Julius Caesar
Act V.
Scene i. The plains of Philippi.
- Enter Octavius, Antony, and their army
- 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 battles are at hand;
- They mean to warn us at Philippi here,
- Answering before we do demand of them.
- Antony: 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
- Messenger: Prepare you, generals:
- The enemy comes on in gallant show;
- Their bloody sign of battle is hung out,
- And something to be done immediately.
- Antony: Octavius, lead your battle softly on,
- Upon the left hand of the even field.
- Octavius: Upon the right hand I; keep thou the left.
- Antony: Why do you cross me in this exigent?
- 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 parley.
- 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 charge.
- Make forth; the generals would have some words.
- Octavius: Stir not until the signal.
- Brutus: Words before blows: is it so, countrymen?
- Octavius: Not that we love words better, as you do.
- Brutus: Good words are better than bad strokes, 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 blows are yet unknown;
- But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
- And leave them honeyless.
- Antony: Not stingless too.
- Brutus: O, yes, and soundless too;
- For you have stol'n their buzzing, Antony,
- And very wisely threat before you sting.
- Antony: Villains, you did not so, when your vile daggers
- Hack'd one another in the sides of Caesar:
- You show'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like hounds,
- And bow'd like bondmen, kissing Caesar's feet;
- Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind
- Struck Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers!
- Cassius: Flatterers! Now, Brutus, thank yourself:
- This tongue had not offended so to-day,
- If Cassius might have ruled.
- Octavius: Come, come, the cause: if arguing make us sweat,
- The proof of it will turn to redder drops. Look;
- I draw a sword against conspirators;
- When think you that the sword goes up again?
- Never, till Caesar's three and thirty wounds
- Be well avenged; or till another Caesar
- Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors.
- Brutus: Caesar, thou canst not die by traitors' hands,
- Unless thou bring'st them with thee.
- Octavius: So I hope;
- I was not born to die on Brutus' sword.
- Brutus: O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain,
- Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable.
- Cassius: A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour,
- Join'd with a masker and a reveller!
- Antony: Old Cassius still!
- Octavius: 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
- Cassius: Why, now, blow wind, swell billow and swim bark!
- The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.
- Brutus: Ho, Lucilius! hark, a word with you.
- Lucilius: [Standing forth] My lord?
- Brutus and Lucilius converse apart
- Cassius: Messala!
- Messala: [Standing forth] What says my general?
- Cassius: 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 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
- 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 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 constantly.
- Brutus: Even so, Lucilius.
- Cassius: 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 still incertain,
- 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?
- Brutus: Even 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 myself with patience
- To stay the providence of some high powers
- That govern us below.
- Cassius: Then, if we lose this battle,
- You are contented to be led in triumph
- Thorough the streets of Rome?
- Brutus: 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 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
Scene ii. The same. The field of battle.
- Alarum. Enter Brutus and Messala
- Brutus: 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.
- Exeunt
Scene iii. Another part of the field.
- Alarums. Enter Cassius and Titinius
- Cassius: 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.
- Titinius: 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 all enclosed.
- 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 hide thy spurs in him,
- Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops,
- And here again; that I may rest assured
- Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.
- Titinius: I will be here again, even with a thought.
- Exit
- Cassius: Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill;
- My sight was ever thick; regard Titinius,
- And tell me what thou notest about the field.
- Pindarus ascends the hill
- This day I breathed first: time is come round,
- And where I did begin, there shall I end;
- My life is run his compass. Sirrah, what news?
- Pindarus: [Above] O my lord!
- Cassius: What news?
- Pindarus: [Above] 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, Titinius! Now some light. O, he lights too.
- He's ta'en.
- Shout
- And, hark! they shout for joy.
- Cassius: Come down, behold no more.
- O, coward that I am, to live so long,
- To see my best friend ta'en before my face!
- Pindarus descends
- 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 Caesar's bowels, search this bosom.
- Stand not to answer: here, take thou the hilts;
- And, when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now,
- Guide thou the sword.
- Pindarus stabs him
- Caesar, thou art revenged,
- Even with the sword that kill'd thee.
- Dies
- Pindarus: So, I am free; yet would not so have been,
- Durst I have done my will. O Cassius,
- Far from this country Pindarus shall run,
- Where never Roman shall take note of him.
- Exit
- Re-enter Titinius with Messala
- Messala: It is but change, Titinius; for Octavius
- Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power,
- As Cassius' legions are by Antony.
- Titinius: These tidings will well comfort Cassius.
- Messala: Where did you leave him?
- Titinius: All disconsolate,
- With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.
- Messala: Is not that he t hat 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 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.
- Messala: 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 error, soon conceived,
- Thou never comest unto a happy birth,
- But kill'st the mother that engender'd 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 envenomed
- 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 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
- Alarum. Re-enter Messala, with Brutus, 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 proper entrails.
- Low alarums
- Cato: Brave Titinius!
- Look, whether he have not crown'd 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 fellow. 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 Thasos send his body:
- His funerals shall not be in our camp,
- Lest it discomfort us. Lucilius, come;
- And come, young Cato; let us to the field.
- Labeo and Flavius, set our battles on:
- 'Tis three o'clock; and, Romans, yet ere night
- We shall try fortune in a second fight.
- Exeunt
Scene iv. Another part of the field.
- Alarum. Enter fighting, Soldiers of both armies; then Brutus, Cato, Lucilius, and others
- Brutus: 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 Cato, ho!
- Brutus: And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I;
- Brutus, my country's friend; know me for Brutus!
- Exit
- Lucilius: 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 Soldier: Yield, or thou diest.
- Lucilius: Only I yield to die:
- There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight;
- Offering money
- Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death.
- First Soldier: We must not. A noble prisoner!
- Second Soldier: Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en.
- First Soldier: I'll tell the news. Here comes the general.
- Enter Antony
- 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, or alive or dead,
- He will be found like Brutus, like himself.
- Antony: 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 whether Brutus be alive or dead;
- And bring us word unto Octavius' tent
- How every thing is chanced.
- Exeunt
Scene v. Another part of the field.
- Enter Brutus, Dardanius, Clitus, Strato, and Volumnius
- Brutus: Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock.
- Clitus: Statilius show'd the torch-light, 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. Look, he meditates.
- Clitus: Now is that noble vessel full of grief,
- That it runs over even at his eyes.
- Brutus: Come hither, good Volumnius; list a word.
- Volumnius: What says my lord?
- Brutus: Why, this, Volumnius:
- The ghost of Caesar 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.
- Volumnius: Not so, my lord.
- Brutus: 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
- 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,
- Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it.
- Volumnius: That's not an office for a friend, my lord.
- Alarum still
- Clitus: Fly, fly, my lord; there is no tarrying here.
- Brutus: Farewell to you; and you; and you, Volumnius.
- Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep;
- Farewell to thee too, Strato. Countrymen,
- My heart doth joy that yet in 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 vile conquest shall attain unto.
- So fare you well at once; for Brutus' tongue
- Hath almost ended his life's history:
- Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest,
- That have but labour'd to attain this hour.
- [Alarum. Cry within] 'Fly, fly, fly!'
- Clitus: Fly, my lord, fly.
- Brutus: Hence! I will follow.
- Exeunt 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 of honour in it:
- Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face,
- While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?
- Strato: Give me your hand first. Fare you well, my lord.
- Brutus: Farewell, good Strato.
- Runs on his sword
- Caesar, now be still:
- I kill'd not thee with half so good a will.
- Dies
- Alarum. Retreat. Enter Octavius, Antony, Messala, Lucilius, and the army
- Octavius: What man is that?
- Messala: My master's man. Strato, where is thy master?
- Strato: 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.
- Lucilius: So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus,
- That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true.
- Octavius: All that served Brutus, I will entertain them.
- Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?
- Strato: Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.
- Octavius: Do so, good Messala.
- Messala: How died my master, Strato?
- Strato: I held the sword, and he did run on it.
- Messala: Octavius, then take him to follow thee,
- That did the latest service to my master.
- Antony: This was the noblest Roman of them all:
- All the conspirators save only he
- Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
- He only, in a general honest thought
- And 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!'
- Octavius: According to his virtue let us use him,
- With all respect and rites of burial.
- Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie,
- Most like a soldier, order'd honourably.
- So call the field to rest; and let's away,
- To part the glories of this happy day.
- Exeunt
- --oOo-- -