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Brutus:
I will not have it so; lie down, good sirs,
It may be I shall otherwise bethink me.
Look, Lucius, here’s the book I sought for so;
I put it in the pocket of my gown.
(Servants lie down.)
Lucius:
I was sure your lordship did not give it me.
Brutus:
Bear with me, good boy, I am much forgetful.
Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile,
And touch thy instrument a strain or two?
Lucius:
Ay, my lord, an’t please you.
Brutus:
It does, my boy.
I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing.
Lucius:
It is my duty, sir.
Brutus:
I should not urge thy duty past thy might;
I know young bloods look for a time of rest.
Lucius:
I have slept, my lord, already.
Brutus:
It was well done, and thou shalt sleep again;
I will not hold thee long. If I do live,
I will be good to thee.
(Lucius plays and sings till he falls asleep.)
This is a sleepy tune. O murd’rous slumber,
Layest thou thy leaden mace upon my boy,
That plays thee music? Gentle knave, good night;
I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee.
If thou dost nod, thou break’st thy instrument;
I’ll take it from thee; and, good boy, good night.
Let me see, let me see; is not the leaf turn’d down
Where I left reading? Here it is, I think.
Enter the Ghost of Caesar.
How ill this taper burns! Ha! who comes here?
I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous apparition.
It comes upon me. Art thou anything?
Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil,
That mak’st my blood cold and my hair to stare?
Speak to me what thou art.
Ghost:
Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
Brutus:
Why com’st thou?
Ghost:
To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.
Brutus:
Well; then I shall see thee again?
Ghost:
Ay, at Philippi.
Brutus:
Why, I will see thee at Philippi then.
(Ghost vanishes.)
Now I have taken heart, thou vanishest.
Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.
Boy! Lucius! Varro! Claudius! Sirs, awake! Claudius!
Lucius:
The strings, my lord, are false.
Brutus:
He thinks he still is at his instrument.
Lucius, awake!
Lucius:
My lord?
Brutus:
Didst thou dream, Lucius, that thou so criedst out?
Lucius:
My lord, I do not know that I did cry.
Brutus:
Yes, that thou didst. Didst thou see anything?
Lucius:
Nothing, my lord.
Brutus:
Sleep again, Lucius. Sirrah Claudius!
Fellow thou, awake!
Varro:
My lord?
Claudius:
My lord?
Brutus:
Why did you so cry out, sirs, in your sleep?
Varro and Claudius:
Did we, my lord?
Brutus:
Ay. Saw you anything?
Varro:
No, my lord, I saw nothing.
Claudius:
Nor I, my lord.
Brutus:
Go and commend me to my brother Cassius;
Bid him set on his powers betimes before,
And we will follow.
Varro and Claudius:
It shall be done, my lord.
(Exeunt.)