The Tragedy of 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 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 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
 * 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 honourably.

CASSIUS.
 * A peevish school boy, 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 today, 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.
 * My lord?

[Brutus and Lucilius talk apart.]

CASSIUS.
 * Messala,—

MESSALA.
 * 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 th' 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:
 * 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.
[Alarum. 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 goes up.]

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.—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 would 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?

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.

[Dies.]

[Alarum. Re-enter Messala, with Brutus, 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!
 * 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 Thassos 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,
 * young 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!

[Charges the enemy.]

BRUTUS.
 * And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I;
 * Brutus, my country's friend; know me for Brutus!

[Exit, charging the enemy. Cato is overpowered, and falls.]

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 everything 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.

[Whispering.]

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 him.]

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 pr'ythee,
 * Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it.

VOLUMNIUS.
 * That's not an office for a friend, my lord.

[Alarums 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.

[Alarums. Cry within, "Fly, fly, fly!"]

CLITUS.
 * Fly, my lord, fly!

BRUTUS.
 * Hence! I will follow.—

[Exeunt Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius.]

I pr'ythee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord:
 * Thou art a fellow of a good respect;
 * Thy life hath had some smack of honor 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.—Caesar, now be still:
 * I kill'd not thee with half so good a will.

[He runs on his sword, and dies.]

[Alarum. Retreat. Enter Octavius, Antony, Messala, Lucilius, and
 * 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 honorably.—
 * So, call the field to rest; and let's away,
 * To part the glories of this happy day.

[Exeunt.]

THE END