Enter Calphurnia. Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? Think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day. Cas. Cæsar shall forth: The things, that threaten'd me, Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead: In ranks, and squadrons, and right form of war, The noise of battle hurtled in the air, . 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; Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Will come, when it will come. 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: And Cæsar shall go forth. 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. And he shall say, you are not well to-day: Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this. Cæs. Mark Antony shall say, I am not well; And, for thy humour, I will stay at home. Enter Decius. Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. Cas. And you are come in very happy time, Cæs. 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. Dec. This dream is all amifs interpreted; Cas. And this way have you well expounded it. To give, this day, a crown to mighty Cæsar. If you shall send them word, you will not come, Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock Apt to be render'd, for some one to say, Break up the senate till another time, When Casar's wife shall meet with better dreams. 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. 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, Casca, Trebonius, and Cinna. And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Pub. Good-morrow, Cæsar. Cas. Welcome, Publius. What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too? Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy, you As that same ague which hath made lean.- Bru. Cæsar, 'tis stricken 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. 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! Treb. Cæsar, I will:-and so near will I be, [Aside. That your best friends shall wish I had been further. Bru. That every like is not the same, O Cæsar, [Exeunt. |