For tinctures, ftains, relicks, and cognisance. Cef. And this way have you well expounded it. 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 Cæfar's wife fhall meet with better dreams." If Cæfar hide himfelf, fhall they not whisper, "Lo, Cæfar is afraid!" Pardon me, Cæfar, for my dear, dear, love To your proceeding bids me tell you this; Caf. How foolish do your fears feem now, Cal- want fhould, for the future, be marked with asterisks. The fenfe of them is not difficult to recover, and, with it, the propriety of the line in question. The fpeaker had faid, the ftatue fignified, that by Cæfar's influence Rome fhould flourish and increase in empire, and that great men fhould prefs to him to partake of his good fortune, juft as men run with handkerchiefs, &c. to dip them in the blood of martyrs, that they may partake of their merit. It is true, the thought is from the Christian hiftory; but fo fmall an anachronifm is nothing with our poet. Befides, it is not my interpretation which introduces it, it was there before: for the line in queftion can bear no other fenfe than as an allufion to the blood of the martyrs, and the fuperftition of fome churches with regard to it. WARBURTON. I am not of opinion that any thing is loft, and have therefore marked no omiffion. This fpeech, which is intentionally pompous, is fomewhat confufed. There are two allufions; one to coats armorial, to which princes make additions, or give new tintures, and new marks of cognisance,; the other to martyrs, whofe reliques are preserved with veneration. The Romans, fays Brutus, all come to you as to a faint, for reliques, as to a prince, for honours. JOHNSON. 8 And reafon, &c.] And reafon, or propriety of conduct and language, is fubordinate to my love. JOHNSON. I have a man's mind, but a woman's might. - Luc. Madam, what should I do? And fo return to you, and nothing else? Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lard look well, For he went fickly forth: And take good note, What Cæfar doth, what fuitors press to him. Hark, boy! what noife is that? Luc. I hear none, Madam. Per. Pr'ythee, liften well: I heard a bustling rumour like a fray, Enter Artemidorus. Por. Come hither, fellow, which way haft thou been? Art. At mine own houfe, good lady. Por. What is't o'clock? Art. About the ninth hour, lady. Por. Is Cæfar yet gone to the Capitol ? Art. Madam, not yet. I go to take my ftand, To fee him pafs on to the Capitol. Por. Thou haft fome fuit to Cæfar, haft thou not? Art. That I have, lady. If it will please Cæfar To be fo good to Cæfar, as to hear me, I fhall befeech him to befriend himself. Por. Why, know'it thou any harm intended towards him? Art. Note that I know will be, much that I fear may chance; Good-morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: The throng, that follows Cæfar at the heels, Of Of fenators, of prætors, common fuitors, [Exit. Por. I must go in-ah me! how weak a thing. The heart of woman is! O Brutus ! The heavens speed thee in thine enterprize! Sure, the boy heard me :-Brutus hath a fuit, That Cæfar will not grant.-O, I grow faint:Run, Lucius, and commend me to my Lord; Say, I am merry: come to me again, And bring me word what he doth fay to thee. [Exeunt feverally. ACT III. SCENE I. THE STREET. The Capitol; the Senate fitting. Flourish. Enter Cæfar, Brutus, Caffius, Cafca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Artemidorus, Popilius, Publius, and the Soothsayer. T CESAR. HE ides of March are come. Sooth. Ay, Cæfar, but not gone. Art. Hail, Cæfar! read this schedule. Dec. Trebonius doth defire you to o'er-read At your best leifure, this his humble fuit. Art. O Cæfar, read mine firft; for mine's a fuit That touches Cæfar nearer. Read it, great Cæfar. Caf. What touches us ourself, fhall be laft ferv'd. Art. Delay not, Cæfar; read it inftantly. VOL. VIII. E Caf. Caf. What, is the fellow mad? Pub. Sirrah, give place. Caf. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol. [Cafar enters the Capitol, the reft following.] Pop. I wish, your enterprize to-day may thrive, Pop. Fare you well. Bru. What faid Popilius Lena? Caf. He wish'd, to-day our enterprize might thrive. I fear, our purpofe is difcovered. Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæfar. Mark him. Caf. Cafca, be fudden, for we fear prevention. Brutus, what fhall be done? If this be known, Caffius, or Cæfar, never shall turn back, For I will lay myself. Bru. Caffius, be conftant. Popilius Lena fpeaks not of our purposes; For, look, he fmiles, and Cæfar doth not change. Caf. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus, He draws Mark Antony out of the way. Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, And presently prefer his fuit to Cæfar. Bru. He is addreft*: prefs near, and fecond him. Cin. Cafca, you are the first that rear your hand. Caf. Are we all ready? What is now amifs, That Cæfar and his fenate muft redrefs? Met. Moft high, moft mighty, and moft puiffant Cæfar, Metellus Cimber throws before thy feat [Kneeling. An humble heart: Caf. I must prevent thee, Cimber. * He is addreft:] i. e. he is ready. So in K. Henry V. "To-morrow for our march we are addreft." STEEVENS. These These couchings and these lowly curtefies With that which melteth fools; I mean, fweet words, If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him, Know, Cæfar doth not wrong; nor without cause Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, Bru. I kifs thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæfar; Caf. Pardon, Cæfar; Cæfar, pardon: And turn pre-ordinance-] Pre-ordinance, for ordinance already established. WARB. Into the lane of children.] I do not well understand what is meant by the lane of children. I fhould read, the law of children. It was, change pre-ordinance and decree into the law of children ; into such flight determinations as every ftart of will would alter. Lane and lawe in some manuscripts are not eafily diftinguished. JOHNSON. 3 Know, Cæfar doth not wrong; nor without caufe Will be be fatisfied.] Ben Jonfon quotes this line unfaithfully among his Discoveries, and ridicules it again in the Introduction to his Staple of News. Cry you mercy; you never did wrong, but with just caufe?" E 2 STEEVENS. But |