Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose them: I have made strong proof of my constancy, Giving myself a voluntary wound Here, in the thigh: Can I bear that with patience, And not my husband's secrets ? 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 is that, knocks? Luc. 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 I in hand, Ligarius, Had you a healthful ear to hear of it. Lig. By all the gods that Romans bow before, I here discard my sickness. Soul of Rome! Brave son, deriv'd from honourable loins! Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjur'd up My mortified spirit. Now bid me run, And I will strive with things impossible; Yea, get the better of them. What's to do? All that is charactered on. 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. I shall unfold to thee, as we To whom it must be done. What it is, my Caius, are going Set on your foot; Lig. Bru. Follow me then. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. A room in Cæsar's palace. Thunder and lightning. Enter Cæsar, in his night gown. Cas. Nor heaven, nor earth, have been at peace to-night: Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, Sero. My lord? Enter a Servant. Cæs. 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 t in the air, Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan; And ghosts did shriek, and squeal‡ about the streets. O Cæsar! these things are beyond all use, And I do fear them. Cas. What can be avoided, Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods? 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; Seeing that death, a necessary end, 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. Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, They could not find a heart within the beast. • Never paid a regard to prodigies or omens. + Encountered.. Cry with pain, If he should stay at home to-day for fear. We were two lions litter'd in one day, Cal. 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; Enter Decius. Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. Cæsar : I come to fetch you to the senate-house. Cas. And you are come in very happy time, To bear my greeting to the senators, And tell tirem, that I will not come to-day: Cas. Decius. Shall Cæsar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far, To be afeard to tell grey-beards the truth? Dec. Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause; Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, Cas. And this way have you well expounded it. Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can say: And know it now; The senate have concluded To give, this day, a crown to mighty Cæsar. If you shall send them word, you will not come, Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock Apt to be render'd, for some one to say, Break up the senate till another time, When Casar's wife shall meet with better dreams. If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper, Lo, Cæsar 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. As to a saint, for reliques. + As to a prince for honours. Subordinate. |