BRUTUS and CASSIUS
remain onstage. They are now in their tent.
CASSIUS
That you have wronged me doth appear in this:
You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella
For taking bribes here of the Sardians,
Wherein my letters, praying on his side
5
Because I knew the man, were slighted off.
CASSIUS
My evidence that you have wronged me is that you condemned and
disgraced Lucius Pella for taking bribes here from the Sardinians,
and you ignored my letters, where I argued that he was innocent; I
know the man.
BRUTUS
You wronged yourself to write in such a case.
BRUTUS
You wronged yourself to write on behalf of such a man.
CASSIUS
In such a time as this it is not meet
That every nice offense should bear his comment.
CASSIUS
In a time like this, it doesn't make sense to criticize
every offense.
BRUTUS
Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
10
Are much condemned to have an itching palm,
To sell and mart your offices for gold
To undeservers.
BRUTUS
I'll tell you, Cassius, you yourself have been called
greedy and been accused of giving your positions to undeserving men
in exchange for gold.
CASSIUS
I “an itching
palm”!
You know that you are Brutus that speak this,
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
CASSIUS
Me, “greedy”! You know, if you were anyone
other than Brutus, that speech would be your last.
BRUTUS
15
The name of Cassius honors this corruption,
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
BRUTUS
The name of Cassius gives credit to these corrupt actions, and so
they go unpunished.
CASSIUS
Chastisement!
CASSIUS
Unpunished!
BRUTUS
Remember March, the ides of March remember.
Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?
BRUTUS
Remember March, March 15th. Didn't great Caesar bleed for
the sake of justice?
