heavy-Dew Ff | honey heavy
dew Johnson | heavy honey-dew Collier.]

[Note 218: /by him:/ by his house. Make your way home that
way.]

[Note 225: Let not our looks betray our purposes by wearing,
or being attired with, any indication of them. Cf. _Macbeth_,
I, vii, 81.]

[Note 230: The compound epithet, 'honey-heavy,' is very
expressive and apt. The 'dew of slumber' is called 'heavy'
because it makes the subject feel heavy, and 'honey-heavy,'
because the heaviness it induces is sweet. But there may be a
reference to the old belief that the bee gathered its honey
from falling dew. So in Vergil's _Georgics_, IV, i, we have
"the heavenly gifts of honey born in air." Brutus is naturally
led to contrast the free and easy state of the boy's mind with
that of his own, which the excitement of his present
undertaking is drawing full of visions and images of trouble.]

[Page 59]

_Enter_ PORTIA

PORTIA. Brutus, my lord!

BRUTUS. Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now?
It is not for your health thus to commit 235
Your weak condition to the raw cold morning.

PORTIA. Nor for yours neither. You've ungently, Brutus,
Stole from my bed: and yesternight at supper
You suddenly arose, and walk'd about,
Musing and sighing, with your arms across; 240
And when I ask'd you what the matter was,
You star'd upon me with ungentle looks:
I urg'd you further; then you scratch'd your head,
And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot:
Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not, 245
But with an angry wafture of your hand
Gave sign for me to leave you. So I did,
Fearing to strengthen that impatience
Which seem'd too much enkindled, and withal
Hoping it was but an effect of humour, 250
Which sometime hath his hour with every man.
It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep,
And, could it work so much upon your shape
As it hath much prevail'd on your condition,
I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord, 255
Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.

[Note 233: Scene III Pope.]

[Note 237: /You've/ Rowe | Y' have Ff.]

[Note 239: /suddenly/ | sodainly Ff.]

[Note 246: /wafture/ Rowe | wafter Ff.]

[Note 255: /you, Brutus/ F4 | you Brutus F1 F2 F3.]

[Note 233: Similarities and differences between this scene
with Brutus and Portia and that betwee