Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it:
And these does she apply for warnings and por-

tents,

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

Cæs. 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,
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 Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams.
If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper
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.8

Cæs.

How foolish do your fears seem now,

Calpurnia!

6. Cognizance here means souvenirs.

7. A mock apt to be render'd means a sneering reply likely to be made.

8. Liable means subject, subservient.

I am ashamed I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.

Enter PUBLIUS," BRUTUS, LIGARIUS,10 METELLUS, CASCA, TREBONIUS11 and CINNA.

And look where Publius is come to fetch me.

Pub. Good morrow, Cæsar.

Cæs.

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."

Cæs. 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.

Cæs.

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 store for you;
Remember that you call on me to-day:
Be near me, that I may remember you.

Treb. Cæsar, I will; [Aside] and so near will
I be,

That your best friends shall wish I had been further.

9-10-11. These are three conspirators whom Plutarch does not mention.

12. This is an anachronism. There were no clocks to strike in Cæsar's time.

Cæs. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me;

And we, like friends, will straightway go together. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. 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 beest not immortal, look about you: security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover.

ARTEMIDORUS.

Here will I stand till Cæsar pass along,
And as a suitor will I give him this.
My heart laments that virtue cannot live
Out of the teeth of13 emulation.

If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou mayst live;
If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.

ACT III

SCENE I. Rome. Before the Capitol.

14

[Exit.

A crowd of people; among them ARTEMIDORUS and the SOOTHSAYER." Flourish. Enter CESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others. CESAR speaks to the Soothsayer.

13. Out of the teeth of means beyond the reach of.

14. This soothsayer had the month before warned Cæsar to beware the ides of March.

T

suit.

HE ides of March are come.
Sooth. Ay, Cæsar; but not gone.
Art. Hail, Cæsar! read this
schedule.

Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to

o'er-read.

At your best leisure, this his humble

Art. O Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a suit

That touches Cæsar nearer; read it, great Cæsar. Cæs. What touches us ourself shall be last serv'd.

Art. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly.

Cæs. What, is the fellow mad?

Pub.

Sirrah, give place.

Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the

street?

Come to the Capitol.

Scene changes to the Senate-house, the Senate sitting. Enter CASAR with his train, the conspirators and others.

Pop. I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive. Cas. What enterprise, Popilius?

Pop.

Fare you well. [Advances to Cæsar.

Bru. What said Popilius Lena?
Cas.

He wish'd to-day our enterprise 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 does not change.

Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you,

Brutus,

He draws Mark Antony out of the way.

[Exeunt Antony and Trebonius.

Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,

And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar.

Bru. He is address'd:15 press near and second him.