Shakespeare's First Folio Part 540

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

Enter Decius.

Heere's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so

Deci. Caesar, all haile: Good morrow worthy Caesar, I come to fetch you to the Senate house

Caes And you are come in very happy time, To beare my greeting to the Senators, And tell them that I will not come to day: Cannot, is false: and that I dare not, falser: I will not come to day, tell them so Decius

Calp. Say he is sicke

Caes Shall Caesar send a Lye?

Haue I in Conquest stretcht mine Arme so farre, To be afear'd to tell Gray-beards the truth: Decius, go tell them, Caesar will not come

Deci. Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laught at when I tell them so

Caes The cause is in my Will, I will not come, That is enough to satisfie the Senate.

But for your priuate satisfaction, Because I loue you, I will let you know.

Calphurnia heere my wife, stayes me at home: She dreampt to night, she saw my Statue, Which like a Fountaine, with an hundred spouts Did run pure blood: and many l.u.s.ty Romans Came smiling, & did bathe their hands in it: And these does she apply, for warnings and portents, And euils imminent; and on her knee Hath begg'd, that I will stay at home to day

Deci. This Dreame is all amisse interpreted, It was a vision, faire and fortunate: Your Statue spouting blood in many pipes, In which so many smiling Romans bath'd, Signifies, that from you great Rome shall sucke Reuiuing blood, and that great men shall presse For Tinctures, Staines, Reliques, and Cognisance.

This by Calphurnia's Dreame is signified

Caes And this way haue you well expounded it

Deci. I haue, when you haue heard what I can say: And know it now, the Senate haue concluded To giue this day, a Crowne to mighty Caesar.

If you shall send them word you will not come, Their mindes may change. Besides, it were a mocke Apt to be render'd, for some one to say, Breake vp the Senate, till another time: When Caesars wife shall meete with better Dreames.

If Caesar hide himselfe, shall they not whisper Loe Caesar is affraid?

Pardon me Caesar, for my deere deere loue To your proceeding, bids me tell you this: And reason to my loue is liable

Caes How foolish do your fears seeme now Calphurnia?

I am ashamed I did yeeld to them.

Giue me my Robe, for I will go.

Enter Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Caska, Trebonius, Cynna, and Publius.

And looke where Publius is come to fetch me

Pub. Good morrow Caesar

Caes Welcome Publius.

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

Good morrow Caska: Caius Ligarius, Caesar was ne're so much your enemy, As that same Ague which hath made you leane.

What is't a Clocke?

Bru. Caesar, 'tis strucken eight

Caes I thanke you for your paines and curtesie.

Enter Antony.

See, Antony that Reuels long a-nights Is notwithstanding vp. Good morrow Antony

Ant. So to most n.o.ble Caesar

Caes Bid them prepare within: I am too blame to be thus waited for.

Now Cynna, now Metellus: what Trebonius, I haue an houres talke in store for you: Remember that you call on me to day: Be neere me, that I may remember you

Treb. Caesar I will: and so neere will I be, That your best Friends shall wish I had beene further

Caes Good Friends go in, and taste some wine with me.

And we (like Friends) will straight way go together

Bru. That euery like is not the same, O Caesar, The heart of Brutus earnes to thinke vpon.

Exeunt.

Enter Artemidorus.

Caesar, beware of Brutus, take heede of Ca.s.sius; come not neere Caska, haue an eye to Cynna, trust not Trebonius, marke well Metellus Cymber, Decius Brutus loues thee not: Thou hast wrong'd Caius Ligarius. There is but one minde in all these men, and it is bent against Caesar: If thou beest not Immortall, looke about you: Security giues way to Conspiracie.

The mighty G.o.ds defend thee.

Thy Louer, Artemidorus.

Heere will I stand, till Caesar pa.s.se along, And as a Sutor will I giue him this: My heart laments, that Vertue cannot liue Out of the teeth of Emulation.

If thou reade this, O Caesar, thou mayest liue; If not, the Fates with Traitors do contriue.

Enter.

Enter Portia and Lucius.

Por. I prythee Boy, run to the Senate-house, Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone.

Why doest thou stay?

Luc. To know my errand Madam

Por. I would haue had thee there and heere agen Ere I can tell thee what thou should'st do there: O Constancie, be strong vpon my side, Set a huge Mountaine 'tweene my Heart and Tongue: I haue a mans minde, but a womans might: How hard it is for women to keepe counsell.

Art thou heere yet?

Luc. Madam, what should I do?

Run to the Capitoll, and nothing else?

And so returne to you, and nothing else?

Por. Yes, bring me word Boy, if thy Lord look well, For he went sickly forth: and take good note What Caesar doth, what Sutors presse to him.

Hearke Boy, what noyse is that?

Luc. I heare none Madam

Por. Prythee listen well: I heard a bussling Rumor like a Fray, And the winde brings it from the Capitoll

Luc. Sooth Madam, I heare nothing.

Enter the Soothsayer.

Por. Come hither Fellow, which way hast thou bin?

Sooth. At mine owne house, good Lady

Por. What is't a clocke?

Sooth. About the ninth houre Lady

Por. Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitoll?