1Cassius rises here as if to break up the conference; begins buckling on sword, putting on helmet, etc., assisted by Titinius L to L C.

2Brutus rises.

Lucius is up stage when the generals rise.
Brutus and Cassius embrace; then Brutus goes

with him to Ri.

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,
Or lose our ventures.

Cas.1

Then, with your will, go on;

We'll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi. Bru.2 The deep of night is crept upon our

talk,

And nature must obey necessity;

Which we will niggard with a little rest.

There is no more to say?

No more.

Good night;

Cas. Early to-morrow will we rise, and hence. Bru. Lucius! [Enter Lucius.] My gown. [Exit Lucius.] Farewell, good Messala: [Messala and Titinius meet up C.]

Good night, Titinius. (L). Noble, noble Cas

sius,

Good night, and good repose.

Cas.

O my dear brother!

This was an ill beginning of the night:

Never come such division 'tween our souls! Let it not, Brutus.

'The gown is somewhat like our dressing gown, and has an inside pocket with book.

2Lucius, always ready, goes up Land gets his lute.

Lucius goes to back of tent up stage; Varro and

Claudius enter from up R, and remain R; they eventually lie just at side of tent R U out of sight up stage.

Bru.

Every thing is well.

Cas. Good night, my lord.

Bru.

Good night, good brother.

Tit. Mes. Good night, Lord Brutus.

Bru. (going back to tent). Farewell, every one. [Exeunt all but Brutus off R

Re-enter Lucius, with the gown from L U

Give me the gown.1 Where is thy instrument? Luc. Here in the tent. (Yawning)

Bru.

What, thou speak'st drowsily? Poor knave, I blame thee not; thou art o'er

watch'd.

Call Claudius and some other of my men;

I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.

Luc.3 Varro and Claudius!

Enter Varro and Claudius

Var. Calls my lord?

Bru. I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep;

[Lucius is tuning his instrument; he sits on

ground L C.

It may be I shall raise you by and by

On business to my brother Cassius.

1Lucius kneels by him and kisses his hand; Brutus has very little else left to love but this little lad. He does not tell him of Portia's death. Shakespeare so wonderfully avoids another sad scene, for Portia dearly lòved this little lad, and he loved her. All unconsciously he sings a little song she had probably taught him.

2The song is "My Pretty Little One." Don't let Lucius sing any inappropriate or modern ditty. It should be something simple that a boy would sing (not an operatic star); toward the end of the song his head drops, the lute slips from his hand, and he drops away in sleep.