LEFT CHORUS gesture downward.
Therefore think him as a serpent’s egg
Which, hatch’d, would, as his kind, grow mischievous,
And kill him in the shell.
CHORUS gesture in unison.
SOUND OPERATOR plays Sound Cue #1 (“Knocking”).
They are the faction. O conspiracy,
Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough
To mask thy monstrous visage?
Enter from stage right the CONSPIRATORS: CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS BRUTUS, CINNA, METELLUS CIMBER, and TREBONIUS.
BRUTUS
Give me your hands all over, one by one.
CONSPIRATORS bring hands in, forming a circle.
CASSIUS
And let us swear our resolution.
CONSPIRATORS remove hands from circle.
DECIUS BRUTUS
Shall no man else be touch’d but only Caesar?
CASSIUS
Let Antony and Caesar fall together.
BRUTUS
Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius,
To cut the head off and then hack the limbs,
For Antony is but a limb of Caesar:
Let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;
Which so appearing to the common eyes,
We shall be call’d purgers, not murderers.
CASSIUS
Yet I fear him;
For in the ingrafted love he bears to Caesar—
SOUND OPERATOR plays Sound Cue #2 (“Clock striking three”).
CASSIUS
The clock hath stricken three.
TREBONIUS
’Tis time to part.
Exit ALL but BRUTUS stage right.
Exit CHORUS, splitting down the middle to exit stage right and stage left.
Enter PORTIA from stage left.
PORTIA
Brutus, my lord!
BRUTUS
Portia, what mean you? Wherefore rise you now?
PORTIA (moving close to BRUTUS)
You’ve ungently, Brutus, stole from my bed:
And when I ask’d you what the matter was,
You stared upon me and stamp’d with your foot;
Dear my lord,
Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.
BRUTUS (moving away from PORTIA toward stage right)
I am not well in health, and that is all.
PORTIA
What, is Brutus sick,
And will he steal out of his wholesome bed,
To dare the vile contagion of the night
To add unto his sickness?
PORTIA moves toward BRUTUS.
No, my Brutus;
You have some sick offense within your mind,
Which I ought to know of (touches his head) And, upon my knees, I charm you, by my once-commended beauty, That you unfold to me, yourself, your half, Why you are heavy, and what men tonight Have had to resort to you.
PORTIA kneels.
BRUTUS
Kneel not, gentle Portia.
BRUTUS holds out his hand, which PORTIA clasps. BRUTUS helps PORTIA to her feet.
PORTIA
I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus.
Dwell I but in the suburbs
Of your good pleasure?
PORTIA turns her back to BRUTUS, facing stage left.
If it be no more,
Portia is Brutus’s harlot, not his wife.
BRUTUS (turning PORTIA around)
You are my true and honorable wife,
As dear to me as are the ruddy drops
That visit my sad heart.
PORTIA
If this were true, then should I know this secret.
BRUTUS (looking up)
O ye gods,
Render me worthy of this noble wife!
(gestures left) Portia, go in awhile; And by and by thy bosom shall partake The secrets of my heart.
BRUTUS begins to exit stage left, crossing in front of PORTIA. He turns back toward her.
Follow me, then.
Exit BRUTUS stage left, with PORTIA following.
CAESAR’S house.
Enter
