Treb. 'Tis time to part.

Cas.

But it is doubtful yet,

Whether Cæsar will come forth to-day, or no;
For he is superstitious grown of late,
Quite from the main opinion he held once
Of fantasy, of dreams and ceremonies:
It may be, these apparent prodigies,
The unaccustom'd terror of this night,
And the persuasion of his augurers,
May hold him from the Capitol to-day.

Dec. Never fear that: if he be so resolv'd,
I can o'ersway him; for he loves to hear
That unicorns may be betray'd with trees,
And bears with glasses, elephants with holes,
Lions with toils and men with flatterers;
But when I tell him he hates flatterers,
He says he does, being then most flattered.
Let me work;

For I can give his humour the true bent,
And I will bring him to the Capitol.

Cas. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him.
Bru. By the eighth hour: is that the uttermost?
Cin. Be that the uttermost, and fail not then.
Met. Caius Ligarius doth bear Cæsar hard,
Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey:
I wonder none of you have thought of him.
Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along by him:

197. ceremonies =

religious ceremonies.

200

210

204. That unicorns, etc. It was believed that unicorns were captured by leading them to chase a man, who sprang behind a tree when the monster was in full career, leaving the unicorn to thrust his horn so far into the tree that he could neither escape nor defend himself; also that bears would stand still and be shot while they looked at themselves in mirrors. Elephants are taken in pitfalls.

218. [go along by him

call at his house in going home. A

He loves me well, and I have given him reasons;
Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him.

220

Cas. The morning comes upon 's: we'll leave you, Brutus.

And, friends, disperse yourselves; but all remember What you have said, and show yourselves true Ro

mans.

Bru. Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily;
Let not our looks put on our purposes,
But bear it as our Roman actors do,
With untir'd spirits and formal constancy :
And so good morrow to you every one.

[Exeunt all but Brutus.

Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep? It is no matter;
Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber :
Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies,

Which busy care draws in the brains of men :
Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.

Por.

Enter PORTIA.

Brutus, my lord!

230

Bru. Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now?

It is not for your health thus to commit

Your weak condition to the raw cold morning.

Por. Nor for yours neither. You've ungently,

Brutus,

Stole from my bed: and yesternight, at supper,
You suddenly arose, and walk'd about,

Musing and sighing, with your arms across,

66

240

somewhat similar expression may be heard in the southwest, in the expression, come by"; that is, "come in as you go by."] 219. [I have given him reasons. Our phrase would be, "I have given him reason to love me."]

226. [bear it. We come near to the use when we say "he bears himself well."]

And when I ask'd you what the matter was,
You star'd upon me with ungentle looks;

I urg'd you further; then you scratch'd your head, And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot;

Yet I insisted; yet you answer'd not,

But, with an angry wafture of your hand,
Gave sign for me to leave you: so I did;
Fearing to strengthen that impatience
Which seem'd too much enkindled, and withal
Hoping it was but an effect of humour,
Which sometime hath his hour with every man.
It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep,
And could it work so much upon your shape
As it hath much prevail'd on your condition,
I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord,
Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.
Bru. I am not well in health, and that is all.
Por. Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health,
He would embrace the means to come by it.

Bru. Why, so I do. Good Portia, go to bed.
Por. Is Brutus sick? and is it physical
To walk unbrac'd and suck up the humours
Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick,
And will he steal out of his wholesome bed,
To dare the vile contagion of the night
And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air
To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus ;
You have some sick offence within your mind,

=

=

=

caprice.]

medicinal, remedial.

250

260

250. [humour 261. physical 262. [humours moisture. The old medical use of the word, which regarded the body as containing four humors, whose excess or diminution affected both the body and the temperament, passed over into common speech and gave this word wide usage and considerable range.]

Which, by the right and virtue of my place,
I ought to know of: and, upon my knees,
I charm you, by my once-commended beauty,
By all your vows of love and that great vow
Which did incorporate and make us one,
That you unfold to me, yourself, your half,
Why you are heavy, and what men to-night
Have had resort to you: for here have been
Some six or seven, who did hide their faces
Even from darkness.

Bru.

Kneel not, gentle Portia.

270

Por. I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus. Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,

Is it excepted I should know no secrets
That appertain to you? Am I yourself
But, as it were, in sort or limitation,

280

To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs

Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,

Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.

Bru. You are my true and honourable wife,

As dear to me as are the ruddy drops

That visit my sad heart.

290

Por. If this were true, then should I know this

secret.

I grant I am a woman; but withal

A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife:

I grant I am a woman; but withal

271. charm you, etc. = conjure you in the name of, etc. 280. [Within = in. Is there any clause in the bond of marriage which makes an exception?]

285. [suburbs. Something more is hinted at than mere distance from the city or centre, for the term was synonymous with resorts for disorderly people.]

A woman well-reputed, Cato's daughter.

Think you I am no stronger than my sex,
Being so father'd and so husbanded?

Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em :
I have made strong proof of my constancy,
Giving myself a voluntary wound

Here, in the thigh: can I bear that with patience,
And not my husband's secrets?

Bru.

O ye gods,

300

Render me worthy of this noble wife! [Knocking within.
Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in awhile;
And by and by thy bosom shall partake

The secrets of my heart.

All my engagements I will construe to thee,

All the charactery of my sad brows:

Leave me with haste. [Exit Portia.] Lucius, who's that knocks?

Re-enter LUCIUS with LIGARIUS.

Luc. Here is a sick man that would speak with

you.

Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of. Boy, stand aside. Caius Ligarius! how?

310

Lig. Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue. Bru. O, what a time have you chose out, brave

Caius,

To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick!

305. [by and by. The present use of this phrase puts off an event; the old use made it near, for here the meaning is "presently." Compare the passage in the King James Version of the Bible, in which Herodias says: "I will that thou give me, by and by, in a charger, the head of John the Baptist." The Revised Version substitutes " forthwith."]

307. [engagements enterprises. construe = make clear. 315. [kerchief. Compare in the matter of formation of the word, curfew.]