And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets. And I do fear them. CES. What can be avoided Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods? The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. 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. Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. CES. And you are come in very happy time, a Were. The original has heare; the correction is by Theobald. To bear my greeting to the senators, And tell them that I will not come to-day: Cannot, is false; and that I dare not, falser; I will not come to-day: Tell them so, Decius. CAL. Say he is sick. CES. Shall Cæsar send a lie? CES. And this way have you well expounded it. And reason to my love is liable. CES. 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, TREBONIUS, and CINNA. And look where Publius is come to fetch me. PUB. Good morrow, Cæsar. See! Antony, that revels long o' nights, Is notwithstanding up: Good morrow, Antony. ANT. So to most noble Cæsar. Cæs. 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. CES. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me; BRU. That every like is not the same, O Cæsar, [Exeunt. 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 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, And as a suitor will I give him this. My heart laments that virtue cannot live If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou mayst live: If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive. SCENE IV.-The same. [Exit. Another part of the same Street, before the House of Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS. POR. I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house; Luc. 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? Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: The throng that follows Cæsar at the heels, The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise ! That Cæsar will not grant.-0, I grow faint:- Say I am merry: come to me again, [Exit. And bring me word what he doth say to thee. [Exeunt. |