Enter Decius.

Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.

Dec. Cæsar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Cæsar:

I come to fetch you to the senate-house..

Caes. 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:
Cannot, is false; and that I dare not, falser;

I will not come to-day: Tell them so, Decius.
Cal. Say, he is sick.

Cæs.

Shall Cesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,

To be afeard to tell grey-beards the truth?
Decius, go tell them, Cesar will not come.

Dee. Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
Lest I be laugh'd at, when I tell them so.
Cas. 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.
Calphuria here, my wife, stays me at home:
She dreamt to-night she saw my statua,
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, portents,
And evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd, that I will stay at home to-day.
Dec. This dream is all amiss interpreted;
It was a vision, fair and fortunate:
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
Ia which so many smiling Romans bath'd,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood; and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relies, and cognizance.
This by Calpurnia's dream is signified.

Cars. And this way have you well expounded it.

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 Casar's wife shall meet with better dreams.
If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper,

Lo, Casar is afraid?

Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear, deaf love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this;

And reason to my love is liable.

Cas. 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.

Pub. Good-morrow, Cesar.

Caes.

Welcome, Publius.

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

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

Bru.

Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight. Cas. 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 Casar.

Cas. Bid them prepare within :-
I am to blame to be thus waited for.-

Now, Cinna :-Now, Metellus :-What, Trebonius!
I have an hour's talk in store for you;
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, [Aside. That your best friends shall wish I had been further. Cæs. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with

And

me:

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! [Exeuna. SCENE III.-The same. A Street near the Capitol. Enter Artemidorus, reading a Paper.

Art. Cæsar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; some 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,
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.

[Exit.

SCENE IV-The sume. 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.

Per. I would have had thee there, and bere again,

Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst 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 dotb, 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.

Sooth.

About the ninth hour, lady.

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 chance.

Good-morrow to you. Here the street is narrow:
The throng that follow Cæsar at the heels,

Of senators, of prætors, common suitors,
Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:
I'll get e to a place more void, and there
Speak to great Caesar as he comes along.

[Exit.
Por. I must go in.-Ah me! how weak a thing
The heart of woman is! O Brutus!
-The heavens speed thee in thine enterprize!
Sure, the boy heard me :-Brutus hath a suit,
That Cæsar will not grant.-0, 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. [Exe.

ACT III.

SCENE 1.-The same. The Capitol; the Senate sit ting. A Crowd of People in the Street leading to the Capitol; among them Artemidorus and the Southsayer. Flourish. Enter Caesar, Brutus, Cassius Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony. Lepidus, Popilius, Publius, and others.

Cæsar.

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,
At 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.

Cas. What, is the fellow mad?

Pub

Sirrah, give place.

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

Come to the capitol.