If he should stay at home to-day for fear. We were two lions litter'd in one day, Cal. Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consum'd in confidence. Do not go forth to-day: Call it my fear, That keeps you in the house, and not your own. Cas. Mark Antony shall say, I am not well; Enter Decius. Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. I come to fetch you to the senate-house. Ces. And you are come in very happy time, And tell them, that I will not come to-day: Cas. Dcc. Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause; Lest I be laugh'd at, when I tell them so. Cas. 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. Which like a fountain, with a hundred spouts, Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, Cas. 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. If you shall send them word, you will not come, Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock Apt to be render'd, for some one to say, Break up the senate till another time, When Casar's wife shall meet with better dreams. If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper, Lo, Cæsar is afraid? Pardon me, Cæsar: for my dear, dear love To your proceeding bids me tell you this; And reason to my love is liable‡. Cas. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia? I am ashamed 1 did yield to them. Give me my robe, for I will go : Enter Publius, Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, And look where Publius is come to fetch me. * As to a saint, for reliques. Cæs. Welcome, Publius. What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too? As that same ague which hath made you lean.- Bru. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight. Cæs. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. Enter Antony. See! Antony, that revels long o'nights, Good morrow, Antony. Ant. So to most noble Cæsar. Cas. Bid them prepare within:— I am to blame to be thus waited for. Now, Cinna:-Now, Metellus:-What, Trebonius! Treb. Cæsar, I will:-and so near will I be, [Aside. That your best friends shall wish I had been further. Cas. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me; And we, like friends, will straightway go together. Bru. That every like is not the same, O Cæsar, The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon! [Exeunt. * Grieves. SCENE III. The same. A street near the Capitol. 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 be'st not immortal, look about you: Security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods Artemidorus. defend thee! Thy lover*, Here will I stand, till Cæsar pass along, My heart laments, that virtue cannot live If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou may'st live; [Exit. SCENE IV. The same. Another part of the same street, before the house of Brutus. Enter Portia and Lucius. Por. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the senate-house; Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone: Why dost thou stay? * Friend. + Envy. Luc. To know my errand, madam. Por. I would have had thee there, and here again, Ere I can tell thee what thou should'st do there.O constancy, be strong upon my side! Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue! How hard it is for women to keep counsel!- 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. Pr'ythee, listen well; I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, 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, knowest thou any harm's intended towards him? * Really. |