Octa. So you thought him, And tooke his voyce who should be p.r.i.c.kt to dye In our blacke Sentence and Proscription

Ant. Octauius, I haue seene more dayes then you, And though we lay these Honours on this man, To ease our selues of diuers sland'rous loads, He shall but beare them, as the a.s.se beares Gold, To groane and swet vnder the Businesse, Either led or driuen, as we point the way: And hauing brought our Treasure, where we will, Then take we downe his Load, and turne him off (Like to the empty a.s.se) to shake his eares, And graze in Commons

Octa. You may do your will: But hee's a tried, and valiant Souldier

Ant. So is my Horse Octauius, and for that I do appoint him store of Prouender.

It is a Creature that I teach to fight, To winde, to stop, to run directly on: His corporall Motion, gouern'd by my Spirit, And in some taste, is Lepidus but so: He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth: A barren spirited Fellow; one that feeds On Obiects, Arts, and Imitations.

Which out of vse, and stal'de by other men Begin his fashion. Do not talke of him, But as a property: and now Octauius, Listen great things. Brutus and Ca.s.sius Are leuying Powers; We must straight make head: Therefore let our Alliance be combin'd, Our best Friends made, our meanes stretcht, And let vs presently go sit in Councell, How couert matters may be best disclos'd, And open Perils surest answered

Octa. Let vs do so: for we are at the stake, And bayed about with many Enemies, And some that smile haue in their hearts I feare Millions of Mischeefes.

Exeunt.

Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucillius, and the Army. t.i.tinius and Pindarus meete them.

Bru. Stand ho

Lucil. Giue the word ho, and Stand

Bru. What now Lucillius, is Ca.s.sius neere?

Lucil. He is at hand, and Pindarus is come To do you salutation from his Master

Bru. He greets me well. Your Master Pindarus In his owne change, or by ill Officers, Hath giuen me some worthy cause to wish Things done, vndone: But if he be at hand I shall be satisfied

Pin. I do not doubt But that my n.o.ble Master will appeare Such as he is, full of regard, and Honour

Bru. He is not doubted. A word Lucillius How he receiu'd you: let me be resolu'd

Lucil. With courtesie, and with respect enough, But not with such familiar instances, Nor with such free and friendly Conference As he hath vs'd of old

Bru. Thou hast describ'd A hot Friend, cooling: Euer note Lucillius, When Loue begins to sicken and decay It vseth an enforced Ceremony.

There are no trickes, in plaine and simple Faith: But hollow men, like Horses hot at hand, Make gallant shew, and promise of their Mettle:

Low March within.

But when they should endure the b.l.o.o.d.y Spurre, They fall their Crests, and like deceitfull Iades Sinke in the Triall. Comes his Army on?

Lucil. They meane this night in Sardis to be quarter'd: The greater part, the Horse in generall Are come with Ca.s.sius.

Enter Ca.s.sius and his Powers.

Bru. Hearke, he is arriu'd: March gently on to meete him

Ca.s.si. Stand ho

Bru. Stand ho, speake the word along.

Stand.

Stand.

Stand

Ca.s.si. Most n.o.ble Brother, you haue done me wrong

Bru. Iudge me you G.o.ds; wrong I mine Enemies?

And if not so, how should I wrong a Brother

Ca.s.si. Brutus, this sober forme of yours, hides wrongs, And when you do them- Brut. Ca.s.sius, be content, Speake your greefes softly, I do know you well.

Before the eyes of both our Armies heere (Which should perceiue nothing but Loue from vs) Let vs not wrangle. Bid them moue away: Then in my Tent Ca.s.sius enlarge your Greefes, And I will giue you Audience

Ca.s.si. Pindarus, Bid our Commanders leade their Charges off A little from this ground

Bru. Lucillius, do you the like, and let no man Come to our Tent, till we haue done our Conference.

Let Lucius and t.i.tinius guard our doore.

Exeunt.

Manet Brutus and Ca.s.sius.

Ca.s.si. That you haue wrong'd me, doth appear in this: You haue condemn'd, and noted Lucius Pella For taking Bribes heere of the Sardians; Wherein my Letters, praying on his side, Because I knew the man was slighted off

Bru. You wrong'd your selfe to write in such a case

Ca.s.si. In such a time as this, it is not meet That euery nice offence should beare his Comment

Bru. Let me tell you Ca.s.sius, you your selfe Are much condemn'd to haue an itching Palme, To sell, and Mart your Offices for Gold To Vndeseruers

Ca.s.si. I, an itching Palme?

You know that you are Brutus that speakes this, Or by the G.o.ds, this speech were else your last

Bru. The name of Ca.s.sius Honors this corruption, And Chasticement doth therefore hide his head

Ca.s.si. Chasticement?

Bru. Remember March, the Ides of March reme[m]ber: Did not great Iulius bleede for Iustice sake?

What Villaine touch'd his body, that did stab, And not for Iustice? What? Shall one of Vs, That strucke the Formost man of all this World, But for supporting Robbers: shall we now, Contaminate our fingers, with base Bribes?

And sell the mighty s.p.a.ce of our large Honors For so much trash, as may be grasped thus?

I had rather be a Dogge, and bay the Moone, Then such a Roman

Ca.s.si. Brutus, baite not me, Ile not indure it: you forget your selfe To hedge me in. I am a Souldier, I, Older in practice, Abler then your selfe To make Conditions

Bru. Go too: you are not Ca.s.sius

Ca.s.si. I am

Bru. I say, you are not

Ca.s.si. Vrge me no more, I shall forget my selfe: Haue minde vpon your health: Tempt me no farther

Bru. Away slight man

Ca.s.si. Is't possible?

Bru. Heare me, for I will speake.

Must I giue way, and roome to your rash Choller?