a Security gives way to, &c.] The meaning is, over-confidence affords a passage, &c. b Thy lover,-] It need hardly be repeated that "lover" was If thou beest not immortal, look about you: security gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover, b ARTEMIDORUS. Here will I stand till Cæsar pass along, SCENE IV. - The same. Another part of the same Street, before the House of Brutus. Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS. POR. I pr'ythee, boy, run to the senate-house; Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone: Why dost thou stay? I have a man's mind, but a woman's might. How hard it is for women to keep counsel ! Art thou here yet? Luc. Madam, what should I do? Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? And so return to you, and nothing else? POR. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord For he went sickly forth: and take good note Hark, boy! what noise is that? Luc. I hear none, madam. To be so good to Cæsar as to hear me, POR. Why, know'st thou any harm's intended SOOTH. None that I know will be, much that I Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow : Pr'ythee, listen well. I'll get me to a place more void, and there I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, Enter Soothsayer. Speak to great Cæsar as he comes along. [Exit. POR. Come hither, fellow: which way hast Say I am merry: come to me again, thou been? SOOTH. At mine own house, good lady. And bring me word what he doth say to thee. [Exeunt severally. THE The Capitol; the Senate sitting. ACT III. SCENE I.-The same. A crowd of people in the Street leading to the CES. The ides of March are come. ART. O, Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a That touches Cæsar nearer: read it, great Cæsar. a What touches us ourself shall be last serv'd.] Here Mr. Craik, to our surprise, adopts the specious sophistication of Mr. Collier's annotator, "That touches us? Ourself shall be last served,"with the remark,-" To serve, or attend to, a person is a familiar VOL. III. 433 CES. What touches us ourself shall be last serv'd.a ART. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly. CES. 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 enterprise to-day may thrive. CAS. What enterprise, Popilius? form of expression; to speak of a thing as served, in the sense of attended to, would, it is apprehended, be unexampled." But there is nothing uncommon or improper in speaking of a dinner or of a dish as served, and it is in this sense, we believe, the verb is used in the present case. FF 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. If thou dost bend, and pray, and fawn for him, MET. Is there no voice more worthy than my own, To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear, BRU. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar; Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may (*) Old text, lane. a be constant.] Be firm, steady, self-possessed. b address'd:] Prepared, ready. • CASCA. Are we all ready?] In the old copy these words begin Cæsar's speech; there can be little doubt that Mr. Collier's CES. What, Brutus! CAS. Pardon, Cæsar: Cæsar, pardon : As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, CES. I could be well mov'd, if I were as you; The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks, Unshak'd of motion and that I am he CIN. O, Cæsar CES. Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus? Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? CASCA. Speak, hands, for me! [CASCA stabs CÆSAR in the neck. CÆSAR catches hold of his arm; and is then stabbed by several other Conspirators, and at last by MARCUS BRUTUS. CES. Et tu, Brute? (2)-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. BRU. Do so;-and let no man abide this deed, | If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony But we the doers. TRE. Fled to his house amaz'd: Men, wives, and children stare, cry out, and run As it were doomsday. BRU. Fates! we will know your pleasures :That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time, And drawing days out, that men stand upon. CAS. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life Cuts off so inany years of fearing death. BRU. Grant that, and then is death a benefit : So are we Cæsar's friends, that have abridg'd His time of fearing death. - Stoop, Romans, stoop, And let us bathe our hands in Cæsar's blood Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords: Then walk we forth, even to the market-place, And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads, Let's all cry, Peace, Freedom, and Liberty! CAS. Stoop, then, and wash.-How many ages hence Shall this our lofty scene be acted over BRU. How many times shall Cæsar bleed in sport, That now on Pompey's basis lies † along, No worthier than the dust! May safely come to him, and be resolu'd BRU. Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman; I never thought him worse. 'Tell him, so please him come unto this place, He shall be satisfied; and, by my honour, Depart untouch'd. SERV. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit. BRU. I know that we shall have him well to friend.d CAS. I wish we may: but yet have I a mind That fears him much; and my misgiving still Falls shrewdly to the purpose. BRU. But here comes Antony. Re-enter ANTONY. Welcome, Mark Antony. ANT. O, mighty Cæsar! dost thou lie so low? Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, Shrunk to this little measure? - Fare thee well.I know not, gentlemen, what you intend, Who else must be let blood, who else is rank : If I myself, there is no hour so fit As Cæsar's death's hour; nor no instrument I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard, Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke, BRU. O, Antony! beg not your death of us. Antony: C CAS.] The folio has the prefix Cask. d-to friend.] Equivalent to, for friend. e and my misgiving still Falls shrewdly to the purpose.] My misgiving always, or ever, falls, &c. f who else is rank:) Who else is too high-topped; of too (*) First folio, State. (+) First folio, lye. a- let no man abide this deed,-] Let no man pay the penalty for, or stand the consequences of this deed. b Fates! we will know your pleasures: -) We should perhaps read, "We well know," &c. Compare, "King Lear," Act III. Sc. 1, then let fall Your horrible pleasure." luxuriant growth. - if you bear me hard,-] Vide note (b), p. 418. |