The New Hudson Shakespeare: Julius Caesar Part 23

Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, 85 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. 90

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, 95 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 Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams.'

If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper, 100 '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. 104

[Note 88-89: In ancient times, when martyrs or other distinguished men were executed, their friends often pressed to stain handkerchiefs with their blood, or to get some other relic, which they might keep, either as precious memorials of them, or as having a kind of sacramental virtue. 'Cognizance'

is here used in a heraldic sense, meaning any badge to show whose friends the wearers were.]

[Note 94: The Roman people were specially yearning to avenge the slaughter of Marcus Cra.s.sus and his army by the Parthians, and Caesar was at this time preparing an expedition against them. But a Sibylline oracle was alleged, that Parthia could only be conquered by a king; and it was proposed to invest Caesar with the royal t.i.tle and authority over the foreign subjects of the state. It is agreed on all hands that, if his enemies did not originate this proposal, they at least craftily urged it on, in order to make him odious, and exasperate the people against him. To the same end, they had for some time been plying the arts of extreme sycophancy, heaping upon him all possible honors, human and divine, hoping thereby to kindle such a fire of envy as would consume him.]

[Note 96-97: /it were a mock Apt to be render'd:/ it were a sarcastic reply likely to be made. Cf. the expression, 'make a mock of.']

[Note 104: /liable:/ subject. Cf. _King John_, II, i, 490. The thought here is that love stands as princ.i.p.al, reason as second or subordinate. "The deference which reason holds due from me to you is in this instance subject and amenable to the calls of personal affection."]

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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.

[Note 107: Plutarch thus describes the scene: "But in the mean time Decius Brutus, surnamed Albinus, in whom Caesar put such confidence, that in his last will and testament he had appointed him to be his next heir, and yet was of the conspiracy with Ca.s.sius and Brutus: he, fearing that if Caesar did adjourn the session that day, the conspiracy would be betrayed, laughed at the soothsayers, and reproved Caesar, saying, 'that he gave the Senate occasion to mislike with him, and that they might think he mocked them, considering that by his commandment they were a.s.sembled, and that they were ready willingly to grant him all things, and to proclaim him king of all his provinces of the Empire of Rome out of Italy, and that he should wear his diadem in all other places both by sea and land. And furthermore, that if any man should tell them from him they should depart for that present time, and return again when Calpurnia should have better dreams, what would his enemies and ill-willers say, and how could they like of his friends' words? And who could persuade them otherwise, but that they should think his dominion a slavery unto them and tyrannical in himself? And yet if it be so,' said he, 'that you utterly mislike of this day, it is better that you go yourself in person, and, saluting the Senate, to dismiss them till another time.' Therewithal he took Caesar by the hand, and brought him out of his house."--_Julius Caesar._]

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_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? 110 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, 't is strucken eight.

CaeSAR. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. 115

_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! 120 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.

[Note 108: Scene VI Pope.--_Enter_ PUBLIUS ... Ff have Publius after Cinna.]

[Note 114: /o'clock/ Theobald a Clocke Ff.]

[Note 116: /o' nights/ Theobald a-nights Ff.]

[Note 108: This was probably Publius Silicius, not a conspirator. See III, i, 87, where he is described as "quite confounded with this mutiny."]

[Note 113: This is a graphic and charming touch. Here, for the first time, we have Caesar speaking fairly in character; for he was probably the most finished gentleman of his time, one of the sweetest of men, and as full of kindness as of wisdom and courage. Merivale aptly styles him "Caesar the politic and the merciful."]

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TREBONIUS. Caesar, I will. [_Aside_] And so near will I be, That your best friends shall wish I had been further. 125

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_]

[Note 124: [_Aside_] Rowe Ff omit.]

[Note 128: [_Aside_] Pope Ff omit.]

[Note 129: /yearns/ Capell earnes F1 F2.]

[Note 129: /yearns:/ grieves. The Folios read 'earnes.' Skeat considers _earn_ (_yearn_) 'to grieve' of distinct origin from _earn_ (_yearn_) 'to desire.' Shakespeare uses the verb both transitively and intransitively. The winning and honest suavity of Caesar here starts a pang of remorse in Brutus.

Drinking wine together was regarded as a sacred pledge of truth and honor. Brutus knows that Caesar is doing it in good faith; and it hurts him to think that the others seem to be doing the like, and yet are doing a very different thing.]

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SCENE III. _A street near the Capitol_

_Enter_ ARTEMIDORUS, _reading a 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 wrong'd 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. 10 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.