A woman well-reputed, Cato's daughter. Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em: Here, in the thigh: can I bear that with patience, Bru. O ye gods, 300 Render me worthy of this noble wife! [Knocking within. 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 of 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 with the word, curfew.] 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 before, 320 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 And with a heart new-fir'd I follow you, Bru. Follow me, then. [Exeunt. SCENE II. CESAR's house. Thunder and lightning. Enter CESAR in his night-gown. Caes. Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night: Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out, 321. [On the stage Ligarius would at this snatch off his bandage.] 331. [Set on your foot = go forward.] his night-gown dressing-gown. = "Help! ho! they murther Cæsar!" Who's with Caes. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice And bring me their opinions of success. Serv. I will, my lord. Enter CALPURNIA. [Exit. Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day. Caes. Cæsar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, 10 And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead; In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, The noise of battle hurtled in the air, 20 3. [murther. No doubt the exchange of "th" for "d" is in part due to defective vocal organisms in many, and worked both ways, as when one hears "furder" for "further."] 13. [stood⇒ insisted. Compare the Shakespearean phrase to stand on ceremony, where "ceremony "=" civil etiquette."] ceremonies= religious observances; here loosely used for auguries, omens. O Cæsar! these things are beyond all use, And I do fear them. Cæs. What can be avoided Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods? Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen; 30 The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. Cæs. 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 fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come. Re-enter Servant. What say the augurers? Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to-day: Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, They could not find a heart within the beast. Cæs. The gods do this in shame of cowardice: Cæsar should be a beast without a heart, And Cæsar 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. 25. beyond all use: very unusual, unnatural, abnormal. 40 50 We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house; Cæs. Mark Antony shall say I am not well; Enter DECIUS. Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. Dec. Cæsar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Cæsar: I come to fetch you to the senate-house. Cæs. And you are come in very happy time, To bear my greetings to the senators Cæs. Shall Cæsar send a lie ? To be afeard to tell graybeards the truth? 60 Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so. Caes. The cause is in my will: I will not come; That is enough to satisfy the senate. 70 But for your private satisfaction, Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day. 80. [portents. The rhythm shows the accent.] |