to him again: then he put it by again; but, to my thinking, he was very loth to lay his fingers off it. And then he offer'd it the third time; he put it the third time by; and ftill as he refus'd it, the rabblement houted, and clapp'd their chopt hands, and threw up their fweaty night-caps, and uttered fuch a deal of ftinking breath, because Cæfar refus'd the Crown, that it had almoft choaked Cæfar; for he fwooned, and fell down at it and for mine own part, I durft not laugh, for fear of opening my lips, and receiving the bad air. Caf. But, foft, I pray you; what, did Cæfar fwoon? Cafca. He fell down in the market-place, and foam'd at mouth, and was speechless. Bru. 'Tis very like; he hath the falling Sickness. Caf. No, Cafar hath it not; but you and I, And honeft Cafea, we have the falling-fickness. Cafca. I know not what you mean by that; but I am fure, Cafar fell down: If the tag-rag people did not clap him, and hifs him, according as he pleas'd, and difpleas'd them, as they used to do the Players in the Theatre, I am no true man. Bru. What faid he, when he came unto himself? Cafca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceiv'd the common herd was glad he refus'd the Crown, he pluckt me ope his doublet, and offer'd them his throat to cut: Ân' I had been a man of any occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell among the rogues; and fo he fell. When he came to himself again, he faid, "If he had "done, or faid any thing amifs, he defir'd their Wor56 fhips to think it was his infirmity." Three or four wenches where I ftood, cry'd, " alas, good foul!" and forgave him with all their hearts: but there's no heed to be taken of them; if Cæfar had ftabb'd their mothers, they would have done no lefs. Bru. And after that, he came, thus fad, away? Caf. Did Cicero fay any thing? Cafca. Ay, he fpoke Greek. Cafca K 4 Cafca. Nay, an' I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i'th' face again. But thofe, that understood him, fmil'd at one another, and fhook their heads; but for mine own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæfar's Images, are put to filence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it. Caf. Will you fup with me to night, Casca? Cafea. No, I am promis'd forth. Caf. Will you dine with me to morrow? Cafea. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner be worth the eating. Caf. Good, I will expect you. Cafca. Do fo: farewel Both. Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be? He was quick mettle, when he went to school. Of any bold or noble enterprize, However he puts on this tardy form : [Exit. Bru. And fo it is: for this time I will leave you. Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet I fee, Cafar's Cafar's ambition fhall be glanced at. For we will shake him, or worse days endure. [Exit. Thunder and lightning. Enter Calca, his fword drawn ; and Cicero, meeting him. Cic. Good even, Cafca; brought you Cafar home? Why are you breathlefs, and why ftare you fo? Cafca. Are not you mov'd, when all the fway of earth Shakes like a thing unfirm? O Cicero! I have seen tempelts, when the scolding winds Cic. Why, faw you any thing more wonderful? Cafca. A common flave, you know him well by fight, Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn, Who glar'd upon me, and went furly by, Upon a heap a hundred gaftly women, Transformed with their fear; who fwore, they faw Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-difpofed time: Cafca. He doth: for he did bid Antonius Send word to you, he would be there to morrow. Cic. Good night then, Cafta; this difturbed sky Is not to walk in. Cafca. Farewel, Cicero. Enter Caffius. Caf. Who's there? Cafca. A Roman. Caf. Cafca, by your voice. [Exit Cicero. Cafca. Your ear is good. Caffius, what night is this? Caf. A very pleafing night to honeft men. Cafca. Who ever knew the heavens menace fo? Caf. Thofe, that have known the earth fo full of faults. For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, Submitting me unto the perillous night; And thus unbraced, Cafea, as you fee, Have bar'd my bofom to the thunder-ftone : And when the cross blue lightning feem'd to open The breast of heaven, I did present my felf Ev'n in the aim and very flash of it. Cafca. But wherefore did you fo much tempt the heav'ns? It is the part of men to fear and tremble, Caf. You are dull, Cafea; and those sparks of life, Their natures and pre-formed faculties To monftrous quality; why, you fhall find, Now could I, Cafca, name to thee a man That thunders, lightens, opens Graves, and roars A man no mightier than thy felf or me, Cafca. 'Tis Cæfar that you mean; is it not, Caffius? Cafca. Indeed, they fay, the Senators to morrow And he shall wear his Crown by fea and land, Caf. I know, where I will wear this dagger then. Caffius from bondage will deliver Caffius. Therein, ye Gods, you make the weak moft ftrong; (6) Have thews and Limbs. ] Mr. Pope has fubjoin'd, to both his Editions, an Explanation of Thews, as if it fignified, manners or capacities. 'Tis certain, it fometimes has thefe Significations; but he's miftaken ftrangely to imagine it has any fuch Senfe here: Nor, indeed, do I ever remember its being ufed by our Author in thofe Acceptations. With him, I think, it always fignifies, Muscles, Sinews, bedily Strength. So, in the 2d Part of Henry IV, Care I for the Limb, the Thewes, the Stature, Bulk,and big femblance of a Man? And in Hamlet; For Nature crefcent does not grow alone In Thewes and Bulk. |