To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood40
That will be thaw'd from the true quality
With that which melteth fools; I mean sweet words,
Low-crooked curtsies, and base spaniel fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banished:44
If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know, Cæsar doth not wrong, nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.48
Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own,
To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?
Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar;52
Desiring thee, that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
Cæs. What, Brutus!
Cas.Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon:
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,56
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.
Cæs. I could be well mov'd if I were as you;
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:
But I am constant as the northern star,60
Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks,
They are all fire and every one doth shine,64
But there's but one in all doth hold his place:
So, in the world; 'tis furnish'd well with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;
Yet in the number I do know but one68
40 rebel: ungovernable
42 With: by
43 Low-crooked: low-bending
curtsies: same as 'courtesies,' line 36
spaniel: servile, obsequious
47, 48 Cf. n.
51 repealing: recalling
54 freedom of repeal: free, unconditional recall
59 Cf. n.
61 resting: stationary
63 painted: decorated
67 apprehensive: intelligent
