Luc. Madam, what fhould I do? Run to the Capitol, and nothing elfe? And fo return to you, and nothing elfe?

Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy Lord look
well,

For he went fickly forth: and take good note,
What Cafar doth, what fuitors prefs to him.
Hark, boy! what noise is that?

Luc. I hear none, Madam.
Por. Pr'ythee, liften well:

I heard a bustling rumour like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.'
Luc. Sooth, Madam, I hear nothing.

Enter Artemidorus.

Por. Come hither, fellow, which way haft thou been?

Art. At mine own house, good lady.

Por. What is 't o'clock ?

Art. About the ninth hour, Lady.

Por. Is Cæfar yet gone to the Capitol ?

Art. Madam, not yet. I go to take my stand, To see him pass on to the Capitol.

Por. Thou haft fome fuit to Cafar, hast thou not? Art. That I have, Lady. If it will please Cafar To be fo good to Cafar, as to hear me,

I shall 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 ftreet 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
The heart of Woman is! O Brutus! Brutus!
The heavens fpeed thee in thine enterprize!
Sure, the Boy heard me:-Brutus hath a Suit,
That Cæfar will not grant.-0, I grow faint:
Run, Lucius, and commerd me to my Lord;
Say, I am merry; come to me again,
And bring me word what he doth fay to thee.

[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.

CÆSAR.

HE Ides of March are come.

TH

Sooth. Ay, Cefar, but not gone. Art. Hail, Cafar. Read this schedule. Dec. Trebonius doth defire you to o'er-read At your beft leifure, this his humble fuit.

Art. O Cafar, read mine firft; for mine's a fuit, That touches Cafar nearer. Read it, great Cæfar. Caf. What touches us ourself, fhall be laft ferv'd. Art. Delay not Cafar, 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.
Caf. What enterprize, Popilius?

Pop. Fare you well.

Bru. What faid Popilius Lena?

Caf. He wifh'd, to-day our enterprize might thrive. I fear, our purpose is difcovered.

Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæfar. Mark him. Caf. Cafca, be fudden, for we fear prevention. Brutus, what fhall be done, if this be known? Caffius, 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. Cafea, you are the first that rears your hand. Caf. Are we all ready? what is now amils, That Cæfar and his Senate must redress?

Met. Moft high, moft mighty, and most puiffant Cafar,

Metellus Cimber throws before thy feat

An humble heart.

Caf. I must prevent thee, Cimber. Thefe couchings and thefe lowly curtefies Might 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 fays, The power of Speech to STIR mens bloods. WARB.

This is plaufible, but not fo neceffary as that it fhould be admitted into the text.

And

6

And turn pre-ordinance and firft decree
6 Into the lane of children. Be not fond,
To think that Cæfar bears such 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,
I fpurn thee like a cur out of my way.

Know, Cafar doth not wrong; nor without cause
Will he be fatisfied.

Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own,
To found more fweetly in great Cæfar's ear,
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?

Bru. I kifs thy hand, but not in flattery, Cafar;
Defiring thee, that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
Caf. What, Brutus!

Caf. Pardon, Cæfar; Cafar, pardon;
As low as to thy foot doth Caffius fall,
To beg enfranchifement for Publius Cimber.
Caf. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you;
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me;
But I am conftant as the northern ftar,

Of whofe true, fixt, and refting quality,
There is no fellow in the firmament;
The fkies are painted with unnumbred sparks,
They are all fire, and every one doth shine;
But there's but one in all doth hold his place.
So, in the world, 'tis furnifh'd well with men,

5 And turn pre-ordinance-] Pre-ordinance, for ordinance already effablifhed. WARB.

6 Into the lane of children.-] I do not well underfland 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 eafily distinguished.

And

And men are flesh and blood, and 7 apprehensive;
Yet, in the number, I do know but one
That unaffailable holds on his rank,
Unfhak'd of motion: and that I am he
Let me a little fhew it, ev'n in this;

That I was conftant, Cimber fhould be banish'd;
And conftant do remain to keep him fo.
Cim. O Cafar

Caf. Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?
Dec. Great Cafar

Caf. Doth not Brutus bootlefs kneel?
Cafca. Speak hands for me.

[They ftab Cæfar. Caf. Et tu, Brute? Then fall Cæfar! [Dies. Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is deadRun hence, proclaim. 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.
Met. Stand faft together, left fome friends of
Cafar's

Should chance.

Bru. Talk not of ftanding. Publius, good cheer; There is no harm intended to your person, 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 mischief.