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.

Bru. O, what a time have you chose out,
brave Caius,
[sick!
To wear a kerchief? Would you were not
Lig. I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand
Any exploit worthy the name of honour.
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 fore,

O Cesar! these things are beyond all use,
And I do fear them.

Ces. What can be avoided,
Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods?
Yet Cesar shall go forth: for these predictions
Are to the world in general, as to Cesar.

Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets
seen;

The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

Ces. 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
be-Seeing that death, a necessary end, [fear;
Will come, when it will come.

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?
Bru. A piece of work that will make sick

men whole.

Lig. But are not some whole, that we must

make sick?

Cal. What mean you, Cesar? Think you to walk forth?

You shall not stir out of your house to-day. Ces. Cesar shall forth: The things that threaten'd me,

[see Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall The face of Cesar, they are vanished.

Cal. Cesar, 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:

Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds,
In ranks and squadrons, and right form of war,
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol:
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,

Never paid a regard to prodigies or omens.
theountered.

madi a noise

Cry with pain

Re-enter u SERVANT.

What say the augurers?

Serv. They will not have you to stir forth
to-day.

Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
They could not find a heart within the beast.

Ces. The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
Cesar should be a beast without a heart,
If he should stay at home to-day for fear.
No, Cesar shall not: Danger knows full well,
That Cesar is more dangerous than he.
We were two lions litter'd in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible;
And Cesar shall go forth.

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.

We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house;
And he shall say, you are not well to-day:
Let me upon my knee, prevail in this.

Ces. 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. Cesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy
Cesar:

I come to fetch you to the senate-house.

Ces. And you are come in very happy time
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 so, Decius.
Cal. Say, he is sick.

Ces. Shall Cesar send a lie?

Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far
To be afeard to tell grey-beards the truth?
Decius, go tell them, Cesar will not come.
Dec. Most mighty Cesar, let me know some

cause,

Lest I be laugh'd at, when I tell them so.

Ces. 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.
Calphurnia here, my wife, stays me at home:
She dreamt to-night she saw my statue,
Which like a fountain, with a hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans
Came smiling, and did bathe their bands in it.
And these does she apply for warnings, por-

tents,

And evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd, that I will stay at home to-day.
Dec. This dream is all amiss interpreted.
It was a vision, fair and fortunate:
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,

JULIUS CESAR.

mock

Apt to be render'd, for some one to say,
Break up the senate till another time,
When Cesar's wife shall meet with better dreams.
If Cesar hide himself, shall they not whisper,
Lo, Cesar is afraid?

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

Ces. 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.
Pub. Good morrow, Cesar.
Ces. Welcome, Publius.-
What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?-
Good-morrow, Casca.-Caius Ligarius,
Cesar was ne'er so much your enemy,
As that same ague which hath made you
[lean.-

What is't o'clock?

Bru. Cesar, 'tis strucken eight.
Ces. 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 Cesar.
Ces. Bid them prepare within :-
I am to blame to be thus waited for.-
Now, Cinna:-Now, Metellus:-What, Trebo-
I have an hour's talk in store for you; [nius!
Remember that you call on me to-day:
Be near me, that I may remember you.

Treb. Cesar, I will:-and so near will I be, That your best friends shall wish I had been farther.

Ces. Good friends, go in, and taste some [Aside. wine with me;

And we, like friends, will straightway go together.

Bru. That every like is not the same, O Ce

sar,

The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon!
[Exeunt.
SCENE III.-The same.-A Street near the
Capitol.

Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a Paper.
Art. Cesar, 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 lores thee not; thou
hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one
mind in all these men, and it is bent against Ce-

* As to a saint, for reliques. honours * Subordinate.

+ As to a prince for § Grieves.

699 Security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty sar. If thou be'st not immortal, look about you? gods defend thee! Thy lover, Artemidorus. Here will I stand, till Cesar pass along, And as a suitor will I give him this. Out of the teeth of emulation.† My heart laments, that virtue cannot live If thou read this, O Cesar, thou may'st live; If not, the fates with traitors do contrive.

[Exit. SCENE IV.-The same.-Another part of the same Street before the House of BRUTUS. Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS.

Por. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the senate-
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone:
house;
Why dost thou stay?

Luc. To know my errand, madam.

again,

Por. I would have had thee there, and here
Ere I can tell thee what thou should'st do
[there.-
O constancy, be strong upon my side!
Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and

tongue!

How hard it is for women to keep counsel !—
I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.
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 sickly forth: And take good note,
Hark, boy! what noise is that?
What Cesar doth, what suitors press to him.

Luc. I hear none, madam.

I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
Por. Pr'ythee, listen well;
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
Luc. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.
Enter SOOTHSAYER.

Por. Come hither, fellow :

Which way hast thou been?

Sooth. At mine own house, good lady.
Por. What is't o'clock ?

Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady.
Por. Is Cesar yet gone to the Capitol?
Sooth. Madam, not yet; I go to take my
To see him pass on to the Capitol.

[stand,

Por. Thou hast some suit to Cesar, hast thou

not?

Sooth. That I have, lady: if it will please
To be so good to Cesar, as to hear me, [Cesar
I shall beseech him to befriend himself.
Por. Why, knowest thou any harm's intended
towards him?

Sooth. None that I know will be, much that
I fear may chance.
Good-morrow to you. Here the street is nar-
[row:
The throng that follows Cesar at the heels,
Of senators, of prætors, common suitors,
Will croud a feeble man almost to death:
I'll get me to a place more void, and there
Speak to great Cesar as he comes along. [Exit.
Por. I must go in.-Ah me! how weak a
The heart of women is! O Brutus!

The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise!
Sure, the boy heard me :-Brutus hath a suit,
[thing
That Cesar 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.

* Friend.

SCENE 1.-The same.-The Capitol; the Sen- Know, Cesar doth not wrong; nor without

Pop. I wish, your enterprise to-day may That unassailable holds on his rank,

Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and
As it were doomsday.
[run,
Bru. Fates! we will know your pleasures:-
That, we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time,
And drawing days out, that men stand upon.
Cas. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of
life,

Cuts off so many years of fearing death.

Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit:
So are we Cesar's friends, that have abridg'd
His time of fearing death.-Stoop, Romans,
stoop,

And let us bathe our hands in Cesar's blood
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:
Then walk we forth, even to the market-place;
And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads,
Let's all cry, Peace! Freedom! and Liberty!
Cas. Stoop then, and wash.* How many ages
hence,

Shall this our lofty scene be acted over,
In states unborn, and accents yet unknown?
Bru. How many times shall Cesar bleed in
sport,

That now on Pompey's basis lies along,
No worthier than the dust?

Cas. So oft as that shall be,

So often shall the knot of us be call'd
The men that gave our country liberty.
Dec. What, shall we forth?
Cas. Ay, every man away:
Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels
With the most boldest and best hearts of
Rome.

Enter a SERVANT.

Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's.

Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me
kneel;

Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down:
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say.
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Cesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
Say, I love Brutus, and I honour him;
Say, I fear'd Cesar, honour'd him, and lov'd
If Brutus will vouchsafe, that Antony [him.

May safely come to him, and be resolv'd
How Cesar hath deserv'd to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Cesar dead'
So well as Brutus living; but will follow
The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus,
Thorough the hazards of this untrod state,
With all true faith. So says my master
tony.

Who else must be let blood, who else is rank
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
As Cesar's death hour; nor no instrument
Of half that worth, as those your swords

made rich

With the most noble blood of all this world.
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and
smoke,

Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so apt to die:
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Cesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.

Bru. O Antony! beg not your death of us.
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
As, by our hands, and this our present act,
You see we do; yet see you but our hands,
And this the bleeding business they have done:
Our hearts you see not, they are pitiful;
And pity to the general wrong of Rome
(As fire drives out fire, so pity, pity,)
Hath done this deed on Cesar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark
Antony:

Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts,
Of brothers' temper, do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reve-

Bru. Only be patient, till we have appeas'd
The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
And then we will deliver you the cause,
Why I, that did love Cesar when I struck him,
Have thus proceeded.

Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom.
First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you:-
Let each man render me his bloody hand:
Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;-
Now, Decius Brutus, yours;-now yours, Me-
tellus ;

yours;

[me,

Yours, Cinna;-and, my valiant Casca,
[Trebonius.
Though last, not least in love, yours, good
Gentlemen all,-alas! what shall I say?
My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
That one of two bad ways you must conceit
Either a coward or a flatterer.-
That I did love thee, Cesar, O, 'tis true:
If then thy spirit look upon us now,
Shall it not grieve thee, dearer than thy death,
An-To see thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
Most noble! in the presence of thy corse?
Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,
It would become me better, than to close
Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me, Julius!-Here wast thou bay'd,
Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters
brave hart;
(stand,
Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe.
O world! thou wast the forest to this hart;
And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.-
How like a deer, stricken by many princes,
Dost thou here lie?

Bru. Thy master is a wise and valiant Ro-
I never thought him worse.
[man;
Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
He shall be satisfied; and, by my honour,
Depart untouch'd.

Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit SERV.
Bru. I know, that we shall have him well to

friend.

Cus. I wish, we may: but yet have I a mind, That fears him much; and my misgiving still Falls shrewdly to the purpose.

Re-enter ANTONY.

Bru. But here comes Antony.-Welcome,
Mark Antony.

Ant. O mighty Cesar! Dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,
Shrunk to this little measure?-Fare thee
well.-

I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,

* In Cesar's blood.

Cas. Mark Antony,

Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius:
The enemies of Cesar shall say this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.

Cas. I blame you not for praising Cesar so;
But what compact mean you to have with us
Will you be prick'd in number of our friends
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?

Grown too high for the public safety.