Their minds may change.

Befides, it were a mock

Apt to be render'd, for fome one to fay,

Break up the fenate
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 feem now, Calphurnia?

I am afhamed I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go:-

Enter Publius, Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Cafca, Trebonius, and Cinna.

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

Caf. Welcome, Publius.

t

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

Bru. Cæfar, 'tis ftrucken eight.

lean.

Caf. I thank you for your pains and courtesy.

When Cæfar's wife shall meet with better dreams.] So, in lord Sterline's Julius Cæfar:

"How can we fatisfy the world's conceit,

"Whofe tongues ftill in all ears your praise proclaims } Or fhall we bid them leave to deal in ftate,

**Till that Calphurnia first have better dreams ?”

MALONE.

And reafon, &c.] And reafon, or propriety of conduct and

language, is fubordinate to my love. JOHNSON.

Enter

Enter Antony.

See! Antony, that revels long o'nights,

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

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 tafte fome wine with

me;

And we, like friends, will ftraightway go together. Bru. That every like is not the fame, O Cæfar, The heart of Brutus yerns to think upon! [Exeunt.

SCENE

III.

Aftreet near the Capitol.

Enter Artemidorus, reading a paper.

Cafar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Caffius; come not near Cafea; have an eye to Cinna; trust 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 Cæfar. If thou be'ft not immortal, look about you: Security gives way to confpiracy. The mighty gods defend thee!

Here will I ftand, 'till Cæfar pass along,
And as a fuitor will I give him this.
My heart laments, that virtue cannot live
Out of the teeth of emulation.

If thou read this, O Cæfar, thou may'ft live;

9

If not, the fates with traitors do contrive. [Exit.

Another part of the fame Street,

Enter Portia, and Lucius.

Por. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the fenate houfe Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone: Why doft thou ftay?

Luc. To know my errand, madam.

Por. I would have had thee there, and here again, Ere I can tell thee what thou fhould'ft do there.O conftancy, be strong 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 counsel !-
Art thou here yet?

Luc. Madam, what fhould I do?

Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?

And fo return to you, and nothing else?.

Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,

the fates with traitors do contrive.] The fates join with traitors in contriving thy deftruction. JOHNSON.

I

Why doft thou ftay? &c.] Shakspeare has expreffed the perturbation of K. Richard the Third's mind by the fame incident 66 -Dull, unmindful villain !

"Why ftay'st thou here, and go'ft not to the duke?— Cat. First, mighty liege, tell me your highness' pleasure, "What from your grace I fhall deliver to him."

STEEVENS.

For

For he went fickly forth: And take good note,
What Cæfar doth, what fuitors prefs to him.
Hark, boy! what noife is that?

Luc. I hear none, madam.

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 way haft thou been?

Sooth. At mine own houfe, 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 take my stand, To fee him pafs on to the Capitol.

Por. Thou haft fome fuit to Cæfar, haft thou not?, Sooth. 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'st thou any harm's intended towards him?

Sooth. 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 Cæfar at the heels,
Of fenators, of prætors, common fuitors,
Will crowd a feeble man almoft to death:
I'll get me to a place more void, and there
Speak to great Cæfar as he comes along.

[Exit.

2 Enter Soothsayer.] The introduction of the Soothsayer here is unneceffary, and I think, improper. All that he is made to fay, fhould be given to Artemidorus; who is feen and accosted by Portia, in his paffage from the firft ftand, p. 54, to one more convenient, p. 55. TYRWHITT.

Por. I must go in.-Ay 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.-0, 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..

A C T III.

SCENE I.

The Street, and then

The Capitol; the Senate fitting..

Flourish. Enter Cafar, Brutus, Caffius, Cafca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Artemidorus, Popilius, Publius, and the Soothsayer.

At

Caf. The ides of March are come.
Sooth. Ay, Cæfar; but not gone.

Art. Hail, Cæfar! Read this fchedule.
Dec. Trebonius doth defire you to o'er-read,
your beft 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, shall be laft ferv'd. Art. Delay not, Cæfar; read it instantly.

Caf. What, is the fellow mad?

Pub. Sirrah, give place....

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

[Cafar