Page 2183 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

Than secret Romans that have spoke the word [125]
And will not palter? And what other oath
Than honesty to honesty engaged,
That this shall be, or we will fall for it?

Swear priests, and cowards, and men cautelous,
Old feeble carrions, and such suffering souls [130]
That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear
Such creatures as men doubt; but do not stain

The even virtue of our enterprise,
Nor th’insuppressive mettle of our spirits,
To think that or our cause or our performance [135]
Did need an oath, when every drop of blood

That every Roman bears, and nobly bears,
Is guilty of a several bastardy
If he do break the smallest particle
Of any promise that hath passed from him. [140]

CASSIUS

But what of Cicero? Shall we sound him?
I think he will stand very strong with us.

CASCA
Let us not leave him out.

CINNA
No, by no means.

METELLUS
O, let us have him, for his silver hairs
Will purchase us a good opinion, [145]

And buy men’s voices to commend our deeds.
It shall be said his judgement ruled our hands.
Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear,
But all be buried in his gravity.

BRUTUS

O, name him not. Let us not break with him, [150]