Dec. Cæsar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Cæsar: I come to fetch you to the senate-house. Cæs. And you are come in very happy time, And tell them that I will not come to-day : Cæs. Shall Cæsar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far, To be afeard to tell greybeards the truth? Decius, go tell them Cæsar will not come. Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so. Cæs. The cause is in my will, I will not come; That is enough to satisfy the senate. But, for your private satisfaction, Because I love you, I will let you know; Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day. Dec. This dream is all amiss interpreted; It was a vision fair and fortunate : Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, Cæs. And this way have you well expounded it. Dec. I have when you have heard what I can say: And know it now; the senate have concluded To give, this day, a crown to mighty Cæsar. you If shall send them word you will not come, "Break up the senate till another time, When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams." "Lo, Cæsar is afraid?" Pardon me, Cæsar: for my dear, dear love Cas. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia! I am ashamed I did yield to them.- Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS, And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Pub. Good morrow, Cæsar. Cæs. Welcome, Publius.— What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too? Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy As that same ague which hath made you lean.- Bru. Cæsar, 't is strucken eight. Caes. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. Enter ANTONY. See! Antony, that revels long o' nights, Is notwithstanding up: Good morrow, Antony. Cas. Bid them prepare within : I am to blame to be thus waited for. Now, Cinna :-Now, Metellus :-What, Trebonius! I have an hour's talk in store for you; Remember that you call on me to-day : Treb. Cæsar, I will:-and so near will I be, [Aside. That your best friends shall wish I had been further. Cæs. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me; And we, like friends, will straightway go together. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. A Street near the Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a paper. Art. "Cæsar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna; trust not Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber; Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Cæsar. If thou beest not immortal, look about you. Security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover, "ARTEMIDORUS.' Here will I stand till Cæsar pass along, If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou mayst live: [Exit. SCENE IV.-The same. Another part of the same Street, before the House of Brutus. Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS. Por. I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house; Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone: Why dost thou stay? Luc. To know my errand, madam. Por. I would have had thee there, and here again, Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.- Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue! Art thou here yet? Luc. Madam, what should I do? Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? And so return to you, and nothing else? Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well, For he went sickly forth: And take good note What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him. Hark, boy! what noise is that? Luc. I hear none, madam. Por. Prithee, listen well. I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, Por. Which way hast thou been? Sooth. Come hither, fellow : At mine own house, good lady. Por. What is 't o'clock? Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady. Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol? Sooth. Madam, not yet; I go to take my stand, To see him pass on to the Capitol. Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not? Sooth. That I have, lady: if it will please Cæsar To be so good to Cæsar as to hear me, I shall beseech him to befriend himself. Por. Why, know'st thou any harm 's intended towards him? Sooth. None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance. Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: The throng that follows Cæsar at the heels, [Exit. Por. I must go in.-Ah me! how weak a thing The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise! And bring me word what he doth say to thee. [Exeunt. |