I charm you, by my once commended beauty, Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia. 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 To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, 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. 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: A woman well reputed,-Cato's daughter. Tell me your counsels; I will not disclose them, Here, in the thigh: can I bear that with patience, And not my husband's secrets? Bru. O ye gods, 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 charáctery of my sad brows: Leave me with haste. [Exit PORTIA. Enter LUCIUS and LICARIUS. Lucius, who's that knocks? Luc. Here is a sick man that would speak with you. Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of.Boy, stand aside.—Caius Ligarius,—how ? Lig. Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue. Bru. O, what a time have you chose out, brave To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick! 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, I here discard my sickness! Soul of Rome ! Brave son, derived from honourable loins! Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjured up My mortifiéd 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 sick? Bru. That must we also. Caius, What it is, my 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 To do I know not what: but it sufficeth That Brutus leads me on. Bru. Follow me, then. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Rome. A Room in CESAR'S Palace. Thunder and lightning. Enter CESAR, in his night-gown. Caes. Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night: Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, 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 CALPHURNIA. [Exit Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? think you to walk ́ forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day. Cas. Cæsar shall forth.: the things that threat- · ened me Ne'er looked but on my back; when they shall see Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, And graves have yawned, and yielded up their dead; Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war 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. 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; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. |