ore alike in Shakespeare's time than they are
now. So again in III, i, 289-290: "A dangerous Rome, No Rome
of safety for Octavius yet." Cf. also _King John_, III, i,
180.]

[Note 159: The allusion is to Lucius Junius Brutus, who bore a
leading part in driving out the Tarquins and in turning the
kingdom into a republic. Afterwards, as consul, he condemned
his own sons to death for attempting to restore the kingdom.
The Marcus Junius Brutus of the play, according to Plutarch,
supposed himself to be descended from him. His mother,
Servilia, also derived her lineage from Servilius Ahala, who
slew Spurius Maelius for aspiring to royalty. Merivale remarks
that "the name of Brutus forced its possessor into prominence
as soon as royalty began to be discussed."--/brook'd:/
endured, tolerated. See Murray for the history of this word.]

[Note 160: /eternal./ Johnson suggested 'infernal.' Dr. Wright
(Clar.) points out that in three plays printed in 1600
Shakespeare uses 'infernal,' but substitutes 'eternal' in
_Julius Caesar_, _Hamlet_, and _Othello_, in obedience
probably to the popular Puritan agitation against profanity on
the stage. This has been used as evidence to determine dates
of composition. See Introduction, page xx. Cf. with this use
of 'eternal' the old Yankee term 'tarnal' in such expressions
as 'tarnal scamp,' 'tarnal shame,' etc.]

[Page 20]

BRUTUS. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous;
What you would work me to, I have some aim:
How I have thought of this and of these times,
I shall recount hereafter; for this present, 165
I would not, so with love I might entreat you,
Be any further mov'd. What you have said
I will consider; what you have to say
I will with patience hear, and find a time
Both meet to hear and answer such high things. 170
Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this:
Brutus had rather be a villager
Than to repute himself a son of Rome
Under these hard conditions as this time
Is like to lay upon us. 175

[Note 166: /not, so with ... you/ | not so (with ... you) Ff.]

[Note 162: /am nothing jealous:/ do not doubt. Cf. l. 71.
'Jealous' and 'zealous' are etymologically the same word. See
Skeat.]

[Note 163: /work me to:/ prevail upon me to do. Cf. _Hamlet_,
IV, vii, 64.--/aim:/ guess. Cf. _The Two Gentlemen of Verona_,
III, i, 28. Similarly with the verb in _Romeo and Juliet_, I,
i,