sayer calls out upon Cas. to beware the ides of March. Caf. calls him a dreamer, and disregards his caution. Exeunt. Sc. III. Manent Bru. and Caf. Caf. hints to Bru. the growing greatness of Cas. and the approaching flavery of the Romans. Shout within. Bru. expresses his fear that the people are choofing Cas. for their king. Sc. IV. Enter Cas. and his train. Caf. tells Ant. he would choose to have such men about him who are fat, fleek-headed, and who fleep o' nights: and hints that Caf. and fuch fort of men, who are lean, and think much, are dangerous. Exeunt Caf. and his train. Sc. V. Manent Bru. Caf. and Cafc. The last informs the other two, that the crown had thrice been offered Caf. which he has often refused, and that this had been the occafion of the people's shouting. Exeunt Cafe. and Bru. Caf. intends at night to throw in at Bru.'s window, papers written in different hands, tending to express the great opinion the Romans have of Bru. Exit. Exit Cic. Sc. VI. Thunder and lightning. Enter from oppofite fides, Cic. and Cafe. with his sword drawn. Talk of the dreadfulness of the night, and portentous prodigies that had appeared. That Caf. is to go to the Capitol on the morrow. Sc. VII. To Cafc. enter Caf. Cafc. informs Caf. that it is reported the Senators intend on the morrow to establish Caf. as a king. Caf. discloses to Cafc. a conspiracy that he had formed with others againft Caf. into which Gaft. readily enters. Sc. VIII. Sc. VIII. To them enter Cin. who tells Caf. that the Conspirators are waiting for him at Pompey's porch. Caf. hopes to make Bru. of their party. Exeunt. Sc. I. Brutus's Garden. Enter Bru. who calls and awakens Luc. Enter Luc. whom Bru. orders to light a taper in his study. Exit Luc. Bru. in a foliloquy refolves that, for the welfare of Rome, Caf. muft die. Enter Luc. who gives Bru. a letter he had found in the study. Exit Luc. Bru. reads the letter, which is written to stir up Bru. against Cas. Enter Luc. who brings word that Caf. and others muffled up are at the door. Bru. orders them to be admitted. Exit Luc. Sc. II. To Bru. enter Caf. Cafc. Dec. Cin. Met. and Treb. They determine to assaffinate Cas. A proposal is made to cut off M. Ant. also, which is over-ruled by Caf. It is proposed to engage C. Lig. in the confpiracy, for which purpose Met. is defired to call on him, and fend him to Bru. Exeunt all but Bru. Sc. III. To Bru. enter Por. who, from the unwonted gloominess and irregularity of Bru.'s behaviour, suspects some hidden grief to lie upon his mind; and conjures him to impart it to her; adding, that although she is a woman, yet being the daughter of Cato and wife of Bru. she is able to keep a secret; and that, to prove her patience and conftancy, she had 1 given herself a wound in the thigh. Knocking within. Bru. bids Por. retire, and promises to unfold to her all the fecrets of his heart. Exit Por. Enter Luc. bringing in Lig. who is fick. Exit Luc. Lig. declares that (though fick) if Bru. have any honourable exploit in hand, he is ready to engage in it. Bru. tells him, he will open the business to him, as they walk. Exeunt. Sc. IV. Cafar's palace. Thunder and lightning. Enter J. Caf. in his night-gown. Cal.'s disturbed sleeр. Enter a Servant, whom Caf. fends to the priests to bid them do facrifice. Enter Cal. who, from the prodigies that had appeared, endeavours to diffuade Caf. from going to the capitol. Enter Servant, who brings word that the augurs, plucking forth the entrails of an offering, found no heart in the beaft, and advise Cas. not to go to the capitol. Caf. notwithstanding these prodigies, from the principle of courage, maintains his determination of going; till, farther conjured by Cal. he at length confents that M. Ant. shall make his excufe to the Senate for not attending them. Enter Dec. whom Cas. informs of his having been perfuaded by Cal. on account of a frightful dream she had, not to go to the capitol. But Dec. by giving a fortunate interpretation of the dream, and informing Caf. that the Senate have concluded to present him with a crown, induces him to go. Enter Bru. Lig. and Cafc. Treb. Cin. and Pub. and foon after Ant. as to attend him to the capitol. Caf. invites them to drink some wine with him before they go. Exeunt. Sc. V. The street. Enter Artemid. reading a paper of his own writing, wherein he bids Caf. beware of the confpirators, and inserts their names. This paper he intends to give Caf. as he passes to the capitol. Exit. Sc. VI. Enter Por. and Luc. and a while after a Soothsayer, who intends to caution Caf. as he passes to the capitol. This scene exhibits the terror of Por. on account of the approaching attempt, and her anxiety for the fuccess of it. Sc. I. The street near the capitol, Flourish. Enter Caf. Bru. Caf. Cafc. Dec. Met. Treb. Cin. Ant. Lep. Art. Pop. and Soothsayer. Caf. tells the Soothsayer that the ides of March are come; to which the Soothsayer answers, Ay, but not gone, Art. and Dec. offer papers to Caf. to read; Art. bids Caf. not to delay reading his, as it nearly concerns himself (Cas.) Caf. answers that what regards himself shall be last confidered. Caf. asks why they urge their petitions in the street, and bids them come to the Capitol. Exeunt. Sc. II. The capitol. The senate fitting. Enter Caf, and the rest, as in the foregoing Scene, After Caf. has taken his feat, Met, goes towards him, and being followed by the conspirators (who range themselves about Caf.) he petitions for the repealing his banished brother Pub, Cimber, and is backed by Caf 1 Caf. Cin. and Dec. But Caf. perfifting to reject the petition, the Conspirators stab Cas. and cry out, Liberty! &c. Exeunt all but Conspirators. They befmear their arms and swords in Caf's blood. Enter a servant from Ant. to know if his mafter may with safety speak with the conspirators; and being answered in the affirmative, exit Servant to fetch his master. Enter Ant. who apparently enters into league with the Conspirators, and gets permiffion of them to make an oration in praise of Caf. over his dead body in the marketplace. Exeunt all but Ant. Enter Octavius's fervant, with advice that his master is on the way to Rome. Exeunt, with the body of Caf. Sc. III. The Forum. Enter Bru. Caf. and the Plebeians. The Plebeians are clamorous for fatisfaction about the murder of Caf. Bru. promises to give them good reasons for the deed, provided they will give him audience; and bids Caf. go into the other street, and harangue, that so the numbers may be parted. Exit Caf. with some of the Plebeians. Bru. goes into the pulpit, and tells them that Caf. was cut off for his ambition, and that the liberties of the people might be preserved. The Plebeians applaud Bru. and are for carrying him home in triumph to his house; but he perfuades them to stay and hear the funeral oration on Caf. to be spoken by Ant. who enters with the body. Exit Bru. Ant. by his artful speech stirs the Plebeians to love and pity for Caf. and hatred and rage against the Conspirators. Exeunt Plebeians, to burn Caf's body, and with a resolution to set fire to the houses of the Confpira tors. |