Caska, as you see,
Caska:
Caska) name to thee a man,
Cæsarthat you meane:
Cæsaras a King:
Cæsarbe a Tyrant then?
Here you can read a digital edition of each play in various views.
Left Column
Right Column
Farewell
Cicero.
Who's there?
A Romane.
Caska, by your Voyce.
A very pleasing Night to honest men.
Who euer knew the Heauens menace so?
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="3" rend="notPresent">
<head type="supplied">[Act 1, Scene 3]</head>
<stage rend="italic center" type="mixed">Thunder, and Lightning. Enter Caska,
<lb/>and Cicero.</stage>
<sp who="#F-jc-cic">
<speaker rend="italic">Cic.</speaker>
<l n="415">Good euen,<hi rend="italic">Caska</hi>: brought you<hi rend="italic">Cæsar</hi>home?</l>
<l n="416">Why are you breathlesse, and why stare you so?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-csc">
<speaker rend="italic">Cask.</speaker>
<l n="417">Are not you mou'd, when all the sway of Earth</l>
<l n="418">Shakes, like a thing vnfirme? O<hi rend="italic">Cicero</hi>,</l>
<l n="419">I haue seene Tempests, when the scolding Winds</l>
<l n="420">Haue riu'd the knottie Oakes, and I haue seene</l>
<l n="421">Th'ambitious Ocean swell, and rage, and foame,</l>
<l n="422">To be exalted with the threatning Clouds:</l>
<l n="423">But neuer till to Night, neuer till now,</l>
<l n="424">Did I goe through a Tempest‑dropping‑fire.</l>
<l n="425">Eyther there is a Ciuill strife in Heauen,</l>
<l n="426">Or else the World, too sawcie with the Gods,</l>
<l n="427">Incenses them to send destruction.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cic">
<speaker rend="italic">Cic.</speaker>
<l n="428">Why, saw you any thing more wonderfull?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-csc">
<speaker rend="italic">Cask.</speaker>
<l n="429">A common slaue, you know him well by sight,</l>
<l n="430">Held vp his left Hand, which did flame and burne</l>
<l n="431">Like twentie Torches ioyn'd; and yet his Hand,</l>
<l n="432">Not sensible of fire, remain'd vnscorch'd.</l>
<l n="433">Besides, I ha'not since put vp my Sword,</l>
<l n="434">Against the Capitoll I met a Lyon,</l>
<l n="435">Who glaz'd vpon me, and went surly by,</l>
<l n="436">Without annoying me. And there were drawne</l>
<l n="437">Vpon a heape, a hundred gastly Women,</l>
<l n="438">Transformed with their feare, who swore, they saw</l>
<l n="439">Men, all in fire, walke vp and downe the streetes.</l>
<l n="440">And yesterday, the Bird of Night did sit,</l>
<l n="441">Euen at Noone‑day, vpon the Market place,</l>
<l n="442">Howting, and shreeking. When these Prodigies</l>
<l n="443">Doe so conioyntly meet, let not men say,</l>
<l n="444">These are their Reasons, they are Naturall:</l>
<l n="445">For I beleeue, they are portentous things</l>
<l n="446">Vnto the Clymate, that they point vpon.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cic">
<speaker rend="italic">Cic.</speaker>
<l n="447">Indeed, it is a strange disposed time:</l>
<l n="448">But men may construe things after their fashion,</l>
<l n="449">Cleane from the purpose of the things themselues.</l>
<l n="450">Comes<hi rend="italic">Cæsar</hi>to the Capitoll to morrow?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-csc">
<speaker rend="italic">Cask.</speaker>
<l n="451">He doth: for he did bid<hi rend="italic">Antonio</hi>
</l>
<l n="452">Send word to you, he would be there to morrow.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cic">
<speaker rend="italic">Cic.</speaker>
<l n="453">Good‑night then,<hi rend="italic">Caska</hi>:</l>
<l n="454">This disturbed Skie is not to walke in.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-csc">
<speaker rend="italic">Cask.</speaker>
<p n="455">Farewell<hi rend="italic">Cicero</hi>.</p>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit Cicero.</stage>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Cassius.</stage>
<sp who="#F-jc-cas">
<speaker rend="italic">Cassi.</speaker>
<p n="456">Who's there?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-csc">
<speaker rend="italic">Cask.</speaker>
<p n="457">A Romane.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cas">
<speaker rend="italic">Cassi.</speaker>
<p n="458">
<hi rend="italic">Caska</hi>, by your Voyce.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-csc">
<speaker rend="italic">Cask.</speaker>
<l n="459">Your Eare is good.</l>
<l n="460">Cassius, what Night is this?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cas">
<speaker rend="italic">Cassi.</speaker>
<p n="461">A very pleasing Night to honest men.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-csc">
<speaker rend="italic">Cask.</speaker>
<p n="462">Who euer knew the Heauens menace so?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cas">
<speaker rend="italic">Cassi.</speaker>
<l n="463">Those that haue knowne the Earth so full of
<lb/>faults.</l>
<pb facs="FFimg:axc0723-0.jpg" n="113"/>
<cb n="1"/>
<l n="464">For my part, I haue walk'd about the streets,</l>
<l n="465">Submitting me vnto the perillous Night;</l>
<l n="466">And thus vnbraced,<hi rend="italic">Caska</hi>, as you see,</l>
<l n="467">Haue bar'd my Bosome to the Thunder‑stone:</l>
<l n="468">And when the crosse blew Lightning seem'd to open</l>
<l n="469">The Brest of Heauen, I did present my selfe</l>
<l n="470">Euen in the ayme, and very flash of it.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-csc">
<speaker rend="italic">Cask.</speaker>
<l n="471">But wherefore did you so much tempt the Hea
<lb rend="turnover"/>
<pc rend="turnover">(</pc>uens?</l>
<l n="472">It is the part of men, to feare and tremble,</l>
<l n="473">When the most mightie Gods, by tokens send</l>
<l n="474">Such dreadfull Heraulds, to astonish vs.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cas">
<speaker rend="italic">Cassi.</speaker>
<l n="475">You are dull,<hi rend="italic">Caska</hi>:</l>
<l n="476">And those sparkes of Life, that should be in a Roman,</l>
<l n="477">You doe want, or else you vse not.</l>
<l n="478">You looke pale, and gaze, and put on feare,</l>
<l n="479">And cast your selfe in wonder,</l>
<l n="480">To see the strange impatience of the Heauens:</l>
<l n="481">But if you would consider the true cause,</l>
<l n="482">Why all these Fires, why all these gliding Ghosts,</l>
<l n="483">Why Birds and Beasts, from qualitie and kinde,</l>
<l n="484">Why Old men, Fooles, and Children calculate,</l>
<l n="485">Why all these things change from their Ordinance,</l>
<l n="486">Their Natures, and pre‑formed Faculties,</l>
<l n="487">To monstrous qualitie; why you shall finde,</l>
<l n="488">That Heauen hath infuse'd them with these Spirits,</l>
<l n="489">To make them Instruments of feare, and warning,</l>
<l n="490">Vnto some monstrous State.</l>
<l n="491">Now could I (<hi rend="italic">Caska</hi>) name to thee a man,</l>
<l n="492">Most like this dreadfull Night,</l>
<l n="493">That Thunders, Lightens, opens Graues, and roares,</l>
<l n="494">As doth the Lyon in the Capitoll:</l>
<l n="495">A man no mightier then thy selfe, or me,</l>
<l n="496">In personall action; yet prodigious growne,</l>
<l n="497">And fearefull, as these strange eruptions are.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-csc">
<speaker rend="italic">Cask.</speaker>
<l n="498">'Tis<hi rend="italic">Cæsar</hi>that you meane:</l>
<l n="499">Is it not, Cassius?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cas">
<speaker rend="italic">Cassi.</speaker>
<l n="500">Let it be who it is: for Romans now</l>
<l n="501">Haue Thewes, and Limbes, like to their Ancestors;</l>
<l n="502">But woe the while, our Fathers mindes are dead,</l>
<l n="503">And we are gouern'd with our Mothers spirits,</l>
<l n="504">Our yoake, and sufferance, shew vs Womanish.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-csc">
<speaker rend="italic">Cask.</speaker>
<l n="505">Indeed, they say, the Senators to morrow</l>
<l n="506">Meane to establish<hi rend="italic">Cæsar</hi>as a King:</l>
<l n="507">And he shall weare his Crowne by Sea, and Land,</l>
<l n="508">In euery place, saue here in Italy.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cas">
<speaker rend="italic">Cassi.</speaker>
<l n="509">I know where I will weare this Dagger then;</l>
<l n="510">Cassius from Bondage will deliuer Cassius:</l>
<l n="511">Therein, yee Gods, you make the weake most strong;</l>
<l n="512">Therein, yee Gods, you Tyrants doe defeat.</l>
<l n="513">Nor Stonie Tower, nor Walls of beaten Brasse,</l>
<l n="514">Nor ayre‑lesse Dungeon, nor strong Linkes of Iron,</l>
<l n="515">Can be retentiue to the strength of spirit:</l>
<l n="516">But Life being wearie of these worldly Barres,</l>
<l n="517">Neuer lacks power to dismisse it selfe.</l>
<l n="518">If I know this, know all the World besides,</l>
<l n="519">That part of Tyrannie that I doe beare,</l>
<l n="520">I can shake off at pleasure.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="business">Thunder still.</stage>
<sp who="#F-jc-csc">
<speaker rend="italic">Cask.</speaker>
<l n="521">So can I:</l>
<l n="522">So euery Bond‑man in his owne hand beares</l>
<l n="523">The power to cancell his Captiuitie.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cas">
<speaker rend="italic">Cassi.</speaker>
<l n="524">And why should<hi rend="italic">Cæsar</hi>be a Tyrant then?</l>
<l n="525">Poore man, I know he would not be a Wolfe,</l>
<l n="526">But that he sees the Romans are but Sheepe:</l>
<l n="527">He were no Lyon, were not Romans Hindes.</l>
<l n="528">Those that with haste will make a mightie fire,</l>
<l n="529">Begin it with weake Strawes. What trash is Rome?</l>
<cb n="2"/>
<l n="530">What Rubbish, and what Offall? when it serues</l>
<l n="531">For the base matter, to illuminate</l>
<l n="532">So vile a thing as<hi rend="italic">Cæsar</hi>. But oh Griefe,</l>
<l n="533">Where hast thou led me? I (perhaps) speake this</l>
<l n="534">Before a willing Bond‑man: then I know</l>
<l n="535">My answere must be made. But I am arm'd,</l>
<l n="536">And dangers are to me indifferent.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-csc">
<speaker rend="italic">Cask.</speaker>
<l n="537">You speake to<hi rend="italic">Caska</hi>, and to such a man,</l>
<l n="538">That is no flearing Tell‑tale. Hold, my Hand:</l>
<l n="539">Be factious for redresse of all these Griefes,</l>
<l n="540">And I will set this foot of mine as farre,</l>
<l n="541">As who goes farthest.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cas">
<speaker rend="italic">Cassi.</speaker>
<l n="542">There's a Bargaine made.</l>
<l n="543">Now know you,<hi rend="italic">Caska</hi>, I haue mou'd already</l>
<l n="544">Some certaine of the Noblest minded Romans</l>
<l n="545">To vnder‑goe, with me, an Enterprize,</l>
<l n="546">Of Honorable dangerous consequence;</l>
<l n="547">And I doe know by this, they stay for me</l>
<l n="548">In<hi rend="italic">Pompeyes</hi>Porch: for now this fearefull Night,</l>
<l n="549">There is no stirre, or walking in the streetes;</l>
<l n="550">And the Complexion of the Element</l>
<l n="551">Is Fauors, like the Worke we haue in hand,</l>
<l n="552">Most bloodie, fierie, and most terrible.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Cinna.</stage>
<sp who="#F-jc-csc">
<speaker rend="italic">Caska.</speaker>
<l n="553">Stand close a while, for heere comes one in
<lb/>haste.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cas">
<speaker rend="italic">Cassi.</speaker>
<l n="554">'Tis<hi rend="italic">Cinna</hi>, I doe know him by his Gate,</l>
<l n="555">He is a friend.<hi rend="italic">Cinna</hi>, where haste you so?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cin">
<speaker rend="italic">Cinna.</speaker>
<l n="556">To finde out you: Who's that,<hi rend="italic">Metellus</hi>
<lb/>
<hi rend="italic">Cymber</hi>?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cas">
<speaker rend="italic">Cassi.</speaker>
<l n="557">No, it is<hi rend="italic">Caska</hi>, one incorporate</l>
<l n="558">To our Attempts. Am I not stay'd for,<hi rend="italic">Cinna</hi>?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cin">
<speaker rend="italic">Cinna.</speaker>
<l n="559">I am glad on't.</l>
<l n="560">What a fearefull Night is this?</l>
<l n="561">There's two or three of vs haue seene strange sights.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cas">
<speaker rend="italic">Cassi.</speaker>
<l n="562">Am I not stay'd for? tell me.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cin">
<speaker rend="italic">Cinna.</speaker>
<l n="563">Yes, you are. O<hi rend="italic">Cassius</hi>,</l>
<l n="564">If you could but winne the Noble<hi rend="italic">Brutus</hi>
</l>
<l n="565">To our party⸺</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cas">
<speaker rend="italic">Cassi.</speaker>
<l n="566">Be you content. Good<hi rend="italic">Cinna</hi>, take this Paper,</l>
<l n="567">And looke you lay it in the Pretors Chayre,</l>
<l n="568">Where<hi rend="italic">Brutus</hi>may but finde it: and throw this</l>
<l n="569">In at his Window; set this vp with Waxe</l>
<l n="570">Vpon old<hi rend="italic">Brutus</hi>Statue: all this done,</l>
<l n="571">Repaire to<hi rend="italic">Pompeyes</hi>Porch, where you shall finde vs.</l>
<l n="572">Is<hi rend="italic">Decius Brutus</hi>and<hi rend="italic">Trebonius</hi>there?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cin">
<speaker rend="italic">Cinna.</speaker>
<l n="573">All, but<hi rend="italic">Metellus Cymber</hi>, and hee's gone</l>
<l n="574">To seeke you at your house. Well, I will hie,</l>
<l n="575">And so bestow these Papers as you bad me.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cas">
<speaker rend="italic">Cassi.</speaker>
<l n="576">That done, repayre to<hi rend="italic">Pompeyes</hi>Theater.</l>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit Cinna.</stage>
<l n="577">Come<hi rend="italic">Caska</hi>, you and I will yet, ere day,</l>
<l n="578">See<hi rend="italic">Brutus</hi>at his house: three parts of him</l>
<l n="579">Is ours alreadie, and the man entire</l>
<l n="580">Vpon the next encounter, yeelds him ours.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-csc">
<speaker rend="italic">Cask.</speaker>
<l n="581">O, he sits high in all the Peoples hearts:</l>
<l n="582">And that which would appeare Offence in vs,</l>
<l n="583">His Countenance, like richest Alchymie,</l>
<l n="584">Will change to Vertue, and to Worthinesse.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jc-cas">
<speaker rend="italic">Cassi.</speaker>
<l n="585">Him, and his worth, and our great need of him,</l>
<l n="586">You haue right well conceited: let vs goe,</l>
<l n="587">For it is after Mid‑night, and ere day,</l>
<l n="588">We will awake him, and be sure of him.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
<pb facs="FFimg:axc0724-0.jpg" n="114"/>
<cb n="1"/>
</div>