This passage is significant because it shows the lead conspirators, Cassius and Brutus losing their composure due to the civil strife. Brutus, who is usually collected cracks under the pressure of war and the loss of his love, Portia. He takes out his emotions on his partner and friend Cassius, who upsets him by denying him money and accepting bribes. This scene further characterizes the noble Brutus by revealing the side of him that falls apart under immense stress. Brutus's break down underlines the mood of mental and physical exhaustion, hopelessness, and stress. Fortunately, Brutus realizes the harm he is causing Cassius, the man who has stuck with him since the ides of March and they reconcile, proving that friendship has no boundaries. The two friends comfort one another, giving each other hope in what seems the darkest of days. This scene also foreshadows that the Rome Brutus had hope would result in Caesar's death will never exist, for even if Brutus triumphs over Antony's and Octavius's army, Rome will never accept Brutus again.
Act IV, Scene 3. Lines 38-122.
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 liv'd, he durst not thus have mov'd 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.
Cassius Do not presume too much upon my love.
I may do that I shall be sorry for.
Brutus You have done that you should be sorry for.
There is not error, Cassius in your threats;
For I am arm'd so strong in honesty
That they pass by me as the idle wind,
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certain sums of gold, which you denied me:
For I can raise no money by vile means:
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart,
And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection: I did send
To you for gold to pay my legions,
Which you denied me: was that done like Cassius?
Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so?
When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,
To lock such rascal counters from his friends,
Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts;
Dash him to pieces!
Cassius I denied you not.
Brutus You did.
Cassius I did not: he was but a fool that brought
My answer back. Brutus hath riv’d my heart:
A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
Brutus I do not, till you practise them on me.
Cassius You love me not.
Brutus I do not like your faults.
Cassius A friendly eye could never see such faults.
Brutus A flatterer's would not, though they do appear
As huge as high Olympus.
Cassius Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is aweary of the world;
Hated by one he loves; brav’d by his brother;
Check'd like a bondman; all his faults observed,
Set in a note-book, learn'd, and conn'd by rote,
To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep
My spirit from mine eyes! There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast; within, a heart
Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold:
If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth;
I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart:
Strike, as thou didst at Caesar; for, I know,
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better
Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.
Brutus Sheathe your dagger:
Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.
O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb
That carries anger as the flint bears fire;
Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark,
And straight is cold again.
Cassius Hath Cassius lived
To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
When grief, and blood ill-temper'd, vexeth him?
Brutus When I spoke that, I was ill-temper'd too.
Cassius Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.
Brutus And my heart too.
Cassius O Brutus!
Brutus What's the matter?
Cassius Have not you love enough to bear with me,
When that rash humour which my mother gave me
Makes me forgetful?
Brutus Yes, Cassius; and, from henceforth,
When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,
He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so.
Cassius- Isabel Del Val
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 liv'd, he durst not thus have mov'd 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.
Cassius Do not presume too much upon my love.
I may do that I shall be sorry for.
Brutus You have done that you should be sorry for.
There is not error, Cassius in your threats;
For I am arm'd so strong in honesty
That they pass by me as the idle wind,
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certain sums of gold, which you denied me:
For I can raise no money by vile means:
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart,
And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection: I did send
To you for gold to pay my legions,
Which you denied me: was that done like Cassius?
Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so?
When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,
To lock such rascal counters from his friends,
Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts;
Dash him to pieces!
Cassius I denied you not.
Brutus You did.
Cassius I did not: he was but a fool that brought
My answer back. Brutus hath riv’d my heart:
A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
Brutus I do not, till you practise them on me.
Cassius You love me not.
Brutus I do not like your faults.
Cassius A friendly eye could never see such faults.
Brutus A flatterer's would not, though they do appear
As huge as high Olympus.
Cassius Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is aweary of the world;
Hated by one he loves; brav’d by his brother;
Check'd like a bondman; all his faults observed,
Set in a note-book, learn'd, and conn'd by rote,
To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep
My spirit from mine eyes! There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast; within, a heart
Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold:
If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth;
I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart:
Strike, as thou didst at Caesar; for, I know,
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better
Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.
Brutus Sheathe your dagger:
Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.
O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb
That carries anger as the flint bears fire;
Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark,
And straight is cold again.
Cassius Hath Cassius lived
To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
When grief, and blood ill-temper'd, vexeth him?
Brutus When I spoke that, I was ill-temper'd too.
Cassius Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.
Brutus And my heart too.
Cassius O Brutus!
Brutus What's the matter?
Cassius Have not you love enough to bear with me,
When that rash humour which my mother gave me
Makes me forgetful?
Brutus Yes, Cassius; and, from henceforth,
When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,
He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so.
Cassius- Isabel Del Val
Brutus- Samantha Warren
