To bear my Greeting to the Senators,
And tell them that I will not come to-day :
Cannot, is false; and that I dare not, falfer;
I will not come to-day; tell them fo, Decius.
Cal. Say, he is fick.

Caf. Shall Cafar send a lie?

Have I in conqueft ftretcht mine arm fo far,.
To be afraid to tell Grey-beards the truth?
Decius, go tell them, Cæfar will not come.
Dec. Moft mighty Cafar, let me know fome caufe,
Left I be laught at, when I tell them fo.

Caf. The caufe is in my will, I will not come ;
That is enough to fatisfy the Senate.

But for your private fatisfaction,

Because I love you, I will let you know.
Calphurnia here, my wife, ftays me at home:
She dreamt last night, fhe faw my Statue,
Which, like a fountain, with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood; and many lufty Romans
Came fmiling, and did bathe their hands in it.
These the applies for warnings and portents,
And evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd, that I will stay at home to-day.
Dec. This Dream is all amifs interpreted;
It was a vifion fair and fortunate :

Your Statue, fpouting blood in many pipes,
In which fo many fmiling Romans bath'd,
Signifies, that from you great Rome fhall fuck
Reviving blood; and that great men shall prefs,
For tinctures, ftains, relicks, and cognisance.
This by Calphurnia's Dream is fignify'd.

Caf. And this way have you well expounded it.
Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can fay;
And know it now, the Senate have concluded
To give this day a Crown to mighty Cefar.
If you shall fend them word you will not come,
Their minds may change. Befides, it were a mock
Apt to be render'd, for fome one to say,
"Break up the Senate 'till another time,

"When Cafar's Wife fhall meet with better Dreams :"

ufe

;

"

f

Pardon me, Calar; 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 Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, Trebonius,,
Cinna and Publius.

And, look, where Publius is come to fetch me..

Pub. Good morrow, Cafar.

Cas. Welcome, Publius.

What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?

Good morrow, Casca: Caius Ligarius,
Cafar was ne'er so much your enemy,

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

Bru. Cafar, '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 Cafar.
Caf. Bid them prepare within:

I am too 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. Cafar, I will; - and so near will I be, [Afide.
That your best friends shall wish I had been further.
Caf. 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 fame, O Cafar,

[Afide. The heart of Brutus yerns to think upon ! [Exeunt,

८८.

66

SCENE changes to a Street near the Capitol.

C

(16) Enter Artemidorus, reading a paper.
ESAR, beware

of Brutus; take heed of Caffius; come not near Cafca; have an eye to Cinna; trust "not Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber; Decius "Brutus loves thee not; thou hast wrong'd Caius Liga-" rius. There is but one mind, in all these men, and "it is bent against Cafar. If thou beest not immortal,. " look about thee: security gives way to conspiracy. "The mighty Gods defend thee!

"1hy Lover Artemidorus.

Here will I stand, 'till Cæfar pass along,
And as a fuitor will I give him this:

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

If thou read this, O Cafar, thou may'st live;

If not, the fates with Traitors do contrive.

Enter Porcia 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.

[Exit.

Por.. I would have had thee there, and here again,
Ere I can tell thee what thou should'st do there
O Conftancy, be strong upon my fide,

(16) Enter Artemidorus,] In the Dramatis Perfonæ, through all the editions, Artemidorus is called a Sootbsayer. But, 'tis certain, the poet designed two distinct characters. Artemidorus was neither Augur, nor Soothsayer. 'Tis true, there was an Artemidorus, whose critic on dreams we still have: but he did not live till the time of Antoninus. He likewife wrote, according to Suidas, of Augury and Palmistry. But this Artemidorus, who had been Cafar's host at Cnidos, as we learn from Plutarch, Appian, &c. did not pretend to know any thing of the conspiracy against Cæfar by prefcience, or prognostication. He was a fophift, who taught that science in Greek at Rome; by which means being intimate with Brutus, and those about him, he got into their secret; and, out of his old affection for Cæfar, was defirous of acquainting him with his danger.

Set

Caffius;

; truft

Decius

Liga

and

ortal,

Eracy.

Exit.

all

the

Au

How hard it is for women to keep countel!
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 fickly forth: and take good note
What Cæfar dath, what suitors press to him.
Hark, boy! what noise is that?

Luc. I hear none, Madam.

Por. Pr'ythee, listen well:

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

Enter Artemidorus.

Por. Come hither, fellow, which way hast thou been?
Art. At mine own house, good Lady.

Por. What is't o'clock ?

Art. About the ninth hour, Lady..

Por. Is Cefar yet gone to the Capitol?

Art.. Madam, not yet; I go to take my stand,

To see him pass on to the Capitol.

Por. Thou hast some suit to Cafar, hast thou not?

Art. That I have, Lady, if it will please Cafar

To be so good to Cafar, as to hear me:
1 shall beseech him to befriend himself.

Por. Why, know'st thou any harm intended tow'rds

him?

ofe

me

U

r's

e

ci

ce

Art.. None that I know will be, much that I fear;
Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow:
The throng, that follows Casar 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 Cafar as he comes along.

[Exit.

ولی

id

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

et

1

Sure, the Boy heard me: - Brutus hath a Suit,
That Cafar 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 Severally

SCENE, the Street before the Capitol; and the Capitol open.

Flourish. Enter Cæfar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Arte-midorus, Popilius, Publius, and the Soothsayer.

T

CÆSAR..

HE Ides of March are come.
Sooth. Ay, Cafar, but not gone..
Art. Hail, Cæfar: read this schedule.
'Dec. Trebonius doth defire you to o'erread,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit.

Art. O Cafar, read mine first; for mine's a fuit.
That touches Cafar nearer. Read it, great Cafar.
Cas. What touches us our self, shall be last serv'd.
Art. Delay not, Cafar, read it instantly.
Caf. What, is the fellow mad?

Pub. Sirrah, give place.

CS. What, urge you your petitions in the street?

Come to the Capitol.

Pop. I wish, your enterprize to-day may thrive.

Cas. What enterprize, Popilius ?

Pop. Fare you well.

Bru. What faid Popilius Lena?

Ca. He wish'd, to-day our enterprize might thrive:

I fear, our purpose is discovered..

Bru..