You suddenly arose, and walk'd about, scratch'd your head, 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 unbraced, 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, 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 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 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, 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 : I grant I am a woman; but, withal, Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose them : Giving myself a voluntary wound Here, in the thigh: Can I bear that with patience, Bru. Render me worthy of this noble wife! O ye gods, [Knocking within. Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in awhile: The secrets of my heart. All my engagements I will construe to thee, [Exit PORTIA. Enter LUCIUS and LIGARIUS. 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 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 honour. Bru. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Lig. By all the gods that Romans bow before, Bru. A piece of work that will make sick men whole. To whom it must be done. Lig. Bru. Follow me then. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. A Room in Cæsar's Palace. Thunder and lightning. Enter CÆSAR, in his night gown. Cas. Nor heaven, nor earth, have been at peace to night : 66 Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, Serv. My lord? Caes. 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. Cæs. Cæsar shall forth: The things that threaten'd me Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, And graves have yawn'd and yielded up their dead: The noise of battle hurtleda in the air, And I do fear them. a Hurtled. This magnificent word expresses the clashing of weapons: it is probably the same word as hurled; and Shakspere, with the boldness of genius, makes the action give the sound. b Do neigh. Steevens departs from the original in reading did neigh; but the tenses, we have no doubt, are purposely coufounded, in the vague terror of the speaker. Horses "do neigh" continues the image of "Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds." Cæs. What can be avoided Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods? Yet Cæsar shall go forth: for these predictions Are to the world in general, as to Cæsar. Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. Cas. 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 a 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: If he should stay at home to-day for fear. 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. Cæs. Mark Antony shall say I am not well; And, for thy humour, I will stay at home. Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. |