For tinctures, stains, relicks, and cognisance.
This by Calphurnia's dream is signity'd.

Cæs. And this way have you well expounded it.

Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can say ; And know it now; the senate have concluded To give this day a crown to mighty Cæsar. If you shall send them word you will not come, Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock Apt to be render'd, for some one to say, “ Break up the senate 'till another time, " When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams." If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper, “ Lo, Cæfar is afraid !" Pardon me, Cæsar, for my dear, dear, love To your proceeding bids me tell you this ; * And reason to my love is liable. Caf. How foolish do your fears seem now, Cal

phurnia ?

want Mould, for the future, be marked with afterisks. The sense of them is not difficult to recover, and, with it, the propriety of the line in question. The speaker had said, the statue fignified, that by Cæsar's influence Rome should flourish and increase in empire, and that great men should press to him to partake of lvis good fortune, just as men run with handkerchiefs, &c. to dip them in the blood of martyrs, that they may partake of their merit. It is true, the thought is from the Christian history; but so small an anachronism is nothing with our poet. Besides, it is not my interpretation which introduces it, it was there before : for the line in question can bear no other sense than as an allusion to the blood of the martyrs, and the superstition of some churches with regard to it.

WARBURTON. I am not of opinion that any thing is loft, and have therefore marked no omission. This speech, which is intentionally pompous, is somewhat confused. There are two allusions ; one to coats armorial, to which princes make additions, or give new tinctures, and new marks of cognisance, ; the other to martyrs, whose reliques are preserved with veneration. The Romans, says Brutus, all come to you as to a saint, for reliques, as to a prince, for honours.

JOHNSON. * And reason, &c.] And reason, or propriety of conduct and language, is subordinate to my love.

JOHNSON.

I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.
How hard is it 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 lard look well,
For he went sickly forth : And take good note,
What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him.
Hark, boy! what noise is that?

Luc. I hear none, Madam.

Por. Pr’ythee, listen well :
I heard a bustling rumour like a fray,
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.

Luc. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.

Enter Artemidorus.
Por. Come hither, fellow, which way hast thou

been?
Art. At mine own house, good lady.
Por. What is't o'clock?
Art. About the ninth hour, lady.
Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol ?

Art. Madam, not yet. I go to take my stand,
To see him país on to the Capitol.

Por. Thou haft some fuit to Cæfar, haft thou not?

Art. That I have, lady. If it will please Cæfar To be so good to Cæsar, as to hear me, I shall be eech him to befriend himself. Por. Why, know'lt thou any harm intended to

wards him? Art. Norre that I know will be, much that I fear

may chance; Good-morrow to you. Here the street is narrow: The throng, that follows Cæsar at the heels,

Of

THE ides of March are come.

Of senators, of prætors, common suitors,
Will crowd a feeble man almost to death :
I'll get me to a place more void, and there
Speak to great Cæsar as he comes along. [Exit.

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!
Sure, the boy heard me :-Brutus hath a suit,
That Cæsar will not grant.-0, I grow faint :-
Run, Lucius, and commend me to my Lord;
Say, I am merry: come to me again,
And bring me word what he doth say to thee.

[Exeunt severally. A CT III. SCEN E I.

.
THE STREET.

The Capitol; the Senate fitting.
Flourish. Enter Cæfar, Brutus, Casius, Casca, Decius,

Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Artemidorus, Popilius, Publius, and the Soothsayer.

CÆ SA R.
Sootb. Ay, Cæsar, but not gone.

. Art. Hail, Cæsar! read this schedule.

Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read At your best leisure, this his humble suit.

Art. O Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a suit That touches Cæsar nearer. Read it, great Cæsar.

Caf. What touches us ourself, shall be last serv’d.
Art. Delay not, Cæfar; read it instantly,
Vol. VIII.

E

Caf

C&f. What, is the fellow mad?
Pub. Sirrah, give place.

Caf. What, urge you your petitions in the street ?
Come to the Capitol.

[Cæsar enters the Capitol, the rest following.)
Pop. I wish, your enterprize to-day may thrive.
Caf. What enterprize, Popilius ?
Pop. Fare you well.
Bru. What said Popilius Lena?
Caf. He wilh'd, to-day our enterprize might thrive.
I fear, our purpose is discovered.

Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæsar. Mark him.

Caf. 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 Nay myself.

Bru. Caffius, be constant.
Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;
For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change.
Caf. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you,

Brutus,
He draws Mark Antony out of the way.

Dec. Where is Mecellus Cimber? Let him go,
And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar.

Bru. He is addrest* : press near, and second him.
Cin. Casca, you are the first that rear your hand.

Caf. Are we all ready? What is now amiss,
That Cæfar and his fenate must redress?
Met. Most high, most mighty, and most puissant

Cæsar,
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat [Kneeling:
An humble heart:

Caf. I must prevent thee, Cimber.

1

* He is addrest :] i. e. he is ready. So in K. Henry V.
To-morrow for our march we are addres." STEEVENS.

These

These couchings and these lowly curtesies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men;.
And turn pre-ordinance and first decree
• Into the lane of children. Be not fond,
To think that Cæfar bears such rebel blood,
That will be thaw'd from the true quality
With that which melteth fools ; I mean, sweet words,
Low-crooked curtsies, and bale spaniel-fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banished:
If thou doft bend, and pray, and fawn for him,
1 spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know, Cæsar doth not wrong; nor without cause
Will he be satisfied. 3

Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own,
To found more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear,
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?

Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in Aattery, Cæsar ; Desiring thee, that Publius Cimber may Have an immediate freedom of repeal.

Cæf. What, Brutus !

Cas. Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon:
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.

Caf. I could be well mov’d, if I were as you;
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:

' And turn pre-ordinance~] Pre-ordinance, for ordinance alteady established.

WARB. 2 Into the lane of children.]I do not well understand what is meant by the lane of children. I should read, the law of children. It was, change pre-ordinance and decree into the law of children; into such flight determinations as every start of will would alter. Lane and lawe in some manuscripts are not eafily distinguished. JOHNSON.

* Know, Cæjar doth not wrong ; nor without cause Will be be satisfied.) Ben Jonson quotes this line unfaithfully among his Discoveries, and ridicules it again in the Introduction to his Staple of News. “ Cry you mercy; you never did wrong, but with just cause”

STEEVENS.

But

E 2