Page 2179 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

LUCIUS

I will, sir.
Exit.

BRUTUS
The exhalations whizzing in the air
Give so much light that I may read by them. [45]

He opens the letter and reads.
‘Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake, and see thyself!
Shall Rome, et cetera. Speak, strike, redress!’
‘Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake!’

Such instigations have been often dropped
Where I have took them up. [50]
‘Shall Rome, et cetera.’ Thus must I piece it out:
Shall Rome stand under one man’s awe? What, Rome?

My ancestors did from the streets of Rome
The Tarquin drive, when he was called a king.
‘Speak, strike, redress!’ Am I entreated [55]
To speak, and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise,

If the redress will follow, thou receivest
Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus.

Enter Lucius.

LUCIUS
Sir, March is wasted fifteen days.
Knock within.

BRUTUS
’Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks. [60]

Exit Lucius.
Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar
I have not slept.

Between the acting of a dreadful thing
And the first motion, all the interim is
Like a phantasma or a hideous dream. [65]
The genius and the mortal instruments
Are then in council, and the state of man,