Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock When Casar's wife shall meet with better dreams. Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear, dear love Cæs. 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. Cas. 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. Cas. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. See! Antony, that revels long o'nights, Is notwithstanding up : Good-morrow, Antony. Ant. So to most noble Cæsar. 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 me; And we, like friends, will straightway go together. [8] And reason, or propriety of conduct and language, is subordinate to my love JOHNSON. 2 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 has 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, My heart laments, that virtue cannot live If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou may'st live; If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive. SCENE IV. [Exit. The same. 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 e; Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone : Why dost thou stay? Luc. To know my errand, madam. Por. I would have had thee there, and here 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 !- 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 doth, what suitors press to him. Hark, boy! what noise is that? Luc. I hear none, madam. Por. Pr'ythee, listen well: [9] Emulation here, as on many other occasions, is used in an unfavourable sense, somewhat like factious, envious, or malicious rivalry. STEEVENS. I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, Por. Come hither, fellow : Which way hast thou been? Sooth. At mine own house, good lady. Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady. 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 : Por. I must go in.-Ah me! how weak a thing The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise ! [Exit. And bring me word what he doth say to thee. [Excunt. ACT III. SCENE I. The same. The Capitol; the Senate sitting. A Cæsar. THE ides of March are come. Art. Hail, Cæsar! Read this schedule. Art. O, Cæsar, read mine first for mine's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer: Read it, great Cæsar. Cas. What touches us ourself, shall be last serv'd. Art. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly. Cæs. What, is the fellow mad? Pub. Sirrah, give place. Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street! Come to the Capitol. CESAR enters the Capitol, the rest following. The senators rise. Pop. I wish, your enterprize to-day may thrive. Cas. What enterprize, Popilius? Pop. Fare you well. Bru. What said Popilius Lena? [Advances to CESAR. Cas. He wish'd, to-day our enterprize might thrive. I fear, our purpose is discovered. Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: Mark him. Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back, For I will slay myself. Bru. Cassius, be constant : Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change. Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus, He draws Mark Antony out of the way. [Exeunt ANTONY and TREBonius. CESAR and the Senators take their seats. Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. Bru. He is address'd : press near, and second him. That Cæsar, and his senate, must redress? Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Cæsar, Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat. An humble heart : Cas. I must prevent thee, Cimber. These couchings, and these lowly courtesies, Might fire the blood of ordinary men; And turn pre-ordinance, and first decree,3 [2] That is, He is ready. STEEVENS. [3] Pre-ordinance, for ordinance already established. [Kneeling. WARBURTON. Into the law of children. Be not fond, To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood, With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words, Thy brother by decree is banished; If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him, Know, Cæsar doth not wrong; nor without cause Met Is there no voice more worthy than my own, For the repealing of my banish'd brother? Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar; Cæs. What, Brutus ! Cas. Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon : As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber. Cæs. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you ; The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks, That I was constant, Cimber should be banish'd, Cin. O Cæsar, Cæs. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus ? Dec. Great Cæsar, Cas. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? Casca. Speak, hands, for me. Susceptible of fear, or other passions. 5 One, and only one. JOHNSON. JOHNSON. [6] Perhaps, holds on his race; continues his course. We commonly say, To hold a rank, and To hold on a course or way. JOHNSON. |