To your proceeding bids me tell you this; Cas. How foolish do your fears seem now, CalI am ashamed I did yield to them.— Give me my robe, for I will go: [phurnia? Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS, And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Cæs. Welcome, Publius.What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?— Good-morrow, Casca.-Caius Ligarius, Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy, As that same ague which hath made you lean.- Bru. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight. Cas. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. Enter ANTONY. See! Antony, that revels long o' nights, Is notwithstanding up :- Ant. So to most noble Cæsar. Cæs. Bid them prepare within:- I am to blame to be thus waited for. Now, Cinna:-Now, Metellus :-What, Trebonius, Be near me, that I may remember you. Treb. Cæsar, I will:- and so near will I be, [Aside. That your best friends shall wish I had been further. Cas. 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 same, O Cæsar, The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon! [Exeunt. [J. Cæs. 32] 1 subordinate to my love. SCENE III.-The same. A street near the Capitol. Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a paper. Art. Cæsar, 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 loves thee not; thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Cæsar. If thou be'st not immortal, look about you: Security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover, ARTEMIDORUs. Here will I stand, till Cæsar pass along, If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou may'st live; [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-house; Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone: Why dost thou stay? Luc. To know my errand, madam. Por. I would have had thee there, and here again, Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue! Luc. Madam, what should I do? Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? And so return to you, and nothing else? [J. CAS. 33] Per. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well, For he went sickly forth: And take good note, What Cæsar doth, 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, Por. Come hither, fellow : At mine own house, good lady. Which way hast thou been? Sooth. Por. What is't o'clock? Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady. Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol? Sooth. Madam, not yet; I go to take my stand, To see him pass on to the Capitol. Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not? Sooth. That I have, lady: if it will please Cæsar To be so good to Cesar, as to hear me, I shall beseech him to befriend himself. [ward him? Por. Why, know'st thou any harm's intended toSooth. None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance. Good-morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: The throng that follows Cæsar 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 Cæsar as he comes along. [Exit. Por. I must go in.—Ah me! how weak a thing The heart of woman is! O Brutus! The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise! These words Portia addresses to Lucius to deceive him, by assigning a false cause for her present perturbation. [J. CES. 34] faint: That Cæsar will not grant.-0, ACT III. [Exeunt. SCENE I.-The same. A crowd of people in the street leading to the Capitol; The Capitol; the senate Cas. The ides of March are come. Art. O, Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a suit Pub. Sirrah, give place. Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol. CESAR enters the Capitol, the rest following. All the Senators rise. Pop. I wish, your enterprise to-day may thrive. Cas. What enterprise, Popilius? [J. CES. 35] Pop. Bru. What said Popilius Lena? Cas. He wish'd, to-day our enterprise might thrive. I fear, our purpose is discovered. Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: Mark him. Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.— Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back, For I will slay myself. Bru. Fare you well. [Advances to CESAR. Cassius, be constant: Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change. Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, He draws Mark Antony out of the way. [Brutus, CESAR and [Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS. the Senators take their seats. Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. Bru. He is address'd: press near, and second him. Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. Cas. Are we all ready? what is now amiss, That Cæsar, and his senate, must redress? Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat Cæsar, An humble heart :[Kneeling. Cæs. I must prevent thee, Cimber. These couchings, and these lowly courtesies, Might fire the blood of ordinary men; And turn pre-ordinance, and first decree, Into the law of children.3 Be not fond, To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood, That will be thaw'd from the true quality With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words, There is little doubt that we ought to read-Cassius on Cæsar never, &c. He is ready. Turn law and statute into such slight determinations as every start of will would alter. [J. CES. 36] |
