SCENE IV.
Another Part of the Field.
Alarum. Enter fighting, Soldiers of both Armies; then Brutus, Cato, Lucilius, and Others.
Bru.
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;
I am the son of Marcus Cato6 note, ho!
[Charges the Enemy.
Bru.
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.
-- 149 --
Luc.
O young and noble Cato, art thou down?
Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius;
And may'st be honour'd being Cato's son7 note.
1 Sold.
Yield, or thou diest.
Luc.
Only I yield to die:
There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight8 note
;
[Offering Money.
Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death.
1 Sold.
We must not.—A noble prisoner!
2 Sold.
Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en.
1 Sold.
I'll tell the news9 note
.—Here comes the general:—
Enter Antony.
Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord.
Ant.
Where is he?
Luc.
Safe, Antony1 note; Brutus is safe enough:
-- 150 --
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, or alive, or dead,
He will be found like Brutus, like himself.
Ant.
This is not Brutus, friend; but, I assure you,
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'r Brutus be alive, or dead:
And bring us word, unto Octavius' tent,
How every thing is chanc'd.
[Exeunt.
James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
