When Casar's wife shall meet with better dreams. Lo, Casar is afraid? Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear, dear love And reason to my love is liable. Cas. 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, And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Cas. 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. Cas. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. See! Antony, that revels long o'nights, Is notwithstanding up : 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. [Exeunt. [8] And reason, or propriety of conduct and language, is subordinate to my love. JOHNS. The sa SCENE III. same. A Street near the Capitol. Enter ARTEMIDOrus, reading a paper. Art. Casar, 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 defend thee! Thy lover, ARTEMIDORUS. 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; The same. SCENE IV. [Exit. 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? 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. O constancy, be strong upon my side! Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue! I have a man's mind, but a woman's might. How hard it is for women to keep counsel !— 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. [9] Emulation here, as on many other occasions, is used in an unfavoura ble sense, somewhat like factious, envious, or malicioas rivalry. STEEV. J I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, Por. Come hither, fellow : Which way hast thou been? Sooth. At mine own house, good lady. 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: [Exit. Por. I must go in.-Ah me! how weak a thing The heavens speed thee in thine enterprize! Say, I am merry: come to me again, And bring me word what he doth say to thee. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I-The same. The Capitol; the Senate sitting. A Crowd of People in the Street leading to the Capitol; among them ARTEMIDORUS and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter CESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others. Art. Hail, Cæsar! Read this schedule. Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read, At your best leisure, this his humble suit. Art. O, Cæsar, read mine first: for mine's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer: Read it, great Cæsar. Cas. What touches us ourself, shall be last serv'd. Art. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly. Cas. What, is the fellow mad? Pub. Sirrah, give place. Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street ? Come to the Capitol. CESAR enters the Capitol, the rest following. All the Senators rise. Pop. I wish, your enterprize to-day may thrive. Pop. Fare you well. [Advances to CESAR. Bru. What said Popilius Lena? Cas. He wish'd, to-day our enterprize might thrive. I fear, our purpose is discovered. Bru, Look, how he makes to Cæsar: Mark him. Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.--Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back, For I will slay myself. Bru. Cassius, be constant: Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change. [Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS. CÆSAR and Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. Bru. He is address'd :2 press near, and second him. Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. Cas. Are we all ready? What is now amiss, That Cæsar, and his senate, must redress? Met.Most high, most mighty, and most puissantCæsar, Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat An humble heart : Cas. I must prevent thee, Cimber. These couchings, and these lowly courtesies, And turn pre-ordinance, and first decree,3 [2] That is, He is ready. STEEV. 3 Pre-ordinance, for ordinance already established. [Kneeling. WARR. Into the law of children. Be not fond, To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood, With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words, Low-crooked curt'sies, and base spaniel fawning. Thy brother by decree is banished; If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him, Know, Cæsar doth not wrong; nor without cause Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar ; Cas. Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon: The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks, Let me a little show it, even in this ; That I was constant, Cimber should be banish'd,. And constant do remain to keep him so. Cin. O Cæsar, Cas. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus? Cas. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? Casca. Speak, hands, for me. [4] Susceptible of fear, or other passions. JOHNS. [5] One, and only one. JOH. [6] Perhaps, holds on his race; continues his course. We commonly say, To hold a rank, and To hold on a course or way. JOHNS. |