Volume Ii Part 5 (1/2)

BRU. The name of Ca.s.sius honors this corruption, And chastis.e.m.e.nt doth therefore hide its head.

CAS. Chastis.e.m.e.nt?

BRU. Remember March, the ides of March remember!

Did not great Julius bleed for justice's sake?

What villain touched his body, that did stab, And not for justice?--What! shall one of us, That struck the foremost man of all this world, But for supporting robbers;--shall we now Contaminate our fingers with base bribes?

And sell the mighty s.p.a.ce of our large honors For so much trash as may be grasped thus?

I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon, Than such a Roman.

CAS. Brutus, bay not me: I'll not endure it. You forget yourself, To hedge me in: I am a soldier, I, Older in practice, abler than yourself To make conditions.

BRU. Go to; you're not, Ca.s.sius.

CAS. I am.

BRU. I say you are not.

CAS. Urge me no more: I shall forget myself: Have mind upon your health: tempt me no further.

BRU. Away, slight man!

CAS. Is't possible!

BRU. Hear me, for I will speak.

Must I give way and room to your rash choler?

Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?

CAS. Must I endure all this?

BRU. All this? Ay, more! Fret till your proud heart break.

Go, show your slaves how choleric you are, And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?

Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch Under your testy humor?

You shall digest the venom of your spleen, Though it do split you: for, from this day forth, I'll use you for my mirth; yea, for my laughter, When you are waspish.

CAS. Is it come to this?

BRU. You say you are a better soldier; Let it appear so; make your vaunting true, And it shall please me well. For mine own part, I shall be glad to learn of n.o.ble men.

CAS. You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus; I said an elder soldier, not a better.

Did I say better?

BRU. If you did I care not.

CAS. When Caesar lived, he durst not thus have moved me.

BRU. Peace, peace! you durst not so have tempted him!

CAS. I durst not?

BRU. No.