And, good boy, goodnight.
Takes away the instrument and reads
Let me see, let me see; is not the leaf turned down
Where I left reading? Here it is, I think.
Enter the Ghost of Caesar
How ill this taper burns. Ha? Who comes here?
I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous367 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 stare370?
Speak to me what thou art.
GHOST Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
BRUTUS Why comest thou?
GHOST To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.
BRUTUS Well: then I shall see thee again?
GHOST Ay, at Philippi.
BRUTUS Why, I will see thee at Philippi, then.
[Exit Ghost]
Now I have taken heart378, thou vanishest.
Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.—
Boy, Lucius, Varrus, Claudio! Sirs, awake! Claudio!
LUCIUS The strings, my lord, are false381.
BRUTUS He thinks he still is at his instrument.—
Lucius, awake!
LUCIUS My lord?
BRUTUS Didst thou dream, Lucius, that thou so cried’st out?
LUCIUS My lord, I do not know that I did cry.
BRUTUS Yes, that thou didst: didst thou see anything?
LUCIUS Nothing, my lord.
BRUTUS Sleep again, Lucius. Sirrah Claudio,
Fellow thou390, awake!
To Varrus
VARRUS My lord?
CLAUDIO My lord?
BRUTUS Why did you so cry out, sirs, in your sleep?
BOTH Did we, my lord?
They get up
BRUTUS Ay: saw you anything?
VARRUS No, my lord, I saw nothing.
CLAUDIO Nor I, my lord.
BRUTUS Go and commend me398 to my brother Cassius:
Bid him set on his powers betimes before399
And we will follow.
BOTH It shall be done, my lord.
Exeunt
running scene 10
Enter Octavius, Antony and their army
OCTAVIUS Now, Antony, our hopes are answerèd.
You said the enemy would not come down,
But keep3 the hills and upper regions:
It proves not so: their battles4 are at hand.
They mean to warn5 us at Philippi here,
Answering before we do demand of6 them.
ANTONY Tut, I am in their bosoms7, and I know
Wherefore they do it: they could be content8
To visit other places, and come down9
With fearful bravery, thinking by this face10
To fasten11 in our thoughts that they have courage;
But ’tis not so12.
Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER Prepare you, generals.
The enemy comes on in gallant14 show:
Their bloody sign of battle15 is hung out,
And something to16 be done immediately.
ANTONY Octavius, lead your battle softly17 on,
Upon the left hand of the even18 field.
OCTAVIUS Upon the right hand I: keep thou the left.
ANTONY Why do you cross me in this exigent20?
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 parley22.
CASSIUS Stand fast, Titinius, we must out and talk.
OCTAVIUS Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle?
ANTONY No, Caesar, we will answer on their charge25.
Make forth26, the generals would have some words.
OCTAVIUS Stir not until the signal.
To his officers
BRUTUS Words before blows: is it so, countrymen?
The armies advance towards each other
OCTAVIUS Not that we love words better, as you do.
BRUTUS Good words are better than bad
strokes30, Octavius.
ANTONY In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words:
Witness the hole you made in Caesar’s heart,
Crying ‘Long live! Hail, Caesar!’
CASSIUS Antony,
The posture of your blows35 are yet unknown
But for your words, they rob the Hybla36 bees,
And leave them honeyless.
ANTONY Not stingless too?
BRUTUS O yes, and soundless too,
For you have stol’n their buzzing40, Antony,
And very wisely threat41 before you sting.
ANTONY Villains, you did not so42, when your vile daggers
Hacked one another in the sides of Caesar:
You showed your teeth like apes44, and fawned like hounds,
And bowed like bondmen, kissing Caesar’s feet;
Whilst damnèd Casca, like a cur46, behind
Struck Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers!
CASSIUS Flatterers? Now, Brutus, thank yourself.
This tongue had not offended so today49
If Cassius might have ruled.
OCTAVIUS Come, come, the cause51. If arguing make us sweat,
The proof52 of it will turn to redder drops:
Look, I draw a sword against conspirators.
Draws
When think you that the sword goes up54 again?
Never, till Caesar’s three and thirty wounds
Be well avenged, or till another Caesar56
Have added slaughter to57 the sword of traitors.
BRUTUS Caesar, thou canst not die by traitors’ hands
Unless thou bring’st them with thee59.
OCTAVIUS So I hope:
I was not born to die on Brutus’ sword.
BRUTUS O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain62,
Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable63.
CASSIUS A peevish64 schoolboy, worthless of such honour,
Joined with a masquer65 and a reveller.
ANTONY Old Cassius still.
OCTAVIUS Come, Antony, away.
Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth.
If you dare fight today, come to the field;
If not, when you have stomachs70.
Exeunt Octavius, Antony and army
CASSIUS Why now, blow wind, swell billow and swim bark71:
The storm is up and all is on the hazard72.
BRUTUS Ho, Lucilius, hark, a word with you.
Lucilius and Messala stand forth
LUCILIUS My lord.
Brutus and Lucilius speak apart
CASSIUS Messala.
MESSALA What says my general?
CASSIUS Messala,
This is my birthday: as this78 very day
Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala:
Be thou my witness that against my will —
As Pompey was — am I compelled to set81
Upon one battle all our liberties.
You know that I held Epicurus83 strong
And his opinion: now I change my mind
And partly credit things that do presage85.
Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign86
Two mighty eagles fell87, and there they perched,
Gorging and feeding from our soldiers’ hands,
Who to Philippi here consorted89 us:
This morning are they fled away and gone,
And in their steads do ravens, crows and kites91
Fly o’er our heads and downward look on us
As93 we were sickly prey; their shadows seem
A canopy most fatal94, under which
Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost.
MESSALA Believe not so.
CASSIUS I but believe it partly,
For I am fresh of spirit and resolved
To meet all perils very constantly99.
BRUTUS Even so, Lucilius100.
To Cassius
CASSIUS Now, most noble Brutus,
The102 gods today stand friendly, that we may,
Lovers103 in peace, lead on our days to age.
But since the affairs of men rests still104 incertain,
Let’s reason with105 the worst that may befall.
If we do lose this battle, then is this
The very last time we shall speak together:
What are you then determinèd to do?
BRUTUS Even by the rule of that philosophy109
By which I did blame Cato110 for the death
Which he did give himself — I know not how111,
But I do find it cowardly and vile,
For fear of what might fall, so to prevent113
The time of life — arming myself with patience
To stay115 the providence of some high powers
That govern us below.
CASSIUS Then, if we lose this battle,
You are contented to be led in triumph118
Through the streets of Rome?
BRUTUS No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble Roman,
That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome.
He bears too great122 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.
CASSIUS 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.
BRUTUS 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
running scene 10 continues
Alarum. Enter Brutus and Messala
BRUTUS Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills1
Gives orders
Unto the legions on the other side2.
Loud alarum
Let them set on3 at once, for I perceive
But cold demeanour in Octavio’s wing4,
And sudden push5 gives them the overthrow.
Ride, ride, Messala: let them all come down6.
Exeunt
[Act 5 Scene 3]
running scene 10 continues
Alarums. Enter Cassius and Titinius
CASSIUS O, look, Titinius, look, the villains1 fly:
Myself have to mine own2 turned enemy:
This ensign3 here of mine was turning back.
I slew the coward, and did take it4 from him.
TITINIUS O Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early,
Who having some advantage on Octavius,
Took it too eagerly: his soldiers fell to spoil7,
Whilst we by Antony are all enclosed8.
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, Titinius:
Are those my tents where I perceive the fire?
TITINIUS They are, my lord.
CASSIUS Titinius, if thou lovest me,
Mount thou my horse, and hide16 thy spurs in him,
Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops
And here18 again, that I may rest assured
Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.
TITINIUS I will be here again, even with20 a thought.
Exit
CASSIUS Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill:
My sight was ever thick. Regard22 Titinius,
And tell me what thou not’st about the field.
Pindarus goes aloft
This day I breathèd first24. Time is come round,
And where I did begin, there shall I end.
My life is run his compass26.— Sirrah, what news?
PINDARUS O, my lord!
Above
CASSIUS What news?
PINDARUS Titinius is enclosèd round about
With horsemen, that make to him on the spur30,
Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him:
Now, Titinius. Now some light32: O, he lights too.
He’s ta’en33. And, hark, they shout for joy.
Shout
CASSIUS Come down, behold no more.
Pindarus comes down
O, coward that I am, to live so long,
To see my best friend ta’en before my face.
Enter Pindarus
Come hither, sirrah.
In Parthia38 did I take thee prisoner,
And then I swore thee39, saving of thy life,
That whatsoever I did bid thee do,
Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath:
Now be a freeman, and with this good sword
That ran through Caesar’s bowels, search43 this bosom.
Stand not to answer: here, take thou the hilts44,
Pindarus takes the sword
And when my face is covered, as ’tis now,
Guide thou the sword.— Caesar, thou art revenged,
Covers his face Pindarus kills him
Even with the sword that killed thee.
PINDARUS So, I am free, yet would not so have been48
Durst I have done my will. O Cassius,
Far from this country Pindarus shall run,
Where never Roman shall take note of51 him.
[Exit]
Enter Titinius and Messala
Titinius wears a laurel wreath
MESSALA It is but change52, Titinius, for Octavius
Is overthrown by noble Brutus’ power,
As Cassius’ legions are by Antony.
TITINIUS These tidings will well comfort55 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 tonight,
So in his red blood Cassius’ day is set.—
The sun of Rome is set. Our day is gone:
Clouds, dews67 and dangers come: our deeds are done.
Mistrust68 of my success hath done this deed.
MESSALA Mistrust of good success hath done this deed.—
O hateful error, melancholy’s child,
Why dost thou show to the apt71 thoughts of men
The things that are not72? O error soon conceived,
Thou never com’st unto a happy birth
But kill’st the mother74 that engendered 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 envenomèd79
Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus
As tidings of this sight.
TITINIUS Hie you, Messala,
And I will seek for Pindarus the while.—
[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 victory86
And bid me give it thee? Didst thou not hear their shouts?
Alas, thou hast misconstrued everything.
But hold thee, take this garland on thy brow:
Puts wreath on him
Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I
Will do his bidding.— Brutus, come apace91,
And see how I regarded92 Caius Cassius.—
By your leave, gods: this is a Roman’s part93.—
Come, Cassius’ sword, and find Titinius’ heart.
Dies
Stabs himself
Alarum. Enter Brutus, Messala, 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.
CATO He is slain.
BRUTUS O Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet,
Thy spirit walks abroad and turns our swords
In our own proper101 entrails.
Low alarums
CATO Brave Titinius,
Look whe’er103 he have not crowned dead Cassius.
BRUTUS Are yet two Romans living such as these?—
The last of all the Romans, fare thee well:
It is impossible that ever Rome
Should breed thy fellow107.— Friends, I owe more tears
To this dead man than you shall see me pay.—
I shall find time, Cassius: I shall find time.—
Come therefore, and to Thasos110 send his body.
His funerals shall not be in our camp,
Lest it discomfort112 us.— Lucilius, come,
And come, young Cato: let us to the field.
Labio and Flavius set our battles114 on:
’Tis three o’clock, and, Romans, yet ere night
We shall try116 fortune in a second fight.
Exeunt With the bodies
[Act 5 Scene 4]
running scene 10 continues
Alarum. Enter Brutus, Messala, [Young] Cato, Lucilius and Flavius
BRUTUS Yet, countrymen: O yet, hold up your heads!
[Exit, fighting, followed by Messala and Flavius]
CATO What bastard2 doth not? Who will go with me?
I will proclaim my name about the field.
I am the son of Marcus Cato4, ho!
A foe to tyrants, and my country’s friend.
I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!
Enter soldiers and fight
LUCILIUS And I am Brutus7, Marcus Brutus, I!
Brutus, my country’s friend: know me for Brutus!
Young Cato falls
O young and noble Cato, art thou down?
Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius,
And mayst be honoured, being Cato’s son.
FIRST SOLDIER Yield, or thou diest.
To Lucilius
LUCILIUS Only I yield to die13:
There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight14:
Offers money?
Kill Brutus, and be honoured in his death.
FIRST SOLDIER We must not: a noble prisoner!
Enter Antony
SECOND SOLDIER Room, ho17: tell Antony, Brutus is ta’en.
FIRST SOLDIER I’ll tell the news. Here comes the general.
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!
When you do find him, or25 alive or dead,
He will be found like Brutus, like himself.
ANTONY This is not Brutus, friend, but, I assure you,
To First Soldier
A prize no less in worth. Keep this man safe,
Give him all kindness. I had rather have
Such men my friends than enemies. Go on,
And see whe’er Brutus be alive or dead,
And bring us word unto Octavius’ tent
How everything is chanced33.
Exeunt
[Act 5 Scene 5]
running scene 10 continues
Enter Brutus, Dardanius, Clitus, Strato and Volumnius
BRUTUS Come, poor remains1 of friends, rest on this rock.
Sits
CLITUS Statilius showed the torch-light2, but, my lord,
He came not back: he is or ta’en or slain.
BRUTUS Sit thee down, Clitus: slaying is the word.
It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus.
Whispers
CLITUS What, I, my lord? No, not for all the world.
BRUTUS Peace then, no words.
CLITUS I’ll rather kill myself.
BRUTUS Hark thee, Dardanius.
Whispers
DARDANIUS Shall I do such a deed?
CLITUS O Dardanius!
DARDANIUS O Clitus!
CLITUS What ill request did Brutus make to thee?
DARDANIUS To kill him, Clitus.
1 comment