Cus. What! durst not tempt him! Bru.
For your life you durst not. Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love; I may do that I shall be sorry for.
Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats,
For I am arm'd so strong in honesty
That they pass by me as the idle wind,
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certain sums of gold, which you denied me;
For I can raise no money by vile means:
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart,
And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection. I did send
To you for gold to pay my legions,
Which you denied me: was that done like
Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is aweary of the world;
Hated by one he loves; brav'd by his brother;
Check'd like a bondman; all his faults observ'd,
Set in a note-book, learn'd, and conn'd by rote,
To cast into my teeth. O! I could weep
My spirit from mine eyes. There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast; within, a heart 100-
Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold:
If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth;
I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart :
Strike, as thou didst at Cæsar; for, I know,
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lov'dst
him better
Than ever thou lov'dst Cassius.
Bru.
Sheathe your dagger:
Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.
O Cassius! you are yoked with a lamb
That carries anger as the flint bears fire,
Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark,
And straight is cold again.
Bru. Yes, Cassius; and from henceforth When you are over-earnest with your Brutus, He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so. Noise within.
Poet. Within. Let me go in to see the generals; There is some grudge between 'em, 'tis not meet They be alone.
Lucil. Within. You shall not come to them. Poet. Within. Nothing but death shall stay me. Enter Poet, followed by LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, and LUCIUS.
Cas. How now! What's the matter? Poet. For shame, you generals! What do you mean?
Love, and be friends, as two such men should be; For I have seen more years, I'm sure, than ye. Cas. Ha, ha! how vilely doth this cynic rime! Bru. Get you hence, sirrah; saucy fellow, hence!
Cas. Bear with him, Brutus; 'tis his fashion.
Bru. I'll know his humour, when he knows his time:
What should the wars do with these jigging fools?
Cas. Away, away! be gone. Exit Poet. Bru. Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders Prepare to lodge their companies to-night. Cas. And come yourselves, and bring Messala with you Immediately to us.
Exeunt LUCILIUS and TITINIUS. Bru. Lucius, a bowl of wine. Exit LUCIUS. Cas. I did not think you could have been so angry.
Bru. O Cassius! I am sick of many griefs.
Cas. Of your philosophy you make no use
If you give place to accidental evils.
Bru. No man bears sorrow better: Portia is dead.
Exit LUCIUS. Re-enter TITINIUS, with MESSALA. Welcome, good Messala. Now sit we close about this taper here, And call in question our necessities. Cas. Portia, art thou gone? Bru.
The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground
Do stand but in a forc'd affection;
For they have grudg'd us contribution :
The enemy, marching along by them,
By them shall make a fuller number up,
Come on refresh'd, new-added, and encourag'd;
From which advantage shall we cut him off,
If at Philippi we do face him there,
These people at our back.
Cas.
Hear me, good brother.
Bru. Under your pardon. You must note
beside,
That we have tried the utmost of our friends,
Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe :
The enemy increaseth every day;
We, at the height, are ready to decline. There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat; No more, I pray you. And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures.
Messala, I have here received letters,
That young Octavius and Mark Antony
Come down upon us with a mighty power,
Bending their expedition toward Philippi.
Mes. Myself have letters of the self-same
Bru. Bear with me, good boy, I am much for-
getful.
Canst thon hold up thy heavy eyes awhile,
And touch thy instrument a strain or two?
Luc. Ay, my lord, an 't please you.
Bru.
It does, my boy.
I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing.
Luc. It is my duty, sir.
Bru. I should not urge thy duty past thy
might;
I know young bloods look for a time of rest. 260
Luc. I have slept, my lord, already.
SCENE I.-The Plains of Philippi.
Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their Army.
Oct. Now, Antony, our hopes are answered:
You said the enemy would not come down,
But keep the hills and upper regions;
It proves not so; their battles are at hand;
They mean to warn us at Philippi here,
Bru. It was well done, and thou shalt sleep Answering before we do demand of them.
again;
I will not hold thee long: if I do live,
I will be good to thee.
Music, and a Song.
This is a sleepy tune: O murderous slumber!
Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy,
That plays thee music? Gentle knave, good
night;
I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee.
If thou dost nod, thou break'st thy instrument;
I'll take it from thee; and, good boy, good night.
Let me see, let me see; is not the leaf turn'd
down
Where I left reading? Here it is, I think.
Enter the Ghost of CESAR.
How ill this taper burns! Ha! who comes here?
I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous apparition.
It comes upon me. Art thou any thing?
Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil,
That mak'st my blood cold and my hair to stare?
Speak to me what thou art.
Ghost. Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
Bru.
Why com'st thou ? 280
Ghost. To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.
Bru. Well; then I shall see thee again?
Ghost. Ay, at Philippi.
Ant. Tut! I am in their bosoms, and I know
Wherefore they do it: they could be content
To visit other places; and come down
With fearful bravery, thinking by this face
To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage;
But 'tis not so.
Oct. Upon the right hand I; keep thou the left.
Ant. Why do you cross me in this exigent?
Oct. I do not cross you; but I will do so.
Drum. Enter BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and their Army;
LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, MESSALA, and Others.
Bru. They stand, and would have parley.
Cas. Stand fast, Titinius: we must out and
talk.
Oct. Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle?
Ant. No, Cæsar, we will answer on their charge.
Make forth; the generals would have some words.
Hack'd one another in the sides of Cæsar :
You show'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like
hounds,
And bow'd like bondmen, kissing Cæsar's feet;
Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind,
Struck Cæsar on the neck. O you flatterers !
Cas. Flatterers! Now, Brutus, thank yourself:
This tongue had not offended so to-day,
If Cassius might have rul'd.
Oct. Come, come, the cause: if arguing make us sweat,
The proof of it will turn to redder drops.
Look;
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Upon one battle all our liberties.
You know that I held Epicurus strong,
And his opinion; now I change my mind,
And partly credit things that do presage.
Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign
Two mighty eagles fell, and there they perch'd,
Gorging and feeding from our soldiers' hands;
Who to Philippi here consorted us :
This morning are they fled away and gone.
And in their steads do ravens, crows, and kites
Fly o'er our heads, and downward look on us,
As we were sickly prey: their shadows seem
A canopy most fatal, under which
Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost.
Mes. Believe not so.
Cas.
I but believe it partly,
For I am fresh of spirit and resolv'd
To meet all perils very constantly.
Bru. Even so, Lucilius.
Cas.
Now, most noble Brutus,
The gods to-day stand friendly, that we may,
Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age!
But since the affairs of men rest still incertain,
Let's reason with the worst that may be fail.
If we do lose this battle, then is this
The very last time we shall speak together:
What are you then determined to do!
Bru. Even by the rule of that philosophy By which I did blame Cato for the death Which he did give himself; I know not how, But I do find it cowardly and vile,
For fear of what might fall, so to prevent 50 The time of life: arming myself with patience, To stay the providence of some high powers That govern us below.
I draw a sword against conspirators;
When think you that the sword goes up again?
Never, till Cæsar's three-and-thirty wounds
Be well aveng'd; or till another Cæsar
Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors.
Bru. Cæsar, thou canst not die by traitors'
hands,
Unless thou bring'st them with thee.
Oct.
So I hope;
I was not born to die on Brutus' sword.
Bru. O! if thou wert the noblest of thy strain,
Young man, thou could'st not die more honour-
able.
Then, if we lose this battle, You are contented to be led in triumph Thorough the streets of Rome?
Bru. No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble
Roman,
That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome;
He bears too great a mind: but this same day
Must end that work the ides of March begun;
And whether we shall meet again I know not.
Therefore our everlasting farewell take :
For ever, and for ever, farewell, Cassius !
If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;
If not, why then, this parting was well made.
Cas. For ever, and for ever, farewell, Brutus!
If we do meet again, we'll smile indeed;
If not, 'tis true this parting was well made.
Bru. Why then, lead on. O! that a man
might know
The end of this day's business ere it come;
But it sufficeth that the day will end,
And then the end is known. Come, ho! away!
Exeunt
SCENE II.-The Same. The Field of Battle.
Alarum. Enter BRUTUS and MESSALA.
Bru. Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these
bills
Unto the legions on the other side.
Loud alarus Let them set on at once, for I perceive But cold demeanour in Octavius' wing, And sudden push gives them the overthrow. Ride, ride, Messala: let them all come down. Exc6 v4.
SCENE III.
Another Part of the Field.
Alarum. Enter CASSIUS and TITINIUS.
Cas. O look, Titinius, look, the villains fly :
Myself have to mine own turn'd enemy;
This ensign here of mine was turning back;
I slew the coward, and did take it from him.
Tit. O Cassius! Brutus gave the word too
early;
Who, having some advantage on Octavius,
Took it too eagerly: his soldiers fell to spoil,
Whilst we by Antony are all enclos'd.
Are those my tents where I perceive the fire?
Tit. They are, my lord.
Cas.
Titinins, if thou lov'st me,
Mount thou my horse, and hide thy spurs in
No, this was he, Messala,
But Cassius is no more. O setting sun!
As in thy red rays thou dost sink to-night,
Enter PINDARUS.
10
Pin. Fly further off, my lord, fly further off; So in his red blood Cassius' day is set; The sun of Rome is set. Our day is gone; Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord! Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are Fly, therefore, noble Cassius, fly far off. done. Look, look, Mistrust of my success hath done this deed. Mes. Mistrust of good success hath done this deed.
Cas. This hill is far enough,
Titinius;
O hateful error, melancholy's child!
Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men
The things that are not? O error! soon con-
ceiv'd,
Thou never com'st unto a happy birth,
But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee.
Tit. What, Pindarus! Where art thou, Pin-
darus?
him,
Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops
And here again; that I may rest assur'd
Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.
Tit. I will be here again, even with a thought.
Exit.
Cas. Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill; 20
My sight was ever thick; regard Titinius,
And tell me what thou not'st about the field.
PINDARUS ascends the hill.
This day I breathed first; time is com round,
And where I did begin, there shall I end;
My life is run his compass. Sirrah, what news?
Pin. Above. O my lord!
Cas. What news?
Pin. Titinius is enclosed round about
With horsemen, that make to him on the spur;
Yet he spurs on: now they are almost on him.
Now, Titinius! now some light: O! he lights
31
too : He's ta'en !
Shout.
And, hark! they shout for joy. Cas. Come down; behold no more. coward that I am, to live so long,
O
To see my best friend ta'en before my face.
PINDARUS descends.
Come hither, sirrah.
In Parthia did I take thee prisoner;
And then I swore thee, saving of thy life,
That whatsoever I did bid thee do,
Thou should'st attempt it. Come now, keep
thine oath;
40
Now be a freeman; and with this good sword, That ran through Cæsar's bowels, search this bosom.
veng'd,
Even with the sword that kill'd thee.
Dies,
Pin. So, I am free; yet would not so have
been
Durst I have done my will. O Cassius!
Far from this country Pindarus shall run,
Where never Roman shall take note of him.
Re-enter TITINIUS with MESSALA.
Mes. It is but change, Titinius; for Octavius
Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power,
As Cassius' legions are by Antony.
Tit. These tidings will well comfort Cassius.
Mes. Where did you leave him?
Tit.
All disconsolate,
With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.
Mes. Is not that he that lies upon the ground?
Tit. He lies not like the living. O my heart!
Mes. Is not that he?
Tit.
Tit.
And I will seek for Pindarus the while.
Hie you, Messala,
Mes. Seek him, Titinius, whilst I go to meet
The noble Brutus, thrusting this report
Into his ears; I may say, thrusting it;
For piercing steel and darts envenomed
Shall be as welcome to the cars of Brutus
As tidings of this sight.
Exit MESSALA.
Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius?
Did I not meet thy friends? and did not they
Put on my brows this wreath of victory,
And bid me give it thee? Didst thou not hear
82
their shouts ?
Alas! thou hast misconstrued every thing.
But hold thee, take this garland on thy brow;
Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I
Will do his bidding. Brutus, come apace,
And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.
By your leave, gods: this is a Roman's part:
Come, Cassius' sword, and find Titinius' heart.
Kills himself.
Alarum. Re-enter MESSALA, with BRUTUS, CATO,
STRATO, VOLUMNIUS, and LUCILIUS.
Mes. Lo, yonder; and Titinius mourning it.
Bru. Titinius' face is upward.
Stand not to answer; here, take thou the hilts;
And, when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now,
Cato.
He is slain.
Bru. O Julius Cæsar! thou art mighty yet:
Guide thou the sword. Cæsar, thou art re- Thy spirit walks abroad, and turns our swords
In our own proper entrails.
Low alarums.
Cato.
Brave Titinius!
Look! whe'r he have not crown'd dead Cassius.
Bru. Are yet two Romans living such as these?
The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!
It is impossible that ever Rome
100
Should breed thy fellow. Friends, I owe more
tears
Bru. Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie?
91
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