Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, Enter a Servant. Sero. My lord? Cas. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice, Enter CALPHURNIA. [Exit. Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? Think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day. en'd me, Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies," Yet now they fright me. Besides the things that we have heard and seen, 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, 8 Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan; Cæs. What can be avoided, 7 Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies.] i. e. I never paid a ceremonious or superstitious regard to prodigies or omens. The noise of battle hurtled in the air,] To hurtle is to clash, or move with violence and noise. Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods? 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; 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, They could not find a heart within the beast. Cas. The gods do this in shame of cowardice:2 Cæsar should be a beast without a heart, If he should stay at home to-day for fear. No, Cæsar shall not: Danger knows full well, That Cæsar is more dangerous than he. We were two lions litter'd in one day, And I the elder and more terrible; And Cæsar shall go forth. Cal. Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consum'd in confidence. Do not go forth to-day: Call it my fear, That keeps you in the house, and not your own. 2 in shame of cowardice:] The ancients did not place courage but wisdom in the heart. JOHNSON. 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, And tell them, that I will not come to-day: Cæs. Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at, when I tell them so. Cæs. The cause is in my will, I will not come ; That is enough to satisfy the senate. But, for your private satisfaction, Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck · Cas. And this way have you well expounded it. When Casar's wife shall meet with better dreams. Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear, dear love 2 Cas. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia? I am ashamed I did yield to them.— For tinctures, stains, relicks, and cognizance.] This speech, which is intentionally pompous, is somewhat confused. There are two allusions; one to coats armorial, to which princes make additions, or give new tinctures, and new marks of cognizance; the other to martyrs, whose relicks are preserved with veneration. But Messrs. Malone and Steevens think that tinctures has no relation to heraldry, but means merely handkerchiefs, or other linen, tinged with blood. At the execution of several of our ancient nobility, martyrs, &c. we are told that handkerchiefs were tinctured with their blood, and preserved as affectionate or salutary memorials of the deceased. * And reason, &c.] And reason, or propriety of conduct and language, is subordinate to my love. Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS, And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Cæs. Welcome, Publius.What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too?— Good-morrow, Casca.-Caius Ligarius, Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy, As that same ague which hath made you lean.- Bru. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight. Cas. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. Enter ANTONY. See! Antony, that revels long o'nights, Is notwithstanding up :- Good morrow, Antony. Ant. So to most noble Cæsar. Cas. Bid them prepare within :- Now, Cinna:-Now, Metellus :-What, Trebonius! you; Remember that you call on me to-day : Be near me, that I may remember you. Treb. Cæsar, I will:-and so near will I be, [Aside. That your best friends will wish I had been further. Cas. Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me; And we, like friends, will straightway go together. Bru. That every like is not the same, O Cæsar, The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon! [Exeunt. |