Shakespeare Portal

Act 2, Scene 1

Rome. BRUTUS'S orchard.

  1. [Enter Brutus.]
  2. Marcus Brutus
  3. 566 What, Lucius, ho!—
  4. 567 I cannot, by the progress of the stars,
  5. 568 Give guess how near to day.—Lucius, I say!—
  6. 569 I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.—
  7. 570 When, Lucius, when! Awake, I say! What, Lucius!
  8. [Enter Lucius.]
  9. Lucius
  10. 571 Call'd you, my lord?
  11. Marcus Brutus
  12. 572 Get me a taper in my study, Lucius:
  13. 573 When it is lighted, come and call me here.
  14. Lucius
  15. 574 I will, my lord.
  16. [Exit.]
  17. Marcus Brutus
  18. 575 It must be by his death: and, for my part,
  19. 576 I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
  20. 577 But for the general. He would be crown'd:
  21. 578 How that might change his nature, there's the question:
  22. 579 It is the bright day that brings forth the adder;
  23. 580 And that craves wary walking. Crown him?—that:
  24. 581 And then, I grant, we put a sting in him,
  25. 582 That at his will he may do danger with.
  26. 583 Th' abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins
  27. 584 Remorse from power; and, to speak truth of Caesar,
  28. 585 I have not known when his affections sway'd
  29. 586 More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof,
  30. 587 That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
  31. 588 Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;
  32. 589 But, when he once attains the upmost round,
  33. 590 He then unto the ladder turns his back,
  34. 591 Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
  35. 592 By which he did ascend: so Caesar may;
  36. 593 Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel
  37. 594 Will bear no color for the thing he is,
  38. 595 Fashion it thus,—that what he is, augmented,
  39. 596 Would run to these and these extremities:
  40. 597 And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
  41. 598 Which hatch'd, would, as his kind grow mischievous;
  42. 599 And kill him in the shell.
  43. [Re-enter Lucius.]
  44. Lucius
  45. 600 The taper burneth in your closet, sir.
  46. 601 Searching the window for a flint I found
  47. 602 This paper thus seal'd up, and I am sure
  48. 603 It did not lie there when I went to bed.
  49. Marcus Brutus
  50. 604 Get you to bed again; it is not day.
  51. 605 Is not tomorrow, boy, the Ides of March?
  52. Lucius
  53. 606 I know not, sir.
  54. Marcus Brutus
  55. 607 Look in the calendar, and bring me word.
  56. Lucius
  57. 608 I will, sir.
  58. [Exit.]
  59. Marcus Brutus
  60. 609 The exhalations, whizzing in the air
  61. 610 Give so much light that I may read by them.—
  62. [Opens the letter and reads.]
  63. Marcus Brutus
  64. 611 "Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake and see thyself.
  65. 612 Shall Rome, &c. Speak, strike, redress—!
  66. 613 Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake!—"
  67. Marcus Brutus
  68. 614 Such instigations have been often dropp'd
  69. 615 Where I have took them up.
  70. 616 "Shall Rome, & c." Thus must I piece it out:
  71. 617 Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What, Rome?
  72. 618 My ancestors did from the streets of Rome
  73. 619 The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king.—
  74. 620 "Speak, strike, redress!"—Am I entreated, then,
  75. 621 To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise,
  76. 622 If the redress will follow, thou receivest
  77. 623 Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!
  78. [Re-enter Lucius.]
  79. Lucius
  80. 624 Sir, March is wasted fifteen days.
  81. [Knocking within.]
  82. Marcus Brutus
  83. 625 'Tis good. Go to the gate, somebody knocks.—
  84. [Exit Lucius.]
  85. Marcus Brutus
  86. 626 Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar
  87. 627 I have not slept.
  88. 628 Between the acting of a dreadful thing
  89. 629 And the first motion, all the interim is
  90. 630 Like a phantasma or a hideous dream:
  91. 631 The genius and the mortal instruments
  92. 632 Are then in council; and the state of man,
  93. 633 Like to a little kingdom, suffers then
  94. 634 The nature of an insurrection.
  95. [Re-enter Lucius]
  96. Marcus Brutus
  97. 635 .
  98. Lucius
  99. 636 Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door,
  100. 637 Who doth desire to see you.
  101. Marcus Brutus
  102. 638 Is he alone?
  103. Lucius
  104. 639 No, sir, there are more with him.
  105. Marcus Brutus
  106. 640 Do you know them?
  107. Lucius
  108. 641 No, sir, their hats are pluck'd about their ears,
  109. 642 And half their faces buried in their cloaks,
  110. 643 That by no means I may discover them
  111. 644 By any mark of favor.
  112. Marcus Brutus
  113. 645 Let 'em enter.—
  114. [Exit Lucius.]
  115. Marcus Brutus
  116. 646 They are the faction.—O conspiracy,
  117. 647 Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night,
  118. 648 When evils are most free? O, then, by day
  119. 649 Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough
  120. 650 To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy;
  121. 651 Hide it in smiles and affability:
  122. 652 For if thou pass, thy native semblance on,
  123. 653 Not Erebus itself were dim enough
  124. 654 To hide thee from prevention.
  125. [Enter Cassius, Casca, Decius, Cinna, Metellus Cimber, and Trebonius.]
  126. Caius Cassius
  127. 655 I think we are too bold upon your rest:
  128. 656 Good morrow, Brutus; do we trouble you?
  129. Marcus Brutus
  130. 657 I have been up this hour, awake all night.
  131. 658 Know I these men that come along with you?
  132. Caius Cassius
  133. 659 Yes, every man of them; and no man here
  134. 660 But honors you; and every one doth wish
  135. 661 You had but that opinion of yourself
  136. 662 Which every noble Roman bears of you.
  137. 663 This is Trebonius.
  138. Marcus Brutus
  139. 664 He is welcome hither.
  140. Caius Cassius
  141. 665 This Decius Brutus.
  142. Marcus Brutus
  143. 666 He is welcome too.
  144. Caius Cassius
  145. 667 This, Casca; this, Cinna; and this, Metellus Cimber.
  146. Marcus Brutus
  147. 668 They are all welcome.—
  148. 669 What watchful cares do interpose themselves
  149. 670 Betwixt your eyes and night?
  150. Caius Cassius
  151. 671 Shall I entreat a word?
  152. [BRUTUS and CASSIUS whisper apart.]
  153. Decius Brutus
  154. 672 Here lies the east: doth not the day break here?
  155. Casca
  156. 673 No.
  157. Cinna
  158. 674 O, pardon, sir, it doth, and yon grey lines
  159. 675 That fret the clouds are messengers of day.
  160. Casca
  161. 676 You shall confess that you are both deceived.
  162. 677 Here, as I point my sword, the Sun arises;
  163. 678 Which is a great way growing on the South,
  164. 679 Weighing the youthful season of the year.
  165. 680 Some two months hence, up higher toward the North
  166. 681 He first presents his fire; and the high East
  167. 682 Stands, as the Capitol, directly here.
  168. Marcus Brutus
  169. 683 Give me your hands all over, one by one.
  170. Caius Cassius
  171. 684 And let us swear our resolution.
  172. Marcus Brutus
  173. 685 No, not an oath: if not the face of men,
  174. 686 The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse—
  175. 687 If these be motives weak, break off betimes,
  176. 688 And every man hence to his idle bed;
  177. 689 So let high-sighted tyranny range on,
  178. 690 Till each man drop by lottery. But if these,
  179. 691 As I am sure they do, bear fire enough
  180. 692 To kindle cowards, and to steel with valour
  181. 693 The melting spirits of women; then, countrymen,
  182. 694 What need we any spur but our own cause
  183. 695 To prick us to redress? what other bond
  184. 696 Than secret Romans, that have spoke the word,
  185. 697 And will not palter? and what other oath
  186. 698 Than honesty to honesty engaged,
  187. 699 That this shall be, or we will fall for it?
  188. 700 Swear priests, and cowards, and men cautelous,
  189. 701 Old feeble carrions, and such suffering souls
  190. 702 That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear
  191. 703 Such creatures as men doubt: but do not stain
  192. 704 The even virtue of our enterprise,
  193. 705 Nor th' insuppressive mettle of our spirits,
  194. 706 To think that or our cause or our performance
  195. 707 Did need an oath; when every drop of blood
  196. 708 That every Roman bears, and nobly bears,
  197. 709 Is guilty of a several bastardy,
  198. 710 If he do break the smallest particle
  199. 711 Of any promise that hath pass'd from him.
  200. Caius Cassius
  201. 712 But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him?
  202. 713 I think he will stand very strong with us.
  203. Casca
  204. 714 Let us not leave him out.
  205. Cinna
  206. 715 No, by no means.
  207. Metellus Cimber
  208. 716 O, let us have him! for his silver hairs
  209. 717 Will purchase us a good opinion,
  210. 718 And buy men's voices to commend our deeds:
  211. 719 It shall be said, his judgment ruled our hands;
  212. 720 Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear,
  213. 721 But all be buried in his gravity.
  214. Marcus Brutus
  215. 722 O, name him not! let us not break with him;
  216. 723 For he will never follow any thing
  217. 724 That other men begin.
  218. Caius Cassius
  219. 725 Then leave him out.
  220. Casca
  221. 726 Indeed, he is not fit.
  222. Decius Brutus
  223. 727 Shall no man else be touch'd but only Caesar?
  224. Caius Cassius
  225. 728 Decius, well urged.—I think it is not meet,
  226. 729 Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar,
  227. 730 Should outlive Caesar: we shall find of him
  228. 731 A shrewd contriver; and you know his means,
  229. 732 If he improve them, may well stretch so far
  230. 733 As to annoy us all: which to prevent,
  231. 734 Let Antony and Caesar fall together.
  232. Marcus Brutus
  233. 735 Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius,
  234. 736 To cut the head off, and then hack the limbs,
  235. 737 Like wrath in death, and envy afterwards;
  236. 738 For Antony is but a limb of Caesar.
  237. 739 Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.
  238. 740 We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar;
  239. 741 And in the spirit of men there is no blood:
  240. 742 O, that we then could come by Caesar's spirit,
  241. 743 And not dismember Caesar! But, alas,
  242. 744 Caesar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends,
  243. 745 Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;
  244. 746 Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods,
  245. 747 Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds;
  246. 748 And let our hearts, as subtle masters do,
  247. 749 Stir up their servants to an act of rage,
  248. 750 And after seem to chide 'em. This shall mark
  249. 751 Our purpose necessary, and not envious;
  250. 752 Which so appearing to the common eyes,
  251. 753 We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers.
  252. 754 And for Mark Antony, think not of him;
  253. 755 For he can do no more than Caesar's arm
  254. 756 When Caesar's head is off.
  255. Caius Cassius
  256. 757 Yet I do fear him;
  257. 758 For in th' ingrafted love he bears to Caesar—
  258. Marcus Brutus
  259. 759 Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him:
  260. 760 If he love Caesar, all that he can do
  261. 761 Is to himself,—take thought and die for Caesar.
  262. 762 And that were much he should; for he is given
  263. 763 To sports, to wildness, and much company.
  264. Trebonius
  265. 764 There is no fear in him; let him not die;
  266. 765 For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter.
  267. [Clock strikes.]
  268. Marcus Brutus
  269. 766 Peace! count the clock.
  270. Caius Cassius
  271. 767 The clock hath stricken three.
  272. Trebonius
  273. 768 'Tis time to part.
  274. Caius Cassius
  275. 769 But it is doubtful yet
  276. 770 Whether Caesar will come forth today or no;
  277. 771 For he is superstitious grown of late,
  278. 772 Quite from the main opinion he held once
  279. 773 Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies.
  280. 774 It may be these apparent prodigies,
  281. 775 The unaccustom'd terror of this night,
  282. 776 And the persuasion of his augurers
  283. 777 May hold him from the Capitol to-day.
  284. Decius Brutus
  285. 778 Never fear that: if he be so resolved,
  286. 779 I can o'ersway him, for he loves to hear
  287. 780 That unicorns may be betray'd with trees,
  288. 781 And bears with glasses, elephants with holes,
  289. 782 Lions with toils, and men with flatterers:
  290. 783 But when I tell him he hates flatterers,
  291. 784 He says he does, being then most flattered.
  292. 785 Let me work;
  293. 786 For I can give his humor the true bent,
  294. 787 And I will bring him to the Capitol.
  295. Caius Cassius
  296. 788 Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him.
  297. Marcus Brutus
  298. 789 By the eighth hour: is that the uttermost?
  299. Cinna
  300. 790 Be that the uttermost; and fail not then.
  301. Metellus Cimber
  302. 791 Caius Ligarius doth bear Caesar hard,
  303. 792 Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey:
  304. 793 I wonder none of you have thought of him.
  305. Marcus Brutus
  306. 794 Now, good Metellus, go along by him:
  307. 795 He loves me well, and I have given him reason;
  308. 796 Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him.
  309. Caius Cassius
  310. 797 The morning comes upon 's. We'll leave you, Brutus;—
  311. 798 And, friends, disperse yourselves, but all remember
  312. 799 What you have said, and show yourselves true Romans.
  313. Marcus Brutus
  314. 800 Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily;
  315. 801 Let not our looks put on our purposes,
  316. 802 But bear it as our Roman actors do,
  317. 803 With untired spirits and formal constancy:
  318. 804 And so, good morrow to you every one.—
  319. [Exeunt all but Brutus.]
  320. Marcus Brutus
  321. 805 Boy! Lucius!—Fast asleep? It is no matter;
  322. 806 Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber:
  323. 807 Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies,
  324. 808 Which busy care draws in the brains of men;
  325. 809 Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.
  326. [Enter Portia.]
  327. Portia
  328. 810 Brutus, my lord!
  329. Marcus Brutus
  330. 811 Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now?
  331. 812 It is not for your health thus to commit
  332. 813 Your weak condition to the raw-cold morning.
  333. Portia
  334. 814 Nor for yours neither. You've ungently, Brutus,
  335. 815 Stole from my bed: and yesternight, at supper,
  336. 816 You suddenly arose, and walk'd about,
  337. 817 Musing and sighing, with your arms across;
  338. 818 And, when I ask'd you what the matter was,
  339. 819 You stared upon me with ungentle looks:
  340. 820 I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head,
  341. 821 And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot:
  342. 822 Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not;
  343. 823 But, with an angry wafture of your hand,
  344. 824 Gave sign for me to leave you. So I did;
  345. 825 Fearing to strengthen that impatience
  346. 826 Which seem'd too much enkindled; and withal
  347. 827 Hoping it was but an effect of humour,
  348. 828 Which sometime hath his hour with every man.
  349. 829 It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep;
  350. 830 And, could it work so much upon your shape
  351. 831 As it hath much prevail'd on your condition,
  352. 832 I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord,
  353. 833 Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.
  354. Marcus Brutus
  355. 834 I am not well in health, and that is all.
  356. Portia
  357. 835 Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health,
  358. 836 He would embrace the means to come by it.
  359. Marcus Brutus
  360. 837 Why, so I do. Good Portia, go to bed.
  361. Portia
  362. 838 Is Brutus sick? and is it physical
  363. 839 To walk unbraced and suck up the humours
  364. 840 Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick,
  365. 841 And will he steal out of his wholesome bed
  366. 842 To dare the vile contagion of the night,
  367. 843 And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air
  368. 844 To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus;
  369. 845 You have some sick offense within your mind,
  370. 846 Which, by the right and virtue of my place,
  371. 847 I ought to know of: and, upon my knees,
  372. 848 I charge you, by my once commended beauty,
  373. 849 By all your vows of love, and that great vow
  374. 850 Which did incorporate and make us one,
  375. 851 That you unfold to me, yourself, your half,
  376. 852 Why you are heavy, and what men to-night
  377. 853 Have had resort to you; for here have been
  378. 854 Some six or seven, who did hide their faces
  379. 855 Even from darkness.
  380. Marcus Brutus
  381. 856 Kneel not, gentle Portia.
  382. Portia
  383. 857 I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus.
  384. 858 Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,
  385. 859 Is it excepted I should know no secrets
  386. 860 That appertain to you? Am I yourself
  387. 861 But, as it were, in sort or limitation,—
  388. 862 To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,
  389. 863 And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs
  390. 864 Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,
  391. 865 Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.
  392. Marcus Brutus
  393. 866 You are my true and honorable wife;
  394. 867 As dear to me as are the ruddy drops
  395. 868 That visit my sad heart.
  396. Portia
  397. 869 If this were true, then should I know this secret.
  398. 870 I grant I am a woman; but withal
  399. 871 A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife:
  400. 872 I grant I am a woman; but withal
  401. 873 A woman well reputed, Cato's daughter.
  402. 874 Think you I am no stronger than my sex,
  403. 875 Being so father'd and so husbanded?
  404. 876 Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em.
  405. 877 I have made strong proof of my constancy,
  406. 878 Giving myself a voluntary wound
  407. 879 Here in the thigh: can I bear that with patience
  408. 880 And not my husband's secrets?
  409. Marcus Brutus
  410. 881 O ye gods,
  411. 882 Render me worthy of this noble wife!
  412. [Knocking within.]
  413. Marcus Brutus
  414. 883 Hark, hark, one knocks: Portia, go in awhile;
  415. 884 And by and by thy bosom shall partake
  416. 885 The secrets of my heart:
  417. 886 All my engagements I will construe to thee,
  418. 887 All the charactery of my sad brows.
  419. 888 Leave me with haste.
  420. [Exit Portia.]
  421. Marcus Brutus
  422. 889 —Lucius, who's that knocks?
  423. [Re-enter Lucius with Ligarius.]
  424. Lucius
  425. 890 Here is a sick man that would speak with you.
  426. Marcus Brutus
  427. 891 Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of.—
  428. 892 Boy, stand aside.—Caius Ligarius,—how?
  429. Caius Ligarius
  430. 893 Vouchsafe good-morrow from a feeble tongue.
  431. Marcus Brutus
  432. 894 O, what a time have you chose out, brave Caius,
  433. 895 To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick!
  434. Caius Ligarius
  435. 896 I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand
  436. 897 Any exploit worthy the name of honour.
  437. Marcus Brutus
  438. 898 Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius,
  439. 899 Had you a healthful ear to hear of it.
  440. Caius Ligarius
  441. 900 By all the gods that Romans bow before,
  442. 901 I here discard my sickness. Soul of Rome!
  443. 902 Brave son, derived from honorable loins!
  444. 903 Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjured up
  445. 904 My mortified spirit. Now bid me run,
  446. 905 And I will strive with things impossible;
  447. 906 Yea, get the better of them. What's to do?
  448. Marcus Brutus
  449. 907 A piece of work that will make sick men whole.
  450. Caius Ligarius
  451. 908 But are not some whole that we must make sick?
  452. Marcus Brutus
  453. 909 That must we also. What it is, my Caius,
  454. 910 I shall unfold to thee, as we are going,
  455. 911 To whom it must be done.
  456. Caius Ligarius
  457. 912 Set on your foot;
  458. 913 And with a heart new-fired I follow you,
  459. 914 To do I know not what: but it sufficeth
  460. 915 That Brutus leads me on.
  461. Marcus Brutus
  462. 916 Follow me then.
  463. [Exeunt.]