That at his will he may do danger with.

Bru.

Let them enter. [Exit Lucius The abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins

They are the faction. O conspiracy! Remorse from power: And, to speak truth of Cæsar, Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by nigtat, I have not kuown when his aftections sway'd When evils are most free? O, then, by day, More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof, Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough That lowliness is young ambitiva's fadder,

To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspir Whereto che climber-upward turns his face :

асу; But when he once attains the upmost round,

Hide in it smiles, and affability: He then to the ladder turns his back,

For if thou path thy native semblance on, Looks in the cloais, ruing the base grees

Not Erebus itself were dim enough By which he did ascend: So Cæsar may;

To hide thee frota prevention. Then, lest le may, prevent. And, since the quarrel

Enter Cassius, Casca, Decius, Cinna, Metellus CunWill bear no colour for the thing he is,

ber, and Trebonius. Fashion it thus ; that what he is, augmented,

Cas. I think we are too bold upon your rest : Would run to these, and these extremities :

Good-morrow, Brutus ; Do we trouble you? And therefore think him as a serpent's egs.

Bru. I have been up this hour; awake, all night. Which, hatch d, would, as his kind, grow mischievous; Know I these men, that come along with you? And kill hin in the slie!l.

Cas. Yes, every man of them; and no wan here, Re-enter Lucius.

But honours you; and every one doth wish,

You had but that opinion of yourself, Luc. The taper burveth in your closet, sir.

Which every noble Roman bears of you. Searching the window for a flint, I found

This is Trebonius. This paper, thus seald up; and, I am sure,

Bru.

He is welcome hither. It did not lie there, when I went to-bed.

Cas. This Decius Brutus, Bril. Get you to-bed again, it is not day.

Bru.

He is welcome too. Is not 10-morrow, boy, the ides of March?

Cas. This, Casca ; this, Cinna ; Lui. I know not, sir.

And this, Metellus Cimber. Bru. Look in the kalendar, and bring me word.

Brii. Luc, I will, sir.

They are all welcome [Exit.

What watchful cares do interpose themselves Bru. The exhalations, whizzing in the air,

Betwixt your eyes and night? Give so much light, that I may read by them,

Cas.

Shall I entreat a word? [Opens the letter, and reads.

[They sohisper. Brutus, thou slec'st; arrake, and see thyself.

Der. Ilere lies the cast : Doch not the day break Shali Romie, or. Swak, strike, redress!

here? Brutus, thou sleepist; axake--

Casca. No Such instigations have been often dropp

Cin. 0, pardon, sir, ic douh; and yon grey lines, Where I have took them up.

That fret the eluuds, are nuessengers of day.
Shall Rome, 6c. Thus must I piece it ont;
Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What !

Casca. You shall confess, that you are both deceird.
Rome?

llere, as I point my sword, the sun aris.s; Ny ancestors did from the streets of Rome

Which is a great way givwing on the south, "The Tarquin drive, when he was cali'd a king

Weighing the youthfui season of the year. Spcak, strihe, redress! -Am entreated then

Some two months hence, up higher toward the north to speaki, avid strike ? O Romne! I make the promise, || Sauds, is the capitul, direeily here.

He first prisents his fire; and the high tast
It'the redress will follow, thou receivest
Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!

Br4. Give me your hands all over, one by one.

Cas. And let us swear our resolution.
Re-enter Lucius.

Bru. No, not a: cath: If not the face of men, Luc. Sir, March is wasted fourteen days,

The sufferance of our souls, the Lime's abu:[Knock zvithin.

If these be motives weak, break off betimes, , Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate ; somebody knocks.

And every man to his idle bed;
[Exit Lucias.

So let high-sighted tyranny range on,
Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar,
I have not slept.

Till each man drop by lottery. But if these,

As I am sure they do, bear fire enough Between the acting of a dreadful thing

To kindle cowards, and to steel with valour And the first motion, all the interim is

The melting spirits of women ; then, countrymen, Like a phantasma, or a hidcous crcam:

What need we any spur, but our own cause, The genius, and the mortnl instruments,

To prick us to redress? what other bond, Are then in council; and the state of iran,

Than secret Romans, that have spoke the word, Like to a little kingdom, suffiers theu

And will not paiter? and what other oath,
The nature of an insurrection.

Than honesty ta honesty engag'd,
Re-enter Lucius.

That this shall be, or we will fall for it?
Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, Swear priests, and cowards, and men cautelous,
Who doth desire to sec you.

Old feeble carrions, and such suffering souls
Bru.
Is he alone?

That welco!le wrongs; unto bad causes swear
Luc. No, sir, there are more with him.

Such creatures as men doubt: but do not stain Bru.

Do you know them? The even virtue of our enterprize,
Luc. No, sir; dieir bats are pluck'd about their cars, Nor the insuppressive nettle of our spirits,
And half' their faces buried in their cloaks,

To think, tinit, or our cause, or our performance, 'Ikat by no means I may discover them

Did need an oath ; when every drop olbloul, By any mark of favour.

That every lomau bxars, arid nobly bears,

:

Is guilty of a several bastardy,

Dec. Never fear that: If he be so resolv'd, If he do break the smallest particle

I can o'ersway him: for he loves to hear, of any promise that hath pass'd from him.

That unicorns may be betray'd with trees, Cas. But wbat of Cicero ? Shall we sound him? And bears with glasses, elephants with holes, I think, he will stand very strong with us.

Lions with toils, and men with flatterers : Casca. Let us not leave him out.

But, when I tell him, he hates flatterers,
Cin.

No, by no means. He says, he does ; being then most flattered.
Mer. O let us have him; for his silver hairs Let me work:
Will purchase us a good opinion,

For I can give his humour the true bent;
And buy men's voices to commend our deeds : And I will bring him to the capitol.
It shall be said, his judgement ruld our hands;

Cas. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him. Our youths, and wildness, shall no whit appear, Bru. By the eighth hour: Is that the uttermost? But all be buried in bis gravity.

Cin. Be that the uttermost, and fail not then. Bru. O, name him not: let us not break with him ; Met. Caius Ligarius doth bear Cæsar hard, For he will never follow any thing

Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey;
That other men begin.

I wonder, none of you have thought of him.
Cas.
Then leave him out.

Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along by him:
Casca. Indeed, he is not fit.

He loves me well, and I have given him reasons ; Dec. Shall no man else be touch'd but only Cæsar? Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him.

Cas. Decius, well urg'd:- I think it is not meet, Cas. The morning comes upon us : We'll leave you, Mark Antony, so well belov'd of Cæsar,

Brutus: Should outlive Cæsar: We shall find of him

And, friends, disperse yourselves: but all remember A shrewd contriver; and, you know, his means, What you have said, and show yourselves true Romany. If he improves them, may well stretch so far,

Bru. Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily; As to annoy us all: which to prevent,

Let not our looks put on our purposes ;
Let Antony, and Cæsar, fall together.

But bear it as our Roman actors do,
Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, || With untir'd spirits, and formal constancy:
To cut the head off, and then hack the limbs ; And so, good morrow to you every one.
Like wrath in death, and envy afterwards :

[Exeunt all but Brutus. For Antony is but a limb of Cæsar.

Boy! Lucius !-Fast asleep? It is no matter;
Let us be sacrificers, but no butchers, Caius. Enjoy the boney-heavy dew of slumber :
We all stand up against the spirit of Cæsar; Thou hast no figures, nor no fantasies,
And in the spirit of men there is no blood :

Which busy care draws in the brains of men;
O, that we then could come by Cæsar's spirit, Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.
And not dismember Cæsar! But, alas,

Enter Portia.
Cæsar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends,
Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;

Por.

Brutus, my lord! Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods,

Bru. Portia, what mean you ? Wherefore rise you Not hew him as a carcase fit for hounds :

now? And let our hearts, as subtle masters do,

It is not for your health, thus to commit Stir up their servants to an act of rage,

Your weak condition to the raw--cold morning. And after seem to chide them. This shall make Por. Nor for yours neither. You have ungently, Our purpose necessary, and not envious :

Brutus, Which so appearing to the common eyes,

Stole from my bed : And yesternight, at supper, We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers.

You suddenly arose, and walk'd about, And for Mark Antony, think not of him;

Musing, and sighing, with your arms across: For he can do no more than Cæsar's arm,

And when I ask'd you what the matter was, When Cæsar's head is off.

You star'd upon me with ungentle looks: Cas.

Yet I do fear him : I urg'd you further ; then you scratch'd your head, For in the ingrafted love he bears to Cæsar,- And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot;

Bru. Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him: Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not; If he love Cæsar, all that he can do

But, with an angry wafture of your hand,
Is to himself; take thought, and die for Cæsar: Gave sign for me to leave you : So I did;
And that were much he should; for he is given Fearing to strengthen that impatience,
To sports, to wildness, and much company.

Which seem'd too much enkindled ; and, withal,
Treb. There is no fear in him ; let him not die; Hoping it was but an effect of humour,
For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter.

Which sometime hath his hour with every man.

[Clock strikes. It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep; Bru. Peace, count the clock.

And, could it work so much upon your shape, Cas.

The clock hath stricken three. As it hath much prevailid on your condition,
Treb. 'Tis time to part.

I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord,
Cas.
But it is doubtful yet,

Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.
Whe'r Cæsar will come forth to-day, or no:

Bru. I am not well in health, and that is all. For he is superstitions grown of late ;

Por. Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health, Quite from the main opinion he held once

He would embrace the means to come by it. of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies :

Bru. Why, so I do:-Good Porria, gu to bed. It may be, these apparent prodigies,

Por. Is Brutus sick ? and is it physical The unaccustom'd terror of this night,

To walk unbraced, and suck up the humours And the persuasion of his augurers,

of the dank morning ? What, is Brutus sick May hold him from the capitol to-lay.

And will he steal out of his wholesome beti,

626

Think you,

To dare the vile contagion of the night?

Bru. That must we also. What it is, my Caius And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air

I shall unfuld to thee, as we are going To add unto his sickness ? No, my Brutus ;

To whom it must be done. You have some sick offence within your mind,

Lig.

Set on your foot: Which, by the right and virtue of my place,

And, with a heart new fird, I follow you, I ought to know of: And, upon my knees,

To do I know not what: but it sufficeth, I charm you, by my once commended beauty,

That Brutus leads me on. By all your vows of love, and that great vow

Bru.

Follow me then. [Eacunt.
Which did incorporate and make us one,
That you unfold to me, yourself, your half,

SCENE II.-The same. A Room in Cæsar's Palace.
Why you are heavy; and what men to-night

Thunder and Lightning. Enter Cæsar, in hie Have had resort to you: for here have been

Night-gown. Some six or seven, who did hide their faces

Cæs. Nor heaven, nor earth, have been at peace to Even from darkness.

night : Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia.

Thrice hath Calphuria in her sleep eried out, Por. I should not deed, if you were gentle Brutus.

Help, ho! They murder Cæsar! Who's within?
Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,

Enter a Servant.
Is it excepted, I should know no secrets
That appertain to you? Am I yourself,

Ser. My lord ?
But, as it were, in sort, or limitation ;

Cæs. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice, To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,

And bring me their opinions of success. And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs

Ser. I will, my lord.

(E.xit. of your good pleasure ? If it be no more,

Enter Calphurnia. Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.

Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? Think you to walk Bru. You are my true and honourable wife;

forth? As dear to me, as are the ruddy drops

You shall not stir out of your house today. That visit my sad heart.

Cæs. Cæsar shall forth : The things that threatend Por. If this were true, then should I know this secret.

me, I grant, I am a woman; but, withal,

Ne'er look but on my back; when they shall see A woman that lord Brutus took to wife:

The face of Cæsar, they are vanished. I grant, I am a woman; but, withal,

Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies,
A woman well-reputed; Cato's daughter.

Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
I am no stronger than my sex,

Besides the things that we have heard and seen,
Being so'father'd, and so husbanded ?

Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose them :

A lioness hath whelped in the streets;
I have made strong proof of my constancy,
Giving myself a voluntary wound

And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead: Here, in the thigh : Can I bear that with patience,

Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds,

In ranks, and squadrons, and right form of war,
And not my husband's secrets?

Which drizzled blood upon the capitol:
Bru.

O ye gods,

The noise of battle hurtled in the air, Render me worthy of this noble wife !

Horses did neigh, and dying men dul groan; [Knocking within.

And ghosts did shriek, and squeal about the streets: Hark, bark! one knocks: Portia, go in a while;

O Cæsar! these things are beyond all use, And by and by thy bosom shall partake

And I do fear them. The secrets of my heart.

What can be avoided, All my engagements I will construe to thee,

Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods? All the charactery of my sad brows:

Yet Cæsar shall go forth: for these predictions Leave me with haste.

[Exit Portia.

Are to the world in general, as to Cæsar.
Enter Lucius and Ligarius.

Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen;

The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of Lucius, who is that knocks?

princes. Luc. Here is a sick man, that would speak with you.

Cæs. Cowards die many times before their deaths ; Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of

The valiant nerer taste of death but once.
Boy, stand aside.-Caius Ligarius! how?

of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
Lig. Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue
Bru. O, what a time have you chose out, brave Caius Seeing that death, a necessary end,

It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
To wear a kerchief? 'Would you were not sick!

Will come, when it will come.
Lig. I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand
Any exploit worthy the name of honour.

Re-enter a Servant.
Brut. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius,
Had you a healthful ear to hear of it.

Ser. They would not have you to stir forth to-das,
Lig. By all the gods that Romans bow before,

Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
I here discard my sickness. Soul of Rome!

They could not find a heart within the beast.
Brave son, deriv'd from honourable loins!

Cæs. The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjur'd up

Cæsar should be a beast without a heart,
My mortified spirit. Now bid me run,

If he should stay at home to-day for fear.
And I will strive with things impossible ;

No, Cæsar shall not : Danger knows full well,
Yea, get the better of them. What's to do?

That Cæsar is more dangerous than he.
Bru. A piece of work, that will make sick men whole. We were two lions litter'd in one day,
Lig. But are not some whole, that we must make sick? And I the elder and more terrible ;

Cas.

What say the auguro?