Let us be sacrificers, but no butchers, Caius. Cas. Yet do I fear him : For in the ingrafted love he bears to Cæsar,- Is to himself; take thought, and die for Cæsar: Treb. There is no fear in him; let him not die; For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter. [Clock strikes. Bru. Peace, count the clock. Cas. The clock hath stricken three. Treb. 'Tis time to part, Cas. But it is doubtful yet, If Cæsar will come forth to-day, or no : Dec. Never fear that: If he be so resolv'd, Company is here used in a disreputable sense. HENLEY. 9 Ceremonies means omens or signs deduced from sacrifices, or other cereme ial rites. MALONE. And bears with glasses, elephants with holes,' For I can give his humour the true bent; And I will bring him to the Capitol. Cas. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him. Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along by him :* Cas. The morning comes upon us: We'll leave And, friends, disperse yourselves: but all remember [Exeunt all but BRUTUS, Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep? It is no matter; Enter PORTIA. Por. Brutus, my lord! Bru. Portia, what mean you? Wherefore rise you It is not for your health, thus to commit Your weak condition to the raw-cold morning. now? Por. Nor for yours neither. You have ungently, Brutus, Stole from my bed: And yesternight, at supper, [1] Unicorns are said to have been taken by one who, running behind a tree, eluded the violent push the animal was making at him, so that his horn spent its force on the trunk, and stuck fast, detaining the beast till he was despatched by the hunter. Bears are reported to have been surprised by means of a mirror, which they would gaze on, affording their pursuers an opportunity of taking the surer aim. This circumstance, I think, is mentioned by Claudian. Elephants were seduced into pit-falls, lightly covered with burdles and turf, on which a proper bait to tempt them, was exposed. STEEVENS. MALONE. [2] That is, by his home. You suddenly arose, and walk'd about, I urg'd you further; then you scratch'd your head, Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not; Which seem'd too much enkindled; and, withal, Bru. I am not well in health, and that is all. Bru. Why, so I do :-Good Portia, go to bed. Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia. Por. I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus. Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, Is it excepted, I should know no secrets [S] On your temper, the disposition of your mind. MALONI That appertain to you? Am I yourself, But, as it were, in sort, or limitation; To keep with you at meals, comfort 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. Por. 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. Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose them : Giving myself a voluntary wound Here, in the thigh: Can I bear that with patience And not my husband's secrets ? Bru. O ye gods, Render me worthy of this noble wife! [Knocking within. Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in a while; And by and by thy bosom shall partake The secrets of my heart. All my engagements I will construe to thee, All the charactery of my sad brows: Leave me with haste. Enter Lucius and LIGARIUS. Lucius, who is there that knocks ? [Exit PORTIA. Luc. Here is a sick man, that would speak with you. Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of. Boy, stand aside.-Caius Ligarius! how? Lig. Vouchsafe good-morrow from a feeble tongue. To wear a kerchief? 'Would you were not sick! Any exploit worthy the name of honour. Bru. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Had you a healthful ear to hear of it. Lig. By all the gods that Romans bow before, I here discard my sickness. Soul of Rome! Brave son, deriv'd from honourable loins! Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjur'd up Yea, get the better of them. What's to do? Bru. A piece of work, that will make sick men whole. Lig. But are not some whole, that we must make sick? Bru. That must we also. What it is, my Caius, I shall 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, To do I know not what: but it sufficeth, Bru. Follow me then. The same. SCENE II. [Exeunt. Thunder and A Room in CESAR'S Palace. 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, Help, ho! They murder Casar! Who's within! Serv. My lord? Enter a Servant. Cæs. 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 vanish'd. Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies," And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead: In ranks, and squadrons, and right form of war, The noise of battle hurtled in the air, [4] i. e. I never paid a superstitious regard to prodigies or omens. STEEVENS, |