Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan ; And ghosts did shriek, and squeal about the streets : O Cæsar! these things are beyond all use, And I do fear them. Cas. What can be avoided, Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods? Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. Cas. 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 strange that men should fear; Re-enter a Servant. What say the augurers? Serv. They would not have you stir forth to-day. They could not find a heart within the beast. 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. Cas. 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. [5] This is a sentence derived from the stoical doctrine of predestination, and is therefore improper in the mouth of Cæsar. JOHNS [6] The ancients did not place courage, but wisdom in the heart. JOHN. Cas. And you are come in very happy time, And tell them, that I will not come to-day : Cas. Shall Cæsar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far, Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at, when I tell them so. Cas. 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. Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, Cas. And this way have you well expounded it. [7] 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 cogni zance; the other to martyrs, whose reliques are preserved with veneration. The Romans, says Decius, all come to you as to a saint for reliques, as to a prince for han. ours. JOHNS. When Casar's wife shall meet with better dreams. Lo, Casar is afraid? Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear, dear love Cas. 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, And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Cas. 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. Cas. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. See! Antony, that revels long o'nights, Is notwithstanding up : Good-morrow, Antony. Ant. So to most noble Cæsar. Cas. Bid them prepare within :— Now, Cinna :—Now, Metellus :-What, Trebonius ! Treb. Cæsar, I will:-And so near will I be, [Aside. That your best friends shall wish I had been further. Cas. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me`; And we, like friends, will straightway go together. [Exeunt. [8] And reason, or propriety of conduct and language, is subordinate to my love, JOHNS. SCENE III. The same. A Street near the Capitol. Enter ARTEMIDOrus, reading a paper. Art. Casar, 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; thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Cæsar. If thou be'st not immortal, look about you: Security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty Thy lover, gods defend thee! ARTEMIDORUS, Here will I stand, till Cæsar pass along, My heart laments, that virtue cannot live If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou may'st live ; The same. SCENE IV. [Exit. Another Part of the same Street, before the House of BRUTUS. Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS. Por. I pr’ythee, boy, run to the senate-house; Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone : Why dost thou stay? Luc. 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. () 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, What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him. Hark, boy what noise is that? Luc. I hear none, madam. Por. Pr'ythee, listen well: [9] Emulation here, as on many other occasions, is used in an unfavoura ble sense, somewhat like factious, envious, or malicious rivalry. STEEV. I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, Por. Come hither, fellow : Which way hast thou been? Sooth. At mine own house, good lady. 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? Sooth. That I have, lady: if it will please Cæsar To be so good to Cæsar, as to hear me, I shall beseech him to befriend himself. 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 : [Exit. Por. I must go in.-Ah me! how weak a thing The heart of woman is! O Brutus ! The heavens speed thee in thine enterprize! Say, I am merry: come to me again, And bring me word what he doth say to thee. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I-The same. The Capitol; the Senate sitting. A Crowd of People in the Street leading to the Capitol; among them ARTEMIDORUS and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter CESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others. |