I have a man's mind, but a woman's might. LUCIUS. Madam, what shall I do? Run to the Capitol, and nothing else ? And so return to you, and nothing else? 8 12 PORTIA. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well, For he went sickly forth; and take good note LUCIUS. I hear none, madam. PORTIA. 16 Prithee, listen well: I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, 20 which way hast thou SOOTHSAYER. At mine own house, good lady. PORTIA. What is 't o'clock ? SOOTHSAYER. About the ninth hour, lady. PORTIA. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol ? SOOTHSAYER. stand, 24 Madam, not yet: I go to take my To see him pass on to the Capitol. PORTIA. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not? SOOTHSAYER. Cæsar That I have, lady: if it will please To be so good to Cæsar as to hear me, I shall beseech him to befriend himself. 28 PORTIA. Why, know'st thou any harm 's intended towards him? SOOTHSAYER. None that I know will be, much that Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: Of senators, of praetors, common suitors, 32 Will crowd a feeble man almost to death: 36 [Exit. PORTIA. I must go in. Ay me! how weak a thing The heart of woman is. O Brutus ! The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise. And bring me word what he doth say to thee. ACT III. 40 44 [Exeunt, severally. SCENE I.-Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting bove. A crowd of People; among them ARTEMIDORUS and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter CESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and Others. CÆSAR. [To the Soothsayer.] The ides of March are come. SOOTHSAYER. Ay, Cæsar; but not gone. ARTEMIDORUS. Hail, Cæsar! Read this schedule. DECIUS. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read, At your best leisure, this his humble suit. 5 ARTEMIDORUS. O Cæsar! read mine first; for mine 's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer. Read it, great Cæsar. CÆSAR. What touches us ourself shall be last serv'd. ARTEMIDORUS. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly. CESAR. What is the fellow mad? PUBLIUS. Sirrah, give place. CESAR. What! urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol. 12 CESAR goes up to the Senate-House, the rest following. All the Senators rise. POPILIUS. I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive. What enterprise, Popilius? CASSIUS. POPILIUS. BRUTUS. CASSIUS... thrive. Fare you well. [Advances to CÆSAR What said Popilius Lena ? He wish'd to-day our enterprise might I fear our purpose is discovered. 16 BRUTUS. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: mark him. CASSIUS. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention. Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back, For I will slay myself. BRUTUS. Cassius, be constant: Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; 20 24 For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change. CASSIUS. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus, He draws Mark Antony out of the way. DECIUS. [Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS. CÆSAR and the Senators take their seats. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, 28 And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. CINNA. 32 METELLUS. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Cæsar, Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat A humble heart, CESAR. [Kneeling. 36 I must prevent thee, Cimber. With that which melteth fools; I mean sweet words, If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him, 40 44 I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. Know, Cæsar doth not wrong, nor without cause METELLUS. own, 48 Is there no voice more worthy than my 44 To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear CASSIUS. 53 Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon : As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, CESAR. I could be well mov'd if I were as you; The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks, But there's but one in all doth hold his place : That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd, CINNA. O Cæsar, 56 60 64 68 72 Hence ! Wilt thou lift up Olympus ! DECIUS. Great Cæsar,— CÆSAR. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? CASCA. Speak, hands, for me! [They stab Cæsar. CÆSAR. Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Cæsar! CINNA. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. [Dies. CASSIUS. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out, 'Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement !' SH. VIII *F 81 BRUTUS. People and senators, be not affrighted ; Fly not; stand still; ambition's debt is paid. CASCA. Go to the pulpit, Brutus. DECIUS. And Cassius too. 3076 BRUTUS. Where's Publius ? 85 CINNA. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. METELLUS, Stand fast together, lest some friend of Cæsar's Should chance→ 88 BRUTUS. Talknot tof standing. Publius, good cheer; There is no harm intended to your person, Nor to no Roman else; so tell them, Publius. 92 CASSIUS..T And leave us, Publius; lest that the people, Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief. BRUTUS. Do so; and let no man abide this deed But we the doers.! i: Re-enter TREBONIUS. CASSIUS. Where's Antony ? TREBONIUS. ས ་ ༑ ། Fled to his house amaz'd. 96 Men, wives and children stare, cry out and run BRUTUS. 1 Fates, we will know your pleasures. That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time BRUTUS. Grant that, and then is death a benefit: 100 104 108 CASSIUS. Stoop, then, and wash. How many ages hence, Shall this our lofty scene be acted o'er, In states unborn and accents yet unknown! 112 |