The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [613]
A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
BRUTUS.
I do not, till you practise them on me.
CASSIUS.
You love me not.
BRUTUS.
I do not like your faults.
CASSIUS.
A friendly eye could never see such faults.
BRUTUS.
A flatterer's would not, though they do appear
As huge as high Olympus.
CASSIUS.
Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is aweary of the world:
Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother;
Check'd like a bondman; all his faults observed,
Set in a notebook, learn'd and conn'd by rote,
To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep
My spirit from mine eyes! There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast; within, a heart
Dearer than Pluto's mine, richer than gold.
If that thou best a Roman, take it forth;
I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart.
Strike, as thou didst at Caesar, for I know,
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better
Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.
BRUTUS.
Sheathe your dagger.
Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
Do what you will, dishonor shall be humor.
O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb,
That carries anger as the flint bears fire,
Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark
And straight is cold again.
CASSIUS.
Hath Cassius lived
To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
When grief and blood ill-temper'd vexeth him?
BRUTUS.
When I spoke that, I was ill-temper'd too.
CASSIUS.
Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.
BRUTUS.
And my heart too.
CASSIUS.
O Brutus!
BRUTUS.
What's the matter?
CASSIUS.
Have not you love enough to bear with me
When that rash humor which my mother gave me
Makes me forgetful?
BRUTUS.
Yes, Cassius, and from henceforth,
When you are overearnest with your Brutus,
He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so.
POET.
[Within.] Let me go in to see the generals.
There is some grudge between 'em, 'tis not meet
They be alone.
LUCILIUS.
[Within.] You shall not come to them.
POET.
[Within.] Nothing but death shall stay me.
Enter Poet, followed by Lucilius, Titinius, and Lucius.
CASSIUS. How now, what's the matter?
POET.
For shame, you generals! What do you mean?
Love, and be friends, as two such men should be;
For I have seen more years, I'm sure, than ye.
CASSIUS.
Ha, ha! How vilely doth this cynic rhyme!
BRUTUS.
Get you hence, sirrah; saucy fellow, hence!
CASSIUS.
Bear with him, Brutus; 'tis his fashion.
BRUTUS.
I'll know his humor when he knows his time.
What should the wars do with these jigging fools?
Companion, hence!
CASSIUS.
Away, away, be gone! Exit Poet.
BRUTUS.
Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders
Prepare to lodge their companies tonight.
CASSIUS.
And come yourselves and bring Messala with you
Immediately to us. Exeunt Lucilius and Titinius.
BRUTUS.
Lucius, a bowl of wine! Exit Lucius.
CASSIUS.
I did not think you could have been so angry.
BRUTUS.
O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.
CASSIUS.
Of your philosophy you make no use,
If you give place to accidental evils.
BRUTUS.
No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead.
CASSIUS.
Ha? Portia?
BRUTUS.
She is dead.
CASSIUS.
How 'scaped killing when I cross'd you so?
O insupportable and touching loss!
Upon what sickness?
BRUTUS.
Impatient of my absence,
And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
Have made themselves so strong- for with her death
That tidings came- with this she fell distract,
And (her attendants absent) swallow'd fire.
CASSIUS.
And died so?
BRUTUS.
Even so.
CASSIUS.
O ye immortal gods!
Re-enter Lucius, with wine and taper.
BRUTUS.
Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine.
In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius. Drinks.
CASSIUS.
My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge.
Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup;
I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. Drinks.
BRUTUS.
Come in, Titinius! Exit Lucius.
Re-enter Titinius, with Messala.
Welcome, good Messala.