go, For it is after midnight; and, ere day, We will awake him, and be sure of him. [Exeunt. ́ ACT II. SCENE I.-The same. Brutus's Orchard. Enter BRUTUS. Bru. What, Lucius! ho! I cannot, by the progress of the stars, 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, : [Exit. But for the general. He would be crown'd:- And that craves wary walking. Crown him?-That ;- Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel J When, Lucius, when?] This exclamation of impatience has already occurred in King Kichard II.-STEEVENS. Remorse-] i. e. Pity, tenderness. common proof,] i. e. A matter proved by common experience.-M. MASON. base degrees--] i. e. Low steps.-JOHNSON. Will bear no colour for the thing he is, Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind," grow mischievous; 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, Give so much light, that I may read by them. [Exit. [Opens the Letter, and reads. Brutus, thou sleep'st; awake, and see thyself. Shall Rome, &c. Speak, strike, redress! Such instigations have been often dropp'd Where I have took them up. Shall Rome, &c. Thus must I piece it out: Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What! Rome? My ancestors did from the streets of Rome The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king. Speak, strike, redress !-Am I entreated then To speak, and strike? O Rome! I make thee promise, If the redress will follow, thou receivest Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus ! Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. Sir, March is wasted fourteen days. [Knock within. [Exit LUCIUS. Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks. "— as his kind,] i. e. According to his nature.-JOHNSON. Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar, I have not slept. Between the acting of a dreadful thing 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, And half their faces buried in their cloaks, That by no means I may discover them By any mark of favour." Bru. Let them enter. [Exit Lucius. 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 To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy; Hide it in smiles, and affability: For if thou path, thy native semblance on,' Not Erebus itself were dim enough To hide thee from prevention. - phantasma,] “ A phantasma," says Bullokar, in his English Expositor, 1616, "is a vision, or imagined appearance."-Malone. P The genius, and the mortal instruments, Are then in council;] Shakspeare is describing what passes in a single bosom, the insurrection which a conspirator feels agitating the little kingdom of his own mind; when the genius or power that watches for his protection, and the mortal instruments, the passions, which excite him to a deed of horror and danger, are in council and debate; when the desire of action and the care of safety, keep the mind in continual fluctuation and disturbance.-JOHNSON. brother Cassius-] He married Junia, Brutus's sister.-STEEVENS. any mark of favour,] Any distinction of countenance.-JOHNSON. For if thou path, thy native semblance on,] If thou walk in thy true form.JOHNSON.. r Enter CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, CINNA, METELLUS CIMBER, and TREBONIUS. Cas. I think we are too bold upon your rest: Bru. I have been up this hour; awake, all night. Which every noble Roman bears of you. Bru. He is welcome hither. He is welcome too. Cas. This, Decius Brutus. Cas. This, Casca; this, Cinna; And this, Metellus Cimber. Bru. What watchful cares do interpose themselves Betwixt your eyes and night? They are all welcome. [They whisper. Cas. Shall I entreat a word? Dec. Here lies the east: Doth not the day break here? Casca. No. Cin. O pardon, sir, it doth; and yon grey lines, That fret the clouds, are messengers of day. Casca. You shall confess, that you are both deceiv'd. Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises; Which is a great way growing on the south, Bru. Give me your hands all over, one by one. Bru. No, not an oath: If not the face of men, -face of men,] i. e. The countenance, the regard, the esteem of the public. JOHNSON. |