Have bared my bosom to the thunder-stone;

And when the cross blue lightning seemed to open

The breast of heaven, I did present myself

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.

CASSIUS

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,

To see the strange impatience of the heavens;

But if you would consider the true cause

Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts,

Why birds and beasts from quality and kind–

Why old men, fools, and children calculate—

Why all these things change from their ordinance,

Their natures, and preformed faculties,

To monstrous quality—why, you shall find

That heaven hath infused them with these spirits

To make them instruments of fear and warning

Unto some monstrous state. Now could I, Casca,

Name to thee a man most like this dreadful night,

That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars

As doth the lion in the Capitol;

A man no mightier than thyself or me

In personal action, yet prodigious grown,

And fearful, as these strange eruptions are.

CASCA

‘Tis Caesar that you mean, is it not, Cassius?

CASSIUS

Let it be who it is; for Romans now

Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors.

But woe the while! Our fathers’ minds are dead,

And we are governed with our mothers’ spirits.

Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish.

CASCA

Indeed they say the senators tomorrow

Mean to establish Caesar as a king,

And he shall wear his crown by sea and land

In every place save here in Italy.

CASSIUS (drawing his dagger)

I know where I will wear this dagger then:

Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius.

Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong;

Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat.

Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass,

Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron,

Can be retentive to the strength of spirit;

But life, being weary of these worldly bars,

Never lacks power to dismiss itself.

If I know this, know all the world besides,

That part of tyranny that I do bear

I can shake off at pleasure.

Thunder still

CASCA So can I.

So every bondman in his own hand bears

The power to cancel his captivity.

CASSIUS

And why should Caesar be a tyrant then?

Poor man, I know he would not be a wolf

But that he sees the Romans are but sheep.

He were no lion, were not Romans hinds.

Those that with haste will make a mighty fire

Begin it with weak straws. What trash is Rome,

What rubbish, and what offal, when it serves

For the base matter to illuminate

So vile a thing as Caesar! But, O grief,

Where hast thou led me? I perhaps speak this

Before a willing bondman; then I know

My answer must be made. But I am armed,

And dangers are to me indifferent.

CASCA

You speak to Casca, and to such a man

That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold. My hand.

Be factious for redress of all these griefs,

And I will set this foot of mine as far

As who goes farthest.

They join hands

CASSIUS There’s a bargain made.

Now know you, Casca, I have moved already

Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans

To undergo with me an enterprise

Of honourable-dangerous consequence.

And I do know by this they stay for me

In Pompey’s Porch; for now, this fearful night,

There is no stir or walking in the streets,

And the complexion of the element

In favour’s like the work we have in hand,

Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.

Enter Cinna

CASCA

Stand close a while, for here comes one in haste.

CASSIUS

‘Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait.

He is a friend.—Cinna, where haste you so?

CINNA

To find out you. Who’s that? Metellus Cimber?

CASSIUS

No, it is Casca, one incorporate

To our attempts. Am I not stayed for, Cinna?

CINNA

I am glad on’t. What a fearful night is this!

There’s two or three of us have seen strange sights.

CASSIUS Am I not stayed for? Tell me.

CINNA Yes, you are.

O Cassius, if you could

But win the noble Brutus to our party—

CASSIUS

Be you content. Good Cinna, take this paper,

He gives Cinna letters

And look you lay it in the Praetor’s Chair,

Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this

In at his window. Set this up with wax

Upon old Brutus’ statue. All this done,

Repair to Pompey’s Porch where you shall find us.

Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there?