Act 2 — II. 2 Scene II.[135][136] Cæsar's house[137]

Cæsar.[140] Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night: Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out,[141] 'Help, ho! they murder Cæsar!' Who's within?

Servant. My lord?

5Cæsar. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice, And bring me their opinions of success.[142]

Servant. I will, my lord. [Exit]

Calpurnia. What mean you, Cæsar? think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day.

10Cæsar. Cæsar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see The face of Cæsar, they are vanished.

Calpurnia. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies,[143] Yet now they fright me. There is one within, 15Besides the things that we have heard and seen, Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.[144] A lioness hath whelped in the streets; And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead; Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds, 20In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol; The noise of battle hurtled[145][146] in the air, Horses did neigh,[147] and dying men did groan; And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets. 25O Cæsar, these things are beyond all use, And I do fear them!

Cæsar. What can be avoided Whose end is purpos'd by the mighty gods? Yet Cæsar shall go forth; for these predictions Are to the world in general as to Cæsar.

30Calpurnia. When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

Cæsar. Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death[148] but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, 35It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come.

What say the augurers?

Servant. They would not have you to stir forth to-day. Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, 40They could not find a heart within the beast.

Cæsar. The gods do this in shame of cowardice: Cæsar should[150] be a beast without a heart, If he should stay at home to-day for fear. No, Cæsar shall not: danger knows full well 45That Cæsar is more dangerous than he: We are[151] two lions litter'd in one day, And I the elder and more terrible; And Cæsar shall go forth.

Calpurnia. Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consum'd in confidence! 50Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear That keeps you in the house, and not your own. We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house, And he shall say you are not well to-day: Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.

55Cæsar. Mark Antony shall say I am not well; And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.

Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.

Decius. Cæsar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Cæsar: I come to fetch you to the senate-house.

60Cæsar. 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. Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser; I will not come to-day. Tell them so, Decius.

Calpurnia. Say he is sick.

65Cæsar. Shall Cæsar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far, To be afeard[153] to tell graybeards the truth?[154] Decius, go tell them Cæsar will not come.

Decius. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, 70Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so.

Cæsar. 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: 75Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home. She dreamt to-night[155] she saw my statue,[156][157] Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts, Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it: 80And these does she apply for warnings and portents And evils imminent, and on her knee Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day.

Decius. This dream is all amiss interpreted: It was a vision fair and fortunate. 85Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, In which so many smiling Romans bath'd, Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck Reviving blood, and that great men shall press For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.[158] 90This by Calpurnia's dream is signified.

Cæsar. And this way have you well expounded it.

Decius. I have, when you have heard what I can say; And know it now: the senate have concluded To give this day a crown[159] to mighty Cæsar. 95If you shall send them word you will not come, Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock Apt to be render'd,[160] for some one to say 'Break up the senate till another time, When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams.' 100If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper, 'Lo, Cæsar is afraid'? Pardon me, Cæsar; for my dear dear love To your proceeding bids me tell you this; And reason to my love is liable.[161]

105Cæsar. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia! I am ashamed I did yield to them. Give me my robe, for I will go.[162]

And look where Publius is come to fetch me.

Publius. Good morrow, Cæsar.

Cæsar. Welcome, Publius. 110What, 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.[166] What is 't o'clock?[167]

Brutus. Cæsar, 't is strucken eight.

115Cæsar. I thank you for your pains and courtesy.

See! Antony, that revels long o' nights,[168] Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.

Antony. So to most noble Cæsar.

Cæsar. Bid them prepare within: I am to blame to be thus waited for. 120Now, Cinna; now, Metellus: what, Trebonius! I have an hour's talk in store for you; Remember that you call on me to-day. Be near me, that I may remember you.

Trebonius. Cæsar, I will. [Aside][169] And so near will I be, 125That your best friends shall wish I had been further.

Cæsar. Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me; And we, like friends, will straightway go together.

Brutus. [Aside][170] That every like is not the same, O Cæsar, The heart of Brutus yearns[171][172] to think upon! [Exeunt]