He is superstitious grown of late,
Quite from the main opinion he held once
Of fantasy, of dreams and ceremonies.
(II. i. 195.)
And this is no mere invention of the enemy. He does have recourse to sacrifice, he does inquire of the priests “their opinions of success” (ii. ii. 5); though afterwards, on the news of the portent, he tries to put his own interpretation on it:
The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
Caesar should be a beast without a heart,
If he should stay at home to-day for fear.
(II. ii. 41.)
He is really impressed by his wife’s cries in her sleep, as appears from his words to himself, when he has not to keep up appearances before others, but enters, perturbed, in his nightgown, and seems urged by his anxiety to consult the oracles. He affects to dismiss the signs and omens: