And something to be done immediately. Antony. Octavius, lead your battle softly on, Upon the left hand of the even field. Octavius. Upon the right hand I; keep thou the left. Antony. Why do you cross me in this exigent? Octavius. I do not cross you; but I will do so. (March. Drum. Enter BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and their Army; LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, MESSALA, and others. Brutus. They stand and would have parley. Cassius. Stand fast, Titinius; we must out and talk. Octavius. Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle? Antony. No, Cæsar, we will answer on their charge. Make forth; the generals would have some words. Octavius. Stir not until the signal. Brutus. Words before blows; is it so, country men? Octavius. Not that we love words better, as you do. Brutus. Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius. Antony. In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words; Witness the hole you made in Cæsar's heart, Cassius. Antony, The posture of your blows are yet unknown; Antony. Not stingless too. Brutus. O, yes, and soundless too; For you have stolen their buzzing, Antony, And very wisely threat before you sting. Antony. Villains, you did not so when your vile daggers 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, Struck Cæsar on the neck.* O, you flatterers! *Cf. Bacon: "The first wound was given him on the neck by Casco, that stood behind his chair."-Essex Device (1592). Cassius. Flatterers!-Now, Brutus, thank your self; This tongue had not offended so to-day, Octavius. Come, come, the cause; if arguing make us sweat, The proof of it will turn to redder drops. Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors. hands, Unless thou bring'st them with thee. Octavius. So I hope; I was not born to die on Brutus' sword. Brutus. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain, Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable. Cassius. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour, Join'd with a masker and a reveller. Antony. Old Cassius still! Come, Antony; away! Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth. If you dare fight to-day, come to the field; If not, when you have stomachs. (Exeunt Octavius, Antony, and their Army. Cassius. Why now, blow wind, swell billow, and swim bark! The storm is up, and all is on the hazard. Brutus. Ho, Lucilius! hark, a word with you. Lucilius. My lord! (Brutus and Lucilius talk apart. What says my general? Cassius. Messala! Messala. Cassius. This is my birthday; as this very day * Messala, Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala; This morning are they fled away and gone, Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost. *Cf. Bacon: Epicurus, accommodating and subjecting his natural to his moral philosophy (as appears from his own words), would not willingly admit any opinion that depressed or hurt the mind, and troubled, or disturbed that Enthumia of his, which he had adopted from Democritus. And so, being more fond of enjoying the sweets of thought than patient of the truth, he fairly threw off the yoke, and rejected both the necessity of Fate and the fear of the Gods." -De Augmentis (1622). Messala. Believe not so. I but believe it partly, For I am fresh of spirit and resolv'd Cassius. Now, most noble Brutus, The gods to-day stand friendly, that we may, But since the affairs of men rest still incertain, If we do lose this battle, then is this The very last time we shall speak together; Brutus. Even by the rule of that philosophy For fear of what might fall, so to prevent Cassius. Then, if we lose this battle, You are contented to be led in triumph Brutus. No, Cassius, no! think not, thou noble That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome; He bears too great a mind. But this same day If not, 't is true, this parting was well made. The end of this day's business ere it come! And then the end is known.-Come, ho! away!* (Exeunt. *Cf. Bacon: "What shall be the end?"-Prom. 280 (1594). "To what end?"-M. Ado, II., 3. "Is this the promised end?"-Lear, V., 3. SCENA SECUNDA The Field of Battle. Alarum. Enter BRUTUS and MESSALA. Brutus. Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills Unto the legions on the other side. (Loud alarum. (Exeunt. SCENA TERTIAS Another Part of the Field. Alarums. Enter CASSIUS and TITINIUS. Cassius. O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly! Myself have to mine own turn'd enemy. This ensign here of mine was turning back; Who, having some advantage on Octavius, Enter PINDARUS. Pindarus. Fly further off, my lord, fly further off! Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord! Fly, therefore, noble Cassius, fly far off! Cassius. This hill is far enough.-Look, look, Are those my tents where I perceive the fire? Titinius, if thou lov'st me, Titinius. I will be here again even with a thought. (Exit. |