University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Enter Cassius, and the rest of the Conspirators, muffled up, in their Robes.
Brutus.
Welcome, good Brother Cassius: welcome all.

Cassius.
Welcome the Hour that brings us thus together.

Brutus.
Know I these Men?

Cassius.
You know them, and their Hearts,
Which are all set upon the noble Brutus.
This is Trebonius, this Decius Brutus,
This Cinna, Casca, and Metellus Cimber:
Your Friends, and Followers all.

Brutus.
They are most welcome.

Cassius.
Brutus, a Word.

[They whisper.
Casca.
If Brutus will but join,
Our Fabrick's firm, and nothing then can shake it:
He is the Cement that must hold us fast.

Brutus.
Well, noble Lords, I am at last resolv'd;
Ev'n against Friendship, Justice has prevail'd.
Give me your resolute Hands.

Cassius.
And let us swear.

Brutus.
No Oath: the Cause already is so sacred,
There is no need of Oaths to make it more:
If Sense of Slavery, and noble Shame,
If Thirst of honest Fame in After-ages,
If glorious Justice cannot move our Souls,
They are too weak for such a Deed as this;
Break off betimes, and ev'ry Roman here
Retire with Blushes to his idle Bed;
And then let Tyranny for ever range,
Till each Man falls unpity'd: but if these
(As who dares make a Doubt?) are noble Romans;
What needs a Tye among us, but our Words?
Plain Honesty to Honesty engag'd,
That Cæsar shall not live to laugh at Cowards.
Let Priests, and Women swear, and feeble Minds,
Which, wav'ring still, need such a childish Check:
We are above such Helps, and steady bear
Our even Souls, without one doubtful Start.
What Roman dares be base in such a Business?
Reckon his Guilt, and Shame, he ventures more
Than if he did attempt Ten thousand Tyrants.

Cassius.
But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him?
His Gravity will countenance our Heat.

Trebonius.
No Need of that, now Brutus is engag'd.

Brutus.
I know him well, believe him just and wise;
Yet Vanity a little clouds his Virtue:
Nor is he bold enough for such a Business.
The Horse that starts, however good besides,
In War is troublesome, nay, dangerous.

Decius Brutus.
But Antony, so well belov'd by Cæsar,
That Instrument of all his Tyranny,
If he survive, will be another Cæsar.

Trebonius.
Decius, well urg'd; Antonius must die.

Brutus.
Oh! by no means; our Course will seem too bloody,
To cut the Head off, and then hack the Limbs:
'Twill look like Anger, nay, like Envy too;
For Antony is great by Cæsar's Favour.
Let us be Sacrificers, but not Butchers.
We only draw our Swords against Ambition;
Not against Cæsar's Person, but his Power:
Oh! that we, then, could come at Cæsar's Spirit,
Abate his Pride, and yet not spill his Blood! [Sighs.

It cannot be; Cæsar, alas! must bleed.
Yet, gentle Friends!
Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;
Let's serve him up, a Dish fit for the Gods;
Not mangled, as a Feast to Beasts of Prey.
Our Hearts should melt, like those of tender Parents,
Who oft in sharp, but necessary Rage,
Correct offending Children with Remorse,
Feeling more Pain than what they make them suffer.
This Mercy too looks better to the World,
Which shall not call us Murderers, but Heroes.
As for Antonius therefore, think not of him;
For he can do no more than Cæsar's Arm,
When Cæsar's Head is off.

Trebonius.
But yet I fear him:
For he loves Cæsar, and is most audacious.

Brutus.
I hope that loving Cæsar is no Fault;
Else I confess that I am guilty too:
If he loves Cæsar, all that he can do
Is to be griev'd, and pine away for Cæsar:
And it were strange he should; for he is giv'n
Too much to Wildness, Company, and Pleasures.

Cassius.
There is no Fear of him; let him not die;
For he will live and laugh at this hereafter.

Decius Brutus.
But hold, how late's the Night?

Brutus.
'Tis Five, at least.

Cassius.
O how I long to welcome the Eighth Hour,
The wish'd Alarm to our great Purposes!

Decius Brutus.
'Tis Time to part, lest at our sev'ral Homes
We should be miss'd too long.

Cassius.
But what if Cæsar
Should forbear coming to the Capitol?
The unaccustom'd Terror of this Night
May move the Augurs to forbid his going:
And, tho' himself's above such idle Fears,
Yet the most Wise and Brave must yield to Custom.

Decius Brutus.
Never doubt that: And tho' he were resolv'd,
I can o'ersway him; for he loves to hear me.
Prudence, tho' much superior, often yields
To subtle Mirth, and sly Insinuation.
If Cæsar stay at home, because it thunders,
I can in Jest reproach him with his Fear;
He'll laugh, yet fear he shall be thought afraid.

Brutus.
Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him.
But see, 'tis almost Day; some Light appears.

Cassius.
Then let us be dispers'd, like foggy Clouds,
To meet again in Thunder.

Brutus.
Friends, farewel.
Only remember that we all are Romans;
That Thought will keep up our exalted Spirits.

[Exeunt Conspirators; manet Brutus.