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.-Oh! 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 But cold demeanour in Octavius' wing, And sudden push gives them the overthrow. Ride, ride, Messala: let them all come down. [Exeunt.
SCENE III.-The same.-Another part of
the Field.
Alarum. Enter CASSIUS and TITINIUS.
Cas. O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly!
Myself have to mine own turn'd enemy:
This ensign bere 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,
Took it too eargerly; his soldiers fell to spoil,
Whilst we by Antony are all enclos'd.
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.
Mes. Where did you leave him?
Tit. All disconsolate,
With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.
Mes. Is not that he, that lies upon the
ground?
Tit. He lies not like the living. O my 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
O hateful error, melancholy's child!
Why didst thou show to the apt thoughts of men
The things that are not? O error, soon con-
ceiv'd,
Pin. Fly further off, my lord, fly further off; Thou never com'st unto a happy birth,
Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord!
Fly therefore, noble Cassius, fly far off.
Cas. This hill is far enough. Look, look, Ti-
tinius ;
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 thou not'st about the field.-
[Exit PINDARUS.
This day I breathed first time is come round,
And where I did begin, there I shall end;
My life has run his compass.-Sirrah, what news?
Pin. [Above.] O my lord!
Cas. What news
Pin. Titinius is?
Enclosed round about with borsemen, 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!
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!
• Billets containing directions.
But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee.
Tit. What, Pindarus! Where art thou, Pin-
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.
[Erit 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, STRATO, VOLUMNIUS, and LU.
SCENE IV.-Another part of the field.
Alarum.-Enter, fighting, Soldiers of both Armies; then BRUTUS, CATO, LUCILIUS, and others.
Bru. Yet, countrymen, oh! 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. Bru. And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I; Brutus, my country's friend; know me for Brutus.
[Exit, charging the Enemy. 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 thou wilt 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
1 Sold. I'll tell the news.-Here comes the general:
Cli. Statilius show'd the torch-light; but, my
lord,
He came not back; he is or ta'en, or slain.
Bru. Sit thee down, Clitus: Slaying is the
word;
It is a deed in fashion, Hark thee, Clitus.-
[Whispering.
Cli. What, I, my lord? No, not for all the
world.
Bru. Peace then, no words.
Cli. I'll rather kill myself
Bru. Hark thee, Dardanius!
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 medi
Bru. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius. Thou see'st 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;
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.
[Alarum still.
Cli. Fly, fly, my lord; there is no tarrying
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 thee.
[Exeunt CLITUS, DARDANIUS, and VOLUM
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.-Cesar, 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 their Army. Oct. What man is that?
Mes. My master's mau.-Strato, where is thy master?
Stra. Free from the bondage you are in,
The conquerors can but make a fire of him;
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.
Mes. Octavius, then take him to follow thee, That did the latest service to my master.
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Ant. This was the noblest Roman of them all
All the conspirators, save only he,
Did that they did in envy of great Cesar:
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!
Oct. 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 honourably.
So, call the field to rest: and let's away,
To part the glories of this happy day.
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