ends and would jest too broadly with
them."--Plutarch, _Marcus Brutus_.]

[Page 126]

BRUTUS. Go to; you are not, Cassius.

CASSIUS. I am.

BRUTUS. I say you are not.

CASSIUS. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; 35
Have mind upon your health, tempt me no farther.

BRUTUS. Away, slight man!

CASSIUS. Is't possible?

BRUTUS. Hear me, for I will speak.
Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares? 40

CASSIUS. O ye gods, ye gods! must I endure all this?

BRUTUS. All this! ay, more: fret till your proud heart break;
Go show your slaves how choleric you are,
And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?
Must I observe you? must I stand and crouch 45
Under your testy humour? By the gods,
You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
Though it do split you; for, from this day forth,
I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
When you are waspish.

[Note 32: /Go to/ | Go too F1.--/not, Cassius/ Hanmer | not
Cassius Ff.]

[Note 44: /budge/ F4 | bouge F1 | boudge F2 F3.]

[Note 48: /Though/ F1 | Thought F2.]

[Note 32: 'Go to' is a phrase of varying import, sometimes of
reproof, sometimes of encouragement. 'Go till' is its earliest
form.]

[Note 45: /observe:/ treat with ceremonious respect or
reverence.]

[Note 47: The spleen was held to be the special seat of the
sudden and explosive emotions and passions, whether of mirth
or anger. Cf. _Troilus and Cressida_, I, iii, 178; _1 Henry
IV_, V, ii, 19.]

[Page 127]

CASSIUS. Is it come to this? 50

BRUTUS. You say you are a better soldier:
Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well: for mine own part,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men.

CASSIUS. You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus; 55
I said an elder soldier, not a better:
Did I say 'better'?

BRUTUS. If you did, I care not.

CASSIUS. When Caesar liv'd, he durst not thus have mov'd me.

BRUTUS. Peace, peace! you durst not so have tempted him.

CASSIUS. I durst not! 60

BRUTUS. No.

CASSIUS. What, durst not tempt him!

BRUTUS. For your life you durst not.

CASSIUS. Do not presume too much upon my love;
I may do that I shall be sorry for.

[Note 54: /noble/ Ff |