The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

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. 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 sickness.
CASSIUS. No, Caesar hath it not, but you, and I,
And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness.
CASCA. I know not what you mean by that, but I am sure Caesar
fell
down. If the tagrag people did not clap him and hiss him
according as he pleased and displeased them, as they use to
do
the players in the theatre, I am no true man.
BRUTUS. What said he when he came unto himself?
CASCA. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived the common
herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked me ope his
doublet
and offered them his throat to cut. An had been a man of any
occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word, I would
I
might go to hell among the rogues. And so he fell. When he
came
to himself again, he said, if he had done or said anything
amiss,
he desired their worships to think it was his infirmity.
Three or
four wenches where I stood cried, "Alas, good soul!" and
forgave
him with all their hearts. But there's no heed to be taken of
them; if Caesar had stabbed their mothers, they would have
done
no less.
BRUTUS. And after that he came, thus sad, away?
CASCA. Ay.
CASSIUS. Did Cicero say anything?
CASCA. Ay, he spoke Greek.
CASSIUS. To what effect?
CASCA. Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' the face
again; but those that understood him smiled at one another
and
shook their heads; but for mine own part, it was Greek to me.
I
could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for
pulling
scarfs off Caesar's images, are put to silence. Fare you
well.
There was more foolery yet, if could remember it.
CASSIUS. Will you sup with me tonight, Casca?
CASCA. No, I am promised forth.
CASSIUS. Will you dine with me tomorrow?