I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol? Sooth. Madam, not yet; I go to take my stand, To see him pass on to the Capitol. Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not? Sooth. That I have, lady: if it will please Cæsar To be so good to Cæsar, as to hear me, I shall beseech him to befriend himself. Por. Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him? Sooth. None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance. Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: Por. I must go in.-Ah me! how weak a thing The heart of woman is! O Brutus! The heavens speed thee in thine enterprize! [Exit And bring me word what he doth say to thee. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I.—The same. The Capitol; the Senate sitting. A Croud of People in the Street leading to the Capitol ; Caes. The ides of March are come. Art. Hail, Cæsar! Read this schedule. Art. O, Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer: Read it, great Cæsar. Cæs. What touches us ourself, shall be last serv'd. Art. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly. Caes. What, is the fellow mad? Pub. Sirrah, give place. Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street? Come to the Capitol. CESAR enters the Capitol, the rest following. All the Senators rise. Pop. I wish, your enterprize to-day may thrive. Cas. What enterprize, Popilius? Pop. Bru. What said Popilius Lena ? Fare you well. [Advances to CÆSAR, Cas. He wish'd, to-day our enterprize might thrive. I fear, our purpose is discover'd. Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: Mark him. Cas. Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention.Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known, Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back, For I will slay myself. Bru. Cassius, be constant: Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes; For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change. [Exeunt ANTONY and TREBONIUS. CESAR and Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go, And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. Bru. He is address'd': press near, and second him. Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand. Cæs. Are we all ready? what is now amiss, That Cæsar, and his senate, must redress? Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Cæsar, Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat An humble heart: [Kneeling. Cæs. To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood, With that which melteth fools; I mean, sweet words, Thy brother by decree is banished; If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn, for him, I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. Know, Cæsar doth not wrong: nor without cause He is address'd:] i. e. he is ready. And turn pre-ordinance,] Pre-ordinance, for ordinance already established. Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar; Have an immediate freedom of repeal. Caes. What, Brutus! Pardon, Cæsar: Cæsar, pardon: As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber. The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks, That I was constant, Cimber should be banish'd, 7 Casca. Speak, hands, for me. [CASCA stabs CESAR in the Neck. CESAR catches hold of his Arm. He is then stabbed by several other Conspirators, and at last by MARCUS BRUTUS. apprehensive;] i. e. intelligent, capable of apprehending. Unshak'd of motion :] i. e. Unshak'd by suit or solicitation. Cæs. Et tu, Brute?-Then fall, Cæsar. [Dies. The Senators and People retire in confusion. Cin. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!— Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. Cas. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out, Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement ! Bru. People, and senators! be not affrighted; Fly not; stand still:-ambition's debt is paid. Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus. Dec. Bru. Where's Publius? And Cassius too. Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny. Met. Stand fast together, lest some friend of Cæsar's Should chance Bru. Talk not of standing;-Publius, good cheer; Nor to no Roman else': so tell them, Publius. Re-enter TREBONIUS. Cas. Where's Antony? Tre. Fled to his house amaz'd: Men, wives, and children, stare, cry out, and run, As it were doomsday. 9 Go to the pulpit, Brutus.] We have now taken leave of Casca. Shakspeare for once knew that he had a sufficient number of heroes on his hands, and was glad to lose an individual in the crowd. It may be added, that the singularity of Casca's manners would have appeared to little advantage amidst the succeeding varieties of tumult and war. STEEVENS. 1 Nor to no Roman else:] This use of two negatives, not to make an affirmative, but to deny more strongly, is common to Chaucer, Spenser, and other of our ancient writers. Dr. Hickes observes, that in the Saxon, even four negatives are sometimes conjoined, and still preserve a negative signification. |