And let us presently go sit in council,

How covert matters may be best disclosed,
And open perils surest answered.

Oct. Let us do so: for we are at the stake, And bay'd about with many enemies ;

And some, that smile, have in their hearts, I fear, Millions of mischiefs.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Before Brutus's tent, in the camp near Sardis. Drum. Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, LUCIUS, and Soldiers; TITINIUS and Pindarus meeting them.

Bru. Stand, ho!

Lucil. Give the word, ho! and stand.

Bru. What now, Lucilius? is Cassius near? Lucil. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come To do you salutation from his master.

[Pindarus gives a letter to Brutus. Bru. He greets me well.-Your master, Pindarus,

In his own change, or by ill officers,

Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
Things done, undone: but, if he be at hand,
I shall be satisfied.

But that my noble master will appear
Such as he is, full of regard and honor.

Bru. He is not doubted.-A word, Lucilius :
How he received you, let me be resolved.

Lucil. With courtesy, and with respect enough; But not with such familiar instances,

Nor with such free and friendly conference,

As he hath used of old.

Bru.

Thou hast described

A hot friend cooling. Ever note, Lucilius,
When love begins to sicken and decay,
It useth an enforced ceremony.

There are no tricks in plain and simple faith :
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;
But when they should endure the bloody spur,
They fall their crests, and, like deceitful jades,
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?

Lucil. They mean this night in Sardis to be quarter'd ;

The greater part, the horse in general,

Are come with Cassius.

[march within.

Bru. Stand ho! Speak the word along.

Within. Stand.

Within. Stand.

Within. Stand.

Cas. Most noble brother, you have done me

wrong.

Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine enemies?

And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother?
Cas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides

wrongs;

And, when you do them,

Bru.

Cassius, be content;

Speak your griefs1 softly;-I do know you well :
Before the eyes of both our armies here,
Which should perceive nothing but love from us,
Let us not wrangle. Bid them move away;
Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
And I will give you audience.

Cas.

Pindarus,

Bid our commanders lead their charges off
A little from this ground.

Bru. Lucilius, do you the like; and let no man Come to our tent, till we have done our conference. Let Lucius and Titinius guard our door.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Within the tent of Brutus; Lucius and Titinius at some distance from it.

Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS.

Cas. That you have wrong'd me doth appear in

this:

You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella,

For taking bribes here of the Sardians;

1 For grievances.

Wherein, my letters, praying on his side,

Because I knew the man, were slighted off.

Bru. You wrong'd yourself to write in such a

case.

Cas. In such a time as this, it is not meet

That every nice 1 offence should bear his comment.
Bru. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm;
To seil and mart your offices for gold,

To undeservers.

Cas.

I an itching palm ?

You know that you are Brutus that speak this,
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
Bru. The name of Cassius honors this corruption,
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.

Cas. Chastisement!

Bru. Remember March, the ides of March remember!

Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?
What villain touch'd 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 space 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.

1 Trifling.

Cas.

Brutus, bait not me;

I'll not endure it: you forget yourself,
To hedge me in:1 I am a soldier, I,
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.

Bru.

Cas. I am.

Go to; you are not, Cassius.

Bru. I say, you are not.

Cas. Urge me no more; I shall forget myself:

Have mind upon your health; tempt me no farther. 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. O ye gods! ye gods! 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? By the gods,
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?

To limit my authority by your direction or censure.