Page:The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (The Warwick Shakespeare).djvu/34

 Were I a common laugher, or did use To stale with ordinary oaths my love To every new protester; if you know That I do fawn on men and hug them hard And after scandal them, or if you know That I profess myself in banqueting To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.

Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear, the people Choose Cæsar for their king.

Cas.Ay, do you fear it? Then must I think you would not have it so.

Bru. I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well. But wherefore do you hold me here so long? What is it that you would impart to me? If it be aught toward the general good, Set honour in one eye and death i' the other, And I will look on both indifferently, For let the gods so speed me as I love The name of honour more than I fear death.

Cas. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, As well as I do know your outward favour. Well, honour is the subject of my story. I cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life; but, for my single self, I had as lief not be as live to be In awe of such a thing as I myself. I was born free as Cæsar; so were you: We both have fed as well, and we can both Endure the winter's cold as well as he: For once, upon a raw and gusty day, The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores, Cæsar said to me "Darest thou, Cassius, now Leap in with me into this angry flood, And swim to yonder point?"Upon the word, Accoutred as I was, I plunged in