Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen;
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death
Caes.] Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strangethat men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.-
What say the augurers? Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to-day.
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, 39
They could not find a heart within the beast.
Caes. The gods do this in shame of cowardice;
Cæsar should be a beast without a heart,
[Exit Servant.
If he should stay at home to-day for fear.
No, Cæsar shall [not. Danger knows full well
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.
To be afeard1 to tell greybeards the truth?— Decius, go tell them Cæsar will not come.
Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some
Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so. 70 Caes. The cause is in my will,-I will not
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, stays2 me at home.
She dream'd to-night she saw my statua,3
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 porténts so
Of evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day.
Dec. 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
For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.4
This by Calpurnia's dream is signified.
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."
1 Afeard, used interchangeably with afraid.
2 Stays, i.e. makes me stay. 3 Statua, statue.
4 Cognizance, tokens, souvenirs; plural.
5 Apt to be render'd, likely to be uttered in reply.
Proceeding, progress, career.
7 Liable, subject, subordinate.