:

84. Erebus in Greek mythology, the place of utter darkness in the lower world.

85. prevention: discovery, or detection.

86. we are too bold upon : we intrude too freely upon.

108. Weighing: taking into account; considering. youthful season early spring; before Cæsar reformed the calendar, the year began March 1. The legal year in England formerly

commenced March 25.

114. not an oath: "The onely name and great Calling of Brutus, did bring on the most of them to give consent to this conspiracy; who having never taken Oaths together, nor taken nor given any caution or assurance, nor binding themselves one to another by any religious Oaths, they all kept the matter so secret to themselves, and could so cunningly handle it, that notwithstanding, the gods did reveal it by manifest signs and tokens from above, and by Predictions of Sacrifices, yet all this would not be believed." - PLUTARCH, Life of Brutus.

123. What: why.

125. secret Romans: those who have bound themselves in honor not to betray the secret.

126. palter equivocate; trifle.

129. cautelous crafty; treacherous.

130. carrions: wretches.

138. several bastardy: a separate and distinct act of treason showing him to be no true Roman.

144. his silver hairs: Cicero was then about sixty.

150. let us not break with him: let us not broach the subject to him. "For this cause they durst not acquaint Cicero with their conspiracy, although he was a man whom they loved

dearly, and trusted best; for they were afraid that he, being a coward by nature, and age also having encreased his fear, he would quite turn and alter all their purpose, and quench the heat of their enterprise, the which specially required hot and earnest execution." - PLUTARCH, Life of Brutus.

158. A shrewd contriver: a mischievous schemer.

160. annoy

destroy.

164. envy malice.

178. envious: malicious.

190. There is no fear in him: no reason why we should fear him.

192. count the clock: as there were no striking clocks in Roman days, Shakespeare is here speaking from the standpoint of English custom.

195. he is superstitious grown: "Yet Cæsar, free-thinker as he was, could not escape the general thraldom of superstition. He crawled on his knees up the steps of the temple of Venus to propitiate Nemesis. Before the battle of Pharsalia, he addressed a prayer to the gods whom he denied in the Senate and derided among his associates. He appealed to the omens before passing the Rubicon. He carried about with him in Africa a certain Cornelius, —a man of no personal distinction, but whose name might be deemed auspicious on the battle-field of Scipio and Sulla. "MERIVALE, II., 354.

196. Quite from the main opinion: contrary to his usual firm belief.

197. fantasy: unreasonable fancies. deduced from sacrifices.

198. apparent: manifest.

ceremonies :

omens

203. o'ersway: overrule his determination.

204. That unicorns, etc. : Steevens says: "Unicorns are said to have been taken by one who, running behind a tree, eluded the violent push the animal was making at him, so that his horn spent its force on the trunk, and stuck fast, detaining the beast till he was dispatched by the hunter.' "Bears," adds Steevens, are reported to have been surprised by means of a mirror, which they would gaze on, affording their pursuers an opportunity of taking a surer aim. This circumstance, I think, is mentioned by Claudian. Elephants were seduced into pitfalls, lightly covered with hurdles and turf, on which a proper bait to tempt them was exposed."— See PLINY, Natural History, Book VIII. (Rolfe.)

215. Caius Ligarius: "Now amongst Pompey's friends, there was one called Caius Ligarius, who had been accused unto Cæsar for taking part with Pompey, and Cæsar discharged him. But Ligarius thanked not Cæsar so much for his discharge, as he was offended with him for that he was brought in danger by his tyrannicall power. And, therefore, in his heart he was alway his mortall enemy, and was besides very familiar with Brutus, who went to see him being sick in his bed, and said unto him: Ligarius, in what a time art thou sick! Ligarius rising up in his bed, and taking him by the right hand, said unto him: Brutus (said he) if thou hast any great enterprise in hand worthy of thyself, I am whole."-PLUTARCH, Life of Brutus.

225. put on our purposes: show our intentions. 226. bear it: carry ourselves.

227. formal constancy outward self-possession.

231. figures: dream-images.

254. prevailed on your condition: influenced your temper. 261. physical: wholesome; adapted to cure.

266. rheumy: moist; tending to induce disease.

268. sick offence: trouble that causes sickness.

271. charm: conjure; entreat.

295. Cato's daughter: Cato was preeminently distinguished by integrity, honor, and a stern insistence upon the principles of virtue. He belonged to the party of Pompey, and after the disastrous defeat at Thapsus, 46 B.C., he fell upon his sword, rather than submit to Cæsar, who, on his part, desired to have the opportunity of pardoning him.

296. Think you I am no stronger, etc.: "This young Lady being excellently well seen in Philosophy, loving her Husband well, and being of a noble courage, as she was also wise: because she would not ask her Husband what he ayled, before she had made some proof by herself: she took a little Razor, such as Barbers occupy to pare mens nails, and causing her Maids and Women to go out of her Chamber gave herself a great gash withall in her thigh, that she was straight all of a gore bloud and incontinently after, a vehement Feaver took her, by reason of the pain of her wound. Then perceiving her Husband was marvellously out of quiet, and that he could take no rest, even in her greatest pain of all, she spake in this sort unto him: 'I being, O Brutus (said she) the daughter of Cato, was married unto thee; not to be thy bedfellow, and Companion in bed and at board onely, like a Harlot, but to be partaker also with thee of thy good and evill Fortune. Now for thy self, I can find no cause of fault in thee touching our

match but for my part, how may I show my duty towards
thee, and how much I would do for thy sake, if I cannot con-
stantly bear a secret mischance or grief with thee, which
requireth secresie and fidelity. I confess, that a Womans wit
commonly is too weak to keep a secret safely: but yet (Brutus)
good education, and the company of vertuous men, have some
power to reform the defect of nature. And for my self, I have
this benefit moreover, that I am the Daughter of Cato, and
Wife of Brutus. This notwithstanding, I did not trust to any
of these things before, untill that now I have found by experi-
ence, that no pain or grief whatsoever can overcome me.' With
those words she shewed him her wound on her thigh, and told
him what she had done to prove her self. Brutus was amazed to
hear what she said unto him, and lifting up his hands to Heaven,
he besought the goddesses to give him the grace he might bring
his enterprise to so good pass, that he might be found a Hus-
band, worthy of so noble a Wife as Porcia: so he then did
comfort her the best he could."
PLUTARCH, Life of Brutus.

308. charactery: expression.
313. Vouchsafe: deign to receive.

66

315. wear a kerchief: Sprague says: Shakespeare assigns to Rome the English customs." "If any there be sick, they make him a posset, and tie a kerchief on his head, and if that will not mend him, then God be merciful to him!"— FULLER, Worthies of England.

323. exorcist: this word, which generally means one who expels or drives out spirits, is here used to mean one who calls up the spirit.

324, mortified: deadened, or seemingly dead.