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And for thy humour, I will stay at home.
SCENE V. Enter Decimus.
Here's Decimus Brutus, he fhall tell them fo.
Dec. Cæfar, all hail! good-morrow, worthy Cafar,
I come to fetch you to the Senate-house.

Caf. 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, falfer ;
I will not come to-day; tell them fo, Decimus.
Calp. Say he is fick.

Caf. Shall Cafar send a lie?

Have I in conqueft ftretcht mine arm so far,
To be afraid to tell grey-beards the truth?
Decimus, go tell them Cæfar will not come.

Dec. Moft mighty Cæfar, let me know fome cause,
Left I be laught at when I tell them fo.

Caf. The caufe is in my will, I will not come ; That is enough to fatisfie the Senate.

But for your private fatisfaction,

Because I love you, I will let you know.

lpburnia here, my wife, ftays me at home :
Se dreamt last night she saw my statue, which
Like to a fountain, with an hundred fpouts,
Did run pure blood; and many lufty Romans
Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it.
These she applies for warnings and portents
Of evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd that I will ftay at home to-day.
Dec. This dream is all amifs interpreted;
It was a vifion fair and fortunate:

Your ftatue fponting blood in many pipes,
In which fo many fmiling Romans bath'd,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall fuck
Reviving blood, and that great men shall prefs
For tinctures, ftains, relicks, and cognifances.
This by Calpburnia's dream is fignify'd.

Caf. 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

То

To give this day a crown to mighty Cæfar.

If you fhall fend them word you will not come,
Their minds may change. Befides, it were a mock
Apt to be render'd, for fore one to say,
Break up the Senate 'till another time,

When Cæfar's wife fhall meet with better dreams :
If Cæfar hide himself, fhall they not whisper,
Lo, Cæfar is afraid!

Pardon me, Cafar, for my dear dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this:
And reafon to my love is liable.

Caf. How foolish do your fears feem now, Calphurnia! I am afhamed I did yield to them.

Give me my robe, for I will go:

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Enter Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Cafca, Trebonius,

Cinna and Publius.

And look where Publius is come to fetch me.
Pub. Good-morrow, Cæfar.
Caf. Welcome, Publius.

What, Brutus, are you ftirr'd fo early too?
Good-morrow, Cafea : Oh! Caius Ligarius,
Cæfar was ne'er fo much your enemy

As that fame ague which hath made you lean.
What is't a-clock?

Bru. Cæfar, 'tis ftrucken eight.

Caf. I thank you for your pains and courtefie.
Enter Antony.

See Antony, that revels long a-nights,

Is notwithstanding up. Good-morrow, Antony.
Ant. So to most noble Cafar.

Caf. Bid them prepare within :

I am to blame to be thus waited for.

Now, Cinna; now, Metellus; what, Trebonius!
I have an hour's talk in ftore for

you,

Remember that you call on me to-day,

Be near me, that I may remember you,

Treb. Cafar, I will; and fo near will I be,

[Afide.

That your beft friends fhall wish I had been further.
Cf. Good friends, go in, and tafte fome wine with me,

And

And we, like friends, will ftraightway go together.
Bru. That every like is not the fame, O Cafar, Afide.
The heart of Brutus yerns to think upon!

SCENE VII The Street.

Enter Artemidorus reading a paper.

[Exeunt.

Cæfar, beware of Brutus, take beed of Caffius, come not near Casca, bave an eye to Cinna, truft not Trebonius, mark well Metellus Cimber, Decimius Brutus loves thee not; tbou baft wrong'd Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Cæfar. If thou beeft not immortal, look about thee: Security gives way to conspiracy The mighty Gods defend thee!

Thy lover Artemidorus.
Here will I ftand, 'till Cæfar pafs along,
And as a fuitor will I give him this:
My heart laments that virtue cannot live
Out of the teeth of emulation.

If thou read this, O Cæfar, thou may'st live;
If not, the fates with traitors do contrive.

Enter Portia and Lucius.

Por. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the Senate-house, Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone:

Why doft 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 shouldft do there..

O conftancy, be ftrong upon my fide,

Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue;
I have a man's mind, but a woman's might:

How hard it is for women to keep counfel!

Art thou here yet?

Luc. Madam, what should I do?

Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?

And fo return to you, and nothing else

[Exit.

Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy Lord look well, For he went fickly forth: and take good note,

What Cæfar doth, what fuitors press to him.

Hark, boy! what noife is that?

Luc. I hear none, Madam.

Por. Pr'ythee liften well;

I

I heard a buftling rumour like a fray,
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 my own houfe, good Lady.

Por. What is't a-clock ?

Art. About the ninth hour, Lady.

Por. Is Cæfar 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 Cæfar

To be fo good to Cæfar, as to hear me :

I fhall befeech him to defend himself.

[Exit.

Por. Why, know't 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 fuitors, 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. Por. I must go in -dye 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 fuit That Cæfar will not grant. O, I grow faint! Run, Lucius, and commend me to my Lord, Say I am merry'; come to me again,

And bring me word what he doth fay to thee.

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ACT III. SCENE I.

The Entrance into the Capitol.

[Exeunt.

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

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HE Ides of March are come.

Sooth. Ay, Cafar, but not gone. Art. Hail, Cæfar! read this schedule.

Det.

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

Art. O Cafar, read mine firft; for mine's a fuit
That touches Cæfar nearer. Read it, Cæfar.

Caf. What touches us our felf, fhall be last serv'd.
Art. Delay not, Cæfar, read it inftantly.
Caf. What, is the fellow mad?

Pub. Sirrah, give place.

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

Pop. with your enterprize to-day may thrive.
Caf. What enterprize, Popilius ?

Pop. Fare you well.

Bru. What faid Popilius Læna ?

Caf. He wifh'd to-day our enterprize might thrive:
I fear our purpose is difcovered.

Bru. Look how he makes to Cæfar; mark him.'
Caf. Cafca, be fudden, for we fear prevention.
Brutus, what fhall be done? if this be known,
Caffius or Cæfar never shall turn back,
For I will flay my felf.

Bru. Caffius, be constant:

Popilius Lana fpeaks not of our purpofe ;
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 prefently prefer his fuit to Cæfar.

Bru. He is addreft; prefs near, and fecond him.
Cin. Cafea, you are the first that rear your hand.
Caf. Are we all ready? what is now amifs,

That Cæfar and his Senate muft redress?

Met. Moft high, moft mighty, and moft puiffant Cæfar,
Metellus Cimber throws before thy feat
An humble heart.

Caf. I must prevent thee, Cimber;
Thefe crouchings and thefe lowly curtefies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
And turn pre-ordinance and first decree
Into the lane of children. Be not fond,

[Kneeling.

Τρ

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