SCENE II. The same. A Room in CESAR'S Palace.. Thunder and Lightning. Enter CÆSAR, in his Cas. Nor heaven, nor earth, have been at peace tonight: Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, Serv. My lord? Cas. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice, And bring me their opinions of success. Serv. I will, my lord. Enter CALPHURNIA. [Exit: Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? Think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day. Cæs. Cæsar shall forth: The things that threaten'd me, Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see The face of Cæsar, they are vanished. Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet now they fright me. There is one within, Besides the things that we have heard and seen, Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. A lioness hath whelped in the streets; And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead; In ranks, and squadrons, and right form of war, The noise of battle hurtled in the air, And ghosts did shriek, and squeal about the streets, 0 Cæsar! these things are beyond all use, And I do fear them. Cas. Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. Cas. Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Will come, when it will come. Re-enter a Servant. What say the augurers? Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to-day. Cas. The gods do this in shame of cowardice: Cal. go forth. Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consum'd in confidence, Do not go forth to-day: Call it my fear, That keeps you in the house, and not your own. Cas. Mark Antony shall say, I am not well; Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. Dec. Cæsar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Cæsar: I come to fetch you to the senate-house. Cæs. And you are come in very happy time, To bear my greeting to the senators, Cal. Say, he is sick. Cas. Shall Cæsar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far," Decius, go tell them, Cæsar will not come. Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause; Lest I be laugh'd at, when I tell them so. Cas. 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. Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, Cas. And this way have you well expounded it. 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 To your proceeding bids me tell you this; 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, And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Cæs. Welcome, Publius. What, Brutus, are you stirr'd 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. Enter ANTONY. See! Antony, that revels long o'nights, Is notwithstanding up:― Good morrow, Antony. 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! 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.. b 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, If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou may'st live; If not, the fates with traitors do contrive. [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, 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! 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? C |