Por. Enter Portia. Brutus, my lord! Bru. Portia, what mean you? Wherefore rise you now? It is not for your health, thus to commit Your weak condition to the raw-cold morning. Por. Nor for yours neither. You have ungently, Brutus, Stole from my bed: And yesernight, at supper, You suddenly arose, and walk'd about, Musing, and sighing, with your arms across: I urg'd you further; then you scratch'd your head, But, with an angry wafture of your hand, Bru. I am not well in health, and that is all. Bru. Why, so I do :-Good Portia, go to bed. To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus ; Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia. To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, 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 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, Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose them: Giving myself a voluntary wound Here, in the thigh: Can I bear that with patience 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, Leave me with haste. [Exit Portia. Enter Lucius and Ligarius. 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 siek, if Brutus have in hand Any exploit worthy the name of honour. Bru. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius, Lig. By all the gods that Romans bow before, Bru. A piece of work, that will make sick men whole I shall unfold to thee, as we are going To whom it must be done. Set on your foot: Lig. That Brutus leads me on. Bru. Follow me then. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. A Room in Cæsar's Palace. Thunder and Lightning. Enter Cæsar, in hts Night-gown. Cæs. Nor heaven, nor earth, have been at peace to- Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, Ser. My lord? Cæs. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice, And bring me their opinions of success. Ser. I will, my lord. Enter Calphurnia. [Exit. Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? Think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day. Cæs. Cæsar shall forth: The things that threaten'd me, Ne'er look but on my back; when they shall see Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead The noise of battle hurtled in the air, Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan; And I do fear them. Cœs. What can be avoided, 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; Will come, when it will come. Re-enter a Servant. What say the augurers? Ser. 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: And Caesar 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. And he shall say, you are not well to-day: |