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stricken three。 TREBONIUS。 'Tis time to part。 CASSIUS。 But it is
doubtful yet Whether Caesar will come forth today or no； For he is
superstitious grown of late； Quite from the main opinion he held once Of
fantasy； of dreams； and ceremonies。 It may be these apparent prodigies；
The unaccustom'd terror of this night； And the persuasion of his augurers
May hold him from the Capitol today。 DECIUS。 Never fear that。 If he be
so resolved； I can o'ersway him； for he loves to hear That unicorns may be
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THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR
betray'd with trees； And bears with glasses； elephants with holes； Lions
with toils； and men with flatterers； But when I tell him he hates flatterers；
He says he does； being then most flattered。 Let me work； For I can give
his humor the true bent； And I will bring him to the Capitol。 CASSIUS。
Nay； we will all of us be there to fetch him。 BRUTUS。 By the eighth hour。
Is that the utter most？ CINNA。 Be that the uttermost； and fail not then。
METELLUS。 Caius Ligarius doth bear Caesar hard； Who rated him for
speaking well of Pompey。 I wonder none of you have thought of him。
BRUTUS。 Now； good Metellus； go along by him。 He loves me well； and I
have given him reasons； Send him but hither； and I'll fashion him。
CASSIUS。 The morning comes upon 's。 We'll leave you； Brutus； And；
friends； disperse yourselves； but all remember What you have said and
show yourselves true Romans。 BRUTUS。 Good gentlemen； look fresh and
merrily； Let not our looks put on our purposes； But bear it as our Roman
actors do； With untired spirits and formal constancy。 And so； good morrow
to you every one。 Exeunt all but Brutus。 Boy！ Lucius！ Fast asleep？ It is no
matter。 Enjoy the honey…heavy dew of slumber； Thou hast no figures nor
no fantasies； Which busy care draws in the brains of men； Therefore thou
sleep'st so sound。
Enter Portia。
PORTIA。 Brutus； my lord！ BRUTUS。 Portia； what mean you？
Wherefore rise you now？ It is not for your health thus to commit Your
weak condition to the raw cold morning。 PORTIA。 Nor for yours neither。
have ungently； Brutus； Stole from my bed； and yesternight at supper You
suddenly arose and walk'd about； Musing and sighing； with your arms
across； And when I ask'd you what the matter was； You stared upon me
with ungentle looks。 I urged you further； then you scratch'd your head；
And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot。 Yet I insisted； yet you
answer'd not； But with an angry waiter of your hand Gave sign for me to
leave you。 So I did； Fearing to strengthen that impatience Which seem'd
too much enkindled； and withal Hoping it was but an effect of humor；
Which sometime hath his hour with every man。 It will not let you eat； nor
talk； nor sleep； And； could it work so much upon your shape As it hath
much prevail'd on your condition； I should not know you； Brutus。 Dear my
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THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR
lord； Make me acquainted with your cause of grief。 BRUTUS。 I am not
well in health； and that is all。 PORTIA。 Brutus is wise； and； were he not in
health； He would embrace the means to come by it。 BRUTUS。 Why； so I
do。 Good Portia； go to bed。 PORTIA。 Is Brutus sick； and is it physical To
walk unbraced and suck up the humors Of the dank morning？ What； is
Brutus sick； And will he steal out of his wholesome bed To dare the vile
contagion of the night And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air To add
unto his sickness？ No； my Brutus； You have some sick offense within your
mind； Which by the right and virtue of my place I ought to know of； and；
upon my knees； I charm you； by my once commended beauty； By all your
vows of love and that great vow Which did incorporate and make us one；
That you unfold to me； yourself； your half； Why you are heavy and what
men tonight Have had resort to you； for here have been Some six or seven；
who did hide their faces Even from darkness。 BRUTUS。 Kneel not； gentle
Portia。 PORTIA。 I should not need； if you were gentle Brutus。 Within the
bond of marriage； tell me； Brutus； Is it excepted I should know no secrets
That appertain to you？ Am I yourself But； as it were； in sort or limitation；
To keep with you at meals； comfort your bed； And talk to you sometimes？
Dwell I but in the suburbs Of your good pleasure？ If it be no more； Portia
is Brutus' harlot； not his wife。 BRUTUS。 You are my true and honorable
wife； As dear to me as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart。
PORTIA。 If this were true； then should I know this secret。 I grant I am a
woman； but withal A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife。 I grant I am a
woman； but withal A woman well reputed； Cato's daughter。 Think you I
am no stronger than my sex； Being so father'd and so husbanded？ Tell me
your counsels； I will not disclose 'em。 I have made strong proof of my
constancy； Giving myself a voluntary wound Here in the thigh。 Can I bear
that with patience And not my husband's secrets？ BRUTUS。 O ye gods；
Render me worthy of this noble wife！ Knocking within。 Hark； hark； one
knocks。 Portia； go in awhile； And by and by thy bosom shall partake The
secrets of my heart。 All my engagements I will construe to thee； All the
charactery of my sad brows。 Leave me with haste。 ＇Exit Portia。＇ Lucius；
who's that knocks？
Re…enter Lucius with Ligarius。
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LUCIUS。 Here is a sick man that would speak with you。 BRUTUS。
Caius Ligarius； that Metellus spake of。 Boy； stand aside。 Caius Ligarius；
how？ LIGARIUS。 Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue。
BRUTUS。 O； what a time have you chose out； brave Caius； To wear a
kerchief！ Would you were not sick！ LIGARIUS。 I am not sick； if Brutus
have in hand Any exploit worthy the name of honor。 BRUTUS。 Such an
exploit have I in hand； Ligarius； Had you a healthful ear to hear of it。
LIGARIUS。 By all the gods that Romans bow before； I here discard my
sickness！ Soul of Rome！ Brave son； derived from honorable loins！ Thou；
like an exorcist； hast conjured up My mortified spirit。 Now bid me run；
And I will strive with things impossible；