Here, in the thigh: can I bear that with patience, Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, And not my husband's secrets ?

Yet now they fright me. There is one within, Bru.

O ye gods ! Besides the things that we have heard and seen, Render me worthy of this noble wife.

Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.

k'nocking within. A lioness hath whelped in the streets; Hark, hark! one knocks. Portia, go in awhile; And graves have yawn'd and yielded up their And by and by thy bosom shall partake

dead; The secrets of my heart.

Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds, All my engagements I will construe to thee, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, All the charactery of my sad brows.

Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol ;
Leave me with haste.

Exit PORTIA. The noise of battle hurtled in the air,
Lucius, who's that knocks ? Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan,
Re-enter LUCIUS with LIGARIUS.

And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the

streets. Luc. Here is a sick man that would speak with o Cæsar! these things are beyond all use, you.

310 And I do fear them. Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of.

Caes.

What can be avoided Boy, stand aside. Caius Ligarius ! how?

Whose end is purpos’d by the mighty gods? Lig. Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble Yet Cæsar sball go forth; for these predictions tongue.

Are to the world in general as to Cæsar. Bru. O! what a time have you chose out,

Cal. When beggars die there are no comets brave Caius,

seen ; To wear a kerchief. Would you were not sick! The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of Lig. I am not sick if Brutus have in hand

princes. Any exploit worthy the name of honour.

Carr. Cowards die many times before their
Bru. Such an exploit hare I in hand, Ligarius, deaths;
Had you a healthful ear to hear of it.

The valiant never taste of death but once.
Lig. By all the gods that Romans bow before, Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
I here discard my sickness. Soul of Rome! 321
Brave son, deriv'd from honourable loins !

It seems to me most strange that men should

fear; Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjur'd up

Seeing that death, a necessary end,
My mortified spirit. Now bid me run,

Will come when it will come.
And I will strive with things impossible;
Yea, get the better of them. What's to do?

Re-enter Serrant.
Bru. A piece of work that will make sick men

What say the augurers ? whole.

Serr. They would not have you to stir forth Lig. But are not some whole that we must

to-day. make sick ? Bru. That must we also. What it is, my Caius. They could not find a heart within the beast.

Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, I shall unfold to thee as we are going

Cæs. The gods do this in shame of cowardice: To whom it must be done.

Cæsar should be a beast without a heart Lig.

Set on your foot, And with a heart new.fir'd I follow you,

If he should stay at home to-day for fear.

No, Cæsar shall not ; danger knows full well To do I know not what; but it sufficeth

That Cæsar is more dangerous than he :
That Brutus leads me on.
Bru.
Follow me then. Exeunt. And I the elder and more terrible;

We are two lions litter'd in one day,

And Cæsar shall go forth. SCENE II.-The Same. CÆSAR's House. Cal.

Alas ! my lord.

Your wisdom is consum'd in confidence. Thunder and lightning. Enter CÆSAR, in his night-gown.

Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear

That keeps you in the house, and not your own. Cæs. Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-bouse, to-night :

And he shall say you are not well to-day: Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out,

Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this. 'Help, ho! they murder Cæsar! Who's within?

Cæs. Mark Antony shall say I am not well; Enter a Serrant.

And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.
Serv. My lord !

Enter DECIUS.
Cæs. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice,
And bring me their opinions of success.

Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. Serr. I will, my lord.

Exit.

Dec. Cæsar, all hail! Good morrow, worth

Cæsar:
Enter CALPURNIA.

I come to fetch you to the senate-house. Cal. What mean you, Cæsar ? Think you to Cæs. And you are come in very happy time walk forth?

To bear my greeting to the senators, You shall not stir out of your house to-day. And tell them that I will not come to-dar: Cæs. Cæsar shall forth : the things that Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser: threaten'd me

10 I will not come to-day : tell them so, Decius. Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall Cal. Say he is sick.

Cars.

Shall Cæsar send a lie ! The face of Cæsar, they are vanished.

Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far

330

see

70

with me;

80

10

say :

To be afeard to tell greybeards the truth? 1 Treb. Cæsar, I will: Aside and so near will Decius, go tell them Casar will not come.

I be, Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some that your best friends shall wish I had been cause,

further. Lest I be laughid at when I tell them so.

Cæs. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine Cæs. The cause is in my will: I will not come; That is enough to satisfy the senate :

And we, like friends, will straightway go toBut for your private satisfaction,

gether. Because I love you, I will let you know :

Bru. Aside. That every like is not the same, Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home:

O Cæsar! She dream'd to-night she saw my statua,

The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon. Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,

Exeunt, Did run pure blood ; and many lusty Romans Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it. SCENE III. — The Same. A Street near the Capitol. And these does she apply for warnings and Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a paper.

portents, And evils imminent; and on her knee

Cæsar, beware of Brutus ; take heed of Cassius ; Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day.

come not near Casca ; hare an eye to Cinna; trust Dec. This dream is all amiss interpreted ;

not Trebonius ; mark well Metellus Cimber ; Decius

Brutus loves thee not; thou hast wronged Caius It was a vision fair and fortunate : Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,

Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, In which so many smiling Romans bath'd,

and it is bent against Cæsar. If thou be'st not im

mortal, look about you : security gives way to conSignifies that from you great Rome shall suck Reviving blood, and that great men shall press spiracy. The mighty gods defend thee! my lover, For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.

ARTEMIDORUS. This by Calpurnia's dream is signified.

90 Here will I stand till Cæsar pass along, Cæs. And this way have you well expounded it. And as a suitor will I give him this. Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can My heart laments that virtue cannot live

Out of the teeth of emulation. And know it now: the senate have concluded If thou read this, O Cæsar ! thou may'st live ; To give this day a crown to mighty Cæsar. If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive. Exit. If you sball send them word you will not come, Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock SCENE IV.-The Same. Another Part of the same Apt to be render'd, for some one to say

Street, before the House of BRUTUS. • Break up the senate till another time, When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better

Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS. dreams.'

Por. I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house; If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone. *Lo! Cæsar is afraid'!

101 Why dost thou stay? Pardon me, Cæsar ; for my dear dear love

Luc.

To know my errand, madam. To your proceeding bids me tell you this,

Por. I would have had thee there, and here And reason to my love is liable.

again, Ces. How foolish do your fears seem now, Ere I can tell thee what thou should’st do there. Calpurnia!

O constancy! be strong upon my side; I am ashamed I did yield to them.

Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and Give me my robe, for I will go :

tongue ; Enter Publius, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METEL

I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.

How hard it is for women to keep counsel ! LUS, CASCA, TREBONIUS, and CINNA.

Art thou here yet? And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Luc.

Madam, what should I do? Pub. Good morrow, Cæsar.

Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? Cæs.

Welcome, Publius. And so return to you, and nothing else? What! Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too ! 110 Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius,

well, Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy

For he went sickly forth; and take good note As that same ague which hath made you lean. What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him. What is 't o'clock !

Hark, boy! what noise is that? Bru.

Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight. Luc. I hear none, madam. Cæs. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. Por.

Prithee, listen well ;

I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
Enter ANTONY,

And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
See! Antony, that revels long o' nights,

Luc. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.
Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.

Enter the Soothsayer.
Ant. So to most noble Cæsar.
Coes.

Bid them prepare within: Por. Come hither, fellow : which way hast I am to blame to be thus waited for.

thou been ? Now, Cinna ; now, Metellus ; what, Trebonius! Sooth. At mine own house, good lady. I have an hour's talk in store for you;

Por. What is 't o'clock ? Remember that you call on me to-day :

Sooth.

About the ninth hour, lady. Be near me, that I may remember you.

Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol ?

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20

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Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow :
The throng that follows Cæsar at the heels,
Of senators, of prætors, common suitors,
Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:
I'll get me to a place more void, and there
Speak to great Cæsar as he comes along.

Exit.

40

Por. I must go in. Ay me! how weak a thing
The heart of woman is. O Brutus !
The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise.
Sure, the boy heard me: Brutus hath a suit
That Caesar will not grant. O! I grow faint.
Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;
Say I am merry: come to me again,
And bring me word what he doth say to thee.
Exeunt severally.

Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back,
For I will slay myself.

Bru.

21

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. CÆSAR
and the Senators take their seats
Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,
And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar.

Bru. He is address'd; press near and second
him.

Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your
hand.

Cas. Are we all ready? What is now amiss
That Cæsar and his senate must redress!
Met. Most high, most mighty, and most
puissant Cæsar,

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a

;

151

Casca. Spcak, hands, for me!

If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony

They stal CÆSAR. May safely come to him, and be resolv'd Cæs. Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Cæsar! Dies. How Cæsar hath deserv'd to lie in death,

Cir. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! Mark Antony shall not love Casar dead Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. So well as Brutus living ; but will follow

Cas. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus 'Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement ! 81 | Thorough the hazards of this untrod state,

Bru. People and senators, be not affrighted; With all true faith. So says my master Antony. Fly not; stand still ; ambition's debt is paid. Bru. Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman ; Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus.

I never thought him worse. Dec.

And Cassius too. Tell him, so please him come unto this place, 140 Bru, Where's Publius ?

He shall be satisfied ; and, by my honour,
Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. Depart untouch'd.
Met. Stand fast together, lest some friend of Serv.

I'll fetch him presently. Erit. Cæsar's

Bru. I know that we shall have himn well to Should chance

friend. Bru. Talk not of standing. Publius, good Cas. I wish we may: but yet have I a mind cheer ;

That fears him much; and my misgiving still There is no harm intended to your person, 90 Falls shrewdly to the purpose. Nor to no Roman else ; so tell them, Publius. Cas. And leave us, Publius; lest that the

Re-enter ANTONY. people,

Bru. But here comes Antony. Welcome, Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief. Mark Antony.

Bru. Do so; and let no man abide this deed Ant. O mighty Cæsar! dost thou lie so low? But we the doers.

Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,

Shrunk to this little measure ? Fare thee well. Re-enter TREBONIUS.

I know not, gentlemen, what you intend, Cas. Where's Antony ?

Who else must be let blood, who else is rank: Tre.

Fled to his house amaz'd. If I myself, there is no hour so fit Men, wives and children stare, cry out and run As Cæsar's death's hour, nor no instrument As it were doomsday.

Of half that worth as those your swords, made Bru. Fates, we will know your pleasures. rich That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time With the most noble blood of all this world. And drawing days out, that men stand upon. 100 I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,

Cas. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and Cuts off so many years of fearing death.

smoke, Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit: Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years, So are we Cæsar's friends, that have abridg'd I shall not find myself so apt to die : His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop, No place will please me so, no mean of death, And let us bathe our hands in Cæsar's blood As here by Cæsar, and by you cut off, Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords : The choice and master spirits of this age. Then walk we forth, even to the market-place; Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us. And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads, Though now we must appear bloody and cruel, Let 's all cry ‘Peace, freedom, and liberty !' 110 As, by our hands and this our present act, Cas. Stoop then, and wash. How many ages You see we do. yet see you but our hands hence

And this the bleeding business they have done : Shall this our lofty scene be acted over,

Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful;
In states unborn and accents yet unknown! And pity to the general wrong of Rome,
Bru. How many times shall Cæsar bleed in s fire drives out fire, so pity pity,
sport,

Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part, That now on Pompey's basis lies along

To you our swords have leaden points, Mark No worthier than the dust!

Antony : Сая.

So oft as that shall be, Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts So often shall the knot of us be call’d

Of brothers' temper, do receive you in The men that gave their country liberty. With all kind love, good thoughts, an I reverence. Dec. What! shall we forth?

Cas. Your voice shall be as strong as any man's Cas.

Ay, every man away: In the disposing of new dignities.
Brutus shall lead ; and we will grace his heels Brul. Only be patient till we have appeas'd
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome. The muutitude, beside themselves with fear, 180

And then we will deliver you the cause
Enter a Servant.

Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him,
Bru. Soft! who comes here? A friend of Have thus proceeded.
Antony's.

Ant.

I doubt not of your wisdom. Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid mekneel; Let each man render me his bloody band : Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down ; First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you ; And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say: Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand ; Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest; Now, Decius Brutus, yours; now yours, Metellus; Cæsar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving : Yours, Cinna ; and, my valiant Casca, yours ; Say I love Brutus, and I honour him ;

Thongh last, not least in love, yours, good TreSay I fear'd Cæsar, honour'd him, and lov'd him. bunius.

a

100

170

122