1 Pray to the gods to intermit the plague Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault, Assemble all the poor men of your sort; [Exeunt Citizens. See, whe'r1 their basest metal be not mov'd; Flav. It is no matter; let no images Will make him fly an ordinary pitch; Who else would soar above the view of men, And keep us all in servile fearfulness. 2 1 See, whe'r-] Whether. [Exeunt. - deck'd with ceremonies.] Ceremonies are honorary ornaments; tokens of respect. • SCENE II. The same. A publick Place. Enter, in Procession, with Musick, CÆSAR; ANTONY, for the course; CALPHURNIA, PORTIA, DECIUS, CICERO, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and CASCA, a great Croud following; among them a Soothsayer. Cæs. Calphurnia,- Cæs. Peace, ho! Cæsar speaks. [Musick ceases. Calphurnia, Cal. Here, my lord. Cæs. Stand you directly in Antonius' way, Ant. Cæsar, my lord. Cæs. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius, To touch Calphurnia: for our elders say, Shake off their steril curse. Ant. I shall remember: When Cæsar says, Do this, it is perform'd. Sooth. Cæsar. Ces. Ha! Who calls? [Musick. Casca. Bid every noise be still :-Peace yet again. [Musick ceases. • This person was not Decius, but Decimus Brutus. The poet (as Voltaire has done since) confounds the characters of Marcus and Decimus. Decimus Brutus was the most cherished by Cæsar of all his friends, while Marcus kept aloof, and declined so large a share of his favours and honours, as the other had constantly accepted. Cæs. Who is it in the press, that calls on me? I hear a tongue, shriller than all the musick, Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cæs. What man is that! Bru. A soothsayer, bids you beware the ides of March. Cæs. Set him before me, let me see his face. Cas. Fellow, come from the throng: Look upon Cæsar. Cæs. What say'st thou to me now? Speak once again. Sooth. Beware the ides of March. Cæs. He is a dreamer; let us leave him;-pass. Cas. Will you go see the order of the course? Cas. I pray you, do. Bru. I am not gamesome: I do lack some part Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. I'll leave you. Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late: I have not from your eyes that gentleness, Bru. Cassius, Be not deceiv'd: If I have veil'd my look, Merely upon myself. Vexed I am, 5 + Sennet.] I have been informed that sennet is derived from senneste, an antiquated French tune formerly used in the army; but the Dictionaries which I have consulted exhibit no such word. It may be a corruption from sonata, Ital. STEEVENS. 5 strange a hand-] Strange, is alien, unfamiliar, such as might become a stranger. Of late, with passions of some difference, Which give some soil, perhaps, to my behaviours: Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion;" By means whereof, this breast of mine hath buried But by reflection, by some other things. Cas. 'Tis just: And it is very much lamented, Brutus, Bru. Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius, That you would have me seek into myself For that which is not in me? Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepar'd to hear: And, since you know you cannot see yourself So well as by reflection, I, your glass, Will modestly discover to yourself That of yourself which you yet know not of. 6 - passions of some difference,] With a fluctuation of dis cordant opinions and desires. 7 - your passion;] i. e. the nature of the feelings from which you are now suffering. And be not jealous of me, gentle Brutus: [Flourish, and Shout. Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear, the people Choose Cæsar for their king. Cas. Ay, do you fear it? Then must I think you would not have it so. But wherefore do you hold me here so long? Cas. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, 8 To stale with ordinary oaths my love, &c.] To invite every new protester to my affection by the stale or allurement of customary oaths. |