240. 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. Cas. The gods do this in shame of cowardice: If he should stay at home to-day for fear. Cal. Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consumed in confidence. 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. 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 : Cæs. Shall Cæsar send a lie ? Have I in conquest stretched mine arm so far 245. Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laughed 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. Which like a fountain, with an hundred spouts, Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it. And these does she apply for warnings, and portents, Hath begged, that I will stay at home to-day. It was a vision fair and fortunate: Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, Cæs. And this way have you well expounded it. Break up the senate till another time, When Casar's wife shall meet with better dreams. Lo, Casar 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. 250. Cæs. 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, And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Pub. Good morrow, Cæsar. Cas. Welcome, Publius. What Brutus, are you stirred 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. Enter ANTONY. See! Antony, that revels long o'nights, Is, notwithstanding, up : Good morrow, Antony. 255. Ant. So to most noble Cæsar. Cas. Bid them prepare within : I am to blame to be thus waited for. Now, Cinna :-Now, Metellus :-What, Trebonius! Remember that you call on me to-day: Be near me, that I may remember you. Treb. Cæsar, I will:-and so near will I be, That your best friends shall wish I had been farther. [Aside. Cas. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me; And we, like friends, will straightway go together. Bru. That every like is not the same, O Cæsar, The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon! [Aside. Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. A street near the Capitol. Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a Paper. 260. Art. Cæsar, 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 gods defend thee! Thy lover, Artemidorus. Here will I stand, till Cæsar pass along, My heart laments, that virtue cannot live Out of the teeth of emulation. If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou mayest live; If not, the fates with traitors do contrive. [Exit. SCENE IV.-The same. 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, O Constancy, be strong upon my side! Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue! Luc. Madam, what should I do? Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? 265. Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well, For he went sickly forth: And take good note, 270. What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him. Luc. I hear none, madam. Por. Pr'ythee, listen well; I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, Enter THE SOOTHSAYER. Por. Come hither, fellow; Which way hast thou been? Por. What is 't o'clock ? 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. 275. 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, knowest 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: The throng that follows Cæsar at the heels, O Brutus ! The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise !- [Exit. 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 CÆSAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others. 280. Cæs. The ides of March are come. Sooth. Ay, Cæsar; but not gone. Art. Hail, Cæsar, read this schedule. 285. Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read, At your best leisure, this his humble suit. Art. O, Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer: Read it, great Cæsar. Cæs. That touches us? Ourself shall be last served. Cas. What, is the fellow mad? Pub: Sirrah, give place. Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol. CESAR enters the Capitol, the rest following. All the SENATORS rise. 290. Pop. I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive. 295. Cas. What enterprise, Popilius ? Pop. Fare you well. Bru. What said Popilius Lena ? [Advances to Cæsar. Cas. He wished to-day our enterprise might thrive. I fear our purpose is discovered. Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: Mark him. For I will slay myself. Bru. Cassius, be constant : Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change. Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus, He draws Mark Antony out of the way. [Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS. CESAR and the Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, |