Bru. What now, Lucilius? is Caffius near? Luc. He is at hand, and Pindarus is come To do you falutation from his master. Bru. He greets me well. Your mafter, Pindarus, Pin. I do not doubt But that my noble mafter will appear Such as he is, full of regard and honour. Bru. He is not doubted. 'Hear, a word, Lucilius How he receiv'd you let me be refolv'd. Luc. With courtefie, and with refpect enough, But not with fuch familiar inftances, Nor with fuch free and friendly conference, Bru. Thou haft defcrib'd A hot friend, cooling; ever note, Lucilius, There are no tricks in plain and fimple faith: Luc. They mean this night in Sardis to be quarter'd; The greater part, the horse in general, Are come with Caffius. [Low march within. Enter Caffius and Soldiers. Bru. Hark, he is arriv'd; March gently on to meet him. Caf. Stand, ho! Bru. Stand, ho! speak the word along. Within. Within. Stand! Within. Stand! Within. Stand! Caf. Most noble brother! you have done me wrong. Bru. Judge me, you Gods! wrong I mine enemies? And if not fo, how fhould I wrong a brother? Caf. Brutus, this fober form of yours hides wrongs, And when you do them Bru. Caffius, be content, Speak your griefs foftly, I do know you well. (Which fhould perceive nothing but love from us) Caf. Pindarus, Bid our commanders lead their charges off Bru. Lucilius, do the like, and let no man Come to our tent, 'till we have done our conference. Let Lucius and Titinius guard the door. [Exeunt. 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 of. Bru. You wrong'd your felf to write in fuch a cafe. That ev'ry nice offence fhould bear its comment. Are Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm, 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 juftice fake? What villain touch'd his body, that did ftab, 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 fpace of our large honours For fo much trafh, as may be grafped thus? I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon, Than fuch a Roman. Caf. Brutus, bait not me, I'll not endure it; you forget your felf, Bru. Go to; you are not, Caffius. Bru. I fay, you are not. Caf. Urge me no more, I fhall forget my felf. Have mind upon your health-tempt me no farther. Bru. Away, flight man. Caf. Is't poffible? Bru. Hear me, for I will fpeak. Muft I give way and room to your rafh choler? Shall I be frighted, when a madman ftares? Caf. O Gods! ye Gods! muft I endure all this? Bru. All this! ay, more. Fret 'till your proud heart Go fhew your flaves how cholerick you are, [break; And And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge? Caf. Is it come to this? ; Bru. You fay, you are a better foldier Let it appear fo; make your vaunting true, And it fhall pleafe me well. For mine own part, I fhall be glad to learn of noble men. Caf. You wrong me every way ---you wrong me, Brutus; I faid, an elder foldier, not a better. Did I fay better? I Bru. If you did, I care not. Caf, When Cafar liv'd he durft not thus have mov'd me. Bru. Peace, peace, you durft not fo 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, may do that I fhall be forry for. Bru. You have done that you should be forry for. There is no terror, Caffius, in your threats; That they pafs by me, as the idle wind, Which I refpect not. I did fend to you For certain fums of gold, which you deny'd me; By heaven, I had rather coin my heart, Το you for gold to pay my legions, Which you denied me; was that done like Caffius? When When Marcus Brutus grows fo covetous, Caf. I deny'd you not. Caf. I did not he was but a fool That brought my anfwer back---Brutus hath riv'd my heart. A friend fhould bear a friend's infirmities, But Brutus makes mine greater than they are. Bru. I do not: 'will you practise that on me?` Bru. I do not like your faults. Caf. A friendly eye could never fee fuch faults. Bru. A flatt'rer's would not, tho' they do appear As huge as high Olympus. Caf. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come! Revenge your felves alone on Caffius, For Caffius is a weary of the world; Hated by one he loves, brav'd by his brother, My fpirit from mine eyes! There is my dagger, Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold; If that thou beeft a Roman, take it forth. I that deny'd thee gold, will give my heart; When thou didst hate him worst, thou lov'dft him better Bru. Sheath your dagger; Be angry when you will, it fhall have scope; Do what you will, difhonour thall be humour. That carries anger as the flint bears fire, VOL. V. R /Which 9 till you practice them on me. .... old edit Warb, emend. Still you &c. |