To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus; Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia. Por. I should not need if you were gentle Brutus. To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife. Bru. You are my true and honourable wife; As dear to me as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart. Por. If this were true, then should I know this secret. I grant I am a woman; but withal A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife: I grant I am a woman; but withal A woman well-reputed,-Cato's daughter. Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em Giving myself a voluntary wound Here in the thigh: can I bear that with patience, Bru. ye gods, [Knocking within. Render me worthy of this noble wife! Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in awhile; The secrets of my heart: All my engagements I will construe to thee, Leave me with haste. VOL. V. [Exit PORTIA. Lucius, who's that knocks? N Enter LUCIS with LIGARIUS. Luc. Here is a sick man that would speak with you. Lig. Vouchsafe good-morrow from a feeble tongue. Bru. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Lig. By all the gods that Romans bow before, Yea, get the better of them. What's to do? Bru. A piece of work that will make sick men whole. Lig. But are not some whole that we must make sick? Bru. That must we also. What it is, my Caius, I shall unfold to thee, as we are going To whom it must be done. Lig. Bru. SCENE II.-ROME. Thunder and lightning. Follow me, then. [Exeunt. A Room in CÆSAR'S Palace. Enter CESAR in hic night-gown. Cæs. Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night: Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, Help, ho! They murder Casar!-Who's within? Serv. My lord? Enter a Servant. Caes. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice, And bring me their opinions of success. Serv. I will, my lord. Enter CALPHURNIA. [Exit. Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? Think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day. Cæs. Cæsar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, And graves have yawn'd and yielded up their dead; The noise of battle hurtled in the air, And I do fear them! C'œs. What can be avoided, Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods? Yet Cæsar shall go forth; for these predictions Are to the world in general as to Cæsar. Cal. When beggars die there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.. Cas. Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Will come when it will come. Re-enter Servant. What say the augurers Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to-day. Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, They could not find a heart within the beast. Caes. The gods do this in shame of cowardice: If he should stay at home to-day for fear. Cal. Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear That keeps you in the house, and not your own. Cæs. Mark Antony shall say I am not well; Enter DECIUS. Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. 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 graybeards 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. 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,- Dec. This dream is all amiss interpreted; It was a vision fair and fortunate: Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, Caes. 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. Break up the senate till another time, When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams. Lo, Cæsar is afraid? Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear dear love And reason to my love is liable. Caes. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia! I am ashamed I 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. Welcome, Publius.- Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy As that same ague which hath made you lean.— Bru. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight. Cas. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. Enter ANTONY. See! Antony, that revels long o' nights Is notwithstanding up.- Ant. So to most noble Cæsar. Caes. Bid them prepare within. I am to blame to be thus waited for. Now, Cinna;-now, Metellus :-what, Trebonius! Remember that you call on me to-day: [Aside. Be near me, that I may remember you. [Exeunt |