But, as it were, in sort, or limitation; 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, 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: 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, [Knocking within. Render me worthy of this noble wife! Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in a while; The secrets of my heart. All my engagements I will construe to thee, 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 Any exploit worthy the name of honour. Bo charactery] i. e. All that is character'd on.-STEEVENS. 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. Set on your foot; Lig. Follow me then. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. A Room in Cæsar's Palace. Thunder and Lightning. Enter CESAR, in his Night-gown. Cas. Nor heaven, nor earth, have been at peace to-night: Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out, Help, ho! They murder Casar! Who's within? Serv. My lord? Enter a Servant. Cas. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice, 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. Cæs. Cæsar shall forth: The things that threaten'd me, Thou, like an exorcist,] Here, and in all other places where the word occurs in Shakspeare, to exorcise means to raise spirits, not to lay them; and perhaps he is singular in his acceptation of it.-M. MASON. Ne'er look'd 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: In ranks, and squadrons, and right form of war, The noise of battle hurtled in the air, Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan; And ghosts did shriek, and squeal about the streets. And I do fear them. Cas. 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. Cas. 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? 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 :* Cæsar should be a beast without a heart, — stood on ceremonies,] i. e. Paid a ceremonious or superstitious regard to prodigies or omens.-STEEVENS. hurtledi. e. Clashed: from heurter, Fr.-NARES. in shame of cowardice:] The ancients did not place courage but wisdom in the heart.-JOHNSON. If he should stay at home to-day for fear. We were two lions litter'd in one day, 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. Cas. Mark Antony shall say, I am not well; Enter DECIUS. Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. Cas. And you are come in very happy time, To bear my greeting to the senators, And tell them, that I will not come to-day: Cas. Shall Cæsar send a lie? Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at, when I tell them so. Cas. The cause is in my will, I will not come; That is enough to satisfy the senate. But, for your private satisfaction, Because I love you, I will let you know; Calphurnia here, my wife, stays me at home. She dreamt to-night she saw my statua,' statua,] This word was commonly used for a statue, to make some distinction at a time, when the word statue itself meant a picture. See NARES' Glossary. Which like a fountain, with a hundred spouts, Hath begg'd, that I will stay at home to-day. Dec. This dream is all amiss interpreted; It was a vision fair and fortunate: Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, 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 And reason to my love is liable. this; Cas. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia? I am ashamed I did yield to them. Give me my robe, for I will go : - for warnings, and portents, And evils imminent;] So the folio. Mr. Edwards very judiciously suggests that we should read " Öf evils imminent.” 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. "The Romans," says Decius, "all come to you as to a saint for reliques, as to a prince for honours."-JOHNSON. • And reason, &c.] And reason, or propriety of conduct and language, is subordinate to my love.-JOHNSON. |