But for your private fatisfaction,
Because I love you, I will let you know.
Calphurnia here, my wife, ftays me at home:
She dream'd last night, fhe faw

my ftatue,
Which, like a fountain, with a hundred fpouts
Did run pure blood: and many lufty Romans
Came fmiling, and did bathe their hands in it.
Thefe fhe applies for warnings and portents
Of 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 ftatue, 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 fhall prefs

*

* * * * * * *

For tinctures, ftains, relics, 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 fenate 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 fay,
Break up the fenate till another time,

When Cæfar's wife fhall meet with better dreams..
If Cæfar hide himself, fhall they not whisper,

Lò, Cæfar is afraid!

Pardon me, Cæfar; for my dear, dear love

To your proceeding + bids me tell you this;

And reafon to my love is liable.

Caf. How foolish do your fears feem now, Calphur

I am afhamed I did yield to them.

Give me my robe, for I will go..

[nia?

SCENE

* Some lines feem to be wanting between this and the subsequent

сле.

proceeding, for advancement, establishment.

SCENE VI.

Enter Brutas, Ligarius, Metellus, Cafca, Trebanius,
Cinna, and Publius.

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

Caf. Welcome, Publius.

What, Brutus, are you stirr'd fo early too?`
Good morrow, Cafca. Caius Ligarius,
Cæfar was ne'er so 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 courtefy..
Enter Antony.

See! Antony, that revels long o' nights,
I's notwithstanding up.. Good morrow, Antony..
Ant. So to Moft: Noble Cæfar..

Caf. Bid them

prepare within..
I am to 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. Cæfar, 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 Biutus yerns to think upon!

Afide. [Exeunt.

SCENE VII. Changes to a freet near the Capitol.

Enter Artemidorus, reading a paper.

Cafar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Caffius; come not near Cafea; have an eye to Cinna; truft not Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber; Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou haft wrong'd Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all thefe men, and it is bent against Cafar. If thou beeft

C 3

not

not immortal, look about thee: fecurity gives way to confpiracy. The mighty gods defend thee!

Thy 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'st live;
If not, the fates with traitors do contrive.

Enter Portia and Lucius.

Por. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the fenate-house;
Stay not to anfwer me, but get thee gone:
Why doft thou ftay?

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 ftrong upon my fide,

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 so return to you, and nothing elfe?

Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy Lord look well, For he went fickly forth; and take good note,

What Cæfar doth, what fuitors prefs to him.

Hark, boy! what noife is that?

Luc. I hear none, Madam.

Por. Pry'thee, liften 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 Cæfar yet gone to the Capitol ?
Art. Madam, not yet; I go to my stand,

To

To fee him pafs on to the Capitol.

Por. Thou haft fome fuit to Cæfar, haft thou not? Art. That I have, Lady, if it will pleafe Cæfar! To be fo good to Cæfar, as to hear me :

I shall befeech him to defend himself.

Por. Why, know'ft 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 fuitors,
Will croud 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.

[Exit.

Por. I muft go in aye me! how weak a thing
The heart of woman is! O. Brutus! Brutus !
The heavens fpeed thee in thine enterprise !
Sure the boy heard me.

-Brutus hath a fuit

That Cæfar will not grant.
-O, I grow
Run, Lucius, and commend me to my Lord;
Say, I am merry; come to me again,

And bring me word what he doth fay to thee,

faint..

[Exeunt feverally.

ACT III. SCENE I.

The Street before the Capitol, and the Capitol open. Flourish. Enter Cafar, Brutus, Caffius, afca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Artemidorus, Popilius, Publius, and the Soothsayer.

Caf.THE ides of March are come.

Sooth. Ay, Cæfar, but not gone.

Art. Hail, Cæfar: read this schedule.

Dec. Trebonius doth defire you to o'er-read,

At your best leisure, this his humble fuit.

Art. O Cæfar, read mine first; for mine's a fuit

That touches Cæfar nearer. Read it, great Cæfar.

af. What touches us ourself, fhall be last serv'd.

Art. Delay not, Cæfar, read it inftantly.

Caf. What, is the fellow mad?

Pub. Sirrah, give place.

Caf. What, urge you your petitions in the ftreet? Come to the Capitol.

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

Pop. Fare you well.

Bru. What faid Popilias Læna?

Caf. He wish'd to-day our enterprise might thrive. I fear our purpofe is difcovered.

Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæfar; mark him.-
Caf. Cafca, be fudden, for we fear prevention.
Brutus, what fhall be done, if this be known?
Caffius, or Cæfar, never fhall turn back;
For I will flay myself.

Bru. Caffius, be conftant.

Popilius Læna fpeaks not of our purpose ;
For, look, he fmiles, and Cæfar doth not change.
Caf. Trebonius knows his time; for look you, Brutus,
He draws Mark Antony out of the way.

Dec Where is Metellus Cimber? let him go,
And prefently prefer his fuit to Cæfar.

Bru. He is addrefs'd; prefs near, and fecond him. Cin. Cafea, you are the first that rears your band. Caf. Are we all ready? what is now amifs, That Cæfar and his fenate must redrefs?

Met. Moft high, Moft Mighty, and Moft Puiffant

Cæfar,

Metellus Cimber throws Before thy feat
An humble heart.

[Kneeling..

Caf. I muft prevent thee, Cimber ;
Thefe crouchings and thefe lowly curtefies,
Might ftir the blood of ordinary men,
And turn pre-ordinance + and firft decree
Into the lane of children. Be not fond,
To think that Cæfar bears fuch rebel-blood,
That will be thaw'd from the true quality
With that which melteth fools; I mean, fweet words,
Low-crooked curt'fies, and bafe paniel-fawaing..

Thy brother by decree is banished;

If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him,
I fpurn thee like a cur out of my way.

Know, Cæfar doth not wrong; nor without caufe
Will he be fatisfied.

+ pre-ordinance, for ordinance already eftablished.