My mortified spirit. Now bid me run, What's to do? Bru. A piece of work that will make sick men whole. Lig. But are not some whole that we must make sick? Bru. That must we also. What it is, my Caius, are going Set on your foot, Lig. Bru. Follow me, then. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Cæsar's house. Thunder and lightning. Enter CESAR, in Cas. Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out, 'Help, ho! they murder Cæsar!' Who's within? 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? Sc. 2. night-gown, dressing-gown. 330 You shall not stir out of your house to-day. Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead; In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, The noise of battle hurtled in the air, And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets. And I do fear them. Cæs. What can be avoided Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods? Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. Cas. 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; Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come. 13. ceremonies; cf. ii. I. 197. ΙΟ 20 30 24. squeal; in Shakespeare's time still a dignified word. 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. And I the elder and more terrible: And Cæsar shall go forth. Cal. Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consumed in confidence. That keeps you in the house, and not your own. Cæs. Mark Antony shall say I am not well; Enter DECIUS. Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. I come to fetch you to the senate-house. 40 50 Cas. And you are come in very happy time, 60 To bear my greeting to the senators And tell them that I will not come to-day: Cal. Say he is sick. Cæs. Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so. Cas. The cause is in my will: I will not come ; But for your private satisfaction, Dec. This dream is all amiss interpreted; Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, Cas. And this way have you well expounded it. 87. great men shall press for tinctures, i. e. for blood-stained mementoes; an allusion to the practice of dipping napkins in the blood of martyrs. The hurry of improvisation, or, as Craik suggests, 'an unseen power 70 80 90 driving on both the unconscious prophet and the blinded victim,' betrays Decius into an interpretation' perilously near the truth. Cæsar's comment is not, as has been thought, ironical. 89. cognizance, tokens. And know it now: the senate have concluded When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams.' Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear dear love To your proceeding bids me tell you this; Cas. How foolish do your fears seem now, I am ashamed I did yield to them. Give me my robe, for I will go. Enter PUBLIUS, Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Cæs. 100 Welcome, Publius. ΙΣΟ What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too? Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius, As that same ague which hath made you lean. 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. 96. a mock apt to be render'd, one likely to be given in answer; an obvious sarcastic rejoinder. 104. liable, subject. |