Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare [top ten books of all time txt] 📗

epub:type="z3998:persona">Caesar

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

Enter Publius, Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, Trebonius, and Cinna. And look where Publius is come to fetch me. Publius Good morrow, Caesar. Caesar

Welcome, Publius.
What, Brutus, are you stirr’d so early too?
Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius,
Caesar was ne’er so much your enemy
As that same ague which hath made you lean.
What is’t o’clock?

Brutus Caesar, ’tis strucken eight. Caesar I thank you for your pains and courtesy. Enter Antony.

See! Antony, that revels long o’ nights,
Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.

Antony So to most noble Caesar. Caesar

Bid them prepare within:
I am to blame to be thus waited for.
Now, 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

Caesar, I will: aside and so near will I be,
That your best friends shall wish I had been further.

Caesar

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

Brutus

Aside. That every like is not the same, O Caesar,
The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon! Exeunt.

Scene III

A street near the Capitol.

Enter Artemidorus, reading a paper. Artemidorus

“Caesar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna; trust not Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber: Decius Brutus loves thee not: thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Caesar. If thou beest not immortal, look about you: security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover,

“Artemidorus.”

Here will I stand till Caesar pass along,
And as a suitor will I give him this.
My heart laments that virtue cannot live
Out of the teeth of emulation.
If thou read this, O Caesar, thou mayst live;
If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive. Exit.

Scene IV

Another part of the same street, before the house of Brutus.

Enter Portia and Lucius. Portia

I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house;
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone:
Why dost thou stay?

Lucius To know my errand, madam. Portia

I would have had thee there, and here again,
Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.
O constancy, be strong upon my side,
Set a huge mountain ’tween my heart and tongue!
I have a man’s mind, but a woman’s might.
How hard it is for women to keep counsel!
Art thou here yet?

Lucius

Madam, what should I do?
Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?
And so return to you, and nothing else?

Portia

Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,
For he went sickly forth: and take good note
What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him.
Hark, boy! what noise is that?

Lucius I hear none, madam. Portia

Prithee, listen well;
I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.

Lucius Sooth, madam, I hear nothing. Enter the Soothsayer. Portia Come hither, fellow: which way hast thou been? Soothsayer At mine own house, good lady. Portia What is’t o’clock? Soothsayer About the ninth hour, lady. Portia Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitol? Soothsayer

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

Portia Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou not? Soothsayer

That I have, lady: if it will please Caesar
To be so good to Caesar as to hear me,
I shall beseech him to befriend himself.

Portia Why, know’st thou any harm’s intended towards him? Soothsayer

None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance.
Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow:
The throng that follows Caesar at the heels,
Of senators, of praetors, common suitors,
Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:
I’ll get me to a place more void, and there
Speak to great Caesar as he comes along. Exit.

Portia

I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing
The heart of woman is! O Brutus,
The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise!
Sure, the boy heard me: Brutus hath a suit
That Caesar will not grant. O, I grow faint.
Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;
Say I am merry: come to me again,
And bring me word what he doth say to thee. Exeunt severally.

Act III Scene I

Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above.

A crowd of people; among them Artemidorus and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Popilius, Publius, and others. Caesar To the Soothsayer. The ides of March are come. Soothsayer Ay, Caesar; but not gone. Artemidorus Hail, Caesar! read this schedule. Decius

Trebonius doth desire you to o’er-read,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit.

Artemidorus

O Caesar, read mine first; for mine’s a suit
That touches Caesar nearer: read it, great Caesar.

Caesar What touches us ourself shall be last served. Artemidorus Delay not, Caesar; read it instantly. Caesar What, is the fellow mad? Publius Sirrah, give place. Cassius

What, urge you your petitions in the street?
Come to the Capitol.

Caesar goes up to the Senate-House, the rest following. Popilius I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive. Cassius What enterprise, Popilius? Popilius Fare you well. Advances to Caesar. Brutus What said Popilius Lena? Cassius

He wish’d to-day our enterprise might thrive.
I fear our purpose is discovered.

Brutus Look, how he makes to Caesar: mark him. Cassius

Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.
Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
For I will slay myself.

Brutus

Cassius, be constant:
Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;
For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.

Cassius

Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus,
He draws Mark Antony out of the way. Exeunt Antony and Trebonius.

Decius

Where is