Context:
Cassius and Brutus are talking inside Brutus’ tent. Cassius just implicated that Brutus accused a man for bribery even though Cassius knows the man is innocent. A fight begins to occur from this.
Why we chose this scene:
In this scene, the fight is when the conspirators actually start disagreeing with each other and finally start to express their thoughts and anger. From this scene on, the conspirators get into more and more fights with each other which eventually causes the conspiracy to break up.
This is also an important scene because this is the first time the two ‘leaders’ of the conspiracy are fighting. During this scene, we are shown the unsteadiness of Brutus and Cassius’ relationship, and also we are shown that both Brutus and Cassius hardly ever agree on the same strategy plan.
Act/Scene/Line:
Act 4 Scene 3. Lines 1-63
Passage:
CASSIUS: That you have wrong'd me doth appear in this:
You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella
For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
Wherein my letters, praying on his side,
Because I knew the man, were slighted off.
BRUTUS: You wronged yourself to write in such a case.
CASSIUS: In such a time as this it is not meet
That every nice offence should bear his comment.
BRUTUS: Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm;
To sell and mart your offices for gold
To undeservers.
CASSIUS: I an itching palm!
You know that you are Brutus that speak this,
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
BRUTUS: The name of Cassius honours this corruption,
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
CASSIUS: Chastisement!
BRUTUS: Remember March, the ides of March remember:
Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?
What villain touch'd his body, that did stab,
And not for justice? What, shall one of us
That struck the foremost man of all this world
But for supporting robbers, shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
And sell the mighty space of our large honours
For so much trash as may be grasped thus?
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,
Than such a Roman.
CASSIUS: Brutus, bay not me;
I'll not endure it: you forget yourself,
To hedge me in; I am a soldier, I,
Older in practise, abler than yourself
To make conditions.
BRUTUS: Go to; you are not, Cassius.
CASSIUS: I am.
BRUTUS: I say you are not.
CASSIUS: Urge me no more, I shall forget myself;
Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further.
BRUTUS: Away, slight man!
CASSIUS: Is't possible?
BRUTUS: Hear me, for I will speak.
Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?
CASSIUS: O ye gods, ye gods! must I endure all this?
BRUTUS: All this! ay, more: fret till your proud heart break;
Go show your slaves how choleric you are,
And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?
Must I observe you? must I stand and crouch
Under your testy humour? By the gods
You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
Though it do split you; for, from this day forth,
I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
When you are waspish.
CASSIUS: Is it come to this?
BRUTUS: You say you are a better soldier:
Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well: for mine own part,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men.
CASSIUS: You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus;
I said, an elder soldier, not a better:
Did I say 'better'?
BRUTUS: If you did, I care not.
CASSIUS: When Caesar lived, he durst not thus have moved me.
BRUTUS: Peace, peace! you durst not so have tempted him.
CASSIUS: I durst not!
BRUTUS: No
CASSIUS: What, durst not tempt him!
BRUTUS: For your life you durst not!
Partners:
Allie and Sarah :)
