Luc. Madam, what fhould I do? Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? And fo return to you, and nothing else? Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy Lord look For he went fickly forth and take good note, Luc. I hear none, Madam. I heard a buftling rumour like a fray, Enter Artemidorus. Por. Come hither, fellow, which way haft thou been? Art. At mine own houfe, good lady. Por. What is 't o'clock ? Art. About the ninth hour, Lady. Por. Is Cefar yet gone to the Capitol ? Art. Madam, not yet. I go to take my stand, To fee him pafs on to the Capitol. Por. Thou haft fome fuit to Cæfar, haft thou not? Art. That I have, Lady. If it will please Cafar To be fo good to Cæfar, as to hear me, I fhall befeech him to befriend himself. Por. Why, know'st thou any harm intended tow'rds him? Art. None that I know will be, much that I fear; Good-morrow to you. Here the street is narrow; The throng, that follows Cæfar at the heels, Of Senators, of Prætors, common Suitors, Will crowd a feeble Man almoft to death; I'll get me to a place more void, and there Speak to great Cæfar as he comes along. [Exit. Por. Por. I must go in-ah me! how weak a thing Lord; [Exeunt feverally. ACT III. SCENE I. The Street before the Capitol; and the Capitol open. Flourish. Enter Cæfar, Brutus, Caffius, Cafca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Artemidorus, Popilius, Publius, and the Sooth-fayer. T CÆSAR. HE Ides of March are come. Sooth. Ay, Cafar, but not gone. Art. Hail, Cefar. Read this schedule. Dec. Trebonius doth defire you to o'er-read At your beft leifure, this his humble fuit. Art. O Cefar, read mine firft; for mine's a fuit, That touches Cæfar nearer. Read it, great Cæfar, Caf. What touches us ourself, fhall be laft ferv'd. Art. Delay not Cæfar, read it inftantly. Caf. What, is the fellow mad? Pub. Sirrah, give place. Caf. Caf. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol. Pop. I wish, your enterprize to-day may thrive. Bru. What faid Popilius Lena? Caf. He wish'd, to-day our enterprize might thrive. I fear, our purpose is discovered. Bru. Look, how he makes to Cafar. Mark him. Caf. Cafea, be fudden, for we fear prevention. Brutus, what fhall be done, if this be known? Caffus, or Cefar, never fhall turn back; For I will flay myself. Bru. Caffius, be conftant. Popilius Lena fpeaks not of our purpose; For, look, he fmiles, and Cæfar doth not change. Caf. Trebonius knows his time; for look you, Brutus, He draws Mark Antony out of the way. Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, And presently prefer his fuit to Cæfar. Bru. He is addreft; prefs near, and fecond him. Cin, Cafca, you are the firft that rears your hand. Caf. Are we all ready? what is now amifs, That Cæfar and his Senate muft redrefs? Met. Moft high, moft mighty, and most puissant Cafar, Metellus Cimber throws before thy feat An humble heart. Caf. I must prevent thee, Cimber. Thefe couchings and thefe lowly curtefiesMight fire the blood of ordinary men, 4 Might fire the blood of ordinary men,] It is plain we fhould read, [Kneeling. afterwards in this play he says, The power of Speech to STIR mens bloods. WARB. This is plaufible, but not fo neceffary as that it should be admitted into the text. And And turn pre- ordinance and first decree 6 Into the lane of children. Be not fond, To think that Cæfar bears fuch rebel blood, That will be thaw'd from the true quality With that which melteth fools; I mean, fweet words; Low-crooked curtfies, and bafe fpaniel-fawning. Thy brother by decree is banished; If thou doft bend, and pray, and fawn for him, Know, Cæfar doth not wrong; nor without caufe Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, Bru. I kifs thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæfar; Caf. Pardon, Cafar; Cæfar, pardon; 5 And turn pre-ordinance-] Pre-ordinance, for ordinance already established. WARB. 6 Into the lane of children.-] I do not well understand what is meant by the lane of children. I fhould read, the law of children. It was, change pre-ordinance and decree into the law of children; into fuch flight determinations as every ftart of will would alter. Lane and lawe in fome manu fcripts are not easily distinguished. And 8 And men are flesh and blood, and 7 apprehenfive; That I was conftant, Cimber should be banish'd; Caf. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus ? I Caf. Doth not Brutus bootlefs kneel? [Dies. [They ftab Cæfar. Caf. Et tu, Brute? Then fall Cæfar! Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is deadRun hence, proclai Cry it about the streets. Caf. Some to the common Pulpits, and cry out, Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement. Bru. People, and Senators! be not affrighted; Fly not, ftand ftill. Ambition's debt is paid. Cafca. Go to the Pulpit, Brutus. Dec. And Caffius too. Bru. Where's Publius? Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. Should chance Bru. Talk not of ftanding. Publius, good cheer; There is no harm intended to your perfon, Nor to no Roman elfe; fo tell them, Publius. Caf. And leave us, Publius, left that the people, Rufhing on us, fhould do your age fome mifchief. |