Octavius.
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 battels are at hand,
They mean to warn us at Philippi here,
Answering, before we do demand of them.

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. Enter a Messenger.

Mes.
Prepare you, Generals;
The enemy comes on in gallant shew;
Their bloody sign of battel is hung out,
And something to be done immediately.

Ant.
Octavius, lead your battel softly on,
Upon the left hand of the even field.

Octa.
Upon the right hand I, keep thou the left.

Ant.
Why do you cross me in this exigent?

Octa.
I do not cross you; but I will do so. [March. Drum. Enter Brutus, Cassius, and their army.

Bru.
They stand, and would have parley.

Cas.
Stand fast, Titinius, we must out and talk.

Octa.
Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battel?

Ant.
No, Cæsar, we will answer on their charge.
Make forth, the Generals would have some words.

Octa.
Stir not until the signal.

Bru.
Words before blows: is it so, Countrymen?

Octa.
Not that we love words better, as you do.

Bru.
Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius.

Ant.
In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words.
Witness the hole you made in Cæsar's heart,
Crying, “long live! hail, Cæsar!

Cas.
Antony,
The posture of your blows are yet unknown;
But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
And leave them honeyless.

Ant.
Not stingless too.

Bru.
O yes, and soundless too:
For you have stoln their buzzing, Antony;
And very wisely threat, before you sting.

Ant.
Villains! you did not so, when your vile daggers
Hack'd one another in the sides of Cæsar.
You shew'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like hounds,
And bow'd like bond-men, kissing Cæsar's feet;
Whilst damned Casca, like a cur behind,
Struck Cæsar on the neck. O flatterers!

Cas.
Flatterers! now Brutus thank your self;
This tongue had not offended so to day,
If Cassius might have rul'd.

Octa.
Come, come, the cause. If arguing make us sweat,
The proof of it will turn to redder drops.
Behold, I draw a sword against conspirators;
When think you, that the sword goes up again?
Never, 'till Cæsar's three and twenty wounds(31) ^note

Be well aveng'd; or 'till another Cæsar
Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors.

Bru.
Cæsar, thou can'st not die by traitors' hands,
Unless thou bring'st them with thee.

Octa.
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 couldst not die more honourable.

Cas.
A peevish school-boy, worthless of such honour,
Join'd with a masker and a reveller.

Ant.
Old Cassius still!—

Octa.
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. [Exe. Octavius, Antony, and army.

Cas.
Why, now blow wind, swell billow, and swim bark!
The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.

Bru.
Lucilius,—hark a word with you. [Lucilius and Messala stand forth.

Luc.
My lord. [Brutus speaks apart to Lucilius.

Cas.
Messala,

Mes.
What says my General?

Cas.
Messala,
This is my birth-day; as this very day
Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala;
Be thou my witness, that against my will,
As Pompey was, am I compell'd to set
Upon one battel 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 foremost 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 the ghost.

Mes.
Believe not so.

Cas.
I but believe it partly;
For I am fresh of spirit, and resolv'd
To meet all peril, 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 th' affairs of men rest still incertain,
Let's reason with the worst that may befall.
If we do lose this battel, then is this
The very last time we shall speak together.
What are you then determined to do?

Bru.
Ev'n by the rule of that Philosophy,(32) ^note
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
The time of life; arming my self with patience,
To stay the providence of some high powers,
That govern us below.

Cas.
Then if we lose this battel,
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 farewel take;
For ever, and for ever, farewel, 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, farewel, 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. Alarum. Enter Brutus and Messala.

Bru.
Ride, ride, Messala; ride, and give these bills
Unto the legions, on the other side. [Loud alarum.
Let them set on at once; for I perceive
But cold demeanor in Octavius' wing;
And sudden Push gives them the overthrow.
Ride, ride, Messala; let them all come down. [Exe. Alarum. Enter Cassius and Titinius.

Cas.
O look, Titinius, look, the villains fly!
My self 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 were all inclos'd. Enter Pindarus.

Pin.
Fly further off, my lord, fly further off;
Mark Antony is in your Tents, my lord;
Fly therefore, noble Cassius, fly far off.

Cas.
This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius,
Are those my Tents, where I perceive the fire?

Tit.
They are, my lord.

Cas.
Titinius, if thou lov'st me,
Mount thou my horse, and hide thy spurs in 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, ev'n with a thought. [Exit.

Cas.
Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill,
My sight was ever thick; regard Titinius,
And tell me what thou note'st about the field.
This day I breathed first; time is come round;
And where I did begin, there shall I end;
My life is run its compass. Now, what news?

Pind. above.
Oh, my lord!

Cas.
What news?

Pind.
Titinius is enclosed round about
With horsemen, that make to him on the spur;
Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him;
Titinius! now some light—oh, he lights too—
He's ta'en—and hark, they shout for joy. [Shout.

Cas.
Come down, behold no more;
Oh, coward that I am, to live so long,
To see my best friend ta'en before my face! Enter Pindarus.
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 shouldst attempt it. Come, now keep thine oath,
Now be a freeman; and with this good sword,

That ran through Cæsar's bowels, search this bosom.
Stand not to answer; here, take thou the hilt;
And when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now,
Guide thou the sword—Cæsar, thou art reveng'd,
Ev'n with the sword that kill'd thee.— [Kills himself.

Pind.
So, I am free; yet would not so have been,
Durst I have done my Will. Oh, Cassius!
Far from this country Pindarus shall run,
Where never Roman shall take note of him. [Exit. Enter Titinius, and 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. Oh my heart!

Mes.
Is not that he?

Tit.
No, this was he, Messala;
But Cassius is no more! Oh, 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.

Mes.
Mistrust of good success hath done this deed.
Oh hateful Error, Melancholy's child!
Why dost thou shew to the apt thoughts of men
The things that are not? Error, soon conceiv'd,
Thou never com'st unto a happy birth,
But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee.

Tit.
What, Pindarus? where art thou, Pindarus?

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 invenomed,
Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus,
As tidings of this sight.

Tit.
Hye you, Messala,
And I will seek for Pindarus the while. [Exit Mess.
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 their shouts?
Alas, thou hast misconstru'd ev'ry 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. [Stabs himself.
Come, Cassius' sword, and find Titinius' heart. [Dies. Alarum. Enter Brutus, Messala, young Cato, Strato, Volumnius, and Lucilius.

Bru.
Where, where, Messala, doth his body lye?

Mes.
Lo, yonder, and Titinius mourning it.

Bru.
Titinius' face is upward.

Cato.
He is slain.

Bru.
Oh Julius Cæsar, thou art mighty yet!
Thy Spirit walks abroad, and turns our swords
In our own proper entrails. [Low alarums.

Cato.
Brave Titinius!
Look, if he have not crown'd dead Cassius!—

Bru.
Are yet two Romans living, such as these?
Thou last of all the Romans! fare thee well;
It is impossible, that ever Rome
Should breed thy fellow. (33) ^note

I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time—
Come, therefore, (34) ^noteand to Thassos send his body:
His funeral shall not be in our Camp,
Lest it discomfort us. Lucilius, come;
And come, young Cato; let us to the field.
Labio, and Flavius, set our battels on.
'Tis three o' clock; and, Romans, yet ere night
We shall try fortune in a second fight. [Exeunt. Alarum. Enter Brutus, Messala, Cato, Lucilius, and Flavius.

Bru.
Yet, Countrymen, oh 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 Cato, ho! Enter Soldiers and fight.

Bru.
And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I;
Brutus, my Country's friend; know me for Brutus. [Exit.

Luc.
Oh young and noble Cato, art thou down?
Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius;
And may'st be honour'd, being Cato's Son.

Sold.
Yield, or thou diest.

Luc.
Only I yield to die;
There is so much, that thou wilt kill me straight;
Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death.

Sold.
We must not. A Noble Prisoner!

Enter Antony.

2 Sold.
Room, ho! tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en.

1 Sold.
I'll tell the news, here comes the General:
Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my Lord.

Ant.
Where is he?

Luc.
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 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 if Brutus be alive or dead;
And bring us word unto Octavius' Tent,
How every thing is chanc'd. [Exeunt.

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