Casca. Do so: Farewell both. [Exit CASCA. 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, you: Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see, And, after this, let Cæsar seat him sure; For we will shake him, or worse days endure. [Exit. Thy honourable metal may be wrought From that it is dispos'd:] The best metal or temper may be worked into qualities contrary to its original constitution.-JOHNSON. Disposed is for disposed to : we have many instances of a similar phraseology.-MALONE. doth bear me hard:] i. e. Has an unfavourable opinion of me. STEEVENS. He should not humour me.] The meaning, I think, is this: Casar loves Brutus, but if Brutus and I were to change places, his love should not humour me, should not take hold of my affection, so as to make me forget my principles.JOHNSON. SCENE III. The same. A Street. Thunder and Lightning. Enter, from opposite sides, CASCA, with his Sword drawn, and CICERO. Cic. Good even, Casca: Brought you Cæsar home?" Why are you breathless? and why stare you so? Casca. Are not you mov'd, when all the sway of earth Shakes, like a thing unfirm? O Cicero, I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds Cic. Why, saw you any thing more wonderful? Casca. A common slave (you know him well by sight,) Held up his left hand, which did flame, and burn Who glar'd upon me, and went surly by, Transformed with their fear; who swore, they saw W JOHNSON. Brought you Casur home?] i. e. Did you attend Cæsar home? A common slave (you know him well by sight)] So in the old translation of Plutarch:"A slave of the souldiers that did cast a marvelous burning flame out of his hande, insomuch as they that saw it, thought he had been burnt; but when the fire was out, it was found he had no hurt."-STEEVENS. Do so conjointly meet, let not men say, Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius [Exit CICERO. Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this? Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men. . Casca. Who ever knew the heavens menace so? Cas. Those, that have known the earth so full of faults, For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, Have bar'd my bosom to the thunder-stone : And, when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open Even in the aim and very flash of it. Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens? It is the part of men to fear and tremble, When the most mighty gods, by tokens, send Such dreadful heralds to astonish us. Cas. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of life That should be in a Roman, you do want, Or else you use not: You look pale, and gaze, And put on fear, and cast yourself in wonder, a Clean-] i. e. Altogether, entirely. b thunder-stone:] A stone fabulously supposed to be discharged by thun der.-STEEVENS. But if you would consider the true cause, A man no mightier than thyself, or me, In personal action; yet prodigious grown, Casca. 'Tis Cæsar that you mean: Is it not, Cassius? Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now Have thewes and limbs like to their ancestors; But, woe the while! our fathers' minds are dead, And we are govern'd with our mothers' spirits; Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish. Casca. Indeed, they say, the senators to-morrow Mean to establish Cæsar as a king: And he shall wear his crown by sea, and land, In every place, save here in Italy. Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then; Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; b Why birds, and beasts, from quality and kind ; &c.] That is, Why they deviate from quality and nature. -JOHNSON. calculate:] i. e. Foretel or prophesy. This use of the word is taken from the technical term of calculating a nativity. d e STEEVENS. prodigious-] i. e. Portentous. thewes-] An obsolete word implying nerves or muscular strength.— If I know this, know all the world besides, I can shake off at pleasure. So every bondman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his captivity. Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then? So vile a thing as Cæsar? But, O, grief! Casca. You speak to Casca; and to such a man, As who goes farthest. Cas. There's a bargain made. Now know you, Casca, I have mov'd already Of honourable-dangerous consequence; Is favour'd, like the work we have in hand, 1 My answer must be made:] I shall be called to account, and must answer as for seditious words.-JOHNSON. Hold my hand :]-is the same as, Here's my hand.-JOHNSON. – factious—] i. e. Active, says Dr. Johnson. Does it not rather mean clamorous? Is favour'd,] i. e. Is like in appearance or countenance.-STEEVENS. |