Page 50
Cassius:
Antony,
The posture of your blows are yet unknown;
But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
And leave them honeyless.
Antony:
Not stingless too.
Brutus:
O yes, and soundless too,
For you have stol’n their buzzing, Antony,
And very wisely threat before you sting.
Antony:
Villains, you did not so when your vile daggers
Hack’d one another in the sides of Caesar:
You show’d your teeth like apes, and fawn’d like hounds,
And bow’d like bondmen, kissing Caesar’s feet;
Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind
Struck Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers!
Cassius:
Flatterers! Now, Brutus, thank yourself.
This tongue had not offended so today,
If Cassius might have rul’d.
Octavius:
Come, come, the cause. If arguing makes us sweat,
The proof of it will turn to redder drops.
Look, I draw a sword against conspirators.
When think you that the sword goes up again?
Never, till Caesar’s three and thirty wounds
Be well aveng’d; or till another Caesar
Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors.
Brutus:
Caesar, thou canst not die by traitors’ hands,
Unless thou bring’st them with thee.
Octavius:
So I hope.
I was not born to die on Brutus’ sword.
Brutus:
O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain,
Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable.
Cassius:
A peevish school-boy, worthless of such honour,
Join’d with a masker and a reveller.
Antony:
Old Cassius still!
Octavius:
Come, Antony; away!
Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth.
If you dare fight today, come to the field;
If not, when you have stomachs.
(Exeunt Octavius, Antony and their Army.)
Cassius:
Why now, blow wind, swell billow, and swim bark!
The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.
Brutus:
Ho, Lucilius! Hark, a word with you.
Lucilius:
My lord?
(Brutus and Lucilius talk apart.)
Cassius:
Mess-alluh
Messala:
What says my General?