SCENE III. The infide of BRUTUS' tent. Enter BRUTUS, and CASSIUS. Caf. That you have wrong'd me, doth appear in this: You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella, For taking bribes here of the Sardians; Wherein, my letter, praying on his fide, Because I knew the man, was flighted off. Bru. You wrong'd yourself, to write in such a case. Caf. In fuch a time as this, it is not meet That every nice offence fhould bear his comment, Bru. Let me tell you, Caffius, you yourself Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm To fell and mart your offices for gold, To undefervers. Caf. I an itching palm ? You know that you are Brutus that speak this, + Bru. Remember March, the ides of March remember! Did not great Julius bleed for justice' fake?, What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, And not for juftice? What, fhall one of us, That ftruck the foremost man of all this world, But for fupporting robbers; fhall we now Contaminate our fingers with base bribes ? And fell the mighty space of our large honours, For fo much trash, as may be grafped thus?— I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon, Than fuch a Roman. Caf. Brutus, bay not me, I'll not endure it: you forget yourself, To To hedge me in; I am a foldier, I, Bru. Go to; you are not, Caffius. Bru. I fay, you are not. Caf. Urge me no more, I fhall forget myself; Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further. Bru. Away, flight man! Caf. Is't poffible? Bru. Hear me, for I will speak. Muft I give way and room to your rash choler? Caf. O ye gods! ye gods! Muft I endure all this? Bru. All this? ay, more: Fret, 'till your proud heart break; Go fhew your flaves how choleric you are, And make your bondmen tremble. Muft I budge? Caf. Is it come to this? Let it appear Bru. You fay, you are a better foldier: Caf. You wrong me every way, you wrong me, Brutus ; I faid an elder foldier, not a better: Did I fay, better? Bru. If you did, I care not. F 3 Caf I Caf. When Cæfar liy'd, he durft not thus have mov'd me. Bru. Peace, peace; you durft not so have tempted him. Caf. I durft not? Bru. No. Caf. What? durft not tempt him? Bru. For your life you durft not. Caf. Do not prefume too much upon my love, Bru. You have done that you shall be forry for. That they pafs by me, as the idle wind, For certain fums of gold, which you deny'd me ;- By heaven, I had rather coin my heart, And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring To you for gold to pay my legions, Which you deny'd me: Was that done like Caffius? Should I have anfwer'd Caius Caffius fo? When Marcus Brutus grows fo covetous, To lock fuch rafcal counters from his friends, Caf. I deny'd you not. Bru. You did. Caf. I did not :-he was but a fool, That brought my anfwer back.-Brutus hath riv'd my heart: A friend thould bear his friend's infirmities, But Brutus makes mine greater than they are. Bru. Bru. I do not, 'till you practise them on me. Bru. I do not like your faults. Caf. A friendly eye could never fee fuch faults. Bru. A flatterer's would not, though they do appear As huge as high Olympus. Caf. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come, Revenge yourfelves alone on Caffius, For Caffius is aweary of the world: Hated by one he loves; brav'd by his brother; When thou didst hate him worst, thou lov'dft him better Bru. Sheath your dagger: Be angry when you will, it fhall have scope; Caf. Hath Caffius liv'd To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, Caf Caf. O Brutus Bru. What's the matter? Caf. Have not you lov'd enough to bear with me, When that rafh humour, which my mother gave me, Makes me forgetful? Bru. Yes, Caffius; and, from henceforth, When you are over-earneft with your Brutus, Luc. [within.] You fhall not come to them. Caf. How now? What's the matter? mean? Poet. For fhame, you generals; what do you Love, and be friends, as two fuch men fhould be; For I have feen more years, I am fure, than ye. Caf. Ha, ha; how vilely doth this cynic rhyme ! Bru. Get you hence, firrah; faucy fellow, hence. Caf. Bear with him, Brutus; 'tis his fashion. Bru. I'll know his humour, when he knows his time: What fhould the wars do with these jigging fools?— Companion, hence. Caf. Away, away, be gone. [Exit Poet. Enter LUCILIUS, and TITINIUS. Bru. Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders Prepare to lodge their companies to-night. Caf. And come yourfelves, and bring Meffala with Immediately to us. [Exeunt LUCILIUS, and TITINIUS. [you Bru. |