Cassius X Brutus FOREVER
Proof that Cassius and Brutus, from William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, are a couple. And, for no good reason, their deaths:
Act One, scene two:
Bru. I am not gamesome: I do lack some part Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires; 36I'll leave you. Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late: I have not from your eyes that gentleness And show of love as I was wont to have: 40You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand Over your friend that loves you. Bru. Cassius, Be not deceiv'd: if I have veil'd my look, 44I turn the trouble of my countenance Merely upon myself. Vexed I am Of late with passions of some difference, Conceptions only proper to myself, 48Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviours; But let not therefore my good friends be griev'd,- Among which number, Cassius, be you one,- Nor construe any further my neglect, 52Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Forgets the shows of love to other men. Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion; By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried 56Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?
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Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar'd to hear; And, since you know you cannot see yourself So well as by reflection, I, your glass, Will modestly discover to yourself 76That of yourself which you yet know not of. And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus: Were I a common laugher, or did use To stale with ordinary oaths my love 80To 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 84
To all the rout, then hold me dangerous. [Flourish and shout.
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Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous; What you would work me to, I have some .. How I have thought of this and of these times, 172I shall recount hereafter; for this present, I would not, so with love I might entreat you, Be any further mov'd. What you have said I will consider; what you have to say 176I will with patience hear, and find a time Both meet to hear and answer such high things. Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this: Brutus had rather be a villager 180Than to repute himself a son of Rome Under these hard conditions as this time
Is like to lay upon us.
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Cas. I will do so: till then, think of the world. [Exit BRUTUS. Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see, Thy honourable metal may be wrought From that it is dispos'd: therefore 'tis meet 276That noble minds keep ever with their likes; For who so firm that cannot be seduc'd? Cæsar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus: If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius 280He should not humour me. I will this night, In several hands, in at his windows throw, As if they came from several citizens, Writings all tending to the great opinion 284That Rome holds of his name; wherein obscurely Cæsar's ambition shall be glanced at: And after this let Cæsar seat him sure;
For we will shake him, or worse days endure. [Exit.
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Act two, scene one:
Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along by him: 236He loves me well, and I have given him reasons;
Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him.
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Act four, scene two:
Bru. Cassius, be content; 48Speak your griefs 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; 52Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
And I will give you audience.
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Act four, scene three:
Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love; 72I may do that I shall be sorry for. Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for. There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats; For I am arm'd so strong in honesty 76That they pass by me as the idle wind, Which I respect not. I did send to you For certain sums of gold, which you denied me; For I can raise no money by vile means: 80By heaven, I had rather coin my heart, And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash By any indirection. I did send 84To you for gold to pay my legions, Which you denied me: was that done like Cassius? Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so? When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous, 88To lock such rascal counters from his friends, Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts; Dash him to pieces! Cas. I denied you not. 92 Bru. You did. Cas. I did not: he was but a fool That brought my answer back. Brutus hath riv'd my heart. A friend should bear his friend's infirmities, 96But Brutus makes mine greater than they are. Bru. I do not, till you practise them on me. Cas. You love me not. Bru. I do not like your faults. 100 Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults. Bru. A flatterer's would not, though they do appear As huge as high Olympus. Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come, 104Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius, For Cassius is aweary of the world; Hated by one he loves; brav'd by his brother; Check'd like a bondman; all his faults observ'd, 108Set in a note-book, learn'd, and conn'd by rote, To cast into my teeth. O! I could weep My spirit from mine eyes. There is my dagger, And here my naked breast; within, a heart 112Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold: If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth; I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart: Strike, as thou didst at Cæsar; for, I know, 116When thou didst hate him worst, thou lov'dst him better
Than ever thou lov'dst Cassius.
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Cas. Hath Cassius liv'd To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, When grief and blood ill-temper'd vexeth him? 128 Bru. When I spoke that I was ill-temper'd too. Cas. Do you confess so much? Give me your hand. Bru. And my heart too. Cas. O Brutus! 132 Bru. What's the matter? Cas. Have not you love enough to bear with me, When that rash humour which my mother gave me Makes me forgetful? 136 Bru. Yes, Cassius; and from henceforth When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,
He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so.
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. Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine. In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius. [Drinks. Cas. My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge. Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup; 184I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. [Drinks.
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Cas. O my dear brother! This was an ill beginning of the night: Never come such division 'tween our souls! 272Let it not, Brutus.
Bru. Every thing is well.
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Act five, scene one:
Cas. Now, most noble Brutus, The gods to-day stand friendly, that we may, 108Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age! But since the affairs of men rest still incertain, Let's reason with the worst that may befall. If we do lose this battle, then is this 112The very last time we shall speak together:
What are you then, determined to do?
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Bru. No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble Roman, That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome; He bears too great a mind: but this same day 128Must end that work the ides of March begun; And whether we shall meet again I know not. Therefore our everlasting farewell take: For ever, and for ever, farewell, Cassius! 132If we do meet again, why, we shall smile; If not, why then, this parting was well made. Cas. For ever, and for ever, farewell, Brutus! If we do meet again, we'll smile indeed; 136If not, 'tis true this parting was well made. Bru. Why, then, lead on. O! that a man might know The end of this day's business, ere it come; But it sufficeth that the day will end, 140And then the end is known. Come, ho! away! [Exeunt.
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Act five, scene three:
Come down; behold no more. O, coward that I am, to live so long, To see my best friend ta'en before my face!
PINDARUS descends. 40Come hither, sirrah: In Parthia did I take thee prisoner; And then I swore thee, saving of thy life, That whatsoever I did bid thee do, 44Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath; Now be a freeman; and with this good sword, That ran through Cæsar's bowels, search this bosom. Stand not to answer; here, take thou the hilts; 48And, when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now, Guide thou the sword. Cæsar, thou art reveng'd,
Even with the sword that kill'd thee. [Dies.
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Bru. Are yet two Romans living such as these? The last of all the Romans, fare thee well! It is impossible that ever Rome 112Should breed thy fellow. Friends, I owe more tears To this dead man than you shall see me pay.- I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.- Come therefore, and to Thassos send his body: 116His funerals shall not be in our camp, Lest it discomfort us. Lucilius, come; And come, young Cato;-let us to the field. Labeo and Flavius, set our battles on:- 120'Tis three o'clock; and, Romans, yet ere night
We shall try fortune in a second fight. [Exeunt.
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Bru. Farewell, good Strato.-[He runs on his sword.] Cæsar, now be still;
I kill'd not thee with half so good a will. [Dies.
Obvious, no?