for refusing a guard,
that he thought Rome had more need of him than he of Rome.
"And the very day before, Caesar, supping with Marcus Lepidus,
sealed certain letters, as he was wont to do, at the board:
so, talk falling out amongst them, reasoning what death was
best, he, preventing their opinions, cried out aloud, 'Death
unlooked for.'"--Plutarch, _Julius Caesar_.]

[Page 69]

_Re-enter_ Servant

What say the augurers?

SERVANT. They would not have you to stir forth to-day.
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
They could not find a heart within the beast. 40

CAESAR. The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
Caesar should be a beast without a heart,
If he should stay at home to-day for fear.
No, Caesar shall not: danger knows full well
That Caesar is more dangerous than he: 45
We are two lions litter'd in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible;
And Caesar shall go forth.

CALPURNIA. Alas, my lord,
Your wisdom is consum'd in confidence!
Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear 50
That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house,
And he shall say you are not well to-day:
Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.

CAESAR. Mark Antony shall say I am not well; 55
And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.

_Enter_ DECIUS

Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.

DECIUS. Caesar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Caesar:
I come to fetch you to the senate-house.

[Note 37: _Re-enter_ ... | Enter a ... Ff.]

[Note 46: /are/ Capell | heare F1 F2 | hear F3 F4 | heard
Rowe.]

[Note 57: Scene V Pope.]

[Note 42: /should:/ would. The present-day usage is
post-Elizabethan.]

[Page 70]

CAESAR. And you are come in very happy time, 60
To bear my greeting to the senators
And tell them that I will not come to-day.
Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser;
I will not come to-day. Tell them so, Decius.

CALPURNIA. Say he is sick.

CAESAR. Shall Caesar send a lie? 65
Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,
To be afeard to tell graybeards the truth?
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.

DECIUS. Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so.