a deep wound in the thigh, to ascertain whether she could bear pain with fortitude; and having thus proved her strength, she implored Brutus to impart to her the cause of his sorrow. At first he waved

her questions, saying he was not in health. so, my Lord," replied Portia.

Brutus is wise; and were he not in health,

He would embrace the means to come by it. ***

"Not

She then exerted her very utmost eloquence; knelt and implored him; declaring, if he refused, that he considered her his mistress, not his wife. At length, overpowered by her persuasion, he imparted the secret to her; and she, who loved him with the greatest tenderness, was now plunged in deeper anxiety for his fate, and the success of his daring enterprise.

The conspirators' meetings were frequent; and their plans ripe for execution: yet had they been conducted with so much prudence and secrecy, that they were little suspected. Some, who had an idea of conspiracy, hinted their apprehensions of Brutus to Cæsar, but vainly; he would not listen to their admonitions. Such was his confidence in Brutus, that while he considered him worthy of empire, he yet felt assured that Brutus would never aim at that exaltation, through any means of ingratitude or baseness; and, smiling upon those who cautioned him, said " Brutus will wait for this skin." Of Cassius however he had suspicions; and frequently expressed his dislike of thin spare men, who were ever musing, and seldom slept; of which number Cassius

was one.

On that dreadful night, when the whole city of Rome was thrown into alarm by the violence of the storm, the conspirators met at the house of Brutus, to make their last final arrangements previous to the morning, which was to be the last of Caesar's life.

When the page Lucius announced the arrival of Cassius and others, describing them as muffled so closely that he could not by any means discern who they were, the noble Brutus shuddered at his own unworthiness, and began to reflect, whether any action could be considered honourable or praiseworthy, which feared the eye of day, and even shrunk beneath the gloom of night. "What," he cried, "is

it thus ?"

O conspiracy!

Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night,
When evils are most free? Ö, then by day,

Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough

To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy ;
Hide it in smiles, and affability:

For if thou path, thy native semblance on,
Not Erebus itself were dim enough

To hide thee from prevention.***

In the morning Cæsar's mind was disturbed; the horrors of the night had kept him waking; and thrice Calphurnia his wife had in her broken slumbers cried out, "Help! ho! they murder Cæsar !" then starting, awoke, and told her thrice-repeated dream. She saw the statue of Cæsar spouting forth blood in various directions, and many Romans, smiling as in joy, bathed their hands in the crimson stream! This horrible dream, with which her sleep was haunted, together with the perils of the night, and the many strange portentous events which had occurred, filled the mind of Calphurnia with dread ; and she earnestly implored of Cæsar that he would not go forth that day. He smiled at her fears, saying, these predictions were for the world in general; why suppose that they applied to him in particular? Yet Cæsar was certainly not so free from anxiety as he wished to appear, having already despatched orders to the priests to offer sacrifices, and bring him speedily an account of their success. While Calphurnia was entreating, a servant came to an

nounce that it was the opinion of the priests he should not go abroad; the day was improper; some evil was to be feared; the beast which had been offered as a sacrifice, was found upon examination to be without a heart! Cæsar was startled for an instant; but, ashamed that any thing should occur to awaken his fears, he declared his determination to go forth. Again Calphurnia implored him to listen to her entreaties, and send Mark Antony to say he was not well, and could not meet the council at the senate. Cæsar, moved by her tenderness and anxiety for his welfare, granted her request, and agreed to send Mark Antony: but, at that moment, Decius Brutus, one of the conspirators, arrived to conduct him to the senate house. Cæsar now begged him to carry his excuse, and assigned Calphurnia's apprehensions as a reason; but Decius thought her fears were ill founded, interpreted the dream as "a vision fair and fortunate," implying that Cæsar's power and greatness would be as reviving blood to Rome-and, as a proof it could not be but well, informed him, that the senate had that day concluded to give him an imperial crown. Should he be absent, their minds might change; and with a degree of sarcasm he added, that some in scorn might say—

Break up the senate till another time,

When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams.***

Cæsar, ashamed that he had thus far indulged the fears and tenderness of Calphurnia, bade her go fetch his robe, and prepared to attend Decius. Calphurnia dared not urge him further; she obeyed him in silence but, as she fastened on his robe, her bosom heaved, and the unbidden tears streamed down her pale cheeks. Ere they parted, she strained him in her trembling arms, imprinted kisses on his lips and forehead, and in faltering accents prayed the gods to estore him to her in safety. He on his part bade

her not fear; and, tenderly embracing her, departed for the senate house. With eager eyes she gazed after him; and, when he was lost to her view, sunk fainting in the arms of her attendants.

The tender Portia was not less anxious for the fate of Brutus She paced the street before her house, listening to every sound, bidding the page hasten to the capitol, yet without informing him what he should

say

v

? Go, go," she cried,

Go, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,

For he went sickly forth :

Hark, boy! what noise is that?

Prithee, listen well;

I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray.

*

*

I must go in. Ah me! how weak a thing
The heart of woman is! O Brutus!
The heavens speed thee in thy enterprise!
O! I grow faint:

Run, Lucius, and commend me to thy lord;
Say, I am merry: come to me again,

And bring me word what he doth say to thee. *

While the fate of Cæsar hung thus suspended, his danger was obvious to many. A soothsayer had already warned him to beware of the ides of March; and Artemidorus, a sophist of Cnidos, had gained a

knowledge of the conspiracy formed against him, and having penned a letter, waited on the steps of the senate house to present it to Cæsar as he passed. Artemidorus valued the great and noble qualities of Cæsar; and he lamented from his inmost soul, that envy should for ever pursue virtue with rancour. On his approach to the capitol, the crowd was so immense, that it was with great difficulty Artemidorus could get near: he, however, pushed his way; and, getting close, presented his paper, saying with great energy" Cæsar, read this to yourself, and quickly; for it contains matters of consequence, and of the last concern to you." Cæsar, struck with the energy of his manner, attempted to read the paper, but the pressure was so great, and the petitions so numerous, that each time he attempted to read, he was prevented, and passed on to the senate with the paper in his hand, but without having perused it.

When Cæsar entered the house, the senate rose to do him honour and when seated, the conspirators surrounded his chair, making an earnest appeal to him to recal Publius, the brother of Metellus Cimber, from exile; an appeal they well knew would not be granted. He refused them, and they urged their suit with an importunity almost bordering on rudeness, till he grew angry; when Cimber with both bands pulled his gown from his neck, which was the signal for attack. Casca struck the first blow. Cæsar turned upon him, and seized his sword, exclaiming " Villain, Casca, what dost thou mean ?” The conspirators now drew their swords, and rushed upon him, while the senators, in the utmost consternation, were unable either to assist him, to seek their own safety by flight, or even to utter a word. Cæsar still defended himself valiantly, till Brutus struck! That was a sight of agony! His sword fell from his hand; then exclaiming-" And you too Brutus !" he covered his face with his robe, and yielded to his