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 (52) yet unknown; Ant. Not stingless too. Bru. O, yes, and soundless too; For you have stol'n 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 show'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like hounds, And bow'd like bondmen, kissing Cæsar's feet; Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind Struck Cæsar on the neck. O you (53) flatterers! Cas. Flatterers !-Now, Brutus, thank yourself: This tongue had not offended so to-day, If Cassius might have rul'd. Oct. 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 Cæsar's three-and-thirty (5) wounds Be well aveng'd; or till another Cæsar Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors. Bru. Cæsar, thou canst not die by traitors' hands, 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. Cas. A peevish schoolboy, worthless 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; [Exeunt Octavius, Antony, and their army. Cas. Why, now, blow wind, swell billow, and swim bark! The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.(55) Bru. Ho, Lucilius! hark, a word with you. This is my birth-day; as this very day Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala: You know that I held Epicurus strong, This morning are they fled away and gone; Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost. Cas. I but believe it partly; For I am fresh of spirit, and resolv'd To meet all perils very constantly. Bru. Even so, Lucilius. Now, most noble Brutus, The gods to-day stand friendly, that we may, Let's reason with the worst that may befall. Bru. Even by the rule of that philosophy For fear of what might fall, so to prevent The time (57) of life :-arming myself with patience Cas. Then, if we lose this battle, 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 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. SCENE II. The same. The field of battle. 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 [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. Alarum. Another part of the field. Enter CASSIUS and TITINIUS. Cas. O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly! Tit. O Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early; 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, Tit. I will be here again, even with a thought. [Exit. [Pindarus goes up.(58) This day I breathed first: time is come round, Cas. What news? Pin. [above] Titinius is enclosed round about Cas. Come down, behold no more. O, coward that I am, to live so long, To see my best friend ta'en before my Come hither, sirrah: PINDARUS descends. In Parthia did I take thee prisoner; face! And then I swore thee, saving of thy life, That whatsoever I did bid thee do, [Shout. 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. Guide thou the sword.-Cæsar, thou art reveng'd, Even with the sword that kill'd thee. [Dies. Pin. 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. 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. Tit. All disconsolate, With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill. Mes. Is not that he that lies upon the ground? Tit. No, this was he, Messala, |