I here difcard my ficknefs. Soul of Rome! whole. It feems to me most strange that men should fear; What fay the augurers? [day. Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to- Cf. The gods do this in fhame of cowardice: Cal. Alas, my lord, Your wifdom is confum'd in confidence. Cef. Mark Antony fhall fay, I am not well; Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them fo. [Cæfar: Cf. And you are come in very happy time, Cal. What mean you, Cæfar? Think you to walk en'd me, Cal. Cæfar, I never ftood on ceremonies, I will not come to-day: Tell them fo, Decius. Cf. Shall Cæfar fend a lye? Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far, Caf. The caufe is in my will, I will not come; That is enough to fatisfy the fenate. But, for your private fatisfaction, Because I love you, I will let you know. Calphurnia here, my wife, stays me at home: She dreamt to-night the faw my ftatue, Which, like a fountain, with a hundred spouts, Did run pure blood; and many lufty Romans Came fmiling, and did bathe their hands in it. And thefe does the apply for warnings, and parAnd evils imminent; and on her knee [tents, Hath begg'd, that I will stay at home to-day. Dec. This dream is all amifs interpreted; comets It was a vifion, fair and fortunate: [princes. Your ftatue fpouting blood in many pipes, The heavens themfelves blaze forth the death of In which fo many (miling Romans bath'd, Geef. What can be avoided, Cf. Cowards die many times before their The valiant never tafte of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, deaths; Signifies, that from you great Rome fhall fuck 1 i. e. I never paid a ceremonious or fuperftitious regard to prodigies or omens. To hurtle is, perhaps, to clafh, or move with violence and noise. 3 There are two allufions in this fpeech; one to coats armorial, to which princes make additions, or give new tinctures, and new marks of cegr= fance; the other to martyrs, whofe reliques are prefetved with veneration. The Romans, lays Decius, all come to you as to a faint, for reliques, as to a prince, for honours. This by Calphurnia's dream is fignify'd. Cef. And this way have you well expounded it. Pardon me, Cefar; for my dear, dear love [phurnia Here will I ftand, 'till Cæfar paf, elong, If thou read this, O Cefar, thou may'ft live; Another part of the fame Street. Enter Portia, and Lucius. Por. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the fenate-houfe; [gain, Luc. To know my errand, madan. Cef. How foolish do your fears feem now, Cal-O conftancy, be ftrong upon my fide! I am athamed I did yield to them. Give me my robe, for I will go : Enter Publius, Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Cafea, How hard it is for women to keep counfel! Trebonius, and Cinna, And look where Publius is come to fetch me. What, Brutus, are you ftirr'd fo early too?- Art thou here yet? Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look As that fame ague which hath made you lean. Hark, boy! what noife is that? And we, like friends, will straightway go together. SCENE III, A Street near the Capitol. Enter Artemidorus, reading a Paper. Luc. I hear none, madam. Por. Pr'ythee, liften well: 1 heard a buttling rumour, like a fray, Por. Come hither, fellow: Which way haft thou been? Sooth. At mine own houfe, good lady. Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady. Por. Is Cæfar yet gone to the Capitol ? [not ? towards him? [fear may chance. [Exit. "Cæfar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Caf-I'll get me to a place more void, and there "fius; come not near Cafca; have an eye to Speak to great Cæfar as he comes along. ❝ Cinna; truft not Trebonius; mark well Me- Por. I must go in.-Ay me! how weak a thing "tellus Cimber: Decius Brutus loves thee not; The heart of woman is! O Brutus ! "thou haft wrong'd Caius Ligarius. There is The heavens speed thee in thine enterprize! but one mind in all these men, and it is bent Sure, the boy heard me :-Brutus hath a fuit, "againft Cæfar. If thou be'ft not immortal, look That Cæfar will not grant.-0, I grow faint :"about you: fecurity gives way to confpiracy. Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord; The mighty gods defend thee! Say, I am inerry: come to me again, And bring me word what he doth say to thee. "Thy lover, ARTEMIDORUS." i, c. fubordinate. 2. e. the fates join with traitors in contriving thy deftruction. [Exeunt. ACT ACT III. SCENE I. The Street, and then The Capitol: the Senate fitting. Flourish. Enter Cefar, Brutus, Caffius, Cafea, Caf. HE ides of March are come. Art. Delay not, Cæfar; read it inftantly. Pub. Sirrah, give place. Into the lane 3 of children. Be not fond, Low-crooked curt'fies, and bafe fpaniel fawning. If thou doft bend, and pray, and fawn, for him, Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, To found more fweetly in great Cæfar's ear, Bru. I kifs thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæfar; Caf. Pardon, Cæfar; Cæfar, pardon : Caf. What, urge you your petitions in the fireet? As low as to thy foot doth Caffius fall, [Cæfar enters the Capitol, the ref following.] [thrive. Bru. What faid Popilius Lena? Caf. He wifh'd, to-day our enterprize might I fear, our purpole is discovered. [him. Bu. Look, how he makes to Cæfar: Mark Caf. Cafca, be fudden, for we fear prevention. Brutus, what fhall be done? If this be known, Caffius, or Cæfar, never fhall turn back, For I will flay myself. Bra. Caflius, be conftant: He draws Mark Antony out of the way. [him. Bra. He is addreft: prefs near, and fecond Cin. Cafca, you are the firit that rear your hand. Caef. Are we all ready? What is now amifs, That Cæfar, and his fenate, muft redress? Met. Moft high, most mighty, and most puiffant Cafar, To beg enfranchifement for Publius Cimber. Geef. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you ; If I could pray to move, prayers would move me : But I am conftant as the northern star, Of whofe true-fixt, and refting quality, There is no fellow in the firmament. The fkies are painted with unnumbred fparks, They are all fire, and every one doth shine; But there's but one in all doth hold his place: So, in the world; 'Tis furnith'd well with men, And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive *; Yet, in the number, I do know but one That unaffailable holds on his rank, Unthak'd of motion: and, that I am he, Let me a little fhew it, even in this; And conftant do remain to keep him so. That I was conftant Cimber should be banish'd, Cin. O Cæfar,- Caf. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus ? Cf. Doth not Brutus bootlefs kneel? [They flab Cofar. Caf. Et tu, Brute?Then fall, Cæfar! [Diti Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. Caf. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out, Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement !" Bru. People, and fenators! be not affrighted; Fly not; ftand ftill:-ambition's debt is paid. Cafea. Go to the pulpit, Brutus. Metellus Cimber throws before thy feat [Anceling." An humble heart :- Gef. I mult prevent thee, Cimber. Thefe couchings, and thefe lowly courtefies, Might fire the blood of ordinary men ; And turn pre-ordinance 2, and first decree, Dec. And Caffius too. Bru. Where's Publius? i. e. he is ready. 2 Pre-ordinance, for ordinance already eftablifhed. 3 Dr. Johnfon proposes to read, the law of children. That is, change pre-ordinance and decree into the law of children; into fuch flight determinations as every ftart of will would alter." 4 i. c. fufceptible of fear, or other paffions. Cie. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. With all true faith. So fays my mafter Antony. Met. Stand fat together, left fome friend of Bru. Thy muter is a wife and valiant Roman; Should chanceI never thought him worse. [Cæfar's Bru. Talk not of ftanding :-- -Publius, good cheer; There is no harm intended to your perfon, Re-enter Trebonius. Caf. Where is Antony? Tre. Fled to his houfe amaz’d: Men, wives, and children, ftare, cry out, and run, As it were dooms-day. Bru. Fates! we will know your pleasures: That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time, And drawing days out, that men itand upon. Caf. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life, Cuts off fo many years of fearing death. Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit: Shall this our lofty fcene be acted over, Cal. So oft as that thall be, So often fhall the knot of us be call'd Brutus fhall lead; and we will grace his heels Bru. Soft, who comes here? A friend of Antony's. [knee]; Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my mafter bid me Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down; And, being proftrate, thus he bade me fay. Brutus is noble, wife, valiant, and honeft; Cæfar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving: Say, I love Brutus, and I honour him; Bru. I know, that we fhall have him well to friend. Caf. I with we may : but yet have I a mind, That fears him much; and my mitgiving till Falls fhrew diy to the purpoie. Re-enter Antony. Bru. But here comes Antony.Mark Antony. -Welcome, Art. O mighty Cæfar! Doit thou lie fo low? Are all thy conquefts, glories, triumphs, fpoils, Shrunk to this little meafure?-Fare thee well.I know not, gentlemen, what you intend, Who elfe must be let blood, who elfe is rank 2: If I myfelf, there is no hour fo fit As Cæfar's death's hour; nor no inftrument With the moit noble blood of all this world. Bra. O Antony! beg not your death of us. Our arms, in ftrength of malice, and our hearts, Bru. Only be patient, 'till we have appeas'd Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom. Say, I fear'd Cæfar, honour'd him, and lov'd him. Have thus proceeded. Let each man render me his bloody hand: Yours, Cinna;-and, my valiant Casca, yours ; I This ufe of two negatives, not to make au affirmative, but to deny more ftrongly, is common to our ancient writers. 2 i. e. who clfe is grown too high for the public fafety. 3 Brutus' meaning is, Antony, our arms, ftrong in the deed of malice they have juit perforin'd, and our hearts, united like thofe of brothers in the action, are yet open to receive you with all possible affection. Though Though laft, not leaft in love, yours, good Tre- | You fhall not in your funeral speech blame us, bonius. Gentlemen, all,-alas! what shall I say? My credit now ftands on fuch flippery ground, That I did love thee, Cæfar, O, 'tis true: Shall it not grieve thee, dearer than thy death, hart; Here didft thou fall; and here thy hunters ftand,Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips, Caf. Mark Antony, Ant. Pardon me, Caius Caffius: The enemies of Cæfar fhall fay this; Then, in a friend, it is cold modefty. Caf. I blame you not for praifing Cæfar fo; Bru. Or elfe were this a favage spectacle: Ant. That's all I feek: -And am morcover fuitor, that I may Bru. You fhall, Merk Antony. You know not what you'do; Do not confent,[fide Know you how much the people may be mov'd By that which he will utter ? Bru. By your pardon ;- I will myfelf into the pulpit first, And fhew the reafon of our Cæfar's death: Caf. I know not what may fall; I like it not. Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæfar's body. To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue;— That mothers fhall but fmile, when they behold Ant. Cæfar did write for him, to come to Rome. Serv. He lies to-night within feven leagues of Hie hence, and tell him fo. Yet, ftay a while; 1 Lethe was a common French word, fignifying death that fenfe by many of the old tranfl tors of novels. propofes to read,` thefe ly mms of men;" that is, thefe 11. Enter Brutus, and Caffius, with the Plebeians. Pub. We will be tatisfied; let us be fatisfied. or deftruction, from the Latin letham, and used in 21. e. the courfe of times. 3 Dr. Johnn bloodhounds of men. 4 See note, p. 732Bre |