Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife. Bru. You are my true and honourable wife; As dear to me, as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart. Por. If this were true, then should I know this I grant, I am a woman; but, withal, A woman that lord Brutus took to wife : I grant, I am a woman; but, withal, A woman well-reputed; Cato's daughter. Tell me your counsels, 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! (Knocking within.) Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in a while; And by and by thy bosom shall partake The secrets of my heart. All my engagements I will construe to thee, Leave me with haste. [Exit Portia. Enter LUCIUS and LIGARIUS. Lucius, who's that, knocks? Lue. Here is a sick man, that would speak with you. Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of. Boy, stand aside.-Caius Ligarius: how? Lig. Vouchsafe good-morrow from a feeble tongue. To wear a kerchief? 'Would you were not sick! Bru. Such an exploit have 1 in hand, Ligarius, Had you a healthful ear to hear of it. Lig. By all the gods, that Romans bow before, 1 here discard my sickness. Soul of Rome! Brave son, derived from honourable loins! Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjured up Yea, get the better of them. What's to do? Bru. A piece of work, that will make sick men whole. Lig. But are not some whole, that we must make sick? Bru. That must we also. What it is, my Caius, I shall unfold to thee, as we are going To whom it must be done. Lig. Bru. Follow me then. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. A Room in Cæsar's Palace. Thunder and lightning. Enter CESAR, in his night-gown. Cas. Nor heaven, nor earth, have been at peace to 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. [Brit Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? Think you to walk You shall not stir out of your house to-day. [forth P Ces. Cæsar shall forth: The things, that threaten'd me, Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet now they fright me. There is one within, And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead: The noise of battle hurtled in the air, Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan; And ghosts did shriek, and squeal about the streets. And I do fear them. Cas. What can be avoided, Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods? Yet Cæsar shall go forth; for these predictions Are to the world in general, as to Cæsar. 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 Servant. What say the augurers? Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to-day. Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, They could not find a heart within the beast. If he should stay at home to-day for fear. We were two lions litter'd in one day, And I the elder and more terrible; Cal. Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consumed in confidence. Do not go forth to-day: Cal! it my fear, That keeps you in the house, and not your own. Let me upon my knee, prevail in this. Cas. Mark Antony shall say, I am not well; And, for thy humour, I will stay at home. Enter DECIUS. Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. Dec. Cæsar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Cesar: I come to fetch you to the senate-house. Cas. And you are come in very happy time, D To bear my greeting to the senators,' Cas. 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. Break up the senate till another time, When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams. Lo, Casar is afraid? Pardon me, Caesar; 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, METEL- And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Welcome, Publius. What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?- Caesar was ne'er so much your enemy, As that same ague which hath made you lean.- Bru. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight. Cas. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. Enter ANTONY. See! Antony, that revels long o'nights, 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! Be near me, that I may remember you. Treb. Cæsar, I will:-and so near will I be, (Aside.) That your est friends shall wish I had been farther. Cas. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me; And we, like friends, will straightway go together. 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 Caesar pass along |