Cin. O, pardon, sir, it doth, and yon grey lines
That fret the clouds are messengers of day.
Casca. You shall confess that you are both deceived. 105
Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises;
Which is a great way growing on the south,
Weighing the youthful season of the year.
Some two months hence up higher toward the north
He first presents his fire, and the high east 110
Stands as the Capitol, directly here.
Bru. Give me your hands all over, one by one.
Cas. And let us swear our resolution.
Bru. No, not an oath: if not the face of men,[3040]
The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse,—[3041] 115
If these be motives weak, break off betimes,
And every man hence to his idle bed;
So let high-sighted tyranny range on[3042]
Till each man drop by lottery. But if these,
As I am sure they do, bear fire enough 120
To kindle cowards and to steel with valour
The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen,[3043]
What need we any spur but our own cause
To prick us to redress? what other bond
Than secret Romans that have spoke the word,[3044] 125
And will not palter? and what other oath[3045]
Than honesty to honesty engaged
That this shall be or we will fall for it?[3046]
Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous,
Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls 130
That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear[3047]
Such creatures as men doubt: but do not stain[3048]
The even virtue of our enterprise,
Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits,
To think that or our cause or our performance 135
Did need an oath; when every drop of blood[3049]
That every Roman bears, and nobly bears,
Is guilty of a several bastardy
If he do break the smallest particle[3050]
Of any promise that hath pass'd from him. 140
Cas. But what of Cicero? shall we sound him?
I think he will stand very strong with us.
Casca. Let us not leave him out.
Cin. No, by no means.
Met. 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.
Bru. O, name him not; let us not break with him, 150
For he will never follow any thing
That other men begin.