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 Cæsar:

If you shall send them word, you will not come,
Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be render'd, for some one to say,

"Break up the senate till another time,

When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams."
If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper,
"Lo! Cæsar is afraid?"

Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear, dear love

To your proceeding bids me tell you this,

And reason to my love is liable.

Caes. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia? I am ashamed I did yield to them.

Give me my robe, for I will go:

Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS, CASCA, TREBONIUS, and CINNA.

And look where Publius is come to fetch me.

Welcome, Publius.

Pub. Good morrow, Cæsar.
Cæs.
What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too? -
Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius,
Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy,

As that same ague which hath made you lean.
What is 't o'clock?

Bru.

Cæsar, 't is stricken eight.
Cæs. I thank you for your pains and courtesy.

Bid them prepare within:

- What, Trebonius!

32

Remember that you call on me to-day :
Be near me, that I may remember you.

Treb. Cæsar, I will:

- and so near will I be,

That your best friends shall wish I had been farther.

[Aside.

Cæs. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me,
And we, like friends, will straightway go together.
Bru. That every like is not the same, O Cæsar!
The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon.

Art.

SCENE III.

The Same. A Street near the Capitol.

Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a Paper.

[Exeunt.

"Cæsar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna; trust not Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber; Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Cæsar. If thou be'st not immortal, look about you: security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover,

Here will I stand till Cæsar pass 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 Cæsar! thou may'st live;

If not, the fates with traitors do contrive.

SCENE IV.

"ARTEMIDORUS."

[Exit.

The Same. Another Part of the same Street, before the House of

Brutus.

Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS.

Por. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the senate-house:

Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone.

Why dost thou stay?

Luc.

To know my errand, Madam.

Por. I would have had thee there, and here again, Ere I can tell thee what thou should'st do there.

O constancy, be strong upon my side!

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 counsel!
Art thou here yet?

Luc.

Madam, what should I do?

Run to the Capitol, and nothing else,

And so return to you, and nothing else?

Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,

For he went sickly forth: and take good note,

What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him.
Hark, boy! what noise is that?

Luc. I hear none, Madam.

Por.

Pr'ythee, listen well:

I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
Luc. Sooth, Madam, I hear nothing.

Por.
Which way hast thou been?
Sooth.

Enter the Soothsayer.

Come hither, fellow.

At mine own house, good lady.

About the ninth hour, lady.

Por. What is 't o'clock?
Sooth.

Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol?

Sooth. Madam, not yet: I go to take my stand,

To see him pass on to the Capitol.

Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not?
Sooth. That I have, lady: if it will please Cæsar

To be so good to Cæsar, as to hear me,

I shall beseech him to befriend himself.

Por.

Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him? Sooth. None that I know will be, much that I fear may

Good morrow to you.

chance.

Here the street is narrow:

The throng that follows Cæsar at the heels,
Of senators, of prætors, common suitors,
Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:
I'll get me to a place more void, and there
Speak to great Cæsar as he comes along.

Por. I must go in. Ah me! how weak a thing
O Brutus!

The heart of woman is.

- Brutus hath a suit,

The heavens speed thee in thine enterprize!
Sure, the boy heard me :
That Cæsar will not grant. — O ! I grow faint.
Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;
Say, I am merry: come to me again,
And bring me word what he doth say to thee.

[Exit.

[Exeunt.

The Same. The Capitol; the Senate sitting.

A Crowd of People in the Street leading to the Capitol; among them ARTEMIDORUS, and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter CESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and Others.

At

Cæs. The ides of March are come.
Sooth. Ay, Cæsar; but not gone.

Art. Hail, Cæsar! Read this schedule.

Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read,

your best leisure, this his humble suit.

Art. O, Cæsar! read mine first; for mine 's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer. Read it, great Cæsar.

Cæs.

What touches us ourself shall be last serv'd.
Art. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly.
Cæs. What! is the fellow mad?

Pub.

Cas. What! urge you your petitions in the street?

Come to the Capitol.

Sirrah, give place.

CÆSAR enters the Capitol, the rest following. All the Senators

rise.

Pop. I wish, your enterprize to-day may thrive.
Cas. What enterprize, Popilius?

Pop.

Bru. What said Popilius Lena?

Fare you well.

[Advances to CÆSAR.

Cas. He wish'd, to-day our enterprize might thrive. I fear, our purpose is discovered.

Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: mark him. Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention. Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back,

For I will slay myself.

Bru.

Cassius, be constant:

Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;

For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change.

Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus, He draws Mark Antony out of the way.

[Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS. CESAR and the Senators take their Seats.

Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,

And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar.

Bru. He is address'd: press near, and second him.
Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.
Cæs. Are we all ready? what is now amiss,

That Cæsar and his senate must redress?

Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Cæsar, Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat

An humble heart:

Cæs.

[Kneeling.

I must prevent thee, Cimber.

These couchings, and these lowly courtesies,
Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
And turn pre-ordinance, and first decree,
Into the law of children. Be not fond,
To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood,
That will be thaw'd from the true quality