Calpurnia has repeatedly had dreams in which Caesar was murdered, and begs Caesar not to leave the house on the Ides of March out of fear that these dreams will come true. Caesar is determined not to allow these fears to influence him, and he resolves to leave. He is especially concerned that he will be viewed as a coward if he leaves. Even when his priests conduct an augury that suggests there may be something to Calpurnia's fears, Caesar says he is still determined to go about his business. Finally, she persuades him to stay at home by telling him to say that it was her fear and not his that kept him from leaving. She proposes that Marc Antony should go to the Senate and tell the senators that Caesar is not well. He temporarily agrees, saying that he will stay home for Calpurnia's "humor" and not out of fear, and orders Decius to tell them that he "will not" attend, not to falsely say he is sick. He is careful to stipulate that "cannot" is "false" and "dare not" is "falser." But when Decius (who is involved in the plot against Caesar) tells him that Calpurnia's dreams have been misinterpreted, and he will receive a crown if he goes to the Senate, he resolves to go in spite of her fears. This is, of course, a fateful decision that results in his murder. He has, as Calpurnia fears, allowed "wisdom" to be "consumed by confidence" and permitted himself to be led astray by Decius, who cleverly manipulates his ego--indeed he does a better job of it than Calpurnia was able to do.
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