Which, by the right and virtue of my place,
I ought to know of: and, upon my knees,
I charm you, by my once commended beauty,
By all your vows of love, and that great vow,
Which did incorporate and made us one,
That you unfold to me, yourself, your half,
Why you are heavy ? and what men to-night
Have had resort to you ?—for here have been
Some six or seven, who did hide their faces,
Even from darkness.

Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia.

For. F should not need, if you were gentle Brutus. Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, Is it excepted, I should know no secrets That appertain to you? am I yourself, But, as it were, in sort or limitation?

To keep with you at meals, consort your bed, And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs

Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,

Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.

Bru. You are my true and honourable wife; As dear to me, as are the ruddy drops

That visit my sad heart.

Pur. If this were true, then should I know this secret.—

I grant, I am a woman; but withal,

A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife.

I grant, I am a woman; but withal,

A woman well reputed; Cato's daughter.
Think you, I am no stronger than my sex,
Being so father'd, and so husbanded?

Tell me your counsels; I will not disclose them.
I have made strong proof of my constancy,

Giving myself a voluntary wound,

Here, in the arm :—Can I bear that with patience, And not my husband's secrets?

Bru. O ye gods,

Render me worthy of this noble wife!

[Knock.

Hark! hark! one knocks—Portia, go in a while;

And, by and by, thy bosom shall partake
The secrets of my heart.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Cesar's Palace.

Thunder and Lightning.

Enter Julius Cesar.

Cos. Nor heaven, nor earth, have been at peace tonight;

Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cry'd out, "Help, ho! they murder Cæsar !"--Who's within?

Enter a ervan

. Ser . My lord.

Cas. Go, bid the priests do present sacrifice; And bring me their opinions of success.

Serv. I will, my

lord.

Enter CALPHURNIA.

[Exit.

Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? think you to walk forth?

You shall not stir out of your house to-day.

Cæs. Cæsar shall forth;—the things, that threaten'd

me,

Ne'er look'd but on my back: when they shall see
The face of Cæsar, they are vanished.

Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me :--There is one within,
(Besides the things that we have heard and seen)
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch ;

That graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead.
O Cæsar! these things are beyond all use,
And I do fear them.

Cæs. What can be avoided,

Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods?
Yet Cæsar shall go forth: for these predictions
Are to the world in general, as to Cæsar.

Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen? The heav'ns themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

Com. Cowards die many times before their deaths The valiant never taste 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 necessary end,

Will come, when it will come.

Enter a Servant.

What say the Augurs?

;

Serv. They would not have you to stir forth, today.

Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,

They could not find a heart within the beast.

[Exit Servant.

Cæs. The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
Cæsar should be a beast without a heart,
If he should stay at home, to-day, for fear.
No, Cæsar shall not.

Cal. Alas, my lord,

Your wisdom is consum'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 send Mark Antony to the senate-house,
And he will say, you are not well to-day:
Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.

Caes. Mark Antony shall say, I am not well;
And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.

Enter Decius.

Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.
Dec. Cæsar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Ca-

sar;

I come to fetch you to the senate-house.

Cces. And you are come in very happy time,
To bear my greeting to the senators,

And tell them that I will not come to-day:
Cannot, is false; and that I dare not, falser;
I will not come, to-day; tell them so, Decius.
Cal. Say, he is sick.

Cas. Shall Cæsar send a lie?

Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,
To be afraid to tell grey beards the truth?
Decius, go, tell them, Cæsar will not come.
Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause,
Lest I be laugh'd at, when I tell them so.

Coes. The cause is in my will, I will not come :
That is enough to satisfy the senate.

But for your private satisfaction,

Because I love you, I will let you know.
Calphurnia, here, my wife, stays me at home:
She dreamt, last night, she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain, with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans
Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it.
These she applies 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 amiss interpreted;
It was a vision fair and fortunate:

Your statue, spouting blood in many pipes,
Wherein so many smiling Romans bath'd,
Signifies, that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood; and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognisance.
This by Calphurnia's dream is signify'd:

Caes. And this way have you well expounded it. Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can say; And know it now, the senate have concluded To give this day a crown to mighty Cæsar.

If

you shall send them word you will not come, Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock, Apt to be render'd, tor some one to say,

"Break up the senate till another time,

When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams." If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper,

"Lo! Cæsar is afraid!

Pardon, me, Cæsar; for my dear, dear, love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this:
And reason to my love is liable.

Cas. How foolish do your fears seem, now, Calphurnia!

I am ashamed I did yield to them.

I will go.

Enter Metellus, Casca, Trebonius, aud Cinna.

And look where Trebonius comes to fetch me.
Pub. Good morrow, Cæsar.

Cæs. Welcome, good Trebonius, welcome!
What is't o'clock ?

Tre. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight.

Cats. 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 most noble Cæsar.

Cæs. Bid them prepare within:

I am to blame to be thus waited for.

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.

Tre. Cæsar, I will;

and so near will I be,

[Aside.