_Casca._ But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens? It is the part of men to fear and tremble When the most mighty gods by tokens send 55 Such dreadful heralds to astonish us. _Cas._ You are dull, Casca, and those sparks of life[2969] That should be in a Roman you do want,[2969][2970] Or else you use not. You look pale and gaze[2969] And put on fear and cast yourself in wonder,[2969][2971] 60 To see the strange impatience of the heavens: But if you would consider the true cause Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts, Why birds and beasts from quality and kind,[2972] Why old men fool and children calculate,[2973] 65 Why all these things change, from their ordinance, Their natures and preformed faculties, To monstrous quality, why, you shall find That heaven hath infused them with these spirits[2974] To make them instruments of fear and warning 70 Unto some monstrous state.[2975] Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man[2975][2976] Most like this dreadful night,[2975] That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars[2977] As doth the lion in the Capitol,[2978] 75 A man no mightier than thyself or me In personal action, yet prodigious grown And fearful, as these strange eruptions are.[2979] _Casca._ 'Tis Cæsar that you mean; is it not, Cassius?[2980] _Cas._ Let it be who it is: for Romans now 80 Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors;[2981] But, woe the while! our fathers' minds are dead And we are govern'd with our mothers' spirits; Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish. _Casca._ Indeed they say the senators to-morrow[2982] 85 Mean to establish Cæsar as a king; And he shall wear his crown by sea and land, In every place save here in Italy. _Cas._ I know where I will wear this dagger then:[2983] Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius. 90 Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat: Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass, Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can be retentive to the strength of spirit; 95 But life, being weary of these worldly bars, Never lacks power to dismiss itself. If I know this, know all the world besides, That part of tyranny that I do bear I can shake off at pleasure. [_Thunder still._ _Casca._ So can I:[2984] 100 So every bondman in his own hand bears The power to cancel his captivity.