Page:Julius Caesar (1919) Yale.djvu/83

Julius Cæsar, IV. iii  That every nice offence should bear his comment.

Bru. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm; To sell and mart your offices for gold To undeservers.

Cas. I an itching palm! You know that you are Brutus that speaks this, Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.

Bru. The name of Cassius honours 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 honours For so much trash as may be grasped thus? I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon, Than such a Roman.

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

Bru. Go to; you are not, Cassius.  8 nice: trivial bear comment: be censured 10 condemn'd to have: blamed for having 11 mart: market 15 honours corruption: sanctions this corrupt practice 20, 21 What justice; cf. n. 23 robbers: his dishonest favorites 25, 26 Cf. n. 27 bay: bark at 28 Cf. n. 31 practice: experience 32 make conditions: determine the proper treatment of subordinates (referring to lines 1-5) Go to: Nonsense! 