CASS. The morning comes upon's: we'll leave you, ACT II Brutus. And, Friends, disperse yourselves: but all remember What you have said, and shew yourselves true Romans. BRU. Good Gentlemen, look fresh and merrily; Let not our looks put on our purposes; But bear it as our Roman actors do, With untir'd spirits and formal1 constancy : And so, good morrow to you every one. [Exeunt all but BRUTUS. Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep? It is no matter; Which busy Care draws in the brains of men ; 230 Sc. I Enter PORTIA. POR. Brutus, my Lord! BRU. Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now? Your weak condition to the raw cold morning. POR. Nor for your's neither. You've ungently, Brutus, 3 Musing and sighing, with your arms across; I urg'd you further; then you scratch'd your head, Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not; But, with an angry wafture of your hand, 1 stately. VIII: D 2 apparitions, antics of fancy. 3 i.e. folded. 25 240 250 ACT II I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my Lord, Good Portia, go to bed. To walk unbraced, and suck up the humours BRU. Kneel not, gentle Portia. POR. I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus. But as it were in sort or limitation, To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, 260 270 280 And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs3 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: 26 1 i.e. physically wholesome. 2 conjure. 3 those of London were, in Shakespeare's time, whore-haunted. 290 I grant I am a woman; but withal Tell me your counsels; I will not disclose 'em. Here, in the thigh: can I bear that with patience, BRU. Render me worthy of this noble wife! 300 O ye Gods, [Knocking within. Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in awhile; And by-and-by thy bosom shall partake The secrets of my heart: All my engagements I will construe to thee, All the charactery1 of my sad brows: Leave me with haste. [Exit PORTIA.] Lucius, who's that knocks? Re-enter LUCIUS with LIGARIUS. Luc. Here is a sick man that would speak with you. Boy, stand aside. Caius Ligarius! how? LIG. Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue. Yea, get the better of them. What's to do? BRU. A piece of work that will make sick men whole. 310 320 1 written meaning. ACT II Sc. I ACT II BRU. That must we also. What it is, my Caius, SCENE II. CESAR'S House. Thunder and lightning. Enter CÆSAR, in his CAS. Nor Heaven nor Earth have been at peace to-night: 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 CALPURNIA. [exit. CAL. What mean you, Cæsar? think you to walk forth? CES. Cæsar shall forth: the things that threaten me CAL. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet now they fright me. There is one within, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, The noise of battle hurtled in the air; 1 i.e. dressing-gown. 20 Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan; And Ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets. And I do fear them! CES. What can be avoided Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty Gods? Yet Cæsar shall go forth; for these predictions CAL. When beggars die, there are no Comets seen; 30 The Heavens themselves blaze forth the death of CES. 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; Will come when it will come. Re-enter 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 We are two lions litter'd in one day, And I the elder and more terrible; 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 And, for thy humour, I will stay at home. 40 50 ACT II |