SCENE II. CESAR's house. Thunder and lightning. Enter CESAR, in his night-gown. Cæs. Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night: Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out, "Help, ho! they murther Cæsar!" Who's within? Serv. My lord? Enter a Servant. Cas. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice And bring me their opinions of success. Serv. I will, my lord. Enter CALPURNIA. Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? think you to walk forth? 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; In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, The noise of battle hurtled in the air, And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets. And I do fear them. Cæs. What can be avoided Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods? [Exit. 1Ο 20 Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. 30 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. his night-gown 13 ceremonies dressing-gown. religious observances; here loosely used for auguries, omons. 25 beyond all use: very unusual, unnatural, abnormal. 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. That Cæsar is more dangerous than he: We are two lions litter'd in one day, And I the elder and more terrible: And Cæsar shall go forth. Cal. Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consum'd in confidence. 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. 40 50 Dec. Cæsar. all hail! good morrow, worthy Cæsar: I come to fetch you to the senate-house. Caes. And you are come in very happy time, 60 To bear my greeting to the senators Cæs. Shall Cæsar send a lie? To be afeard to tell graybeards the truth? Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so. 70 Caes. 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: Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it: And these does she apply for warnings, and portents, It was a vision fair and fortunate : Cæs. And this way have you well expounded it. 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 When Cæsar'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. Cars. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia! 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. 80 90 100 Welcome, Publius. What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too? As that same ague which hath made you lean. Bru. Cæsar, 't is strucken eight. Cæs. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. Enter ANTONY. See! Antony, that revels long o' nights, Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony. 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; Treb. Cæsar, I will: [Aside] and so near will I be, your Cas. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me; And we, like friends, will straightway go together. Bru. [Aside.] That every like is not the same, O Cæsar, The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon! SCENE III. A street near the Capitol. Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a paper. I 20 [Exeunt. 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: thon 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, My heart laments that virtue cannot live If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou mayst live; If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive. 10 [Erit. SCENE IV. Another part of the same street, before the house of Por. I prithee, boy, Stay not to answer me, Why dost thou stay? Luc. BRUTUS. Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS. run to the senate-house; 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! 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 1Ο What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him. Luc. I hear none, madam. Prithee, listen well; I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, Enter the Soothsayer. Por. Come hither, fellow which way hast thou been? 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? To be so good to Cæsar as to hear me, I shall beseech him to befriend himself. 20 30 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, Speak to great Cæsar as he comes along. Por. I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing The heart of woman is! O Brutus, The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise! [Erit. 40 [To herself.] Sure, the boy heard me: [To Lucius] Brutus hath a suit That Cæsar will not grant. O, I grow faint. Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord; Say I am merry: come to me again, And bring me word what he doth say to thee. [Exeunt severally. Enter the Soothsayer. The folio stage direction brings the Soothsayer on probably by mistake. The person whom Portia addresses seems to be Artemidorus, on his way from where we last saw him to a more convenient place. |