Do not talk of him,

But as a property. And now, Octavius,
Listen great things-Brutus and Cassius
Are levying powers; we must straight make head.
Therefore let our alliance be combined,

Our best friends made, and our best means stretch'd

out:

And let us presently go sit in council,

How covert matters may be best disclosed,

And open perils surest answered.

Oct. Let us do so; for we are at the stake,

And bay'd about with many enemies:

And some, that smile, have in their hearts, I fear, Millions of mischiefs.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

BRUTUS' Tent, in the Camp at Sardis.

Drum.

Enter BRUTUS, TREBONIUS, and SOLDIERS: PINDARUS meeting them.

Bru. Stand, hoa!

Tre. Give the word, hoa! and stand.

Bru. What now, Trebonius, is Cassius near?

Tre. He is at hand, and Pindarus is come

To do you salutation from his master.

Bru. He greets me well. Your master, Pindarus,

In his own change, or by ill officers,

Has given me some worthy cause to wish

Things done, undone; but if he be at hand,
I shall be satisfied.

Pind. I do not doubt,

But that my noble master will appear,
Such as he is, full of regard and honour.

Bru. He is not doubted. A word, Trebonius→→→ How he received you, let me be resolved.

Tre. With courtesy and with respect enough,
But not with such familiar instances,

Nor with such free and friendly conference,
As he hath used of old.

Bru. Thou hast described

A hot friend, cooling: ever note, Trebonius,
When love begins to sicken and decay,
It useth an enforced ceremony.

There are no tricks in plain and simple faith:
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;
But when they should endure the bloody spur,
They fall their crest, and, like deceitful jades,
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on ?

Tre. They mean this night in Sardis to be quar

ter'd:

The greater part, the horse in general,

Are come with Cassius.

[Low March within.

Enter CASSIUS and CASCA.

Bru. Hark! he is arrived.

Cas. Stand, hoa!

Bru. Stand, hoa! speak the word along.

Within. Stand!

Within. Stand!

Within. Stand!

Cas. Most noble brother, you have done me wrong. Bru. Judge me, ye gods! Wrong I mine enemies? And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother?

Cas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs, And when you do them

Bru. Cassius, be content,

Speak 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;
Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
And I will give you
audience.

Cas. Casca,

Bid our commanders lead their charges off,
A little from his ground.

Bru. Trebonius, do the like; and let no man Come to our tent, till we have done our conference: Do you and Casca guard the door.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

The Inside of BRUTUS' Tent.

Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS.

Cas. That you have wrong'd me doth appear in
this,

You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella,
For taking bribes here of the Sardians:
Wherein my letter (praying on his side,
Because I knew the man) was slighted of.

Bru. You wrong'd yourself, to write in such a

cause.

Cas. In such a time as this it is not meet That every nice offence should bear its comment. Bru. Yet let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm; To sell and mart your offices for gold To undeservers.

Cas. I an itching palm!

You know that you are Brutus that speak this,
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
Bru. The name of Cassius honours this corruption,
And chastisement doth therefore hide its head.
Cas. Chastisement!