Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

Act 2 - Scene 1

Rome. BRUTUS’s orchard.

Brutus : What, Lucius, ho! [p]I cannot, by the progress of the stars, [p]Give
guess how near to day. Lucius, I say! [p]I would it were my fault to
sleep so soundly. [p]When, Lucius, when? awake, I say! what, Lucius!

Lucius : Call'd you, my lord?

Brutus : Get me a taper in my study, Lucius: [p]When it is lighted, come and
call me here.

Lucius : I will, my lord.

Brutus : It must be by his death: and for my part, [p]I know no personal cause
to spurn at him, [p]But for the general. He would be crown'd: [p]How
that might change his nature, there's the question. [p]It is the
bright day that brings forth the adder; [p]And that craves wary
walking. Crown him?--that;-- [p]And then, I grant, we put a sting in
him, [p]That at his will he may do danger with. [p]The abuse of
greatness is, when it disjoins [p]Remorse from power: and, to speak
truth of Caesar, [p]I have not known when his affections
sway'd [p]More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof, [p]That
lowliness is young ambition's ladder, [p]Whereto the climber-upward
turns his face; [p]But when he once attains the upmost round. [p]He
then unto the ladder turns his back, [p]Looks in the clouds, scorning
the base degrees [p]By which he did ascend. So Caesar may. [p]Then,
lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel [p]Will bear no colour
for the thing he is, [p]Fashion it thus; that what he is,
augmented, [p]Would run to these and these extremities: [p]And
therefore think him as a serpent's egg [p]Which, hatch'd, would, as
his kind, grow mischievous, [p]And kill him in the shell.

Lucius : The taper burneth in your closet, sir. [p]Searching the window for a
flint, I found [p]This paper, thus seal'd up; and, I am sure, [p]It
did not lie there when I went to bed.

Brutus : Get you to bed again; it is not day. [p]Is not to-morrow, boy, the
ides of March?

Lucius : I know not, sir.

Brutus : Look in the calendar, and bring me word.

Lucius : I will, sir.

Brutus : The exhalations whizzing in the air [p]Give so much light that I may
read by them. [p][Opens the letter and reads] [p]'Brutus, thou
sleep'st: awake, and see thyself. [p]Shall Rome, &c. Speak, strike,
redress! [p]Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake!' [p]Such instigations have
been often dropp'd [p]Where I have took them up. [p]'Shall Rome, &c.'
Thus must I piece it out: [p]Shall Rome stand under one man's awe?
What, Rome? [p]My ancestors did from the streets of Rome [p]The
Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king. [p]'Speak, strike, redress!'
Am I entreated [p]To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee
promise: [p]If the redress will follow, thou receivest [p]Thy full
petition at the hand of Brutus!

Lucius : Sir, March is wasted fourteen days.

Brutus : 'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks. [p][Exit LUCIUS] [p]Since
Cassius first did whet me against Caesar, [p]I have not
slept. [p]Between the acting of a dreadful thing [p]And the first
motion, all the interim is [p]Like a phantasma, or a hideous
dream: [p]The Genius and the mortal instruments [p]Are then in
council; and the state of man, [p]Like to a little kingdom, suffers
then [p]The nature of an insurrection.

Lucius : Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, [p]Who doth desire to see
you.

Brutus : Is he alone?

Lucius : No, sir, there are moe with him.

Brutus : Do you know them?

Lucius : No, sir; their hats are pluck'd about their ears, [p]And half their
faces buried in their cloaks, [p]That by no means I may discover
them [p]By any mark of favour.

Brutus : Let 'em enter. [p][Exit LUCIUS] [p]They are the faction. O
conspiracy, [p]Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by
night, [p]When evils are most free? O, then by day [p]Where wilt thou
find a cavern dark enough [p]To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none,
conspiracy; [p]Hide it in smiles and affability: [p]For if thou path,
thy native semblance on, [p]Not Erebus itself were dim enough [p]To
hide thee from prevention. [p][Enter the conspirators, CASSIUS, CASCA,
DECIUS] [p]BRUTUS, CINNA, METELLUS CIMBER, and TREBONIUS

Cassius : I think we are too bold upon your rest: [p]Good morrow, Brutus; do we
trouble you?

Brutus : I have been up this hour, awake all night. [p]Know I these men that
come along with you?

Cassius : Yes, every man of them, and no man here [p]But honours you; and every
one doth wish [p]You had but that opinion of yourself [p]Which every
noble Roman bears of you. [p]This is Trebonius.

Brutus : He is welcome hither.

Cassius : This, Decius Brutus.

Brutus : He is welcome too.

Cassius : This, Casca; this, Cinna; and this, Metellus Cimber.

Brutus : They are all welcome. [p]What watchful cares do interpose
themselves [p]Betwixt your eyes and night?

Cassius : Shall I entreat a word?

Decius Brutus : Here lies the east: doth not the day break here?

Casca : No.

Cinna : O, pardon, sir, it doth; and yon gray lines [p]That fret the clouds
are messengers of day.

Casca : You shall confess that you are both deceived. [p]Here, as I point my
sword, the sun arises, [p]Which is a great way growing on the
south, [p]Weighing the youthful season of the year. [p]Some two months
hence up higher toward the north [p]He first presents his fire; and
the high east [p]Stands, as the Capitol, directly here.

Brutus : Give me your hands all over, one by one.

Cassius : And let us swear our resolution.

Brutus : No, not an oath: if not the face of men, [p]The sufferance of our
souls, the time's abuse,-- [p]If these be motives weak, break off
betimes, [p]And every man hence to his idle bed; [p]So let
high-sighted tyranny range on, [p]Till each man drop by lottery. But
if these, [p]As I am sure they do, bear fire enough [p]To kindle
cowards and to steel with valour [p]The melting spirits of women,
then, countrymen, [p]What need we any spur but our own cause, [p]To
prick us to redress? what other bond [p]Than secret Romans, that have
spoke the word, [p]And will not palter? and what other oath [p]Than
honesty to honesty engaged, [p]That this shall be, or we will fall for
it? [p]Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous, [p]Old feeble
carrions and such suffering souls [p]That welcome wrongs; unto bad
causes swear [p]Such creatures as men doubt; but do not stain [p]The
even virtue of our enterprise, [p]Nor the insuppressive mettle of our
spirits, [p]To think that or our cause or our performance [p]Did need
an oath; when every drop of blood [p]That every Roman bears, and nobly
bears, [p]Is guilty of a several bastardy, [p]If he do break the
smallest particle [p]Of any promise that hath pass'd from him.

Cassius : But what of Cicero? shall we sound him? [p]I think he will stand very
strong with us.

Casca : Let us not leave him out.

Cinna : No, by no means.

Metellus Cimber : O, let us have him, for his silver hairs [p]Will purchase us a good
opinion [p]And buy men's voices to commend our deeds: [p]It shall be
said, his judgment ruled our hands; [p]Our youths and wildness shall
no whit appear, [p]But all be buried in his gravity.

Brutus : O, name him not: let us not break with him; [p]For he will never
follow any thing [p]That other men begin.

Cassius : Then leave him out.

Casca : Indeed he is not fit.

Decius Brutus : Shall no man else be touch'd but only Caesar?

Cassius : Decius, well urged: I think it is not meet, [p]Mark Antony, so well
beloved of Caesar, [p]Should outlive Caesar: we shall find of him [p]A
shrewd contriver; and, you know, his means, [p]If he improve them, may
well stretch so far [p]As to annoy us all: which to prevent, [p]Let
Antony and Caesar fall together.

Brutus : Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, [p]To cut the head off
and then hack the limbs, [p]Like wrath in death and envy
afterwards; [p]For Antony is but a limb of Caesar: [p]Let us be
sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. [p]We all stand up against the
spirit of Caesar; [p]And in the spirit of men there is no blood: [p]O,
that we then could come by Caesar's spirit, [p]And not dismember
Caesar! But, alas, [p]Caesar must bleed for it! And, gentle
friends, [p]Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; [p]Let's carve
him as a dish fit for the gods, [p]Not hew him as a carcass fit for
hounds: [p]And let our hearts, as subtle masters do, [p]Stir up their
servants to an act of rage, [p]And after seem to chide 'em. This shall
make [p]Our purpose necessary and not envious: [p]Which so appearing
to the common eyes, [p]We shall be call'd purgers, not
murderers. [p]And for Mark Antony, think not of him; [p]For he can do
no more than Caesar's arm [p]When Caesar's head is off.

Cassius : Yet I fear him; [p]For in the ingrafted love he bears to Caesar--

Brutus : Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him: [p]If he love Caesar, all
that he can do [p]Is to himself, take thought and die for
Caesar: [p]And that were much he should; for he is given [p]To sports,
to wildness and much company.

Trebonius : There is no fear in him; let him not die; [p]For he will live, and
laugh at this hereafter.

Brutus : Peace! count the clock.

Cassius : The clock hath stricken three.

Trebonius : 'Tis time to part.

Cassius : But it is doubtful yet, [p]Whether Caesar will come forth to-day, or
no; [p]For he is superstitious grown of late, [p]Quite from the main
opinion he held once [p]Of fantasy, of dreams and ceremonies: [p]It
may be, these apparent prodigies, [p]The unaccustom'd terror of this
night, [p]And the persuasion of his augurers, [p]May hold him from the
Capitol to-day.

Decius Brutus : Never fear that: if he be so resolved, [p]I can o'ersway him; for he
loves to hear [p]That unicorns may be betray'd with trees, [p]And
bears with glasses, elephants with holes, [p]Lions with toils and men
with flatterers; [p]But when I tell him he hates flatterers, [p]He
says he does, being then most flattered. [p]Let me work; [p]For I can
give his humour the true bent, [p]And I will bring him to the
Capitol.

Cassius : Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him.

Brutus : By the eighth hour: is that the uttermost?

Cinna : Be that the uttermost, and fail not then.

Metellus Cimber : Caius Ligarius doth bear Caesar hard, [p]Who rated him for speaking
well of Pompey: [p]I wonder none of you have thought of him.

Brutus : Now, good Metellus, go along by him: [p]He loves me well, and I have
given him reasons; [p]Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him.

Cassius : The morning comes upon 's: we'll leave you, Brutus. [p]And, friends,
disperse yourselves; but all remember [p]What you have said, and show
yourselves true Romans.

Brutus : Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily; [p]Let not our looks put on
our purposes, [p]But bear it as our Roman actors do, [p]With untired
spirits and formal constancy: [p]And so good morrow to you every
one. [p][Exeunt all but BRUTUS] [p]Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep? It is no
matter; [p]Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber: [p]Thou hast no
figures nor no fantasies, [p]Which busy care draws in the brains of
men; [p]Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.

Portia : Brutus, my lord!

Brutus : Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now? [p]It is not for your
health thus to commit [p]Your weak condition to the raw cold morning.

Portia : Nor for yours neither. You've ungently, Brutus, [p]Stole from my bed:
and yesternight, at supper, [p]You suddenly arose, and walk'd
about, [p]Musing and sighing, with your arms across, [p]And when I
ask'd you what the matter was, [p]You stared upon me with ungentle
looks; [p]I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head, [p]And
too impatiently stamp'd with your foot; [p]Yet I insisted, yet you
answer'd not, [p]But, with an angry wafture of your hand, [p]Gave sign
for me to leave you: so I did; [p]Fearing to strengthen that
impatience [p]Which seem'd too much enkindled, and withal [p]Hoping it
was but an effect of humour, [p]Which sometime hath his hour with
every man. [p]It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep, [p]And
could it work so much upon your shape [p]As it hath much prevail'd on
your condition, [p]I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my
lord, [p]Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.

Brutus : I am not well in health, and that is all.

Portia : Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health, [p]He would embrace the
means to come by it.

Brutus : Why, so I do. Good Portia, go to bed.

Portia : Is Brutus sick? and is it physical [p]To walk unbraced and suck up the
humours [p]Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick, [p]And will he
steal out of his wholesome bed, [p]To dare the vile contagion of the
night [p]And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air [p]To add unto his
sickness? No, my Brutus; [p]You have some sick offence within your
mind, [p]Which, by the right and virtue of my place, [p]I ought to
know of: and, upon my knees, [p]I charm you, by my once-commended
beauty, [p]By all your vows of love and that great vow [p]Which did
incorporate and make us one, [p]That you unfold to me, yourself, your
half, [p]Why you are heavy, and what men to-night [p]Have had to
resort to you: for here have been [p]Some six or seven, who did hide
their faces [p]Even from darkness.

Brutus : Kneel not, gentle Portia.

Portia : I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus. [p]Within the bond of
marriage, tell me, Brutus, [p]Is it excepted I should know no
secrets [p]That appertain to you? Am I yourself [p]But, as it were, in
sort or limitation, [p]To keep with you at meals, comfort your
bed, [p]And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs [p]Of
your good pleasure? If it be no more, [p]Portia is Brutus' harlot, not
his wife.

Brutus : You are my true and honourable wife, [p]As dear to me as are the ruddy
drops [p]That visit my sad heart

Portia : If this were true, then should I know this secret. [p]I grant I am a
woman; but withal [p]A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife: [p]I grant
I am a woman; but withal [p]A woman well-reputed, Cato's
daughter. [p]Think you I am no stronger than my sex, [p]Being so
father'd and so husbanded? [p]Tell me your counsels, I will not
disclose 'em: [p]I have made strong proof of my constancy, [p]Giving
myself a voluntary wound [p]Here, in the thigh: can I bear that with
patience. [p]And not my husband's secrets?

Brutus : O ye gods, [p]Render me worthy of this noble wife! [p][Knocking
within] [p]Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in awhile; [p]And by and
by thy bosom shall partake [p]The secrets of my heart. [p]All my
engagements I will construe to thee, [p]All the charactery of my sad
brows: [p]Leave me with haste. [p][Exit PORTIA] [p]Lucius, who's that
knocks?

Lucius : He is a sick man that would speak with you.

Brutus : Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of. [p]Boy, stand aside. Caius
Ligarius! how?

Ligarius : Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue.

Brutus : O, what a time have you chose out, brave Caius, [p]To wear a kerchief!
Would you were not sick!

Ligarius : I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand [p]Any exploit worthy the name
of honour.

Brutus : Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, [p]Had you a healthful ear
to hear of it.

Ligarius : By all the gods that Romans bow before, [p]I here discard my sickness!
Soul of Rome! [p]Brave son, derived from honourable loins! [p]Thou,
like an exorcist, hast conjured up [p]My mortified spirit. Now bid me
run, [p]And I will strive with things impossible; [p]Yea, get the
better of them. What's to do?

Brutus : A piece of work that will make sick men whole.

Ligarius : But are not some whole that we must make sick?

Brutus : That must we also. What it is, my Caius, [p]I shall unfold to thee, as
we are going [p]To whom it must be done.

Ligarius : Set on your foot, [p]And with a heart new-fired I follow you, [p]To do
I know not what: but it sufficeth [p]That Brutus leads me on.

Brutus : Follow me, then.

Previous: Act 1 - Scene 3

Next: Act 2 - Scene 2

Web Standards & Support: