1

CÆSAR.

Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.

Enter DECIUS.

Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.

DECIUS.

Cæsar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Cæsar; I come to fetch you to the senate-house.

CÆSAR.

And you are come in very happy time
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.

Shall Cæsar send a lie?

Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far, To be afeard to tell greybeards the truth? Decius, go tell them Cæsar will not come.

DECIUS.

Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so.

CÆSAR.

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.
Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home.
She dream'd to-night she saw my statua,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood, and many lusty Romans

Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it;
And these does she apply for warnings and portents
And evils imminent, and on her knee

Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day.

DECIUS.

This dream is all amiss interpreted;
It was a vision fair and fortunate.
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bath'd,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
To you for tinctures, stains, and cognizance.
This by Calpurnia's dream is signified.

CÆSAR.

And this way have you well expounded it.

DECIUS.

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 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.

CÆSAR.

How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia !
I am ashamed I did yield to them.

Enter PUBLIUS CASCA and Brutus.

And look where other friends are come to fetch me.

JULIUS CÆSAR.

CASCA.

Good morrow, Cæsar.

CÆSAR.

Welcome, Publius Casca.

What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?

I thank you for your pains and courtesy.

Enter ANTONY.

See! Antony, that revels long o' nights,
Is notwithstanding up. - Good morrow, Antony.

ANTONY.

So to most noble Cæsar.

CÆSAR.

Bid them prepare within.

I am to blame to be thus waited for.

Enter CINNA, Metellus, and TREBONIUS.

Now Cinna. Now Metellus. What! Trebonius?
I have an hour's talk in store for you :

Be near me, that I may remember you.

TREBONIUS.

Cæsar, I will. [Aside] And so near will I be,
That your best friends shall wish I had been further.

CÆSAR.

Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me;

And we like friends will straightway go together. [Exeunt.

BRUTUS.

That every like is not the same, O Cæsar,

The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon.

CURTAIN.

ACT III.

SCENE. The Capitol; the Senate sitting. Flourish. A crowd of Citizens; CÆSAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others discovered.

SOOTHSAYER.

Hail, Cæsar!

CÆSAR.

The ides of March are come.

SOOTHSAYER.

Ay, Cæsar; but not gone.
Hail, Cæsar! Read this schedule.

DECIUS.

Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read,
At ycur best leisure, this his humble suit.

SOOTHSAYER.

O, Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a suit
That touches Cæsar nearer. Read it, great Cæsar.

He wished to-day our enterprise might thrive.
I fear our purpose is discovered.

BRUTUS.

Look, how he makes to Cæsar; mark him.

CASSIUS.

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.

BRUTUS.

Cassius, be constant:

Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;
For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change.

CASSIUS.

Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus,
He draws Mark Antony out of the way.

[Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS.