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,
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
Along the streets of Rome.

&plquo;Bru.
&plquo;No, Cassius, no; think not, thou noble Roman,
&plquo;That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome,
&plquo;He bears too great a mind. But this same day
&plquo;Must end that work the Ides of March begun.
&plquo;And whether we shall meet again, I know not;
&plquo;Therefore our everlasting farewel take;
&plquo;For ever, and for ever, farewel, Cassius!
&plquo;If we do meet again, why we shall smile;
&plquo;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.

&plquo;Bru.
&plquo;Why then lead on. O that a man might know
&plquo;The end of this day's business ere it come!
&plquo;But it sufficeth, that the day will end,
&plquo;And then the end is known. Come ho, away. [Exeunt.

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