And I the elder and more terrible ; CAL. Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consum'd in confidence. That keeps you in the house, and not your own. CES. Mark Antony shall say, I am not well; Enter DECIUS. Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. I come to fetch you to the senate-house. CES. And you are come in very happy time, To bear my greeting to the senators, And tell them, that I will not come to-day : S Cæsar shall go forth,] Any speech of Cæsar, throughout this scene, will appear to disadvantage, if compared with the following sentiments, put into his mouth by May, in the seventh book of his Supplement to Lucan : Plus me, Calphurnia, luctus Et lachrymæ movere tuæ, quam tristia vatum (Dum nec luce frui, nec mortem arcere licebit) There cannot be a stronger proof of Shakspeare's deficiency in classical knowledge, than the boastful language he has put in the mouth of the most accomplished man of all antiquity, who was not more admirable for his achievements, than for the dignified simplicity with which he has recorded them. BosWELL. I will not come to-day: Tell them so, Decius. CES. DEC. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at, when I tell them so. CES. The cause is in my will, I will not come ; That is enough to satisfy the senate. But, for your private satisfaction, Because I love you, I will let you know. Calphurnia here, my wife, stays me at home: She dreamt to-night she saw my statue, Which like a fountain, with a hundred spouts, Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it. And these does she apply for warnings, and porténts", 8 And evils imminent ; and on her knee Hath begg'd, that I will stay at home to-day. It was a vision, fair and fortunate: Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, 6-my STATUA,] [Old copy, statue.] See vol. iv. p. 119. STEEVENS. 7 warnings, portents,] Old copy, unmetrically-" warnings, and portents." STEEVENS. 8 AND evils imminent;] The late Mr. Edwards was of opinion that we should read: "Of evils imminent." STEEVENS. The alteration proposed by Mr. Edwards is needless, and tends to weaken the force of the expressions, which form, as they now stand, a regular climax. HENLEY. Reviving blood; and that great men shall press CES. And this way have you well expounded it. say: And know it now; The senate have concluded When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams 3. Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear, dear love For TINCTURES, STAINS, RELICKS, and cognizance.] This speech, which is intentionally pompous, is somewhat confused. There are two allusions; one to coats armorial, to which princes make additions, or give new tinctures, and new marks of cognizance; the other to martyrs, whose reliques are preserved with veneration. The Romans, says Decius, all come to you as to a saint, for reliques, as to a prince, for honours. JOHNSON. I believe tinctures has no relation to heraldry, but means merely handkerchiefs, or other linen, tinged with blood. Bullokar, in his Expositor, 1616, defines it "a dipping, colouring, or staining of a thing." So, in Act III. Sc. II. : "And dip their napkins in his sacred blood." MALONE. I concur in opinion with Mr. Malone. At the execution of several of our ancient nobility, martyrs, &c. we are told that handkerchiefs were tinctured with their blood, and preserved as affectionate or salutary memorials of the deceased. STEEVENS. When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams.] So, in Lord Sterline's Julius Cæsar, 1607: "How can we satisfy the world's conceit, "Whose tongues still in all ears your praise proclaims? "Or shall we bid them leave to deal in state, "Till that Calphurnia first have better dreams?" MALONE. To your proceeding bids me tell you this; CES. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia? I am ashamed I did yield to them.- Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, Metellus, And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Welcome, Publius.- Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy, As that same ague which hath made you lean.- .BRU. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight. CES. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. Enter ANTONY. See! Antony, that revels long o' nights, Is notwithstanding up :-Good morrow, Antony. ANT. So to most noble Cæsar. CES. Bid them prepare within : I am to blame to be thus waited for. Now, Cinna :-Now, Metellus :-What, Trebonius! Remember that you call on me to-day : TREB. Cæsar, I will:-and so near will I be, [Aside. That your best friends shall wish I had been further. * And reason, &c.] "And reason," or propriety of conduct and language, is subordinate to my love. JOHNSON. CES. 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! [Exeunt. SCENE III. The Same. A Street near the Capitol. Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a Paper. ART. 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, ARTEMIDORUS. Here will I stand, till Cæsar pass along, If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou may'st live; İf not, the fates with traitors do contrive. [Exit. emulation,] Here, as on many other occasions, this word is used in an unfavourable sense, somewhat like-factious, envious, or malicious rivalry. So, in Troilus and Cressida : "Whilst emulation in the army crept." STEEVENS. s the fates with traitors do CONTRIVE.] The fates join with traitors in contriving thy destruction. JOHNSON. |