In act II, Scene 2, on the morning of the Ides of March,
Calpurnia awakens her husband Caesar with her cry, "They murder Caesar!" Superstitious,
Caear has the priest to make a sacrifice and send back their opinions of its success.
Calpurnia begs Caesar to remain home, but he tells her he is not afraid. Insistent,
Calpurnia tells Caesar of her dream in which a lionness has given birth in the streets,
graves have opened, and ghosts have screamed in the streets. Afraid of these terrible
omens, Calpurnia wants her husband to not go to the forum. However, he tells
her,
Cowards
die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but
once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,(35)
It seems to me
most strange that men should fear
Seeing that death, a necessary
end,
and, although he is
superstitious, Caesar also is fatalistic. Meanwhile, the servant returns with the
message from the priests; because they could not find a heart in the offering, they urge
Caesar to remain home. Nevertheless, Caesr refuses, declaring himself the more terrible
of the lions. But, Calpurnia will not be dissuaded and insists that Marc Antony be sent
to the Senate to say that Caesar is not well. At this point, Decius enters, saying that
he has come to bring him to the Senate House; Caesar tells Decius to tell the senators
that he is not coming.
When Decius asks for a reason,
Caesar tells him that Calpurnia is worried because of a dream she has had that has
Caesar's statue spouting blood. Then, Decius reinterprets the dream convincingly enough
to give Caesar confidence. He says that the statue spouting blood signifies that Rome
will get reviving blood and great men will ask for recognition. Furthermore, Decius
appeals to Caesar's pride and desire for power as he tells Caesar that the people intend
to give him a crown this day, and if Caesar sends word that he is not coming, the Senate
may change their minds. And, besides, it will sound rather ridiculous that Caesar's wife
has said to break up the Senate because she has had a bad dream. This appeal to
Caesar's pride to not be ruled by his wife's whims is effective; Caesar says, "How
foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!" and tell Decius to get his
robe.
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