Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: Casca: You pull'd me by the cloak. Would you speak with me? Brutus: Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanc'd to-day, That Caesar looks so sad? Casca: Why, you were with him, were you not? Brutus: I should not then ask Casca what had chanc'd. 5 Casca: Why, there was a crown offer'd him; and being offer'd him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus; and then the people fell a-shouting. Brutus: What was the second noise for? Casca: Why, for that too. 10 Cassius: They shouted thrice; what was the last cry for? Casca: Why, for that too. Brutus: Was the crown offer'd him thrice? Casca: Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every time gentler than other; and at every putting by mine honest neighbours shouted. 15 Cassius: Who offer'd him the crown? Casca: Why, Antony. Brutus: Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca. Casca: I can as well be hang'd as tell the manner of it: it was mere foolery; I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown – yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of these coronets – and, as I told you, he put it by once; but for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again; then he put it by again; but to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by; and still as he refus'd it, the rabblement hooted, and clapp'd their chopt hands, and threw up their sweaty night-caps, and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Caesar refus'd the crown, that it had almost choked Caesar; for he swooned and fell down at it. And for mine own part I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air. 20 25 30 Cassius: But soft, I pray you. What, did Caesar swoon? Casca: He fell down in the market-place, and foam'd at mouth, and was speechless. 35 Brutus: 'Tis very like. He hath the falling sickness. Cassius: No, Caesar hath it not; but you, and I, And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness. Casca: I know not what you mean by that, but I am sure Caesar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap him and hiss him, according as he pleas'd and displeas'd them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no true man. 40 Brutus: What said he when he came unto himself? Casca: Marry, before he fell down, when he perceiv'd the common herd was glad he refus'd the crown, he pluckt me ope his doublet, 45 and offer'd them his throat to cut. An I had been a man of any occupation, if I would not have taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell among the rogues. And so he fell. When he came to himself again, he said, if he had done or said anything amiss, he desir'd their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three or four wenches, where I stood, cried 'Alas, good soul!' and forgave him with all their hearts. But there's no heed to be taken of them; if Caesar had stabb'd their mothers, they would have done no less. 50 Brutus: And after that, he came thus sad away? Casca: Ay. 55 Cassius: Did Cicero say anything? Casca: Ay, he spoke Greek. Cassius: To what effect? Casca: Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' th' face again. But those that understood him smil'd at one another, and shook their heads; but for mine own part, it was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Caesar's images, are put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery yet, if I could remember it. 60 Cassius: Will you sup with me to-night, Casca? Casca: No, I am promis'd forth. 65 Cassius: Will you dine with me to-morrow? Casca: Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your dinner worth the eating. Cassius: Good; I will expect you. 70 Casca: Do so. Farewell, both. [Exit. [from Act 1 Scene 2]

1. In what ways does Shakespeare vividly convey the atmosphere in Rome at this moment in the play?[25]