Which sometime hath his hour with every man. He would embrace the means to come by it. Even from darkness. Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia. Por. I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus. Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus, To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, Bru. You are my true and honourable wife; That visit my sad heart. Por. If this were true, then should I know this secret. 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. Think you, I am no stronger than my sex, Being so father'd, and so husbanded? Tell me your counsels, 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 secrets? Bru. O ye gods! Render me worthy of this noble wife. [Knocking within. Hark, hark! one knocks. Portia, go in a while; And by and by thy bosom shall partake The secrets of my heart. All my engagements I will construe to thee, All the charactery of my sad brows. Leave me with haste. Enter LUCIUS and LIGARIUS. [Exit PORTIA. Lucius, who is that, knocks? Luc. Here is a sick man, that would speak with you. Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of.— Boy, stand aside. - Caius Ligarius! how? Lig. Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue. Bru. O! what a time have you chose out, brave Caius, To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick! Lig. I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand Lig. By all the gods that Romans bow before, 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, I shall unfold to thee, as we are going, 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. Follow me, then. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The Same. A Room in CÆSAR'S Palace. Thunder and Lightning. Enter CÆSAR, in his Night gown. Cas. Nor heaven, nor earth, have been at peace tonight: Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, Enter a Servant. Serv. My lord. Cas. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice, [Exit. And bring me their opinions of success. Serv. I will, my lord. Enter CALPHURNIA. Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? Think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day. Cas. Cæsar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me, Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, And I do fear them. Cas. Cal. When beggars die there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. Cæs. 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, Re-enter a Servant. What say the augurers? Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to-day. Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, Cæs. The gods do this in shame of cowardice : Cæsar should be a beast without a heart, And Cæsar shall go forth. Alas! my lord, Cal. Cæs. Mark Antony shall say, I am not well; And, for thy humour, I will stay at home. Enter DECIUS. Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. I come to fetch you to the senate-house. Cas. And you are come in very happy time Tell them so, Decius. We WERE two lions] All the folios, "We heare two lions." |