Which did incorporate and make us one, Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia. POR. I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus. Is it excepted, I should know no secrets To keep with you at meals; Dwell I but in the suburbs Of your good pleasure? 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, A woman well-reputed, Cato's daughter. Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em. 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; And by and by thy bosom shall partake All my engagements I will construe to thee, Leave me with haste. [Exit PORTIA. Lucius, who's that knocks ? Re-enter LUCIUS with LIGARIUS. Luc. Here is a sick man that would speak with you. BRU. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spoke 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 Yea, get the better of them. What's to do? BRU. A piece of work that will make sick men whole. LIG. But are not some whole that we must make sick? BRU. That must we also. What it is, my Caius, I shall unfold to thee as we are going To whom it must be done. LIG. Set on your foot, BRU. Follow me then. [Exeunt. Scene II.-The Same. CESAR'S House. Thunder and lightning. Enter CÆSAR in his night-gown. CAS. Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night : Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, "Help, ho! They murder Cæsar!" Who's within ? Enter a Servant. SERV. My lord! CES. Go bid the priests to present sacrifice, And bring me their opinions of success. SERV. I will, my lord. CAL. Enter CALPHURNIA. [Exit. What mean you, Cæsar? Think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day. CAS. Cæsar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see The face of Cæsar, they are vanished. CAL. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet now they fright me. There is one within, Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. A lioness hath whelped in the streets; And graves have yawn'd and yielded up their dead; In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, And I do fear them. CES. What can be avoided Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods? 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 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. CAS. The gods do this in shame of cowardice: Cæsar should be a beast without a heart If he should stay at home to-day for fear. And I the elder and more terrible : And Cæsar shall go forth. 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. CES. Mark Antony shall say I am not well; And, for thy humour, I will stay at home. Enter DECIUS. Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. DES. Cæsar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Cæsar : I come to fetch you to the senate-house. Cæs. 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; CES. Shall Cæsar send a lie ? Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far DEC. Most mighty Cæsar, 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: It was a vision fair and fortunate: CES. And this way have you well expounded it. 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 66 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 CES. 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, And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Welcome, Publius. What! Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too? 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. Bid them prepare within : I am to blame to be thus waited for. Now, Cinna; now, Metellus; what, Trebonius ! Be near me, that I may remember you. TREB. Cæsar, I will:-(Aside.) and so near will I be, That your best friends shall wish I had been further. CES. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me; And we, like friends, will straightway go together. BRU. (Aside). That every like is not the same, O Cæsar! The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon. [Exeunt. |