University of Virginia Library

SCENE VI.

Enter Antony.
Antony.
Rather to stay: I came not here in Courtship.
But 'tis the sacred College of the Priests
Which brought me hither; and they wait without.
Hear 'em, great Cæsar; it concerns you nearly,
And what does so, is for the Good of Rome.

Cæsar.
The Senate stays; another Time will serve.

[As he is going out, enter the Priests, who stop him.
Priest.
Great Cæsar, hail! forgive our zealous Haste,
Urg'd by divine Portent, which sent us here,
To warn the mighty Ruler of the World.

Cæsar.
Speak: I attend the Message of the Gods.

Priest.
As on Mount Aventine I lately sat,
Attir'd with sacred Robes, and southward turn'd;
The Heav'ns all clear, and free from black Presage;
With my bent Wand I the due Rites perform'd,
And parted all the Regions of the Air.
When lo, ill-boding Birds appear'd from far,
Bearing Misfortunes on their ominous Wings:
I gaz'd upon them with prophetick Skill,
Till a fierce Flash of Lightning check'd my Sight.
Then, in one Instant, all the Heav'ns were chang'd;
Clouds, swell'd with Thunder, roll'd themselves along,
With Noise too horrible for human Ear.

Cæsar.
It thunder'd, and it lighten'd: well, go on.

Second Priest.
Omens of Ill in sev'ral kinds agree:
Having new chose for solemn Sacrifice
A large-grown Bull, the goodliest of the Herd;
With an unwonted Rage he breaks his Chains,
Making fierce Way thro' all the frighten'd Crowd,
Which gaz'd, and trembled; so divided stood
Betwixt their Curiosity and Fear:
At last, he at the Altar laid him down,
And seem'd to beg the Blow, which none durst give;
Then on a sudden shook the Air like Thunder;
And with unheard-of Bellowing breath'd his last.
When open'd, we beheld, with Eyes amaz'd,
This boist'rous Beast, that rag'd with so much Clamour,
Yet had no Heart.

Cæsar.
And I should seem like him,
Did I give way to ev'ry idle Fear.

Priest.
Is it an idle thing to fear the Gods?
Thou'rt in their Power, as the World in thine;
And each may own a Fear without a Blush.

Antony.
Good Cæsar, be advis'd: in this one Thing
Yield to your Friends, and send the Senate Word
You are not well.

Cæsar.
What, send 'em an Excuse!
Have I in Conquest stretch'd my Arm so far,
And fear at last to tell Grey-beards the Truth?
No, Antony, Truth will bear out itself.
I would do much to give my Friends Content;
So, let them know I shall not come To-day;
Cannot, is false; and that I dare not, falser.
I will not come: Go, tell it to the Senate.

[To Decius Brutus.
Decius Brutus.
But shall not I pretend some Cause for this?

Cæsar.
The Cause is in my Will. I will not go.
That is enough to satisfy the Senate.

Decius Brutus.
Sir, I obey; but pardon my Affection,
If it offends you with untimely Care:
The Senate is resolv'd to give a Crown
This Day to mighty Cæsar: Who can tell,
But by To-morrow their loose Minds may change?
Assemblies are uncertain as the Sea,
Which ebbs and flows, now rises and now falls,
Just as the hum'rous Wind inclines to move.
No Woman changes more than Crowds of Men.

Cæsar.
How weak your Fears seem now, good Antony!
I must not let the fair Occasion fall.
Prepare the Ceremony; I am stay'd for.

Brutus.
Prudence in vain defends unhappy Men:
When Heav'n ordains, the Wisest haste to Ruin.

[Exeunt omnes.