按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
BRUTUS。 I would not； Cassius； yet I love him well。 But wherefore do you
hold me here so long？ What is it that you would impart to me？ If it be
aught toward the general good； Set honor in one eye and death i' the other
And I will look on both indifferently。 For let the gods so speed me as I
love The name of honor more than I fear death。 CASSIUS。 I know that
virtue to be in you； Brutus； As well as I do know your outward favor。 Well；
honor is the subject of my story。 I cannot tell what you and other men
Think of this life； but； for my single self； I had as lief not be as live to be
In awe of such a thing as I myself。 I was born free as Caesar； so were you；
We both have fed as well； and we can both Endure the winter's cold as
well as he。 For once； upon a raw and gusty day； The troubled Tiber chafing
with her shores； Caesar said to me； 〃Darest thou； Cassius； now Leap in
with me into this angry flood And swim to yonder point？〃 Upon the word；
6
… Page 7…
THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR
Accoutred as I was； I plunged in And bade him follow。 So indeed he did。
The torrent roar'd； and we did buffet it With lusty sinews； throwing it aside
And stemming it with hearts of controversy。 But ere we could arrive the
point proposed； Caesar cried； 〃Help me； Cassius； or I sink！ I； as Aeneas
our great ancestor Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old
Anchises bear； so from the waves of Tiber Did I the tired Caesar。 And this
man Is now become a god； and Cassius is A wretched creature and must
bend his body If Caesar carelessly but nod on him。 He had a fever when he
was in Spain； And when the fit was on him I did mark How he did shake。
'Tis true； this god did shake； His coward lips did from their color fly； And
that same eye whose bend doth awe the world Did lose his luster。 I did
hear him groan。 Ay； and that tongue of his that bade the Romans Mark him
and write his speeches in their books； Alas； it cried； 〃Give me some drink；
Titinius；〃 As a sick girl。 Ye gods！ It doth amaze me A man of such a feeble
temper should So get the start of the majestic world And bear the palm
alone。 Shout。 Flourish。 BRUTUS。 Another general shout！ I do believe that
these applauses are For some new honors that are heap'd on Caesar。
CASSIUS。 Why； man； he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus；
and we petty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about To find
ourselves dishonorable graves。 Men at some time are masters of their fates：
The fault； dear Brutus； is not in our stars； But in ourselves that we are
underlings。 Brutus and Caesar： what should be in that 〃Caesar〃？ Why
should that name be sounded more than yours？ Write them together； yours
is as fair a name； Sound them； it doth become the mouth as well； Weigh
them； it is as heavy； conjure with 'em； 〃Brutus〃 will start a spirit as soon as
〃Caesar。〃 Now； in the names of all the gods at once； Upon what meat doth
this our Caesar feed That he is grown so great？ Age； thou art shamed！
Rome； thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods！ When went there by an
age since the great flood But it was famed with more than with one man？
When could they say till now that talk'd of Rome That her wide walls
encompass'd but one man？ Now is it Rome indeed； and room enough；
When there is in it but one only man。 O； you and I have heard our fathers
say There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd The eternal devil to
keep his state in Rome As easily as a king。 BRUTUS。 That you do love me；
7
… Page 8…
THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR
I am nothing jealous； What you would work me to； I have some aim。 How
I have thought of this and of these times； I shall recount hereafter； for this
present； I would not； so with love I might entreat you； Be any further
moved。 What you have said I will consider； what you have to say I will
with patience hear； and find a time Both meet to hear and answer such
high things。 Till then； my noble friend； chew upon this： Brutus had rather
be a villager Than to repute himself a son of Rome Under these hard
conditions as this time Is like to lay upon us。 CASSIUS。 I am glad that my
weak words Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus。
Re…enter Caesar and his Train。
BRUTUS。 The games are done； and Caesar is returning。 CASSIUS。
As they pass by； pluck Casca by the sleeve； And he will； after his sour
fashion； tell you What hath proceeded worthy note today。 BRUTUS。 I will
do so。 But； look you； Cassius； The angry spot doth glow on Caesar's brow；
And all the rest look like a chidden train： Calpurnia's cheek is pale； and
Cicero Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes As we have seen him in
the Capitol； Being cross'd in conference by some senators。 CASSIUS。
Casca will tell us what the matter is。 CAESAR。 Antonio！ ANTONY。
Caesar？ CAESAR。 Let me have men about me that are fat； Sleek…headed
men； and such as sleep o' nights： Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look；
He thinks too much； such men are dangerous。 ANTONY。 Fear him not；
Caesar； he's not dangerous； He is a noble Roman and well given。
CAESAR。 Would he were fatter！ But I fear him not； Yet if my name were
liable to fear； I do not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare
Cassius。 He reads much； He is a great observer； and he looks Quite
through the deeds of men。 He loves no plays； As thou dost； Antony； he
hears no music； Seldom he smiles； and smiles in such a sort As if he
mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit That could be moved to smile at
anything。 Such men as he be never at heart's ease Whiles they behold a
greater than themselves； And therefore are they very dangerous。 I rather
tell thee what is to be fear'd Than what I fear； for always I am Caesar。
Come on my right hand； for this ear is deaf； And tell me truly what thou
think'st of him。 Sennet。 Exeunt Caesar and all his Train but Casca。
CASCA。 You pull'd me by the cloak； would you speak with me？ BRUTUS。
8
… Page 9…
THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR
Ay； Casca； tell us what hath chanced today That Caesar looks so sad。
CASCA。 Why； you were with him； were you not？ BRUTUS。 I should not
then ask Casca what had chanced。 CASCA。 Why； there was a crown
offered him； and being offered him； he put it by with the back of his hand；
thus； and then the people fell ashouting。 BRUTUS。 What was the second
noise for？ CASCA。 Why； for that too。 CASSIUS。 They shouted thrice。
What was the last cry for？ CASCA。 Why； for that too。 BRUTUS。 Was the
crown offered him thrice？ CASCA。 Ay； marry； wast； and he put it by thrice；
every time gentler than other； and at every putting by mine honest
neighbors shouted。 CASSIUS。 Who offered him the crown？ CASCA。 Why；
Antony。 BRUTUS。 Tell us the manner of it； gentle Casca。 CASCA。 I can
as well be hang'd as tell the manner of it。 It was mere foolery； I did not
mark it。 I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown （yet 'twas not a crown
neither； 'twas one of these coronets） and； as I told you； he put it by once。
But for all that； to my thinking； he would fain have had it。 Then he offered
it to him again； then he put it by again。 But； to my thinking； he was very
loath to lay his fingers off it。 And then he offered it the third time； he put it
the third time by； and still as he refused it； the rabblement hooted and
clapped their chopped hands and threw up their sweaty nightcaps and
uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Caesar refused the crown
that it had almost choked Caesar； for he swounded and fell down at it。 And
for mine own part； I durst not laugh for fear of opening my lips and
receiving the bad air。 CASSIUS。 But； soft； I pray you； what； did Caesars
wound？ CASCA。 He fell down in the marketplace and foamed at mouth
and was speechless。 BRUTUS。 'Tis very like。 He hath the falling s