Cassius. Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill; This day I breathed first: time is come round, Cassius. What news? Pindarus. Titinius is enclosed round about With horsemen that make to him on the spur; 1.-Now they are almost on him. Yet he spurs on.-. Now, Titinius! Now some light.-O, he lights too.-He's ta'en;— and, hark! They shout for joy. Cassius. (Shout. Come down, behold no more. O, coward that I am to live so long, To see my best friend ta'en before my face! PINDARUS comes down. Come hither, sirrah! In Parthia did I take thee prisoner; And then I swore thee, saving of thy life, Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath! Now be a freeman; and with this good sword' (Dies. Pindarus. 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. (Exit. Enter TITINIUS, with MESSALA. Messala. It is but change, Titinius; for Octavius Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power, As Cassius' legions are by Antony. Titinius. These tidings will well comfort Cassius. Messala. Where did you leave him? Titinius. All disconsolate, With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill. Messala. Is not that he that lies upon the ground? Titinius. He lies not like the living. O, my heart! Messala. Is not that he? Titinius. No, this was he, Messala, But Cassius is no more.-O setting sun! As in thy red rays thou dost sink to night, So in his red blood Cassius' day is set ;* The sun of Rome is set! Our day is gone; Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are done! Mistrust of my success hath done this deed.** *Cf. Bacon: "Ut esse Phoebi rubrius lumen solet Jam jam codentis."-Prom. No. 171 (1594). (As the light of Phoebus is wont to be redder when he is setting.) "The weary sun hath made a golden set," etc.-Rich. III., V., 3. **See II., 2, 6 above. Bacon (Adv. of L. II., 4, 2) speaks of "the successes and issues of actions."-Rolfe. Messala. Mistrust of good success hath done this deed. O hateful Error, Melancholy's child! Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee. Titinius. What, Pindarus! Where art thou, Pindarus? Messala. 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 ears of Brutus As tidings of this sight. *Cf. Bacon: "A seditious slander, like to that the poet speaketh of, a venomous dart that hath both iron and poison." -Charge against St. John (1615). Both authors describe an evil report, thrust into the ears, as a steel or iron dart, envenomed. Titinius. And I will seek for Pindarus the while. Hie you, Messala, (Exit Messala. Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius? And bid me give it thee? Didst thou not hear their shouts ? Alas! thou hast misconstrued every thing. But hold thee, take this garland on thy brow; (Dies. Alarum. Enter MESSALA, with BRUTUS, young CATO, STRATO, VOLUMNIUS, and LUCILIUS. Brutus. Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie? Messala. Lo, yonder, and Titinius mourning it. Brutus. Titinius' face is upward. He is slain. Cato. Cato. (Low alarums. Brave Titinius! Look, whether he have not crown'd dead Cassius! Brutus. Are yet two Romans living such these? The last of all the Romans, fare thee well! It is impossible that ever Rome as Should breed thy fellow.-Friends, I owe moe tears I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.- 'Tis three o'clock; and, Romans, yet ere night (Exeunt. Another Part of the Field. Alarum. Enter, fighting, Soldiers of both Armies; then BRUTUS, CATO, LUCILIUS, and others. Brutus. Yet, countrymen, O, yet hold up your heads! Cato. What bastard doth not? Who will go with me? I will proclaim my name about the field. I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho! A foe to tyrants, and my country's friend; (Charges the enemy. Brutus. And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I; Brutus, my country's friend; know me for Brutus! (Exit, charging the enemy. Cato is overpowered, and falls. Lucilius. O young and noble Cato, art thou down? Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius, And mayst be honour'd, being Cato's son. 1 Soldier. Yield, or thou diest. Lucilius. Only I yield to die: There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight; (Offering money. Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death. 1 Soldier. We must not.—A noble prisoner! 2 Soldier. Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en. 1 Soldier. I'll tell the news.-Here comes the general. Enter ANTONY. Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord. Antony. Where is he? Lucilius. Safe, Antony; Brutus is safe enough. I dare assure thee that no enemy Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus ; The gods defend him from so great a shame! Antony. This is not Brutus, friend, but, I assure you, A prize no less in worth. Keep this man safe, (Exeunt. Another Part of the Field. Enter BRUTUS, DARDANIUS, CLITUS, STRATO, and VOLUMNIUS. Brutus. Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock. Clitus. Statilius show'd the torch-light, but, my lord, He came not back; he is or ta'en or slain. Brutus. Sit thee down, Clitus. word; Slaying is the It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus. (Whispering. Clitus. What! I, my lord? No, not for all the world. Brutus. Peace then! no words. Clitus. I'll rather kill myself. Shall I do such a deed? Brutus. Hark thee, Dardanius! (Whispers him. Dardanius. Clitus. O Dardanius! Dardanius. O Clitus! Clitus. What ill request did Brutus make to thee? Dardanius. To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates. |