The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 260

What say the augurers?

SERVANT. They would not have you to stir forth today.

Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, They could not find a heart within the beast.

CAESAR. The G.o.ds do this in shame of cowardice.

Caesar should be a beast without a heart If he should stay at home today for fear.

No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well That Caesar is more dangerous than he.

We are two lions litter'd in one day, And I the elder and more terrible.

And Caesar shall go forth.

CALPURNIA. Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.

Do not go forth today. Call it my fear That keeps you in the house and not your own.

We'll send Mark Antony to the Senate House, And he shall say you are not well today.

Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.

CAESAR. Mark Antony shall say I am not well, And, for thy humor, I will stay at home.

Enter Decius.

Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.

DECIUS. Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar!

I come to fetch you to the Senate House.

CAESAR. And you are come in very happy time To bear my greeting to the senators And tell them that I will not come today.

Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser: I will not come today. Tell them so, Decius.

CALPURNIA. Say he is sick.

CAESAR. Shall Caesar send a lie?

Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far To be afeard to tell greybeards the truth?

Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.

DECIUS. Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so.

CAESAR. 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.

Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home; She dreamt tonight she saw my statue, Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts, Did run pure blood, and many l.u.s.ty Romans Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it.

And these does she apply for warnings and portents And evils imminent, and on her knee Hath begg'd that I will stay at home today.

DECIUS. 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 bathed, 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.

CAESAR. And this way have you well expounded it.

DECIUS. 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 Caesar.

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 someone to say "Break up the Senate till another time, When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams."

If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper "Lo, Caesar is afraid"?

Pardon me, Caesar, for my dear dear love To your proceeding bids me tell you this, And reason to my love is liable.

CAESAR. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!

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.

PUBLIUS. Good morrow,Caesar.

CAESAR. Welcome, Publius.

What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?

Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius, Caesar was ne'er so much your enemy As that same ague which hath made you lean.

What is't o'clock?

BRUTUS. Caesar, 'tis strucken eight.

CAESAR. I thank you for your pains and courtesy.

Enter Antony.

See, Antony, that revels long o' nights, Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.

ANTONY. So to most n.o.ble Caesar.

CAESAR. 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 today; Be near me, that I may remember you.

TREBONIUS. Caesar, I will. [Aside.] And so near will I be That your best friends shall wish I had been further.

CAESAR. Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me, And we like friends will straightway go together.

BRUTUS. [Aside.] That every like is not the same, O Caesar, The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon! Exeunt.

SCENE III.

A street near the Capitol.

Enter Artemidorus, reading paper.

ARTEMIDORUS. "Caesar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Ca.s.sius; 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 Caesar. If thou beest not immortal, look about you. Security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty G.o.ds defend thee!

Thy lover, Artemidorus."

Here will I stand till Caesar pa.s.s along, And as a suitor will I give him this.

My heart laments that virtue cannot live Out of the teeth of emulation.

If thou read this, O Caesar, thou mayest live; If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive. Exit.

SCENE IV.

Another part of the same street, before the house of Brutus.

Enter Portia and Lucius.

PORTIA. I prithee, boy, run to the Senate House; Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone.

Why dost thou stay?

LUCIUS. To know my errand, madam.

PORTIA. I would have had thee there, and here again, Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst 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?

LUCIUS. Madam, what should I do?

Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?

And so return to you, and nothing else?