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. If he should stay at home to-day for fear. That Cæsar is more dangerous than he. We are two lions littered in one day, And Cæsar shall go forth. 239. Cal. Alas, my lord, 240. Your wisdom is consumed in confidence. Do not go forth to-day. Call it my fear, That keeps you in the house, and not your own. Cæs. Mark Antony shall say, I am not well; Enter DECIUS. Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. 241. Dec. Cæsar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Cæsar: I come to fetch you to the senate-house. 242. 244. 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, Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, 245. Cæs. The cause is in my will; will not come : That is enough to satisfy the senate. Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts, Hath begged that I will stay at home to-day. 246. Dec. This dream is all amiss interpreted: It was a vision fair and fortunate. Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, Cæs. And this way have you well expounded it. 248. Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can say: And know it now. The senate have concluded To give this day a crown to mighty Cæsar. If you shall send them word you will not come, When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams. Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear, dear love To your proceeding bids me tell you this; And reason to my love is liable. 249. Cæs. How foolish do your fears seem now, Cal Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS, CASÇA, TREBONIUS, and CINNA. And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Pub. Good morrow, Cæsar. 251. Cæs. Welcome, Publius. — What, Brutus, are you stirred so early too?— Good morrow, Casca. · Caius Ligarius, Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy, As that same ague which hath made you lean. — 252. Bru. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight. 253. Cæs. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. 255. Enter ANTONY. See! Antony, that revels long o' nights, Is, notwithstanding, up: Good morrow, Antony. Ant. So to most noble Cæsar. Cæs. Bid them prepare within : I am to blame to be thus waited for.- Now, Metellus. - What, Trebonius! I have an hour's talk in store for you. Treb. Cæsar, I will:- [Aside. Cæs. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me; And we, like friends, will straightway go together. 258. Bru. That every like is not the same, O Cæsar, The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon! 4 [Aside. Exeunt. SCENE III.- The same. A Street near the Capitol. Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a Paper. 259. 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 beest 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 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. 260. 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. 262. Por. I would have had thee there, and here again, Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.· O constancy, be strong upon my side! Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue! How hard it is for women to keep counsel! - 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. Luc. I hear none, madam. 266. Por. Pr'ythee, listen well; I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, And the wind brings it from the Capitol. 267. Luc. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing. Enter THE SOOTHSAYER. 268. Por. Come hither, fellow. Which way hast thou been? Sooth. At mine own house, good lady. 270. 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, Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not? To be so good to Cæsar as to hear me, I shall beseech him to befriend himself. 276. Por. Why, knowest thou any harm's intended towards him? 277. Sooth. None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance. Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: 278. O Brutus ! The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise! Say, I am merry; come to me again, And bring me word what he doth say to thee. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE 1.- 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. Cæs. The ides of March are come. |