as the flint bears fire;
Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark,
And straight is cold again.

CASSIUS. Hath Cassius liv'd
To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
When grief and blood ill-temper'd vexeth him? 115

BRUTUS. When I spoke that, I was ill-temper'd too.

CASSIUS. Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.

BRUTUS. And my heart too.

CASSIUS. O Brutus!

BRUTUS. What's the matter?

[Note 102: /Plutus'/ Pope | Pluto's Ff.]

[Note 96: /brav'd:/ defied. The verb connotes bluster and
bravado.]

[Note 102: Plutus (for the Folio reading see note on 'Antonio'
for Antonius, I, ii, 5) is the old god of riches, who had all
the world's gold in his keeping and disposal. Pluto was the
lord of Hades.]

[Note 109: Whatever dishonorable thing you may do, I will set
it down to the caprice of the moment.--/humour./ See note, p.
60, l. 250.]

[Note 111-113: Cf. the words of Cassius, I, ii, 176-177. See
also _Troilus and Cressida_, III, iii, 257. It was long a
popular notion that fire slept in the flint and was awaked by
the stroke of the steel. "It is not sufficient to carry
religion in our hearts, as fire is carried in flintstones, but
we are outwardly, visibly, apparently, to serve and honour the
living God."--Hooker, _Ecclesiastical Polity_, VII, xxii, 3.]

[Page 131]

CASSIUS. Have not you love enough to bear with me,
When that rash humour which my mother gave me 120
Makes me forgetful?

BRUTUS. Yes, Cassius; and from henceforth,
When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,
He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so.

POET. [_Within_] Let me go in to see the generals;
There is some grudge between 'em; 'tis not meet 125
They be alone.

LUCILIUS. [_Within_] You shall not come to them.

POET. [_Within_] Nothing but death shall stay me.

_Enter_ Poet, _followed by_ LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, _and_ LUCIUS

CASSIUS. How now! what's the matter?

POET. For shame, you generals! what do you mean? 130
Love, and be friends, as two such men should be;
For I have seen more years, I'm sure, than ye.

CASSIUS. Ha, ha! how vilely doth this cynic rhyme!

[Note 123: _Enter a Poet_ Ff.]

[Note 124, 127, 128: [_Within_] Ff omit.]

[Note 129: _Enter_ Poet ... LUCIUS Camb Globe | Enter Poet,
followed by Lucilius and Titini