Without annoying me: And there were drawn Transformed with their fear; who swore, they saw Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time: Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius Farewel, Cicero. [Exit Cic. Casca. Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this? Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men. Casca. Who ever knew the heavens menace so? Cas. Those that have known the earth so full of faults. For my part, I have walk'd about the streets, Again, Skelton in his Crowne of Lawrell, describing "a lybbard:" "As gastly that glaris, as grimly that grones." Again, in the Ashridge MS. of Milton's Comus, as published by the ingenious and learned Mr. Todd, verse 416: "And yawning denns, where glaringe monsters house " To gaze is only to look stedfastly, or with admiration. Glar'd has a singular propriety, as it expresses the furious scintillation of a lion's eye: and, that a lion should appear full of fury, and yet attempt no violence, augments the prodigy. Steevens. 4 Clean from the purpose-] Clean is altogether, entirely. See Vol VIII, p. 70, n. 9. Malone. And, when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the hea- It is the part of men to fear and tremble, Such dreadful heralds to astonish us. Cas. You are dull, Casca; and those sparks of life Or else you use not: You look pale, and gaze, 5 -thunder-stone:] A stone fabulously supposed to be discharged by thunder. So, in Cymbeline: "Fear no more the lightning-flash, "Nor the all-dreaded thunder-stone." Steevens. 6 Why birds, and beasts, from quality and kind; &c.] That is, Why they deviate from quality and nature. This line might perhaps be more properly placed after the next line: Why birds, and beasts, from quality and kind, Why all these things change from their ordinance. Johnson. 7 and children calculate;] Calculate here signifies to foretel or prophesy: for the custom of foretelling fortunes by judicial astrology (which was at that time much in vogue) being performed by a long tedious calculation, Shakspeare, with his usual liberty, employs the species [calculate] for the genus [foretel]. Warburton. Shakspeare found the liberty established. To calculate the nativity, is the technical term. Johnson. So, in The Paradise of Daintie Deuises, edit. 1576, Art. 54, signed, M. Bew: "Thei calculate, thei chaunt, thei charme, "To conquere us that meane no harme." This author is speaking of women. Steevens. There is certainly no prodigy in old men's calculating from their past experience. The wonder is, that old men should not, and that children should. I would therefore [instead of old men, fools, and children, &c.] point thus: stone. Why old men fools, and children calculate. Blackstone. * I cannot perceive the necessity of the alteration suggested by BlackHe has used the word calculate in its literal sense to support his position-not in the sense in which it is used by our author, and so fully explained by Warburton and Johnson. Am. Ed. Why all these things change, from their ordinance, A man no mightier than thyself, or me, Casca. 'Tis Cæsar that you mean: Is it not, Cassius? Casca. Indeed, they say, the senators to-morrow And he shall wear his crown, by sea, and land, Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then ; Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; If I know this, know all the world besides, That 8 prodigious grown,] Prodigious is portentous. So, in Troilus and Cressida: "It is prodigious, there will be some change." See Vol. II, p. 378, n. 5. Steevens. 9 Have thewes and limbs –] Thewes is an obsolete word implying nerves or muscular strength. It is used by Falstaff, in The Second Part of King Henry IV, and in Hamlet: "For nature, crescent, does not grow alone "In thewes and bulk." The two last folios, [1664 and 1685] in which some words are injudiciously modernized, read—sinews. ~ Steevens. I can shake off at pleasure. So can I : Casca. Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then? So vile a thing as Cæsar? But, O, grief! My answer must be made :2 But I am arm'd, Casca. You speak to Casca; and to such a man, As who goes farthest. Cas. There's a bargain made. Now know you, Casca, I have mov'd already To undergo, with me, an enterprize 1 — every bondman The power to cancel his captivity.] So, in Cymbeline, Act V, Posthumus speaking of his chains : take this life, "And cancel these cold bonds." Henley. 2 My answer must be made:] I shall be called to account, and must answer as for seditious words. Johnson. So, in Much Ado about Nothing: "Sweet prince, let me go no further to mine answer; do you hear me, and let this count kill me." 3 Steevens Hold my hand:] Is the same as, Here's my hand. Johnson. 4 Be factious for redress-] Factious seems here to mean active. Johnson. Malone. Menenius, in It means, I apprehend, embody a party or faction. Perhaps Dr. Johnson's explanation is the true one. Coriolanus, says: "I have been always factionary on the part of your general;" and the speaker, who is describing himself, would scarce have employed the word in its common and unfavourable sense. Steevens. Of honourable-dangerous consequence; Is favour'd, like the work5* we have in hand, Enter CINNA. Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste. Cas. 'Tis Cinna, I do know him by his gait; He is a friend.-Cinna, where haste you so? Cin. To find out you: Who's that? Metellus Cimber? Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate To our attempts. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Cin. I am glad on 't. What a fearful night is this? There's two or three of us have seen strange sights. Cas. Am I not staid for, Cinna? Tell me. Cin. You are. O, Cassius, if you could but win The noble Brutus to our party Yes, Cas. Be you content: Good Cinna, take this Where Brutus may but find it; and throw this paper, Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us. 5 Is favour'd, like the work-] The old edition reads: Is favors, like the work I think we should read: In favour's like the work we have in hand, Favour is look, countenance, appearance. Johnson. To favour is to resemble. Thus Stanyhurst, in his translation of the third Book of Virgil's Æneid, 1582: "With the petit town gates favouring the principal old portes.” We may read It favours, or-Is favour'd-i. e. is in appearance or countenance like, &c. See Vol. III, p. 432, n. 2. Steevens. *Johnson is right in his explanation of the word favour. It is often used by our author in this sense. So, p. 13: "I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, "As well as I do know your outward favour." Again, in Vol. XII, p. 155: "I know your favour, Lord Ulysses, well." and the note. Am. Ed. |