Enter ANTONY. See! Antony, that revels long o'nights, Good morrow, Antony. Ant. So to most noble Cæsar. Cas. Bid them prepare within: : I am to blame to be thus waited for.- Treb. Cæsar, I will:-and so near will I be, [Aside. That your best friends shall wish I had been further. Cæs. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me; And we, like friends, will straightway go together. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. A Street near the Capitol. Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a Paper. Art. Cæsar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna; trust not Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber; Decius Brutus loves thee not; thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men; and it is bent against Cæsar. If thou be'st not immortal, look about you: Security gives way to Conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover, Here will I stand, till Cæsar pass along, Artemidorus. My heart laments, that virtue cannot live If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou may'st live; The same. SCENE IV. [Exit. Another Part of the same Street, before the Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS. Por. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the senate-house; Stay not to answer me, Why dost thou stay? but get thee gone: To know my errand, madam. Luc. Por. I would have had thee there, and here again, Ere I can tell thee what thou should'st do there.O constancy, be strong upon my side! 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 should I do? Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? And so return to you, and nothing else? Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well, For he went sickly forth: And take good note, What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him. Hark, boy! what noise is that? Lnc. I hear none, madam. Pr'ythee, listen well: 3 emulation.] Here, as on many other occasions, this word is used in an unfavourable sense, somewhat like-factious, envious, or malicious rivalry. 4 the fates with traitors do contrive.] The fates join with traitors in contriving thy destruction. I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, About the ninth hour, lady. Por. What is't o'clock? Sooth. Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol? Sooth. Madam, not yet; I go to take my stand, To see him pass on to the Capitol. Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not? Sooth. That I have, lady: if it will please Cæsar To be so good to Cæsar, as to hear me, I shall beseech 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: [Exit. Por. I must go in.-Ah 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 suit, And bring me word what he doth say to thee. [Exeunt. ACT III. The same. The Capitol; the Senate sitting. A Croud of People in the Street leading to the Capitol; Cæs. The ides of March are come. Art. Hail, Cæsar! Read this schedule. At your best leisure, this his humble suit. Art. O Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer: Read it, great Cæsar. Cas. What touches us ourself, shall be last serv'd. Art. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly. Cas. What, is the fellow mad? Pub. Sirrah, give place. Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol. CESAR enters the Capitol, the rest following. All the Pop. I wish, your enterprize to-day may thrive. Pop. Bru. What said Popilius Lena? Fare you well. [Advances to CÆSAR. Cas. He wish'd, to-day our enterprize might thrive. I fear, our purpose is discovered. Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: Mark him. Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back, For I will slay myself. Bru. Cassius be constant: Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change. [Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS. CESAR and the Senators take their seats. Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. Bru. He is address'd": press near, and second him. Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. Cæs. Are we all ready? what is now amiss That Cæsar, and his senate, must redress? Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Cæsar, Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat An humble heart: [Kneeling. Cæs. To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood, With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words, Thy brother by decree is banish'd; If thou dost bend, and pray and fawn, for him, I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. Know, Cæsar doth not wrong; nor without cause 5 He is address'd;] i. e. he is ready. 6 And turn pre-ordinance,] Pre-ordinance, for ordinance already established. |