3.2 Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS with the Plebeians.

PLEBEIANS     We will be satisfied: let us be satisfied.
BRUTUS     Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.
Cassius, go you into the other street
And part the numbers:
Those that will hear me speak, let ’em stay here.	5
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him
And public reasons shall be rendered
Of Caesar’s death. [Goes into the pulpit.]
1 PLEBEIAN     I will hear Brutus speak.
2 PLEBEIAN     I will hear Cassius, and compare their
reasons
When severally we hear them rendered.	10
Exeunt Cassius and some of the Plebeians.
3 PLEBEIAN The noble Brutus is ascended. Silence.
BRUTUS
Be patient till the last.
Romans, countrymen and lovers, hear me for my cause
and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine
honour and have respect to mine honour, that you may	15
believe. Censure me in your wisdom and awake your
senses, that you may the better judge. If there be any
in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar’s, to him I
say, that Brutus’ love to Caesar was no less than his. If
then that friend demand why Brutus rose against	20
Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less,
but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar
were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were
dead, to live all freemen? As Caesar loved me, I weep
for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was	25
valiant, I honour him: but as he was ambitious, I slew
him. There is tears, for his love; joy, for his fortune;
honour, for his valour; and death, for his ambition.
Who is here so base, that would be a bondman? If any,
speak, for him have I offended. Who is here so rude,	30
that would not be a Roman? If any, speak, for him have
I offended. Who is here so vile, that will not love his
country? If any, speak, for him have I offended. I pause
for a reply.
ALL     None, Brutus, none.	35
BRUTUS     Then none have I offended. I have done no
more to Caesar, than you shall do to Brutus. The
question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol: his
glory not extenuated, wherein he was worthy, nor his
offences enforced, for which he suffered death.	40
Enter Mark ANTONY with CAESAR’s body.
Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony, who,
though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the
benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth, as
which of you shall not? With this I depart, that as I
slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the	45
same dagger for myself, when it shall please my
country to need my death. [Comes down.]
ALL Live Brutus, live, live.
1 PLEBEIAN
Bring him with triumph home unto his house.
2 PLEBEIAN     Give him a statue with his ancestors.	50
3 PLEBEIAN     Let him be Caesar.
4 PLEBEIAN     Caesar’s better parts
Shall be crowned in Brutus.
1 PLEBEIAN
We’ll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours.
BRUTUS     My countrymen.
2 PLEBEIAN     Peace, silence, Brutus speaks.
1 PLEBEIAN     Peace ho.	55
BRUTUS     Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony:
Do grace to Caesar’s corpse and grace his speech
Tending to Caesar’s glories, which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allowed to make.	60
I do intreat you, not a man depart
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.     Exit.
1 PLEBEIAN     Stay ho, and let us hear Mark Antony.
3 PLEBEIAN     Let him go up into the public chair.
We’ll hear him. Noble Antony, go up.	65
ANTONY     For Brutus’ sake I am beholding to you.
[Goes into the pulpit.]
4 PLEBEIAN     What does he say of Brutus?
3 PLEBEIAN     He says, for Brutus’ sake
He finds himself beholding to us all.
4 PLEBEIAN
’Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here.
1 PLEBEIAN
This Caesar was a tyrant.
3 PLEBEIAN     Nay, that’s certain.	70
We are blest that Rome is rid of him.
2 PLEBEIAN     Peace, let us hear what Antony can say.
ANTONY     You gentle Romans.
ALL     Peace ho, let us hear him.
ANTONY
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears:
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.	75
The evil that men do lives after them:
The good is oft interred with their bones.
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,	80
And grievously hath Caesar answered it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest
(For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men)
Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral.	85
He was my friend, faithful and just to me;
But Brutus says, he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honourable man.
He hath brought many captives home to Rome,
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill.	90
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honourable man.	95
You all did see, that on the Lupercal
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says, he was ambitious,
And sure he is an honourable man.	100
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause:
What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?
O judgement, thou art fled to brutish beasts	105
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me.
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.
1 PLEBEIAN     Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.
2 PLEBEIAN     If thou consider rightly of the matter, Caesar has had great wrong.	110
3 PLEBEIAN     Has he, masters?
I fear there will a worse come in his place.
4 PLEBEIAN
Mark ye his words? He would not take the crown;
Therefore ’tis certain he was not ambitious.
1 PLEBEIAN     If it be found so, some will dear abide it.	115
2 PLEBEIAN
Poor soul, his eyes are red as fire with weeping.
3 PLEBEIAN
There’s not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.
4 PLEBEIAN     Now mark him; he begins again to speak.
ANTONY     But yesterday the word of Caesar might
Have stood against the world. Now lies he there,	120
And none so poor to do him reverence.
O masters! If I were disposed to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
Who (you all know) are honourable men.	125
I will not do them wrong. I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
Than I will wrong such honourable men.
But here’s a parchment, with the seal of Caesar.
I found it in his closet. ’Tis his will.	130
Let but the commons hear this testament –
Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read –
And they would go and kiss dead Caesar’s wounds,
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,	135
And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
Unto their issue.
4 PLEBEIAN     We’ll hear the will. Read it, Mark Antony.
ALL     The will, the will. We will hear Caesar’s will.	140
ANTONY
Have patience, gentle friends. I must not read it.
It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men:
And being men, hearing the will of Caesar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad.	145
’Tis good you know not that you are his heirs,
For if you should, O what would come of it?
4 PLEBEIAN     Read the will, we’ll hear it, Antony.
You shall read us the will, Caesar’s will.
ANTONY     Will you be patient? Will you stay awhile?	150
I have o’ershot myself to tell you of it.
I fear I wrong the honourable men
Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar: I do fear it.
4 PLEBEIAN     They were traitors: honourable men?
ALL     The will, the testament.	155
2 PLEBEIAN
They were villains, murderers. The will, read the will.
ANTONY     You will compel me then to read the will?
Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar,
And let me show you him that made the will.
Shall I descend? And will you give me leave?	160
ALL     Come down.
2 PLEBEIAN     Descend.
[Antony comes down from the pulpit.]
3 PLEBEIAN     You shall have leave.
4 PLEBEIAN     A ring.
Stand round.
1 PLEBEIAN
Stand from the hearse, stand from the body.
2 PLEBEIAN     Room for Antony, most noble Antony.
ANTONY     Nay, press not so upon me. Stand far off.	165
ALL     Stand back. Room, bear back.
ANTONY     If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle. I remember
The first time ever Caesar put it on.
’Twas on a summer’s evening in his tent,	170
That day he overcame the Nervii.
Look, in this place ran Cassius’ dagger through:
See what a rent the envious Caska made:
Through this, the well-beloved Brutus stabbed,
And as he plucked his cursed steel away,	175
Mark how the blood of Caesar followed it,
As rushing out of doors to be resolved
If Brutus so unkindly knocked or no;
For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar’s angel.
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him.	180
This was the most unkindest cut of all:
For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitor’s arms,
Quite vanquished him: then burst his mighty heart;
And in his mantle muffling up his face,	185
Even at the base of Pompey’s statue,
Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.
O what a fall was there, my countrymen!
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourished over us.	190
O, now you weep, and I perceive you feel
The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
Kind souls, what weep you when you but behold
Our Caesar’s vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marred as you see with traitors.	195
1 PLEBEIAN     O piteous spectacle!
2 PLEBEIAN     O noble Caesar!
3 PLEBEIAN     O woeful day!
4 PLEBEIAN     O traitors, villains!
1 PLEBEIAN     O most bloody sight!
2 PLEBEIAN     We will be revenged!
ALL
Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay!
Let not a traitor live!
ANTONY     Stay, countrymen.	200
1 PLEBEIAN     Peace there, hear the noble Antony.
ALL
We’ll hear him, we’ll follow him, we’ll die with him!
ANTONY
Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up
To such a sudden flood of mutiny:
They that have done this deed are honourable.	205
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do it: they are wise and honourable
And will no doubt with reasons answer you.
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts.
I am no orator, as Brutus is,	210
But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man
That love my friend, and that they know full well
That gave me public leave to speak of him.
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech	215
To stir men’s blood. I only speak right on:
I tell you that which you yourselves do know,
Show you sweet Caesar’s wounds, poor poor dumb mouths,
And bid them speak for me. But were I Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony	220
Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue
In every wound of Caesar that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
ALL     We’ll mutiny.
1 PLEBEIAN     We’ll burn the house of Brutus.
3 PLEBEIAN     Away then, come, seek the conspirators.	225
ANTONY     Yet hear me, countrymen, yet hear me speak.
ALL     Peace ho, hear Antony, most noble Antony.
ANTONY
Why, friends, you go to do you know not what.
Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves?
Alas, you know not. I must tell you then.	230
You have forgot the will I told you of.
ALL     Most true. The will, let’s stay and hear the will.
ANTONY     Here is the will, and under Caesar’s seal.
To every Roman citizen he gives,
To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.	235
2 PLEBEIAN     Most noble Caesar, we’ll revenge his death.
3 PLEBEIAN     O royal Caesar!
ANTONY     Hear me with patience.
ALL     Peace ho.
ANTONY     Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbours and new-planted orchards,
On this side Tiber. He hath left them you	240
And to your heirs for ever: common pleasures
To walk abroad and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Caesar: when comes such another?
1 PLEBEIAN     Never, never. Come, away, away.
We’ll burn his body in the holy place,	245
And with the brands fire all the traitors’ houses.
Take up the body.
2 PLEBEIAN     Go fetch fire.
3 PLEBEIAN     Pluck down benches.
4 PLEBEIAN     Pluck down forms, windows, anything.	250
Exit Plebeians with the body.
ANTONY     Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot:
Take thou what course thou wilt.
Enter Servant.
How now, fellow?
SERVANT     Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.
ANTONY     Where is he?
SERVANT     He and Lepidus are at Caesar’s house.
ANTONY     And thither will I straight to visit him.	255
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry
And in this mood will give us anything.
SERVANT     I heard him say Brutus and Cassius
Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.
ANTONY     Belike they had some notice of the people	260
How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius.
Exeunt.

3.3 Enter CINNA the poet, and after him the Plebeians.

CINNA     I dreamt tonight that I did feast with Caesar,
And things unluckily charge my fantasy.
I have no will to wander forth of doors,
Yet something leads me forth.
1 PLEBEIAN     What is your name?	5
2 PLEBEIAN     Whither are you going?
3 PLEBEIAN     Where do you dwell?
4 PLEBEIAN     Are you a married man or a bachelor?
2 PLEBEIAN     Answer every man directly.
1 PLEBEIAN     Ay, and briefly.	10
4 PLEBEIAN     Ay, and wisely.
3 PLEBEIAN     Ay, and truly, you were best.
CINNA     What is my name? Whither am I going? Where
do I dwell? Am I a married man or a bachelor? Then
to answer every man, directly and briefly, wisely and	15
truly: wisely I say, I am a bachelor.
2 PLEBEIAN     That’s as much as to say they are fools that
marry. You’ll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed,
directly.
CINNA     Directly, I am going to Caesar’s funeral.	20
1 PLEBEIAN     As a friend or an enemy?
CINNA     As a friend.
2 PLEBEIAN     That matter is answered directly.
4 PLEBEIAN     For your dwelling, briefly.
CINNA     Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol.	25
3 PLEBEIAN     Your name, sir, truly.
CINNA     Truly, my name is Cinna.
1 PLEBEIAN     Tear him to pieces, he’s a conspirator.
CINNA     I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet.
4 PLEBEIAN     Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his	30
bad verses.
CINNA     I am not Cinna the conspirator.
4 PLEBEIAN     It is no matter, his name’s Cinna. Pluck but
his name out of his heart and turn him going.
3 PLEBEIAN     Tear him, tear him! [They set upon him.]	35
ALL     Come, brands, ho! Firebrands! To Brutus’, to
Cassius’, burn all! Some to Decius’ house, and some to
Casca’s, some to Ligarius’! Away, go!
Exeunt all the Plebeians dragging off Cinna.

4.1 Enter ANTONY, OCTAVIUS and LEPIDUS.

ANTONY
These many, then, shall die; their names are pricked.
OCTAVIUS
Your brother too must die; consent you, Lepidus?
LEPIDUS     I do consent.
OCTAVIUS     Prick him down, Antony.
LEPIDUS     Upon condition Publius shall not live,
Who is your sister’s son, Mark Antony.	5
ANTONY
He shall not live. Look, with a spot I damn him.
But, Lepidus, go you to Caesar’s house:
Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine
How to cut off some charge in legacies.
LEPIDUS     What, shall I find you here?	10
OCTAVIUS     Or here, or at the Capitol.     Exit Lepidus.
ANTONY     This is a slight unmeritable man,
Meet to be sent on errands: is it fit,
The threefold world divided, he should stand
One of the three to share it?
OCTAVIUS     So you thought him,	15
And took his voice who should be pricked to die
In our black sentence and proscription.
ANTONY     Octavius, I have seen more days than you;
And though we lay these honours on this man
To ease ourselves of diverse slanderous loads,	20
He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold,
To groan and sweat under the business,
Either led or driven, as we point the way:
And having brought our treasure where we will,
Then take we down his load and turn him off,	25
Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears
And graze in commons.
OCTAVIUS     You may do your will;
But he’s a tried and valiant soldier.
ANTONY     So is my horse, Octavius, and for that
I do appoint him store of provender.	30
It is a creature that I teach to fight,
To wind, to stop, to run directly on,
His corporal motion governed by my spirit,
And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so:
He must be taught, and trained, and bid go forth;	35
A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds
On objects, arts and imitations
Which, out of use and staled by other men,
Begin his fashion. Do not talk of him
But as a property. And now, Octavius,	40
Listen great things. Brutus and Cassius
Are levying powers. We must straight make head.
Therefore let our alliance be combined,
Our best friends made, our means stretched,
And let us presently go sit in counsel,	45
How covert matters may be best disclosed,
And open perils surest answered.
OCTAVIUS     Let us do so: for we are at the stake
And bayed about with many enemies,
And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,	50
Millions of mischiefs.     Exeunt.

4.2 Drum. Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS and the army. TITINIUS and PINDARUS meet them.

BRUTUS     Stand ho.
LUCILIUS     Give the word, ho, and stand.
BRUTUS     What now, Lucilius, is Cassius near?
LUCILIUS     He is at hand, and Pindarus is come
To do you salutation from his master.	5
BRUTUS     He greets me well. Your master, Pindarus,
In his own change, or by ill officers,
Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
Things done, undone: but if he be at hand
I shall be satisfied.
PINDARUS     I do not doubt	10
But that my noble master will appear
Such as he is, full of regard and honour.
BRUTUS     He is not doubted. A word, Lucilius,
How he received you: let me be resolved.
LUCILIUS     With courtesy and with respect enough,	15
But not with such familiar instances
Nor with such free and friendly conference
As he hath used of old.
BRUTUS     Thou hast described
A hot friend, cooling. Ever note, Lucilius,
When love begins to sicken and decay	20
It useth an enforced ceremony.
There are no tricks in plain and simple faith:
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle:
[Low march within.]
But when they should endure the bloody spur,	25
They fall their crests, and like deceitful jades
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?
LUCILIUS
They mean this night in Sardis to be quartered.
The greater part, the horse in general,
Are come with Cassius.
Enter CASSIUS and his powers.
BRUTUS     Hark, he is arrived.	30
March gently on to meet him.
CASSIUS     Stand ho.
BRUTUS     Stand ho. Speak the word along.
1 SOLDIER     Stand.
2 SOLDIER     Stand.	35
3 SOLDIER     Stand.
CASSIUS     Most noble brother, you have done me wrong.
BRUTUS     Judge me, you gods; wrong I mine enemies?
And if not so, how should I wrong a brother?
CASSIUS
Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs,	40
And when you do them –
BRUTUS     Cassius, be content.
Speak your griefs softly. I do know you well.
Before the eyes of both our armies here,
Which should perceive nothing but love from us,
Let us not wrangle. Bid them move away:	45
Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs
And I will give you audience.
CASSIUS     Pindarus,
Bid our commanders lead their charges off
A little from this ground.
BRUTUS     Lucilius, do you the like, and let no man	50
Come to our tent till we have done our conference.
Let Lucius and Titinius guard our door.
Exeunt all but Brutus and Cassius.

4.3

CASSIUS
That you have wronged me doth appear in this:
You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella
For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
Wherein my letters, praying on his side
Because I knew the man, was slighted off.	5
BRUTUS     You wronged yourself to write in such a case.
CASSIUS     In such a time as this it is not meet
That every nice offence should bear his comment.
BRUTUS     Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
Are much condemned to have an itching palm,	10
To sell and mart your offices for gold
To undeservers.
CASSIUS     I, an itching palm?
You know that you are Brutus that speaks this,
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
BRUTUS     The name of Cassius honours this corruption,	15
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
CASSIUS     Chastisement?
BRUTUS
Remember March, the Ides of March remember:
Did not great Julius bleed for justice’ sake?
What villain touched his body, that did stab	20
And not for justice? What, shall one of us,
That struck the foremost man of all this world
But for supporting robbers: shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
And sell the mighty space of our large honours	25
For so much trash as may be grasped thus?
I had rather be a dog and bay the moon
Than such a Roman.
CASSIUS     Brutus, bait not me.
I’ll not endure it. You forget yourself
To hedge me in. I am a soldier, I,	30
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.
BRUTUS     Go to, you are not, Cassius.
CASSIUS     I am.
BRUTUS     I say you are not.
CASSIUS     Urge me no more. I shall forget myself.	35
Have mind upon your health. Tempt me no farther.
BRUTUS     Away, slight man!
CASSIUS     Is’t possible?
BRUTUS     Hear me, for I will speak.
Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?	40
CASSIUS     O ye gods, ye gods, must I endure all this?
BRUTUS
All this? Ay, more: fret till your proud heart break.
Go show your slaves how choleric you are,
And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?
Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch	45
Under your testy humour? By the gods,
You shall digest the venom of your spleen
Though it do split you; for, from this day forth,
I’ll use you for my mirth, yea for my laughter,
When you are waspish.
CASSIUS     Is it come to this?	50
BRUTUS     You say you are a better soldier:
Let it appear so. Make your vaunting true
And it shall please me well. For mine own part,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men.
CASSIUS
You wrong me every way: you wrong me, Brutus.	55
I said an elder soldier, not a better.
Did I say better?
BRUTUS     If you did, I care not.
CASSIUS
When Caesar lived he durst not thus have moved me.
BRUTUS
Peace, peace, you durst not so have tempted him.
CASSIUS     I durst not?	60
BRUTUS     No.
CASSIUS     What, durst not tempt him?
BRUTUS     For your life you durst not.
CASSIUS     Do not presume too much upon my love:
I may do that I shall be sorry for.
BRUTUS     You have done that you should be sorry for.	65
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats:
For I am armed so strong in honesty
That they pass by me as the idle wind,
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certain sums of gold, which you denied me,	70
For I can raise no money by vile means:
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart
And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection. I did send	75
To you for gold to pay my legions,
Which you denied me: was that done like Cassius?
Should I have answered Caius Cassius so?
When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,
To lock such rascal counters from his friends,	80
Be ready gods with all your thunderbolts,
Dash him to pieces!
CASSIUS     I denied you not.
BRUTUS     You did.
CASSIUS     I did not. He was but a fool
That brought my answer back. Brutus hath rived my heart.
A friend should bear his friend’s infirmities,	85
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
BRUTUS     I do not, till you practise them on me.
CASSIUS     You love me not.
BRUTUS     I do not like your faults.
CASSIUS     A friendly eye could never see such faults.
BRUTUS
A flatterer’s would not, though they do appear	90
As huge as high Olympus.
CASSIUS     Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is a-weary of the world:
Hated by one he loves, braved by his brother,	95
Checked like a bondman; all his faults observed,
Set in a notebook, learned and conned by rote
To cast into my teeth. O I could weep
My spirit from mine eyes! There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast: within, a heart	100
Dearer than Pluto’s mine, richer than gold.
If that thou beest a Roman, take it forth.
I that denied thee gold will give my heart.
Strike as thou didst at Caesar: for I know,
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lov’dst him better	105
Than ever thou lov’dst Cassius.
BRUTUS     Sheathe your dagger:
Be angry when you will, it shall have scope:
Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.
O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb
That carries anger as the flint bears fire,	110
Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark
And straight is cold again.
CASSIUS     Hath Cassius lived
To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
When grief and blood ill-tempered vexeth him?
BRUTUS     When I spoke that, I was ill-tempered too.	115
CASSIUS     Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.
BRUTUS     And my heart too.
CASSIUS     O Brutus!
BRUTUS     What’s the matter?
CASSIUS     Have you not love enough to bear with me,
When that rash humour which my mother gave me
Makes me forgetful?
BRUTUS     Yes, Cassius, and from henceforth	120
When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,
He’ll think your mother chides, and leave you so.
Enter a Poet, LUCILIUS and TITINIUS.
POET     Let me go in to see the generals.
There is some grudge between ‘em; ’tis not meet
They be alone.
LUCILIUS     You shall not come to them.	125
POET     Nothing but death shall stay me.
CASSIUS     How now? What’s the matter?
POET     For shame, you generals, what do you mean?
Love and be friends, as two such men should be,
For I have seen more years, I’m sure, than ye.	130
CASSIUS     Ha, ha, how vildly doth this cynic rhyme.
BRUTUS     Get you hence, sirrah; saucy fellow, hence.
CASSIUS     Bear with him, Brutus, ’tis his fashion.
BRUTUS     I’ll know his humour when he knows his time.
What should the wars do with these jigging fools?	135
Companion, hence.
CASSIUS     Away, away, be gone.     Exit Poet.
BRUTUS     Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders
Prepare to lodge their companies tonight.
CASSIUS
And come yourselves, and bring Messala with you
Immediately to us.     Exeunt Lucilius and Titinius.
BRUTUS     [Calls.] Lucius! A bowl of wine.	140
CASSIUS     I did not think you could have been so angry.
BRUTUS     O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.
CASSIUS     Of your philosophy you make no use
If you give place to accidental evils.
BRUTUS     No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead.	145
CASSIUS     Ha? Portia?
BRUTUS     She is dead.
CASSIUS     How scaped I killing when I crossed you so?
O insupportable and touching loss!
Upon what sickness?
BRUTUS     Impatient of my absence,	150
And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
Have made themselves so strong – for with her death
That tidings came – with this she fell distract,
And, her attendants absent, swallowed fire.
CASSIUS     And died so?
BRUTUS     Even so.
CASSIUS     O ye immortal gods!	155
Enter LUCIUS with wine and tapers.
BRUTUS
Speak no more of her: give me a bowl of wine.
In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius [Drinks.]
CASSIUS     My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge.
Fill, Lucius, till the wine o’er-swell the cup.
I cannot drink too much of Brutus’ love. Exit Lucius.	160
Enter TITINIUS and MESSALA.
BRUTUS     Come in, Titinius. Welcome, good Messala.
Now sit we close about this taper here
And call in question our necessities.
CASSIUS     Portia, art thou gone?
BRUTUS     No more, I pray you.
Messala, I have here received letters
That young Octavius and Mark Antony	165
Come down upon us with a mighty power,
Bending their expedition toward Philippi.
MESSALA     Myself have letters of the selfsame tenor.
BRUTUS     With what addition?
MESSALA     That by proscription and bills of outlawry	170
Octavius, Antony and Lepidus
Have put to death an hundred senators.
BRUTUS     Therein our letters do not well agree.
Mine speak of seventy senators that died
By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.	175
CASSIUS     Cicero one?
MESSALA     Cicero is dead,
And by that order of proscription.
Had you your letters from your wife, my lord?
BRUTUS     No, Messala.
MESSALA     Nor nothing in your letters writ of her?	180
BRUTUS     Nothing, Messala.
MESSALA     That methinks is strange.
BRUTUS     Why ask you? Hear you aught of her in yours?
MESSALA     No, my lord.
BRUTUS     Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true.
MESSALA     Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell,	185
For certain she is dead, and by strange manner.
BRUTUS     Why, farewell, Portia: we must die, Messala:
With meditating that she must die once
I have the patience to endure it now.
MESSALA	190
Even so great men great losses should endure.
CASSIUS     I have as much of this in art as you,
But yet my nature could not bear it so.
BRUTUS     Well, to our work alive. What do you think
Of marching to Philippi presently?
CASSIUS     I do not think it good.	195
BRUTUS     Your reason?
CASSIUS     This it is:
’Tis better that the enemy seek us,
So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers,
Doing himself offence, whilst we, lying still,
Are full of rest, defence and nimbleness.
BRUTUS	200
Good reasons must of force give place to better:
The people ’twixt Philippi and this ground
Do stand but in a forced affection,
For they have grudged us contribution.
The enemy, marching along by them,
By them shall make a fuller number up,	205
Come on refreshed, new-added and encouraged;
From which advantage shall we cut him off
If at Philippi we do face him there,
These people at our back.
CASSIUS     Hear me, good brother.
BRUTUS     Under your pardon. You must note beside	210
That we have tried the utmost of our friends,
Our legions are brimful, our cause is ripe.
The enemy increaseth every day;
We, at the height, are ready to decline.
There is a tide in the affairs of men	215
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune:
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves,	220
Or lose our ventures.
CASSIUS     Then with your will go on.
We’ll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi.
BRUTUS     The deep of night is crept upon our talk,
And nature must obey necessity,
Which we will niggard with a little rest.	225
There is no more to say.
CASSIUS     No more. Good night.
Early tomorrow will we rise, and hence.
Enter LUCIUS.
BRUTUS     Lucius. My gown.     Exit Lucius.
Farewell, good Messala.
Good night, Titinius. Noble, noble Cassius,
Good night, and good repose.	230
CASSIUS     O my dear brother,
This was an ill beginning of the night.
Never come such division ’tween our souls.
Let it not, Brutus.
Enter LUCIUS with the gown.
BRUTUS     Everything is well.
CASSIUS     Good night, my lord.
BRUTUS     Good night, good brother.
TITINIUS, MESSALA     Good night, Lord Brutus.	235
BRUTUS     Farewell, every one.
Exeunt Cassius, Titinius and Messala.
Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument?
LUCIUS     Here in the tent.
BRUTUS     What, thou speak’st drowsily?
Poor knave, I blame thee not; thou art o’erwatched.
Call Claudio and some other of my men.
I’ll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.	240
LUCIUS     Varrus and Claudio!
Enter VARRUS and CLAUDIO.
VARRUS     Calls my lord?
BRUTUS     I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep.
It may be I shall raise you by and by
On business to my brother Cassius.	245
VARRUS
So please you, we will stand and watch your pleasure.
BRUTUS     I will not have it so: lie down, good sirs.
It may be I shall otherwise bethink me.
Look, Lucius, here’s the book I sought for so:
I put it in the pocket of my gown.	250
LUCIUS     I was sure your lordship did not give it me.
BRUTUS     Bear with me, good boy, I am much forgetful.
Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile
And touch thy instrument a strain or two?
LUCIUS     Ay, my lord, an’t please you.	255
BRUTUS     It does, my boy.
I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing.
LUCIUS     It is my duty, sir.
BRUTUS     I should not urge thy duty past thy might.
I know young bloods look for a time of rest.
LUCIUS     I have slept, my lord, already.	260
BRUTUS     It was well done, and thou shalt sleep again.
I will not hold thee long. If I do live,
I will be good to thee.     [Music, and a song.]
This is a sleepy tune: O murderous slumber!
Layest thou thy leaden mace upon my boy	265
That plays thee music? Gentle knave, good night:
I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee.
If thou dost nod, thou break’st thy instrument;
I’ll take it from thee; and, good boy, good night.
Let me see, let me see: is not the leaf turned down	270
Where I left reading? Here it is, I think.
Enter the Ghost of Caesar.
How ill this taper burns. Ha! Who comes here?
I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous apparition.
It comes upon me: art thou any thing?	275
Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil,
That mak’st my blood cold, and my hair to stare?
Speak to me what thou art.
GHOST     Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
BRUTUS     Why com’st thou?
GHOST     To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.	280
BRUTUS     Well: then I shall see thee again?
GHOST     Ay, at Philippi.
BRUTUS
Why, I will see thee at Philippi then:     Exit Ghost.
Now I have taken heart thou vanishest.
Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.	285
Boy, Lucius, Varrus, Claudio, sirs, awake!
Claudio!
LUCIUS     The strings, my lord, are false.
BRUTUS     He thinks he still is at his instrument.
Lucius, awake.	290
LUCIUS     My lord?
BRUTUS
Didst thou dream, Lucius, that thou so cried’st out?
LUCIUS     My lord, I do not know that I did cry.
BRUTUS     Yes, that thou didst. Didst thou see anything?
LUCIUS     Nothing, my lord.	295
BRUTUS     Sleep again, Lucius. Sirrah Claudio,
Fellow, thou, awake!
VARRUS     My lord?
CLAUDIO     My lord?
BRUTUS     Why did you so cry out, sirs, in your sleep?
BOTH     Did we, my lord?
BRUTUS     Ay. Saw you anything?
VARRUS     No, my lord, I saw nothing.
	300
CLAUDIO     Nor I, my lord.
BRUTUS
Go and commend me to my brother Cassius.
Bid him set on his powers betimes before
And we will follow.
BOTH     It shall be done, my lord. Exeunt.

5.1 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.	5
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.	10
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,	15
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	20
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     [to a commander] Stir not until the signal.	25
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,	30
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.	35
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
Hacked one another in the sides of Caesar.
You showed your teeth like apes, and fawned like
hounds,	40
And bowed like bondsmen, kissing Caesar’s feet;
Whilst damned Caska, like a cur, behind
Struck Caesar in the neck. O you flatterers!
CASSIUS     Flatterers? Now, Brutus, thank yourself.
This tongue had not offended so today
If Cassius might have ruled.	45
OCTAVIUS
Come, come, the cause. If arguing makes 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	50
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.	55
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,
Joined with a masquer and a reveller.
ANTONY     Old Cassius still.	60
OCTAVIUS     Come, Antony, away.
Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth.
If you dare fight today, come to the field;
If not, when you have stomachs.
Exeunt Octavius, Antony and army.
CASSIUS	65
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     My lord. [Brutus speaks apart to Lucilius.]
CASSIUS     Messala.
MESSALA     What says my general?
CASSIUS     Messala,
This is my birthday: as this very day
Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala:	70
Be thou my witness that against my will
(As Pompey was) am I compelled to set
Upon one battle all our liberties.
You know that I held Epicurus strong
And his opinion: now I change my mind	75
And partly credit things that do presage.
Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign
Two mighty eagles fell and there they perched,
Gorging and feeding from our soldiers’ hands,
Who to Philippi here consorted us:	80
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	85
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     [Comes forward.] Even so, Lucilius.	90
CASSIUS     Now, most noble Brutus,
The gods today 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	95
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,	100
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.	105
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	110
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;	115
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	120
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.	125

5.2 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 demeanour in Octavius’ wing,
And sudden push gives them the overthrow.
Ride, ride, Messala. Let them all come down. Exeunt.	5

5.3 Alarums. Enter CASSIUS and TITINIUS.

CASSIUS     O look, Titinius, look, the villains fly:
Myself have to mine own turned 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,	5
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,	10
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	15
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 not’st about the field.	20
Exit Pindarus.
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?	25
PINDARUS     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.	30
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.
Enter PINDARUS.
	35
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 free man, and with this good sword
That ran through Caesar’s bowels, search this bosom.	40
Stand not to answer: here, take thou the hilts,
And when my face is covered, as ’tis now,
Guide thou the sword – Caesar, thou art revenged
Even with the sword that killed thee.
[Pindarus kills him.]	45
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.
Enter TITINIUS and MESSALA.
	50
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 that lies upon the ground?	55
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 tonight,
So in his red blood Cassius’ day is set.	60
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.	65
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 com’st unto a happy birth
But kill’st the mother that engendered thee.
TITINIUS     What, Pindarus? Where art thou, Pindarus?	70
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	75
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	80
And bid me give it thee? Didst thou not hear their shouts?
Alas, thou hast misconstrued everything.
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,	85
And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.
By your leave, gods. This is a Roman’s part.
Come, Cassius’ sword, and find Titinius’ heart.
[Dies.]	90
Alarum. Enter BRUTUS, MESSALA, Young 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.	95
Look whe’er he have not crowned 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.	100
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.	105
Labio and Flavio set our battles on.
’Tis three o’clock; and, Romans, yet ere night,
We shall try fortune in a second fight.     Exeunt.	110

5.4 Alarum. Enter BRUTUS, MESSALA, Young CATO, LUCILIUS and FLAVIUS.

BRUTUS     Yet, countrymen: O yet, hold up your heads!
Exit fighting, followed by Messala and Flavius.
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!	5
Enter Soldiers and fight.
LUCILIUS     And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I!
Brutus, my country’s friend: know me for Brutus!
[Young Cato is killed.]
O young and noble Cato, art thou down?
Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius,
And mayst be honoured, being Cato’s son.
1 SOLDIER     Yield, or thou diest.	10
LUCILIUS     Only I yield to die.
There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight:
Kill Brutus and be honoured in his death.
1 SOLDIER     We must not: a noble prisoner!
Enter ANTONY.	15
2 SOLDIER     Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta’en.
1 SOLDIER     I’ll tell the news. Here comes the general.
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.	20
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,	25
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’er Brutus be alive or dead,
And bring us word unto Octavius’ tent
How everything is chanced.     Exeunt.	30

5.5 Enter BRUTUS, DARDANIUS, CLITUS, STRATO and VOLUMNIUS.

BRUTUS
Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock.
CLITUS     Statilius showed the torchlight, 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.	5
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.	10
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:	15
The ghost of Caesar hath appeared 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.	20
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 knowst that we two went to school together:
Even for that our love of old, I prithee	25
Hold thou my sword-hilts while 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.	30
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	35
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 laboured to attain this hour.	40
[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,	45
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 killed not thee with half so good a will. [Dies.]	50
Alarm. Retreat. Enter ANTONY, OCTAVIUS, 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.	55
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.	60
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.	65
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.	70
He only, in a general honest thought
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him that nature might stand up
And say to all the world, ’This was a man!’	75
OCTAVIUS     According to his virtue let us use him,
With all respect and rites of burial.
Within my tent his bones tonight shall lie,
Most like a soldier, ordered honourably.
So call the field to rest, and let’s away,	80
To part the glories of this happy day.     Exeunt omnes.