The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

Caf. Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never tafte of death but once.

Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a neceffary end,

Will come, when it will come.

Re-enter a Servant.

What fay the augurers?

Serv. They would not have you to ftir forth to-day.
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
They could not find a heart within the beast.
Caf. The gods do this in fhame of cowardice:
Cæfar fhould be a beast without a heart,

If he should stay at home to-day for fear.
No, Cæfar fhall not: Danger knows full well,
That Cæfar is more dangerous than he.

We were two lions litter'd in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible;
And Cæfar fhall go forth.

Cal. Alas, my lord,

Your wifdom is confum'd in confidence.
Do not go forth to-day: Call it my fear,
That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
We'll fend Mark Antony to the fenate-house
And he fhall fay, you are not well to-day:
Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.

Caf. Mark Antony fhall fay, I am not well; And, for thy humour, I will ftay at home.

Enter DECIUS.

Here's Decius Brutus, he fhall tell them fo.

Dec. Cæfar, all hail! Good-morrow, worthy Cæfar:

I come to fetch you to the fenate-house.
Caf. And you are come in very happy time,
To bear my greeting to the fenators,

And tell them, that I will not come to-day :
Cannot, is false; and that I dare not, falfer;
I will not come to-day: Tell them fo, Decius.
Cal. Say, he is fick,

Caf. Shall Cæfar fend a lie?

Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far, To be afeard to tell gray-beards the truth? tell them, Cæfar will not come.

Decius, go

Dec. Moft mighty Cæfar, let me know fome cause, Left I be laugh'd at, when I tell them fo.

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, ftays me at home:
She dreamt to-night fhe faw my ftatue,
Which, like a fountain, with a hundred fpouts,
Did run pure blood; and many lufty Romans
Came fmiling, and did bathe their hands in it.
And these does fhe apply for warnings, and portents,
And evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd, that I will stay at home to-day.

Dec. This dream is all amifs interpreted;

It was a vifion, fair and fortunate :
Your body spouting blood in many pipes,
In which fo many fmiling Romans bath'd,
Signifies, that from you great Rome shall fuck
Reviving blood; and that great men fhall prefs
For tinctures, ftains, and relics, and cognifance.
This by Calphurnia's dream is fignify'd.

Caf. And this way have you well expounded it.

Dec.

Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can say: And know it now; the fenate have concluded

To give, this day, a crown to mighty Cæfar.

If

you fhall fend them word, you will not come,
Their minds may change. Befides, it were a mock
Apt to be render'd, for fome one to fay,
Break up the fenate 'till another time,

When Cafar's wife fhall meet with better dreams.
If Cæfar hide himself, fhall they not whisper,
Lo, Cafar is afraid?

Pardon me, Cæfar; for my dear, dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell

you this ; And reafon to my love is liable.

Caf. How foolish do your fears now feem, Calphur

I am afhamed I did yield to them.—

Give me my robe, for I will go:

[nia?

Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS,
CASCA, TREBONIUS, and CINNA.

And look where Publius is come to fetch me.
Pub. Good-morrow, Cæfar.

Caf. Welcome, Publius.

What, Brutus, are you stirr'd fo early too?
Good-morrow, Cafca.-Caius Ligarius,
Cæfar was ne'er fo much your enemy,
As that fame ague which hath made
What is't o'clock?

Bru. Cæfar, 'tis ftrucken eight.

you

lean.

Caf. I thank you for your pains and courtesy.

Enter ANTONY.

See! Antony, that revels long o' nights,

Is, notwithstanding, up-Good-morrow, Antony.
Ant. So to moft noble Cæfar.

Caf.

Caf. 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 ftore for you;
Remember that you call on me to-day:

Be near me, that I may remember you.
Treb. Cæfar, I will:

-and fo near will I be,

[Afide. That your best friends shall wish I had been further. Caf. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with mes And we, like friends, will straightway go together. Bru. That every like is not the fame, O Cæfar, The heart of Brutus yerns to think upon! [Exeunt.

SCENE III. A freet near the Capitol.

Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a paper. Cafar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Caffius; come not near Cafca; have an eye to Cinna; truft not Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber: Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou haft wrong'd Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Cafar. If thou beft not immortal, look about you: Security gives way to confpiracy. The mighty gods defend thee!

Thy lover,

ARTEMIDORUS.

Here will I ftand, 'till Cæfar pafs along,
And as a fuitor will I give him this.

My heart laments, that virtue cannot live
Out of the teeth of einulation.

If thou read this, O Cæfar, thou may'st live;
If not, the fates with traitors do contrive.

D

[Exit. SCENE

SCENE IV. Another part of the fame fireet.

Enter PORTIA, and LUCIUS.

Por. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the fenate-house ;

Stay not to anfwer but get me,

Why doft thou ftay?

thee

gone:

Luc. To know my errand, madam.

Por. I would have had thee there, and here again, Ere I can tell thee what thou fhould'st do there.- ̧ O conftancy, be ftrong upon my fide!

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 counfel!-
Art thou here yet?

Luc. Madam, what fhould I do?

Run to the Capitol, and nothing elfe?
And fo return to you, and nothing else?

Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look For he went fickly forth: And take good note [well, What Cæfar doth, what fuitors prefs to him.

Hark, boy! what noife is that?"

Luc. I hear none, maďam.
Por. Pr'ythee, liften well:

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

Enter Soothsayer.

Por. Come hither, fellow: Which haft thou

way

Sooth. At mine own house, good lady.

Por. What is't o'clock?

Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady.

Por. Is Cæfar yet gone to the Capitol?
Sooth. Madam, not yet; I go

To fee him pafs on to the Capitol.

[been?

to take my stand,

Por