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, falser;
I will not come to-day; tell them fo, Decius.
Cal. Say, he is fick.

Caf. Shall Cafar fend 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 laft 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.
Thefe fhe applies for warnings and portents,
And evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd, that I will ftay 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 so 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 Cæfar.
If you fhall 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 Cæfar's Wife fhall meet with better Dreams :"

If

If Cafar hide himself, fhall they not whisper,
"Lo, Cæfar is afraid !”.

Pardon me, Cafar; for my dear, dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this:
And reason to my love is liable.

Caf. How foolish do your fears feem now, Calphurnia? I am ashamed, I did yield to them.

Give me my Robe, for I will

go:

Enter Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Cafca, Trebonius,
Cinna and Publius.

And, look, where Publius is come to fetch me.
Pub. Good morrow, Cafar.

Caf. Welcome, Publius.

What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?'
Good morrow, Cafca: Caius Ligarius,
Cæfar was ne'er fo much your enemy,

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

Bru. Cæfar, 'tis ftrucken eight.

Caf. 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 Cæfar.

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. ftore for you,
Remember, that you call on me to-day;
Be near me, that I may remember you.

Treb. Cafar, I will; and fo near will I be, [Afide. That your beft friends fhall wish I had been further. Caf. Good friends, go in, and tafte fome wine with me,

And we, like friends, will ftraightway go together.
Bru. That every like is not the fame, O Cæfar,

The heart of Brutus yerns to think upon!

[Afide. [Exeunt,

SCENE changes to a Street near the Capitol

C

(16) Enter Artemidorus, redding 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 haft wrong'd Caius Liga-"rius. There is but one mind in all these men, and "it is bent againft Cafar. If thou beeft not immortal,. "look about thee: fecurity gives way to confpiracy. "The mighty Gods defend thee!

1 hy Lover Artemidorus.
Here will I ftand, 'till Cæfar pafs 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 Cæfar, thou may'ft 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't do there
O Conftancy, be ftrong upon my fide,

(16) Enter Artemidorus,] In the Dramatis Perfonæ, through ail the editions, Artemidorus is called a Scotbfayer. But, 'tis certain, the poet defigned two diftinct characters. Artemidorus was neither Augur, nor Soothsayer. 'Tis true, there was an Artemidorus, whose critic on dreams we ftill 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 hoft at Cnidos, as we learn from Plutarch, Appian, &c. did not pretend to know any thing of the confpiracy against Cæfar by prescience, or prognoftication. He was a fophift, who taught that science in Greek at Rome; by which means being intimate with Brutus, and thofe about him, he got into their fecret; and, out of his old affection for Cæfar, was defirous of acquainting him with his danger.

Set

Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue;
I have a man's mind, but a woman's might
How hard it is for women to keep counsel!
Art thou here yet?

Luc. Madam, what fhould I do?

Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?
And fo 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 fuitors press to him. Hark, boy! what noife 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 haft thou been? Art. At mine own houfe, 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 fee him pafs on to the Capitol.

Por. Thou haft fome fuit to Cafar, haft thou not?
Art. That I have, Lady, if it will please Cafar

To be fo good to Cafar, as to hear me:

1 fhall befeech him to befriend himself.

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

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

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

[Exit.

The

The Heavens speed thee in thine enterprize!
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, Caffius, Cafca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Arte-midorus, Popilius, Publius, and the Soothsayer.

CESAR..

HE Ides of March are come.

TH Sooth. Ay, Cafar, but not gone.

Art. Hail, Cafar: read this schedule.
'Dec. Trebonius doth defire you to o'erread,
At your best leifure, this his humble fuit.

Art. O Cafar, read mine firft; for mine's a fuit.
That touches Cafar nearer. Read it, great Cæfar.
Caf. What touches us our felf, shall be laft ferv’d.
Art. Delay not, Cafar, read it instantly.
Caf. What, is the fellow mad?

Pub. Sirrah, give place.

C. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol.

Pop. I wish, your enterprize to-day may thrive.
Caf. What enterprize, Popilius ?

Pop. Fare you well.

Bru. What faid Popilius Lena?

Caf. He wifh'd, to-day our enterprize might thrive :

I fear, our purpose is difcovered.

Bru..