_Marcus Brutus_.]

[Note A: i.e. /scrolls/.]

[Note 144: /Brutus may but find it:/ only Brutus may find it.]

[Note 148: For a discussion of singular verbs with plural
subjects, see Abbott, Sect. 333. Cf. l. 138, l. 155; III, ii,
26.--/Decius Brutus/. As indicated in the notes to the
Dramatis Personae, this should be 'Decimus Brutus.'
Shakespeare found the form 'Decius' in North's Plutarch, who
translated from Amyot, in whose French version the blunder was
originally made. Decimus Brutus is said to have been cousin to
the other Brutus of the play. He had been one of Caesar's
ablest, most favored, and most trusted lieutenants, and had
particularly distinguished himself in his naval service at
Venetia and Massilia. After the murder of Caesar, he was found
to be written down in his will as second heir.]

[Page 41]

CINNA. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone
To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie, 150
And so bestow these papers as you bade me.

CASSIUS. That done, repair to Pompey's theatre.

[_Exit_ CINNA]

Come, Casca, you and I will yet ere day
See Brutus at his house: three parts of him
Is ours already, and the man entire 155
Upon the next encounter yields him ours.

CASCA. O, he sits high in all the people's hearts;
And that which would appear offence in us,
His countenance, like richest alchemy,
Will change to virtue and to worthiness. 160

CASSIUS. Him and his worth and our great need of him,
You have right well conceited. Let us go,
For it is after midnight, and ere day 163
We will awake him and be sure of him. [_Exeunt_]

[Note 151: /bade/ Rowe | bad Ff.]

[Note 159: /countenance/: support.--/alchemy/: the old ideal
art of turning base metals into gold. So in _Sonnets_, XXXIII,
4: "Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy." Cf. _King
John_, III, i, 78.]

[Note 162: /conceited/: formed an idea of, conceived, judged.
'Conceit' as a verb occurs again in III, i, 193, and in
_Othello_, III, iii, 149.]

[Page 42]

ACT II

SCENE I. _Rome._ BRUTUS'S _orchard_

_Enter_ BRUTUS

BRUTUS. What, Lucius, ho!
I cannot, by the progress of the stars,
Give guess how near to day. Lucius, I say!
I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.
When, Lucius, when? awake, I say! what, L