Caf. 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 falfe, and that I dare not, falfer;
I will not come to Day; tell them fo, Decius.
Cal. Say he is fick.

Caf. Shal! Cefar 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 Cafar 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 fatisfie the Senate.
But for your private Satisfaction,

Because I love you, I will let you know.
Calphurnia here, my Wife, flays 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:
And thefe does the apply, 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 smiling Romans bath'd,
Signifies that from you great Rome hall fuck
Reviving Blood, and that Great Men fhall prefs
For Tinctures, Stains, Relicks, and Cognifance.
This, by Calphurnia's Dream is fignified.

Caf. And this way have you well expounded it.
Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can say;
And know it now, the Senate have concluded
To give this Day a Crown to mighty Cafar.
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 Cafar's Wife shall meet with better Dreams:

If Cafar hide himself, fhall they not whisper,
Lo, Cafar is afraid!

Pardon me, Cafar, for my dear dear Love,

To your Proceding, bids me tell you this:
And Reafon to my Love is liable.

Cafe How foolih do your Fears feem now, Calphurnia? I am afhamed I did yield to them.

Give me my Robe, for I will go.

Enter Brutus, Ligarins, Metellus, Caska, Trebonius, Cinna, and Publius.

"2

And look where Publius is come to fetch me.

Pub. Good Morrow, Cafar.

Caf. Welcome, Publius.

What, Brutus, are you ftirr'd fo early too?
Good Morrow, Caska: Caius Ligarius,
Cafar was ne'er fo much your Enemy,

As that fame Ague which hath made you lean.
What is't a Clock?

Bru. Cafar, 'tis ftrucken eight.

Caf. I thank you for your Pains and Courtefie.
Enter Antony.

See Antony, that revels long a-nights,

Is notwithstanding up. Good Morrow, Antony.
Ant. So to moft noble Cafar..
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, diss
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,

1

[Afide

That your best 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. Ya
Br.. That every like is not the fame, O Cafar,
The Heart of Brutus earns to think upon.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE: III. The Street.

Enter Artimedorus reading a Paper.

Cæfar, beware of Brutus, take heed of Caffius, come not near Caska, 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 Cæfar. If thou beeft not Immortal, look about thee: Security gives way to Conspiracy. The mighty Gods defend thee.

Thy Lover Artemidorus.

Here will I ftand, 'till Cafar pafs along,
And as a Suitor 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't live;
If not, the Fates with Traitors do contrive.
Enter Portia and Lucius.

Por. I prithee, Boy, run to the Senate-houfe,
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone,
Why doft thou stay?

Luc. To know my Errand, Madam.

Por. I would have had thee there, and here again,
E'er I can tell thee what thou should ft 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 Counfel!

Art thou here yet?

Luc. Madam, what fhould I do?

Run to the Capitol, and nothing elfe?

And so return to you, and nothing elfe?

Por. Yes, bring me word, Boy, if thy Lord look well,

ར

For he went fickly forth: and take good note,

What Cafar doth, what Suitors prefs to him.
Mark Boy! what noife is that?

Luc. I hear none, Madam.
Por. Prithee liften well:

I heard a bustling Rumour like a Fray,

Exit.

And

And the Wind brings it from the Capitola

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 a Clock?

Art. About the ninth Hour, Lady.

Por. Is Cafar yet gone to the Capitol?

Art. Madam, not yet, I go to take my ftand,

To fee him pafs on to the Capitol.

Por. Thou haft fome Suit to Cafar, hift thou not?
Art. That I have, Lady, if it will pleafe Cafar

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

I fhall befeech him to defend himself.

Por. Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him? Art. 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 Cafar at the Heels
Of Senators, of Prætors, common Suitors,
Will crowd a feeble Man almoft to Death:

I'll get me to a place more void, and there
Speak to great Cafar as he comes along.
Por. I must go in

Aye me! how weak a thing

The Heart of Woman is! O Brutus!
The Heav'ns speed thee in thine Enterprize.
Sure the Boy heard me: Brutus hath a Suit
That Cefar will not grant.

O, I grow faint:
Run, Lucius, and commend me to my Lord,

Exit.

Say I am merry; come to me again,

And bring me word what he doth fay to thee.

[Exeunt.

ACT

ACT II. SCENE 1.

SCENE The Capitol.

Flourish. Enter Cæfar, Brutus, Caffius, Caska, Decius, Me-
tellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Artemidorus,
and Popilius, best
Caf.THE Ides of March are come.
Sooth. Ay, Cafar, but not gone.

Art. Hal, Cafar: Read this Schedule.
Dec. Trebonius doth defire you to o'er-read,
At your beft leifure, this his humble Suit.

Art. O Cafar, read mine firft; for mine's a Suit
That touches Cafar nearer. Read it, great Cafar.
Caf. What touches us our felf, fhall be laft ferv'd.
Art. Delay not, Cafar, read it inftantly.
Caf. What, is the Fellow mad?

Pub. Sirrah, give place.

Caf. What, urge you your Petitions in the Street?
Come to the Capitol.

Pop. I with your Enterprize to Day may thrive.
Caf. What Enterprize, Popilius?

Pop. Fare you weil..

Bru. What fiid Popilius Lena?

Caf. He wish'd to Day or Enterprize might thrive:
I fear our Purpose is discovered.

Bru. Look how he makes to Cafar; mark him.
Caf. Caska, be ludden, for we fear prevention.
Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Caffius or Cafar never fhall turn back,
For I will flay my felf.

Bru. Caffius be conftant:

Popilius Lena fpeaks not of our Purpof.s.

For look he fmiles, and Cafar 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 Suit to Cafar.

Bru. He is addreft; prefs near, and fecond him.
Cin. Caska, you're the firft that rears your Hand.

Caf.