Cæsar. How foolish do your fears seem now, Cal

phurnia?

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.
Publius. Good morrow, Cæsar.

Cæsar.

Welcome, Publius.

What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?-
Casca.-Caius Ligarius,

Good morrow,

Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy,

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

Brutus.

Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight.

Cæsar. I thank you for your pains and courtesy,

Enter ANTONY.

See! Antony, that revels long o' nights,

Is notwithstanding up :

Good morrow, Antony.

Antony.

So to most noble Cæsar.

Cæsar. 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.

Trebonius. Cæsar, I will:-and so near will I be, [Aside. That your best friends shall wish I had been further. Cæsar. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine

with me;

And we, like friends, will straightway go together. Brutus. That every like is not the same, O Cæsar, The heart of Brutus yearns1 to think upon!

[Exeunt.

1 Grieves.

SCENE III-A Street near the Capitol.

Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a Paper.

Artemidorus. CESAR, 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 one mind in all these men, and it is bent against CESAR. If thou be'st not immortal, look about you: Security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover,

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. 2

ARTEMIDORUS.

If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou mayst live;
If not, the fates with traitors do contrive.

[Exit.

SCENE IV.-Another Part of the same Street, before the House of BRUTUS.

Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS.

Portia. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the senate-house;

Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone:

Why dost thou stay?

Lucius.

To know my errand, madam.

Portia. 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!
Art thou here yet?

Lucius.
Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?
And so return to you, and nothing else?

Madam, what should I do?

2 Envy.

Portia. 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?

Lucius. I hear none, madam.

Portia.

Pr'ythee, listen well;

I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
Lucius. Sooth,3 madam, I hear nothing..

Portia.

Enter SOOTHSAYER.

Come hither, fellow:

At mine own house, good lady.

Which way hast thou been?
Soothsayer.

Portia. What is't o'clock?
Soothsayer.

About the ninth hour, lady.

Portia. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol?

Soothsayer. Madam, not yet; I go to take my stand, To see him pass on to the Capitol?

Portia. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not? Soothsayer. 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.

Portia. Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him?

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

[Exit.

Portia. I must go in.-Ah me! how weak a thing

The heart of woman is! O Brutus!

The heaven speed thee in thy enterprize!

Sure, the boy heard me:-Brutus hath a suit,
That Cæsar will not grant.-O, I grow faint:-

3 In truth.

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.

[Exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE I.-The Capitol; the SENATE sitting.

A Crowd of People in the Street leading to the Capitol; among them ARTEMIDORUS and the SOOTHSAYER. Flourish. Enter CESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, Casca, DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and Others.

At

Cæsar. The ides of March are come.
Soothsayer. Ay, Cæsar; but not gone.
Artemidorus. Hail, Cæsar! Read this schedule.
Decius. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read,
your best leisure, this his humble suit.

Artemidorus. O Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer: Read it, great Cæsar. Cæsar. What touches us ourself, shall be last serv'd. Artemidorus. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly. Cæsar. What, is the fellow mad?

Publius.

Sirrah, give place.

Cassius. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol.

CESAR enters the Capitol, the rest following.

All the SENATORS rise.

Popilius. I wish your enterprize to-day may thrive. Cassius. What enterprize, Popilius?

Popilius.

Fare you well. [Advances to CESAR.

Brutus. What said Popilius Lena?

Cassius. He wish'd to-day our enterprize might thrive.

I fear, our purpose is discover'd.

Brutus. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: Mark him. Cassius. 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.

Brutus.

Cassius, be constant:

Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;

For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change.
Cassius. 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.

Decius. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar.

Brutus. He is address'd: press near, and second him. Cinna. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. Cæsar. Are we all ready? what is now amiss,

That Cæsar, and his senate must redress?

Metellus. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant
Cæsar,

Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
An humble heart:-

[Kneeling.

Cæsar. 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, Into the law of children. Be not fond, To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood, That will be thaw'd from the true quality

With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words, Low-crooked court'sies, and base spaniel fawning.

Thy brother by decree is banished;

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
Will he be satisfied.

Metellus. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear,

For the repealing of my banish'd brother?

4 Ready.