He fays he does; being then moft flattered. For I can give his humcur the true bent ;. Caf. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him: Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along to him: Caf. The morning comes upon's; we'll leave you, Brutus And, friends difperfe your felves; but all remember What you have faid, and fhew your felves true Romans. Bru. Good Gentlemen, look fresh and merrily; Let not our looks put on our purposes, But bear it as our Roman actors do, With untir'd fpirits, and formal conftancy; And fo good-morrow to you every one. Manet Brutus. Boy! Lucius ? faft afleep it is no matter, Which bufie care draws in the brains of men ; SCENE III. Enter Portia. Per. Brutus, my Lord ? [Exeunt. Bru. Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now ? It is not for your health thus to commit Your weak condition to the raw cold morning. Por. Nor for yours neither. You've ungently, Brutus, Stole from my bed: and yesternight at supper You fuddenly arose and walk'd about, I urg'd you further, then you fcratch'd your head, Yet I infifted, yet you answer'd not, Which feem'd too much inkindled; and withal, Which fometime hath his hour with every man. Bru. I am not well in health, and that is all. Por. Brutus is wife, and were he not in health; He would embrace the means to come by it. Bru. Why, fo I do : good Portia, go to bed. Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia. Por. I fhould not need, if you were gentle Brutus, Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, Is it excepted, I fhould know no fecrets To keep with you at meals, confort your bed, Bru. You are my true and honourable wife ; That vifit my fad heart. Por. If this were true, then fhould I know this fecret. I grant I am a woman; but withal, A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife: I grant I am a woman; but withal, Tell me your counfels, I will not disclose them: Here, in the thigh: can I bear that with patience, Bru. O ye Gods! Render me worthy of this noble wife. Hark, hark, one knocks: Portia, go in a while, And by and by thy bosom shall partake The fecrets of my heart. All my engagements I will conftrue to thee, All the charactery of my fad brows. Leave me with hafte. Enter Lucius and Ligarius. Lucius, who's there that knocks? [Knock. [Exit Portia. Luc. Here is a fick man that would speak with you. Boy, ftand afide. Caius Ligarius! how? Lig. Vouchfafe good-morrow from a feeble tongue. Bru. O what a time have you chofe out, brave Caius, To wear a kerchief? would you were not fick ! Lig. I am not fick, if Brutus have in hand Any exploit worthy the name of honour. Bru. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Had you an healthful ear to hear of it. Lig. By all the Gods the Romans bow before, here difcard my fickness. Soul of Rome, Brave fon deriv'd from honourable loins, Thou like an exorcift haft conjur'd up My mortified fpirit. Now bid me run, And I will ftrive with things impoffible; Yea, get the better of them. What's to do? Bru. A piece of work, that will make fick men wholer I fhall unfold to thee, as we are going, To whom it must be done. Lig. Set on your foot, And with a heart new-fir'd I follow you; Bru. Follow me then. [Exeant SCENE IV. Cæfar's Palace. Ser. My Lord. Caf. Go bid the Priefts do prefent facrifice, And bring me their opinions of fuccefs. Ser. I will, my Lord. Enter Calphurnia. [Exit. Calp. What mean you, Cæfar? think you to walk forth? Caf. Cafar fhall forth; the things that threatned me, Calp. Cæfar, I never food on ceremonies, And graves have yawn'd and yielded up their dead; Which Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol : Caf. What can be avoided, Whofe end is purpos'd by the mighty Gods? Calp. When beggars die, there are no comets feen, Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, Will come, when it will come. Enter a Servant. What fay the Augurs ? Ser. They would not have you to ftir forth to-day. If he fhould ftay at home to-day for fear.* Your wifdom is confum'd in confidence : Do not go forth to-day; call it my fear, That keeps you in the house, and not your own. to day for fear: No, Cafar fhall not; Danger knows full well, We were two lions litter'd in one day, And I the elder and more terrible; Calp. Alas, I. |