Luc. Madam, what fhould I do? Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? And fo return to you, and nothing else?

Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy Lord look
well,

For he went fickly forth and take good note,
What Cafar doth, what fuitors press to him.
Hark, boy! what noife is that?

Luc. I hear none, Madam.
Por. Pr'ythee, liften well:

I heard a buftling rumour like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
Luc. Sooth, Madam, I hear nothing.

Enter Artemidorus.

Por. Come hither, fellow, which way haft thou been?

Art. At mine own houfe, good lady.

Por. What is 't o'clock ?

Art. About the ninth hour, Lady.

Por. Is Cefar yet gone to the Capitol ?

Art. Madam, not yet. I go to take my stand, To fee him pafs on to the Capitol.

Por. Thou haft fome fuit to Cæfar, haft thou not? Art. That I have, Lady. If it will please Cafar To be fo good to Cæfar, as to hear me,

I fhall befeech him to befriend himself.

Por. Why, know'st thou any harm intended tow'rds him?

Art. None that I know will be, much that I fear; Good-morrow to you. Here the street is narrow; The throng, that follows Cæfar at the heels, Of Senators, of Prætors, common Suitors, Will crowd a feeble Man almoft to death; I'll get me to a place more void, and there Speak to great Cæfar as he comes along.

[Exit.

Por.

Por. I must go in-ah me! how weak a thing
The heart of Woman is! O Brutus! Brutus!
The heavens speed thee in thine enterprize!
Sure, the Boy heard me:-Brutus hath a Suit,
That Cæfar will not grant.-O, I grow faint:
Run, Lucius, and commend me to my
Say, I am merry; come to me again,
And bring me word what he doth say to thee.

Lord;

[Exeunt feverally.

ACT III.

SCENE I.

The Street before the Capitol; and the Capitol

open.

Flourish. Enter Cæfar, Brutus, Caffius, Cafca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Artemidorus, Popilius, Publius, and the Sooth-fayer.

T

CÆSAR.

HE Ides of March are come.

Sooth. Ay, Cafar, but not gone.

Art. Hail, Cefar. Read this schedule. Dec. Trebonius doth defire you to o'er-read At your beft leifure, this his humble fuit.

Art. O Cefar, read mine firft; for mine's a fuit, That touches Cæfar nearer. Read it, great Cæfar, Caf. What touches us ourself, fhall be laft ferv'd. Art. Delay not Cæfar, read it inftantly.

Caf. What, is the fellow mad?

Pub. Sirrah, give place.

Caf.

Caf. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol.

Pop. I wish, your enterprize to-day may thrive.
Caf. What enterprize, Popilius?
Pop. Fare you well.

Bru. What faid Popilius Lena?

Caf. He wish'd, to-day our enterprize might thrive. I fear, our purpose is discovered.

Bru. Look, how he makes to Cafar. Mark him. Caf. Cafea, be fudden, for we fear prevention. Brutus, what fhall be done, if this be known? Caffus, or Cefar, never fhall turn back; For I will flay myself.

Bru. Caffius, be conftant.

Popilius Lena fpeaks not of our purpose;

For, look, he fmiles, and Cæfar doth not change. Caf. Trebonius knows his time; for look you, Brutus, He draws Mark Antony out of the way.

Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, And presently prefer his fuit to Cæfar.

Bru. He is addreft; prefs near, and fecond him. Cin, Cafca, you are the firft that rears your hand. Caf. Are we all ready? what is now amifs, That Cæfar and his Senate muft redrefs?

Met. Moft high, moft mighty, and most puissant Cafar,

Metellus Cimber throws before thy feat

An humble heart.

Caf. I must prevent thee, Cimber. Thefe couchings and thefe lowly curtefiesMight fire the blood of ordinary men,

4 Might fire the blood of ordinary men,] It is plain we

fhould read,

[Kneeling.

afterwards in this play he says, The power of Speech to STIR mens bloods. WARB.

This is plaufible, but not fo neceffary as that it should be admitted into the text.

And

And turn pre- ordinance and first decree 6 Into the lane of children. Be not fond, To think that Cæfar bears fuch rebel blood, That will be thaw'd from the true quality With that which melteth fools; I mean, fweet words; Low-crooked curtfies, and bafe fpaniel-fawning. Thy brother by decree is banished;

If thou doft bend, and pray, and fawn for him,
1 fpurn thee like a cur out of my way.

Know, Cæfar doth not wrong; nor without caufe
Will he be satisfied.

Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own,
To found more sweetly in great Cæfar's ear,
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?

Bru. I kifs thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæfar;
Defiring thee, that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
Caf. What, Brutus!

Caf. Pardon, Cafar; Cæfar, pardon;
As low as to thy foot doth Caffius fall,
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.
Caf. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you ;
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me;
But I am conftant as the northern star,
Of whofe true, fixt, and refting quality,
There is no fellow in the firmament;
The fkies are painted with unnumbred sparks,
They are all fire, and every one doth fhine;
But there's but one in all doth hold his place.
So, in the world, 'tis furnifh'd well with men,

5 And turn pre-ordinance-] Pre-ordinance, for ordinance already established. WARB.

6 Into the lane of children.-] I do not well understand what is meant by the lane of children. I fhould read, the law of children.

It was, change pre-ordinance and decree into the law of children; into fuch flight determinations as every ftart of will would alter. Lane and lawe in fome manu fcripts are not easily distinguished.

And

8

And men are flesh and blood, and 7 apprehenfive;
Yet, in the number, I do know but one
That unaffailable holds on his rank,
Unfhak'd of motion: and that I am he
Let me a little fhew it, ev'n in this;

That I was conftant, Cimber should be banish'd;
And conftant do remain to keep him fo..
Cim. O Cafar

Caf. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus ?
Dec. Great Cafar

I

Caf. Doth not Brutus bootlefs kneel?
Cafca. Speak hands for me.

[Dies.

[They ftab Cæfar. Caf. Et tu, Brute? Then fall Cæfar! Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is deadRun hence, proclai Cry it about the streets. Caf. Some to the common Pulpits, and cry out, Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement.

Bru. People, and Senators! be not affrighted; Fly not, ftand ftill. Ambition's debt is paid. Cafca. Go to the Pulpit, Brutus.

Dec. And Caffius too.

Bru. Where's Publius?

Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.
Met. Stand faft together, left fome friends of
Cafar's

Should chance

Bru. Talk not of ftanding. Publius, good cheer; There is no harm intended to your perfon, Nor to no Roman elfe; fo tell them, Publius.

Caf. And leave us, Publius, left that the people, Rufhing on us, fhould do your age fome mifchief.