He fays he does; being then moft flattered. For I can give his humcur the true bent'; Caf. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him.. Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along to him : Caf. The morning comes upon's; we'll leave you, Brutus ; But bear it as our Roman actors do, Manet Brutus. Boy! Lucius? faft afleep? it is no matter, Which bufie care draws in the brains of men ; SCENE III. Enter Portia. Por. Brutus, my Lord? ༑ [Exeunt. Bru. Portia, what mean you? wherefore rife you now? It is not for your health thus to commit Your weak condition to the raw cold morning." Per. Nor for yours neither. You've ungently, Brutus, Stole from my bed and yefternight at fupper You fuddenly arofe and walk'd about, I urg'd you further, then you scratch'd your head, Yet Yet I infifted, yet you answer'd not, Which feem'd too much inkindled; and withal, Which fometime hath his hour with every man. Bru. I am not well in health, and that is all. Bru. Why, fo I do : good Portia, go to bed. Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia. Por. I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus. R 2 Το To keep with you at meals, confort your bed, Bru. You are my true and honourable wife ; As dear to me, as are the ruddy drops That vifit my fad heart. Por. If this were true, then should I know this fecret. I grant I am a woman; but withal, A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife: Tell me your counfels, I will not disclose them : Giving my felf a voluntary wound Here, in the thigh: can I bear that with patience, Bru. O ye Gods! Render me worthy of this noble wife. Hark, hark, cne knocks: Portia, go in a while, And by and by thy bofom fhall partake The fecrets of my heart. All my engagements I will conftrue to thee, All the charactery of my fad brows. Leave me with hafte. Enter Lucius and Ligarius. Lucius, who's there that knocks? [Knock. [Exit Portia. Luc. Here is a fick man that would speak with you. Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus fpake of. Boy, ftand afide. Caius Ligarius! how? Lig. Vouchfafe good-morrow from a feeble tongue. Bru. O what a time have you chofe out, brave Caius, To wear a kerchief? would you were not fick ! Lig. I am not fick, if Brutus have in hand Any exploit worthy the name of honour. Bru. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Had you an healthful ear to hear of it. Lig. By all the Gods the Romans bow before, I here difcard my fickness. Soul of Rome, What's to do? Bru. A piece of work, that will make fick men whole. Lig. But are not fome whole that we must make fick ? Bru. That muft we alfo. What it is, my Caius, I fhall unfold to thee, as we are going, To whom it must be done. Lig. Set on your foot, And with a heart new-fir'd I follow you, Bru. Follow me then. SCENE IV. [Exeunt. Cæfar's Palace. Thunder and Lightning. Enter Julius Cæfar. Caf. Nor heav'n, nor earth, have been at peace to-night; Thrice hath Calphurnia in her fleep cry'd out, Help, bo; they murder Cæfar. Who's within ? Enter a Servant. Ser. My Lord. Caf. Go bid the Priests do prefent facrifice, And bring me their opinions of fuccefs. Ser. I will, my Lord. Enter Calphurnia. [Exit. Calp. What mean you, Cæfar? think you to walk forth? You shall not ftir out of your house to-day. Caf. Cæfar fhall forth; the things that threatned me, Calp. Cæfar, I never ftood on ceremonies, And graves have yawn'd and yielded up their dead; R 3 Which Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol : Caf. What can be avoided, Whofe end is purpos'd by the mighty Gods? Calp. When beggars die, there are no comets feen, Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It feems to me moft ftrange that men fhould fear : Will come, when it will come. Enter a Servant. What fay the Augurs ? Ser. 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. If he fhould ftay at home to-day for fear.* "Your wisdom is confum'd in confidence : Do not go forth to-day; call it my fear, to day for fear: No, Cafar fhall not; Danger knows full well, We were two lions litter'd in one day, And I the elder and more terrible Calp. Alas, &c. |