But, as it were, in sort or limitation, 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, 285 Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife. Bru. You are my true and honorable 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 Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em: Here in the thigh: can I bear that with patience, Bru. O ye gods, 295 300 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: 305 All my engagements I will construe to thee, All the charactery of my sad brows: [knocks? Leave me with haste. [Exit Portia.] Lucius, who 's that 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? 311 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! Lig. I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand Any exploit worthy the name of honor. 315 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! 325 Bru. A piece of work that would make sick men whole. Lig. But are not some whole that we must make sick? That must we also. What it is, my Caius, Bru. I shall unfold to thee, as we are going To whom it must be done. Lig. Set on your foot, And with a heart new-fired I follow you, That Brutus leads me on. 330 Bru. Follow me, then. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Cæsar's House. Thunder and lightning. Enter CESAR, in his night-gown. Cœs. Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to night: Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out, "Help, ho! they murder Cæsar!" Who's within? Serv. My lord? Enter a Servant. Cæs. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice, And bring me their opinions of success. Serv. I will, my lord. Enter CALPURNIA. 5 [Exit. Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day. 11 Cæs. Cæsar shall forth: the things that threatened me Ne'er looked but on my back; when they shall see The face of Cæsar, they are vanished. Cal. Cæsar, 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; 15 And graves have yawned, and yielded up their dead; In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, 20 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. 25 Cœs. What can be avoided And I do fear them. Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods? Are to the world in general as to Cæsar. 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; Will come when it will come. Re-enter Servant. What say the augurers? Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to-day. 335 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, If he should stay at home to-day for fear. That Cæsar is more dangerous than he: And Cæsar shall go forth. Cal. Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consumed in confidence. That keeps you in the house, and not your own. Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this. Cæs. Mark Antony shall say I am not well, And, for thy humor, I will stay at home. 55 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, 60 To bear my greeting to the senators And tell them that I will not come to-day: Cœs. Shall Cæsar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretched mine arm so far, To be afeared to tell graybeards the truth? Decius, go tell them Cæsar will not come. Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laughed at when I tell them so. Cæs. The cause is in my will: I will not come; That is enough to satisfy the senate. But for your private satisfaction, 75 Because I love you, I will let you know : Hath begged that I will stay at home to-day. It was a vision fair and fortunate: Cæs. And this way have you well expounded it. 85 90 |