书城公版Julius Caesar
19867600000003

第3章 ACT I(3)

BRUTUS.The games are done,and Caesar is returning.CASSIUS.As they pass by,pluck Casca by the sleeve,And he will,after his sour fashion,tell you What hath proceeded worthy note today.BRUTUS.I will do so.But,look you,Cassius,The angry spot doth glow on Caesar's brow,And all the rest look like a chidden train:Calpurnia's cheek is pale,and Cicero Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes As we have seen him in the Capitol,Being cross'd in conference by some senators.CASSIUS.Casca will tell us what the matter is.CAESAR.Antonio!ANTONY.Caesar?CAESAR.Let me have men about me that are fat,Sleek-headed men,and such as sleep o'nights:Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;He thinks too much;such men are dangerous.ANTONY.Fear him not,Caesar;he's not dangerous;He is a noble Roman and well given.CAESAR.Would he were fatter!But I fear him not,Yet if my name were liable to fear,I do not know the man I should avoid So soon as that spare Cassius.He reads much,He is a great observer,and he looks Quite through the deeds of men.He loves no plays,As thou dost,Antony;he hears no music;Seldom he smiles,and smiles in such a sort As if he mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit That could be moved to smile at anything.Such men as he be never at heart's ease 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?