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When Casar's wife shall meet with better dreams.
If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper,

Lo, Casar 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?-
Good-morrow, Casca.-Caius Ligarius,
Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy,

As that same ague which hath made you lean.-
What is't o'clock ?

Bru. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight.

Cas. 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!
I have an hour's talk in store for 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. Cas. 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.

[8] And reason, or propriety of conduct and language, is subordinate to my love. JOHNS.

The sa

SCENE III.

same. A Street near the Capitol. Enter ARTEMIDOrus, reading a paper.

Art. Casar, 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,
And as a suitor will I give him this.

My heart laments, that virtue cannot live
Out of the teeth of emulation. 9

If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou may'st live;
If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.

The same.

SCENE IV.

[Exit.

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, 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!

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

How hard it is for women to keep counsel !—

Art thou here yet?

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:

[9] Emulation here, as on many other occasions, is used in an unfavoura ble sense, somewhat like factious, envious, or malicioas rivalry. STEEV.

J

I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
Luc. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.
Enter Soothsayer.

Por. Come hither, fellow :

Which way hast thou been?

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 ?

Sooth. Madam, not yet; I go to take my stand, To see him pass on to the Capitol.

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:
The throng that follow 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.

Por. I must go in.-Ah me! how weak a thing
The heart of woman is! O Brutus !

The heavens speed thee in thine enterprize!
Sure, the boy heard me :-Brutus hath a suit,
That Cæsar 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.

ACT III.

SCENE I-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 CESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others.

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Art. Hail, Cæsar! Read this schedule.

Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read, At your best leisure, this his humble suit.

Art. O, Cæsar, read mine first: for mine's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer: Read it, great Cæsar. Cas. What touches us ourself, shall be last serv'd. Art. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly.

Cas. What, is the fellow mad?

Pub. Sirrah, give place.

Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street ? Come to the Capitol.

CESAR enters the Capitol, the rest following. All the Senators rise.

Pop. I wish, your enterprize to-day may thrive.
Cas. What enterprize, Popilius?

Pop. Fare you well.

[Advances to CESAR.

Bru. What said Popilius Lena?

Cas. He wish'd, to-day our enterprize might thrive. I fear, our purpose is discovered.

Bru, Look, how he makes to Cæsar: Mark him. Cas. 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.

Bru. 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 :2 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 puissantCæsar, Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat

An humble heart :

Cas. I must prevent thee, Cimber.

These couchings, and these lowly courtesies,
Might fire the blood of ordinary men ;

And turn pre-ordinance, and first decree,3

[2] That is, He is ready. STEEV.

3 Pre-ordinance, for ordinance already established.

[Kneeling.

WARR.

Into the law of children. Be not fond,

To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood,
That will be thaw'd from the true quality

With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words, Low-crooked curt'sies, and base spaniel fawning.

Thy brother by decree is banished;

If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.

Know, Cæsar doth not wrong; nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.

Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own,
To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear,
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?

Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar ;
Desiring thee, that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
Cas. What, Brutus !

Cas. Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon:
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.
Cas. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you;
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me
But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fix'd, and resting quality,
There is no fellow in the firmament.

The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks,
They are all fire, and every one doth shine;
But there's but one in all doth hold his place :
So, in the world; 'Tis furnish'd well with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive ;*
Yet, in the number, I do know but one5
That unassailable holds on his rank,6
Unshak'd of motion: and, that I am he,

Let me a little show it, even in this ;

That I was constant, Cimber should be banish'd,.

And constant do remain to keep him so.

Cin. O Cæsar,

Cas. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?
Dec. Great Cæsar,-

Cas. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?

Casca. Speak, hands, for me.

[4] Susceptible of fear, or other passions.

JOHNS.

[5] One, and only one. JOH.

[6] Perhaps, holds on his race; continues his course. We commonly say, To hold a rank, and To hold on a course or way. JOHNS.

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