Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

What says my general?
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.
Mes. Believe not so.
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.
Cas.
Now, most noble Brutus,
The gods to-day stand friendly; that we may,
Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age!
But, since the affairs of men rest still uncertain,
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?

Bru. 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.

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
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.
Cas. 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.
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.
Alarm. Enter BRUTUS and MESSALA.
Bru. Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these
Unto the legions on the other side: [bills
[Loud Alarum.!
Let them set on at once; for I perceive
But cold demeanour in Octavins' wing,
And sudden push gives them the overthrow.
Ride, ride, Messala; let them all come down.
[Exeunt.

The same.
Alarum.

SCENE III.

Another Part of the Field.
Enter CASSIUS and TITINIUS,
Cas. 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.
Tit. O Cassius, Brutus gave the word too
early;

Who having some advantage on Octavius,
Whilst we by Antony are all enclos'd.
Took it too eagerly; his soldiers fell to spoil,

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. [tinius;

Cos. This hill is far enough. Look, look, Ti-
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,
Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops,
And here again: that I may rest assur'd,
Whether yond' troops are friend or enemy.
Tit. I will be here again, even with a thought.

[Exit.

Cas. Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill:
My sight was ever thick; Regard Titinius,
And tell me what thon not'st about the field.-
[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?
Pin. [Above.] O my lord!

Cas. What news?

Pin. 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;-Oh, he
'lights too:-he's ta'en:-
And hark! [shout] they shout for joy.
Cas,
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.
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, [thine oath!
Thou should'st attempt it. Come now, keep
Now be a freeman; and with this good sword,
That ran through Cæsar'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.-Cæsar, thou art re-
veng'd,

Even with the sword that kill'd thee.

[ocr errors]

Pin. So, I am free; yet would not so have
Durst I have done my will. O Cassius! [been,
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, Titinins; for Octavius
Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power,
As Cassius' legions are by Antony.

Tit. These tidings will well comfort Cassius.
Mes. Where did you leave him?
Tit.
All disconsolate,
With Pindarus his bondman on this hill.
Mess. Is not that he, that lies upon the ground?
Tit. He lies not like the living. Omy heart!

Mes. Is not that he? Tit.

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. Mes. Mistrust of good success hath done this O hateful error, melancholy's child! [deed, Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of [ceiv'd, The things that are not? O error, soon conThou never com'st unto a happy birth, But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee. Tit. What, Pindarus; Where art thou, Pindarus?

men

Mes. 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. Tit.

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 't 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, STEATO, VOLUMNIUS, and LUCILIUS. Bru. Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie ?

Mes. Lo, yonder; and Titinius mourning it.
Bru. Titinius' face is upward.
Cato.

He is slain.

Bru. O Julius Cæsar, thou art mighty yet! Thy spirit walks abroad, and turns our swords In our own proper entrails. [Low alarums. Cato. Brave Titinius! Look, whe'r he have not crown'd dead Cassius! Bru. Are yet two Romans living such as these?

[tears

The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!
It is impossible, that ever Rome
Should breed thy fellow.-Friends, I owe more
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 funeral 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. Bru. Yet, countrymen, O, yet hold up your heads! [with me? Cato. What bastard doth not? Who will go, 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. Bru. 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.

Luc. O young and noble Cato, art thou down? Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius; And may'st be honour'd being Cato's son. 1 Sold. Yield, or thou diest. Luc. Only I yield to die; There is so much, that thouwilt kill me straight; [Offering money.

Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death. 1 Sold. We must not.-A noble prisoner! 2 Sold. Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en. 1 Sold. I'll tell the news.-Here comes the general:-

[blocks in formation]

It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus.

[Whispering. Cli. What, I. my lord? No, not for all the Bru. Peace then, no words. [world.

Cli.

I'll rather kill myself. Bru. Hark thee, Dardanius! [Whispers him. Dar. I do such a deed? Cli. O, Dardanius! Dar. O, Clitus!

Cli. What ill request did Brutus make to thee? Dar. To kill him, Clitus: Look, he meditates. Cli. Now is that noble vessel full of grief, That it runs over even at his eyes. Bru. Come hither, good Volumnius: list a Vol. What says my lord? [word. Bru. Why, this, Volumnius; The ghost of Cæsar 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.

Vol. Not so, my lord. Bru. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius. Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes: Our enemies have beat us to the pit: 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:

[graphic][merged small][merged small]

Even for that our love of old, I pray thee,
Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it,
Vol. That's not an office for a friend, my lord.
Cli. Fly, fly, my lord: there is no tarrying
[Alarum still.
here.

Bru. 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.
Cli. Fly, my lord, fly.
Bru.
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 smatch of honour in it:
Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face,
While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?
Stra. Give me your hand first: Fare you well,
my lord.

Bru. Farewell, good Strato.-Cæsar, now be
still:

I kill'd not thee with half so good a will.
[He runs on his sword, and dies.

657

Alarum. Retreat. Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY,
MESSALA, LUCILIUS, and their Army.
Oct. What man is this?

Mes. My master's man.-Strato, where is thy
master?
[sala;

The conquerors can but make a fire of him;
Stru. Free from the bondage you are in, Mes-
For Brutus only overcame himself,
And no man else hath honour by his death.
Luc. So Brutus should be found.-I thank
thee, Brutus,

That thou hast prov'd Lucilius' saying true.
Oct. All that serv'd Brutus, I will entertain

them.

Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?
Stra. Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.
Oct. Do so, Messala,

Mes. How died my master, Strato?

Stra. I held the sword, and he did run on it.
That did the latest service to my master.
Mes. Octavius, then take him to follow thee,

Ant. This was the noblest Roman of them all:
All the conspirators, save only he,
Did that they did in envy of great Cæsar;
He, only, in a general honest thought,
His life was gentle; and the elements
And common good to all, made one of them.
So mix'd in him, that Nature might stand up,
And say to all the world, This was a man!

Oct. According to his virtue let us use him,
Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie,
With all respect and rites of burial.
Most like a soldier, order'd honourably.-
To part the glories of this happy day. [Exeunt.
So, call the field to rest: and let's away,

[blocks in formation]

Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst
The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper:
And is become the bellows, and the fan,

SCENE I. Alexandria, A Room in Cleopatra's To cool a gipsy's lust. Look, where they come !

Palace.

Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO.
Phi. NAY, but this dotage of our general's
O'erflows the measure: those his goodly eyes,
That o'er the files and musters of the war
Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now
The office and devotion of their view
Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart,

[turn,

Flourish. Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with
their Trains; Eunuchs fanning her,
The triple pillar of the world transform'd
Take but good note, and you shall see in him
Into a strumpet's fool: behold and see.

Cleo. If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
Ant. There's beggary in the love that can be
reckon'd,

UU

« ZurückWeiter »