The same. SCENE II. A Room in Cæsar's Palace. Thunder and Lightning. Enter CESAR, in his Night-gown. Cas. Nor heaven, nor earth, have been at peace to-night : Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, Serv. My lord? Enter a Servant. 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. Cas. 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,3 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. A lioness hath whelped in the streets; And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead: 3 Never paid a regard to prodigies or omens. Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds, In ranks, and squadrons, and right form of war, Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol : The noise of battle hurtled 4 in the air, Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan ; And ghosts did shriek, and squeal' about the streets, 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? Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. Cas. 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. Re-enter a Servant. What say the augurers? Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to-day. Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, They could not find a heart within the beast. Cas. 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: Danger knows full well, 4 Encountered. VOL. VIII. 5 Cry with pain. U That Cæsar is more dangerous than he. And Cæsar shall go forth. 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. Cas. Mark Antony shall say, I am not well; Enter DECIUS. Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. Cas. 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 : Cæs. Shall Cæsar send a lie? To be afeard to tell grey-beards the truth? Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at, when I tell them so. Cas. 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. It was a vision, fair and fortunate : Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, 6 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, When Casar's wife shall meet with better dreams. Lo, Cæsar is afraid? Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear, dear love As to a saint, for reliques. 7 As to a prince for honours. And reason to my love is liable. Cæs. How foolish do your fears seem now, Cal phurnia ? I am ashamed I did yield to them.— Give me my robe, for I will go :— Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS, CASCA, TREBONIUS, and CINNA. And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Pub. Good morrow, Cæsar. Cœs. Welcome, Publius. What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?— Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy, As that same ague which hath made you lean.- Bru. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight. Enter ANTONY. See! Antony, that revels long o'nights, Is notwithstanding up : Good morrow, Antony. Ant. So to most noble Cæsar. Cas. Bid them prepare within: I am to blame to be thus waited for. Now, Cinna:-Now, Metellus :-What, Trebonius! Treb. Cæsar, I will:-and so near will I be, 8 Subordinate. [Aside. |