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CAL. Say, he is sick.

CES. Shall Cæsar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far, To be afeard 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.

6

CES. 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 to-night she saw my statua, Which like a fountain, with a hundred spouts, Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it. And these does she apply for warnings, portents,7 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:

8

Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bath'd,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck

6

my statua,] See Vol. IV. p. 274, n. 8; and Vol. XIV. p. 413, n. 4. STEEVENS.

7

warnings, portents,] Old copy, unmetrically-warnings and portents. STEEVENS.

And evils imminent ;] The late Mr. Edwards was of opinion that we should read:

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The alteration proposed by Mr. Edwards is needless, and tends to weaken the force of the expressions, which form, as they now stand, a regular climax. HENLEY.

Reviving blood; and that great men shall press For tinctures, stains, relicks, and cognizance." This by Calphurnia's dream is signified.

CES. 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 tó 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, for some one to say,
Break up the senate till another time,

When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams.1
If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper,

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and that great men shall press

For tinctures, stains, relicks, and cognizance.] This speech, which is intentionally pompous, is somewhat confused. There are two allusions; one to coats armorial, to which princes make additions, or give new tinctures, and new marks of cognizance; the other to martyrs, whose reliques are preserved with veneration. The Romans, says Decius, all come to you as to a saint, for reliques, as to a prince, for honours. JOHNSON.

I believe tinctures has no relation to heraldry, but means merely handkerchiefs, or other linen, tinged with blood. Bullokar, in his Expositor, 1616, defines it "a dipping, colouring or staining of a thing." So, in Act III. sc. ii:

"And dip their napkins," &c. MALONE.

I concur in opinion with Mr. Malone. At the execution of several of our ancient nobility, martyrs, &c. we are told that handkerchiefs were tinctured with their blood, and preserved as affectionate or salutary memorials of the deceased. STEEVENS.

When Casar's wife shall meet with better dreams.] So, in Lord Sterline's Julius Caesar, 1607:

"How can we satisfy the world's conceit,

"Whose tongues still in all ears your praise proclaims? "Or shall we bid them leave to deal in state,

"Till that Calphurnia first have better dreams?"

VOL. XVI.

Y

MALONE.

CAL. Say, he is sick.

CES. Shall Cæsar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far, To be afeard 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.

CES. 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 to-night she saw my statua," Which like a fountain, with a hundred spouts, Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it. And these does she apply for warnings, 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,
In which so many smiling Romans bath'd,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck

6

my statua,] See Vol. IV. p. 274, n. 8; and Vol. XIV. p. 413, n. 4. STEEVENS.

7-warnings, portents,] Old copy, unmetrically-warnings and portents. STEEVENS.

• And evils imminent ;] The late Mr. Edwards was of opinion that we should read:

[blocks in formation]

The alteration proposed by Mr. Edwards is needless, and tends to weaken the force of the expressions, which form, as they now stand, a regular climax. HENLEY.

Reviving blood; and that great men shall press For tinctures, stains, relicks, and cognizance." This by Calphurnia's dream is signified.

CES. 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 tó 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, for some one to say,
Break up the senate till another time,

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

9

- and that great men shall press

For tinctures, stains, relicks, and cognizance.] This speech, which is intentionally pompous, is somewhat confused. There are two allusions; one to coats armorial, to which princes make additions, or give new tinctures, and new marks of cognizance; the other to martyrs, whose reliques are preserved with veneration. The Romans, says Decius, all come to you as to a saint, for reliques, as to a prince, for honours. JOHNSON.

I believe tinctures has no relation to heraldry, but means merely handkerchiefs, or other linen, tinged with blood. Bullokar, in his Expositor, 1616, defines it "a dipping, colouring or staining of a thing." So, in Act III. sc. ii:"

"And dip their napkins," &c. MALONE.

I concur in opinion with Mr. Malone. At the execution of several of our ancient nobility, martyrs, &c. we are told that handkerchiefs were tinctured with their blood, and preserved as affectionate or salutary memorials of the deceased. STEEVENS. 1 When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams.] So, in Lord Sterline's Julius Cæsar, 1607:

"How can we satisfy the world's conceit,

"Whose tongues still in all ears your praise proclaims? "Or shall we bid them leave to deal in state,

"Till that Calphurnia first have better dreams?"

VOL. XVI.

Y

MALONE.

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.

CES. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia?

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.

CES.

Welcome, Publius.What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?Good-morrow, Casca.-Caius Ligarius, Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy,

As that same ague which hath made you lean.

What is't o'clock?

BRU.

Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight.

CES. 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.

CES. Bid them prepare within:

2 And reason &c.] And reason, or propriety of conduct and language, is subordinate to my love. JOHNSON.

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