Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS, CAsca, And look where Publius is come to fetch me. PUB. Good morrow, Cæsar. CES. Welcome, Publius.— What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?- Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy As that same ague which hath made you lean.— BRU. Cæsar, 't is strucken eight. CES. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. Enter ANTONY. See! Antony, that revels long o' nights, CES. Bid them prepare within:— I am to blame to be thus waited for. Now, Cinna:-Now, Metellus:-What, Trebonius! 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, That your best friends shall wish I had been further. [A side. CAS. Good friends, go in, and taste somɔ wine with me; And 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! [Exeunt. 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 hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but Here will I stand till Cæsar pass along, If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou mayst live: If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive. [Exit. SCENE IV.The same. Another part of the same Street, before the House of Brutus. Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS. POR. I prithee, 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. O constancy, be strong upon my side! Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue! 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. Prithee, listen well. I hear a bustling rumour, like a fray, And the wind brings it from the Capitol. Luc. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing. POR. Enter Soothsayer. Which way hast thou been? POR. What is 't o'clock? Come hither, fellow: At mine own house, good lady. 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? 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 follows Cæsar at the heels, 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. [Exeunt ACT III. SCENE I.—The same.-The Capitol; the Senate sitting. A crowd of people in the street leading to the Capitol; among them ARTEMIDORUS and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter CÆSAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others. CAS. The ides of March are come. ART. Hail, Cæsar! Read this schedule. DEC. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read, ART. O, Cæsar, read mine first; for mine 's a suit PUB. Sirrah, give place. CAS. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol. CESAR enters the Capitol, the rest following. All the Senators rise. Pop. I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive. CAS. What enterprise, Popilius? Pop. BRU. What said Popilius Lena? Fare you well. [Advances to CESAR CAS. He wish'd, to-day our enterprise 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. CÆSAR and the Senators take their seats. DEC. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, 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, CES. [Kneeling. With that which melteth fools; I mean sweet words, If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn, for him, I spurn thee, like a cur, out of my way. 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; Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may Have an immediate freedom of repeal. CES. What, Brutus! CAS. Pardon, Cæsar: Cæsar, pardon: To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber |