Enter DECIUS. Here's Decius Brutus; he shall tell them so. I come to fetch you to the senate-house. Cæs. And you are come in very happy time, Cæs. Shall Cæsar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretched mine arm so far, To be afeard to tell gray-beards the truth? Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laughed at, when I tell them so. Cæs. 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. It was a vision, fair and fortunate. 1 "The old copy reads statue; but it has been shown by Mr. Reed, beyond controversy, that statua was pronounced as a trisyllable by our ancestors, and hence generally written statua" For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.1 Cæs. 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 To give, this day, a crown to mighty Cæsar; If you shall send them word you will not come, When Casar's wife shall meet with better dreams. Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear, dear love 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, TREBONIUS, and CINNA. And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Pub. Good morrow, Cæsar. Cæs. 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. 1 At the execution of several of the ancient nobility, martyrs, &c., handkerchiefs were tinctured with their blood, and preserved as memorials. 2 "And reason, or propriety of conduct and language, is subordinate to my love." Enter ANTONY. See! Antony, that revels long o' nights, Ant. So to most noble Cæsar. Cæs. Bid them prepare within : I am to blame to be thus waited for. Now, Cinna ;-now, Metellus :-What, Trebonius! you; 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, [Aside. That your best friends shall wish I had been further. Cæs. 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! [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. A Street near the Capitol. Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a paper. 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, Out of the teeth of emulation.1 If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou mayst live; [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, 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. Hark, boy! what noise is that? Luc. I hear none, madam. Por. Pr'ythee, listen well; I heard a bustling rumor, like a fray, Por. Enter Soothsayer.3 Come hither, fellow: Which way hast thou been? 1 Emulation is here used in its old sense of envious or factious rivalry. 2 "The fates join with traitors in contriving thy destruction." 3 Mr. Tyrwhitt says, VOL. VI. 6 "The introduction of the soothsayer here is Sooth. At mine own house, good lady. Por. What is't o'clock ? Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady. Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol ? To see him pass on to the Capitol. to take my stand, 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, know'st 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 ; [Exit. Por. I must go in.-Ah me! how weak a thing And bring me word what he doth say to thee. [Exeunt. unnecessary and improper. All that he is made to say should be given to Artemidorus; who is seen and accosted by Portia in his passage from his first stand to one more convenient." 1 These words Portia addresses to Lucius, to deceive him, by assigning a false cause for her present perturbation. |