c, which they might keep, either as precious memorials of
them, or as having a kind of sacramental virtue. 'Cognizance'
is here used in a heraldic sense, meaning any badge to show
whose friends the wearers were.]

[Note 94: The Roman people were specially yearning to avenge
the slaughter of Marcus Crassus and his army by the Parthians,
and Caesar was at this time preparing an expedition against
them. But a Sibylline oracle was alleged, that Parthia could
only be conquered by a king; and it was proposed to invest
Caesar with the royal title and authority over the foreign
subjects of the state. It is agreed on all hands that, if his
enemies did not originate this proposal, they at least
craftily urged it on, in order to make him odious, and
exasperate the people against him. To the same end, they had
for some time been plying the arts of extreme sycophancy,
heaping upon him all possible honors, human and divine, hoping
thereby to kindle such a fire of envy as would consume him.]

[Note 96-97: /it were a mock Apt to be render'd:/ it were a
sarcastic reply likely to be made. Cf. the expression, 'make a
mock of.']

[Note 104: /liable:/ subject. Cf. _King John_, II, i, 490. The
thought here is that love stands as principal, reason as
second or subordinate. "The deference which reason holds due
from me to you is in this instance subject and amenable to the
calls of personal affection."]

[Page 72]

CAESAR. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!
I am ashamed I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.

[Note 107: Plutarch thus describes the scene: "But in the mean
time Decius Brutus, surnamed Albinus, in whom Caesar put such
confidence, that in his last will and testament he had
appointed him to be his next heir, and yet was of the
conspiracy with Cassius and Brutus: he, fearing that if Caesar
did adjourn the session that day, the conspiracy would be
betrayed, laughed at the soothsayers, and reproved Caesar,
saying, 'that he gave the Senate occasion to mislike with him,
and that they might think he mocked them, considering that by
his commandment they were assembled, and that they were ready
willingly to grant him all things, and to proclaim him king of
all his provinces of the Empire of Rome out of Italy, and that
he should wear his diadem in all other places both by sea and
land. And furthermore, that if any man should tell them from
him they should depart for that present time, and return a