Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjur'd up 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. Set on your foot; And, with a heart new-fir'd, I follow you, Thunder and Lightning. Enter CAESAR, in his Night gown. Cæs. Nor heaven, nor earth, have been at peace to night: Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, 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. Thou, like an exorcist,] Here, and in all other places where the word occurs in Shakspeare, to exorcise means to raise spirits, not to lay them; and perhaps he is singular in his acceptation of it. Enter CALPHURNIA. 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, Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies', Besides the things that we have heard and seen, 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", Horses did neigh †, and dying men did groan; And ghosts did shriek, and squeal about the streets. And I do fear them. What can be avoided, Cæs. 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. Cæs. Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, 7 Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies,] i. e. I never paid a ceremonious or superstitious regard to prodigies or omens. 8 The noise of battle hurtled in the air,] To hurtle is to clash, or move with violence and noise. † "do neigh,"-MALONE. It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Will come, when it will come. Re-enter a 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. Cæs. The gods do this in shame of cowardice': If he should stay at home to-day for fear. And Cæsar shall go forth. Cal. Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consum'd in confidence. 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. Dec. Cæsar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Cæsar : I come to fetch you to the senate-house. Cæs. 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: in shame of cowardice:] The ancients did not place courage but wisdom in the heart. JOHNSON. Cannot, is false; and that I dare not, falser; C'œs. Shall Cæsar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far, To be afeard to tell grey-beards 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. Cæs. 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 : "statue,"-MALONE. 66 + warnings and portents,"-MALOne. For tinctures, stains, relicks, and cognizance.] This speech, which is intentionally pompous, is somewhat confused. There are two allusions; one to coats armorial, to which princes make additions, or give new tinctures, and new marks of cognizance; the other to martyrs, whose relicks are preserved with veneration. But Messrs. Malone and Steevens think that tinctures has no relation to heraldry, but means merely handkerchiefs, or other linen, tinged with blood. At the execution of several of our ancient Cæs. 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. When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams. Lo, Cæsar is afraid? Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear, dear love 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, TREBONIUS, and CINNA. And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Pub. Good morrow, Cæsar. Cæs. 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. Cæs. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. nobility, martyrs, &c. we are told that handkerchiefs were tinctured with their blood, and preserved as affectionate or salutary memorials of the deceased. 2 And reason, &c.] And reason, or propriety of conduct and language, is subordinate to my love. |