[Note 57: Scene V Pope.] [Note 42: /should:/ would. The present-day usage is post-Elizabethan.] [Page 70] CÆSAR. 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. CÆSAR. Shall Cæsar 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 Cæsar will not come. DECIUS. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so. 70 CÆSAR. The cause is in my will; I will not come; That is enough to satisfy the senate. But, for your private satisfaction, Because I love you, I will let you know: Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home. 75 She dreamt to-night she saw my statue, Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts, Did run pure blood; and many lusty Romans Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it: And these does she apply for warnings and portents 80 And evils imminent, and on her knee Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day. [Note 67: /afeard/ F1 F2 F3 | afraid F4--/truth?/ | truth: Ff.] [Note 76: /statue/ Ff | statua Steevens | statuë Camb.] [Note 76: /to-night:/ last night. So in _The Merchant of Venice_, II, v, 18.--/statue./ In Shakespeare's time 'statue' was pronounced indifferently as a word of two syllables or three. Bacon uses it repeatedly as a trisyllable, and spells it 'statua,' as in his _Advancement of Learning_: "It is not possible to have the true pictures or statuaes of Cyrus, Alexander, Cæsar, no, nor of the kings or great personages."] [Page 71] DECIUS. This dream is all amiss interpreted: It was a vision fair and fortunate. Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, 85 In which so many smiling Romans bath'd, Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck Reviving blood, and that great men shall press For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance. This by Calpurnia's dream is signified. 90 CÆSAR. And this way have you well expounded it. DECIUS. 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, 95 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, 100 'Lo, Cæsar 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. 104