SCENE 3: A STREET NEAR THE CAPITOL.

[Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a paper]

ARTEMIDORUS

'Caesar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius;

“Caesar, beware of Brutus and of Cassius;

come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna,

stay clear of Casca; keep an eye on Cinna;

trust not Trebonius: mark well Metellus Cimber:

don’t trust Trebonius, nor Metellus Cimber.

Decius Brutus loves thee not: thou hast wronged

Decius Brutus does not love you. You’ve wronged

Caius Ligarius. There is but one mind in all these men,

Caius Ligarius. These men think the same,

and it is bent against Caesar. If thou beest not immortal,

and want to kill you. If you’re not immortal,

look about you: security gives way to conspiracy.

look around you. Over-confidence allows conspiracies.

The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover, 'ARTEMIDORUS.'

The gods defend you! —From one who loves you, Artemidorus.”

Here will I stand till Caesar pass along,

I’ll stand here waiting until Caesar passes,

And as a suitor will I give him this.

And, asking for his help, I’ll give him this.

My heart laments that virtue cannot live

It breaks my heart that goodness cannot live

Out of the teeth of emulation.

Without the danger from malicious envy.

If thou read this, O Caesar, thou mayst live;

Oh Caesar, if you read this, you may live;

If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.

If not, your fate is what those traitors give.

[Exit]