Manet Brutus. Boy! Lucius! faft afleep? it is no matter, SCENE III. Por. Brutus, my Lord! Enter Portia. Bru. Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise Brutus, "You've ungently, Stole from my bed. And, yefternight at fupper, "You fuddenly arofe and walk'd about, Mufing and fighing, with your arms across; "And when I afk'd you what the matter was, "You ftar'd upon me with ungentle looks. "I urg'd you further; then you fcratch'd your head, "And too impatiently ftampt with your foot: "Yet I infifted; yet you answer'd not; Bru. Why, fo I do: good Portia, go to bed. T. To dare the vile contagion of the night? Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia. Por. I fhould not need, if you were gentle Brutus. That appertain to you? am I yourself, But as it were in fort or limitation To keep with you at meals, confort your bed, And talk to you fometimes? dwell I but in the suburbs Of your good pleafure? if it be no more, Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife. Bru. You are my true and honourable wife; As dear to me, as are the ruddy drops That vifit my fad heart. Por. If this were true, then should I know this fecret. I grant I am a woman; but withal A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife: I grant I am a woman; but withal A woman well reputed Cato's daughter. Tell me your counfels, I will not disclose them Giving myself a voluntary wound Here in the thigh: can I bear that with patience, And not my husband's fecrets? Bru. O ye gods! Render me worthy of this noble wife. Hark, hark, one knocks: Portia, go in a while; [Knock. And, And, by and by, thy bofom fhall partake All my engagements I will conftrue to thee, Leave me with hafte. Enter Lucius and Ligarius. Lucius, who's there that knocks? [Exit Portia. Luc. Here is a fick man, that would speak with you. Bru. Caius Ligarius that Metellus fpake of. Boy, ftand aside. Caius Ligarius! how? Lig. Vouchfafe good morrow from a feeble tongue. Bru. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Bru A piece of work that will make fick men whole. To whom it must be done. Lig. Set on your foot, And with a heart new-fir'd I follow you, That Brutus leads me on. Bru. Follow me then. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Changes to Cafar's palace. Thunder and lightning. Enter Julius Cafar. Caf. Nor heav'n, nor earth, have been at peace toThrice hath Calphurnia in her fleep cry'd out, [night; Help, ho! they murder Cæfar." Who's within? 66 VOL. VII. C Enter Enter a Servant. Ser. My Lord?——————————— Caf. Go bid the priests do prefent facrifice, And bring me their opinions of fuccefs. Ser. I will, my Lord. Enter Calphurnia. [Exit. Cal. What mean you, Cæfar? think you to walk forth? You fhall not ftir out of your house to-day. Caf. Cæfar fhall forth; the things that threatsed me," Cal. Cæfar, I never food on ceremonies, And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead : The noise of battle hurtled in the air; Caf. What can be avoided, Whofe end is purpos'd by the mighty gods? Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets feen ; The heav'ns themselves blaze forth the death of princes. Caf "Cowards die many times before their deaths, "The valiant never taste of death but once. "Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, "Will come, when it will come, Enter a Servant. What fay the Augurs? Ser. Ser. They would not have you to ftir forth to-day. Plucking the intrails of an offering forth, They could not find a heart within the beaft. [Exit Servant. Caf. The gods do this in shame of cowardice : Your wisdom is confum'd in confidence. Caf. Mark Antony fhall fay, I am not well; SCENE V. Enter Décius. Here's Decius Brutus, he fhall tell them fo. Caf. And you are come in very happy time, To bear my greeting to the fenators, And tell them, that I will not come to-day: Caf. Shall Cæfar fend a lye? Have I in conqueft ftretch'd mine arm fo far, Dec. Moft mighty Cæfar, let me know fome caufe, Left I be laugh'd at when I tell them fo. Caf. The caufe is in my will, I will not come ; That is enough to fatisfy the fenate. + C 2 -to-day for fear. No, Cæfar fhall not; Danger knows full well, That Cæfar is more dangerous than he. We were two lions litter'd in one day, And I the elder and more terrible ;. And Cæfar fhall go forth.. Cal. Alas, .. But, |