Oct.
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 battles are at hand;
They mean to warn ^note 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, ^note thinking by this face
To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage;
But 'tis not so. Enter a Messenger.

Mess.
Prepare you, generals:
The enemy comes on in gallant show;
Their bloody sign of battle is hung out,
And something ^note to be done immediately.

Ant.
Octavius, lead your battle softly on,
Upon the left hand of the even ^note field.

Oct.
Upon the right hand I; keep thou ^note the left.

Ant.
Why do you cross me in this exigent? ^note

Oct.
I do not cross you; but I will do so. [March. ^noteDrum. Enter Brutus, Cassius, and their Army; Lucilius, Titinius, Messala, and others. ^note

Bru.
They stand, and would have parley.

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

Oct.
Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle?

Ant.
No, Cæsar, we will answer on their charge.
Make forth; the generals would have some words. ^note

Oct.
Stir not until the signal.

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

Oct.
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 ^note of your blows are ^note yet unknown;

But for your words, they ^note rob the Hybla bees,
And leave them honeyless.

Ant.
Not stingless ^note too. ^note

Bru.
O, yes, and soundless too;
For you have stol'n their buzzing, Antony,
And very wisely threat before you sting. ^note

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

Cas.
Flatterers ^note! ^note Now, Brutus, thank ^note yourself:
This tongue had not offended so to-day,
If Cassius might have ruled.

Oct.
Come, come, the cause: if arguing make us sweat ^note,
The proof of it will turn to redder drops.
Look; ^note
I draw a sword ^note against conspirators ^note;
When think you that the sword goes up again?
Never, till Cæsar's three and thirty ^note wounds
Be well avenged, or till another Cæsar
Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors ^note.

Bru.
Cæsar, thou canst not die by traitors' hands ^note,

Unless thou bring'st them with thee.

Oct.
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 ^note.

Cas.
A peevish schoolboy, worthless ^note of such honour,
Join'd with a masker and a reveller!

Ant.
Old Cassius still!

Oct.
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. ^{note note}

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

Bru.
Ho, ^note Lucilius! hark, a word with you.

Lucil. [Standing forth ^note]
My lord? [Brutus and Lucilius converse apart.

Cas.
Messala! ^note

Mes. [Standing forth]
What says my general?

Cas.
Messala,
This is my birth-day; as ^note this very day ^note
Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala:
Be thou my witness that, against my will,
As Pompey was, am I ^note compell'd to set
Upon one battle 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 former ensign ^note
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 ^note do ravens, crows ^note 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 ^note give up ^note the ghost.

Mes.
Believe not so.

Cas.
I but believe it partly,
For I am fresh of spirit and resolved
To meet all perils ^note very constantly.

Bru.
Even so, Lucilius ^note.

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 the affairs of men rest ^note still incertain ^note,
Let's reason with 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 determined to do?

Bru.
Even by the rule of that philosophy
By ^note which I did blame Cato for the death
Which he did give himself: I know not how, ^note
But I do find it cowardly and vile,
For fear of what might fall, so to prevent
The time ^note of life ^note: ^note arming myself with patience

To stay the providence of some ^note high powers
That govern us below.

Cas.
Then, if we lose this battle ^note,
You are contented to be led in triumph
Thorough ^note the streets ^note of Rome?

Bru.
No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble Roman, ^note
That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome;
He bears too great a mind. But this same day
Must end that work the ^note ides of March begun ^note;
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.

Cas.
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.

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. ^note Scene II. [Footnote: The field of battle. ^note Alarum. ^note Enter Brutus and Messala.

Bru.
Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills
Unto the legions on the other side: [Loud alarum. ^note
Let them set on at once; for I perceive

But cold demeanour in Octavius' ^note wing,
And ^note sudden push gives them the overthrow.
Ride, ride, Messala: let them all come down. [Exeunt. ^note Scene III. [Footnote: Another part of the field. ^note Alarums. ^note Enter Cassius and Titinius.

Cas.
O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly!
Myself 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 are ^note all enclosed. Enter Pindarus.

Pin.
Fly further ^note off, my lord, fly further off;
Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord:
Fly, therefore, noble Cassius, fly far ^note 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 lovest 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 assured
Whether yond ^note troops are friend or enemy.

Tit.
I will be here again, even with a thought. [Exit.

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

Pin. [Above ^note]
O my lord ^note!

Cas.
What news?

Pin. [Above ^note]
Titinius is enclosed round about
With horsemen, that make to him on the spur;
Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him.
Now, ^note Titinius! Now some light. O, he lights too.
He's ta'en. [Shout.] And, hark! they shout for joy. ^{note note}

Cas.
Come down; behold ^note no more.
O, coward that I am, to live so long,
To see my best friend ta'en before my face! Pindarus descends. ^note
Come hither, sirrah:
In Parthia did I take thee prisoner; ^note
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 ^note; and with this good sword,
That ran through Cæsar's bowels, search this bosom.
Stand not to answer: here, take thou the hilts ^note;
And when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now,
Guide thou the sword. [Pindarus stabs him. ^note] Cæsar, thou art revenged,
Even with the sword that kill'd thee. [Dies. ^note

Pin.
So, I am free; yet would not so have been, ^note
Durst I have done my will. O Cassius!
Far from this country Pindarus shall run,
Where never Roman shall take note of him. [Exit. ^note Re-enter Titinius with ^note Messala. ^note

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. O my heart!

Mes.
Is not that he?

Tit.
No, this was he, Messala,
But Cassius is no more. O setting sun,
As in thy red rays thou dost sink to night ^note,
So in his red blood Cassius' day is set ^note,
The sun ^note 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.
O hateful error, melancholy's child,
Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men
The things that are not? O ^note error, soon conceived,
Thou never comest unto a happy birth,
But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee!

Tit.
What, ^note 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 envenomed
Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus
As tidings of this sight.

Tit.
Hie you, Messala,
And I will seek for Pindarus the while. [Exit Messala. ^note
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 misconstrued every 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:
Come, Cassius' sword, and find Titinius' heart. [Kills himself. ^note Alarum. ^note Re-enter ^note Messala, with Brutus, young Cato, and others. ^note

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

Mes.
Lo, yonder, and Titinius mourning it.

Bru.
Titinius' face is upward.

Cato.
He is slain.

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

Cato.
Brave Titinius!
Look, whether ^note he have not crown'd dead Cassius!

Bru.
Are yet two Romans living such as these?
The ^note last of all the Romans, fare ^note thee well!
It is impossible that ever Rome
Should breed thy fellow. Friends, I owe moe ^note tears
To this dead man than you shall see me pay.
I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.
Come therefore, and to Thasos ^note send his body:
His funerals ^note shall not be in our camp,
Lest it discomfort us. Lucilius, come,
And come, young Cato: let us to the field.
Labeo ^note and Flavius, ^note set our battles on.
'Tis three o'clock ^note; and, Romans, yet ere night
We shall try fortune in a second fight. [Exeunt. ^note Scene IV. [Footnote: Another ^note part of the field. Alarum. ^note Enter, fighting, Soldiers of both armies; then Brutus, young Cato, ^note Lucilius, and others. ^note

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; ^note
I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!

Bru. ^note
And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I;
Brutus, my country's friend; know me for Brutus! [Exit. ^note

Lucil. ^note
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.

First Sold. ^note
Yield, or thou diest.

Lucil. ^note
Only I ^note yield to die: ^note [Offering money ^note]
There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight;
Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death.

First Sold. ^note
We must not ^note. A noble prisoner!

Sec. Sold.
Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en.

First Sold.
I'll tell the ^note news. Here comes the general. Enter Antony. ^note
Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord. ^note

Ant.
Where is he?

Lucil.
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 ^note or dead,
He will be found like Brutus, like himself.

Ant.
This is not Brutus, friend ^note, 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 whether ^note Brutus be alive or dead,
And bring us word ^note unto Octavius' tent
How every thing is chanced. [Exeunt. ^note Scene V. [Footnote: Another ^note part of the field. Enter Brutus, Dardanius, Clitus, Strato, and Volumnius.

Bru.
Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock.

Cli.
Statilius show'd the torch-light, but, my lord,
He came not back: he is or ta'en or slain.

Bru.
Sit thee down, Clitus: slaying is the word;
It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus. [Whispering. ^note

Cli.
What, I, my lord? No, not for all the world.

Bru.
Peace then, no words.

Cli.
I'll rather kill myself.

Bru.
Hark thee, Dardanius. [Whispering. ^note

Dar.
Shall ^note I do such a deed?

Cli.
O Dardanius!

Dar.
O Clitus!

Cli.
What ill request did Brutus make to thee?

Dar.
To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates.

Cli.
Now is that noble vessel full of grief,
That it runs over even at his eyes.

Bru.
Come hither, good Volumnius; list a word.

Vol.
What says my lord?

Bru.
Why, this, Volumnius:

The ghost of Cæsar hath appear'd to me
Two several times by night, at Sardis once,
And this last night here in Philippi fields:
I know my hour is come.

Vol.
Not so, my lord.

Bru.
Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.
Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes;
Our enemies have beat us to the pit: [Low alarums. ^note
It is more worthy to leap in ourselves
Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius,
Thou know'st that we two went to school together:
Even for that our love of old, I prithee ^note,
Hold thou my sword-hilts ^note, whilst ^note I run on it.

Vol.
That's not an office for a friend, my lord. [Alarum still.

Cli.
Fly, fly, my lord; there is no tarrying here. ^note

Bru.
Farewell to you; and you; and you, Volumnius.
Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep;
Farewell to thee too, Strato. Countrymen, ^note
My heart doth joy that yet in ^note all my life
I found no man but he was true to me.
I shall have glory by this losing day,
More than Octavius and Mark Antony
By this ^note vile conquest shall attain unto.
So, fare you well at once; for Brutus' tongue
Hath almost ended his life's ^note history:
Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest,
That have but labour'd to attain this hour. [Alarum. ^note Cry within, ‘Fly, fly, fly!’

Cli.
Fly, my lord, fly.

Bru.
Hence! I will follow ^note. [Exeunt ^note Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius.
I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord:
Thou art a fellow of a good respect;
Thy life hath had some smatch ^note of honour in it ^note:
Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face,
While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?

Stra.
Give me your hand first: fare you well, my lord.

Bru.
Farewell, good Strato. [Runs on his sword.] Cæsar, now be still:
I kill'd not thee with half so good a will. ^note [Dies. Alarum. ^note Retreat. Enter Octavius, Antony, ^note Messala, Lucilius, and the army. ^{note note}

Oct.
What man is that?

Mes.
My master's man. Strato, where is thy master?

Stra.
Free from the bondage you are in, Messala:
The conquerors can but make a fire of him;
For Brutus only overcame himself,
And no man else hath honour by his death.

Lucil. ^note
So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus,
That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true.

Oct.
All that served Brutus, I will entertain them.
Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?

Stra.
Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.

Oct.
Do so, good ^note Messala.

Mes.
How died my master ^note, Strato?

Stra.
I held the sword, and he did run on it.

Mes.
Octavius, then take him ^note to follow thee,
That did the latest service to my master.

Ant.
This was the noblest Roman of them all:
All the conspirators, save only he ^note,
Did that ^note they did in envy of great Cæsar;
He only, in a general honest ^note thought
And ^note common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world ‘This was a man!’

Oct.
According to his virtue let us use him,
With all ^note respect and rites of burial.
Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie,
Most like a soldier, order'd ^note honourably.
So call the field to rest, and let's away,
To part the glories of this happy day. [Exeunt. ^note

NOTES. ^note