And may'st be honored, being Cato's son. 1 Sold. Yield, or thou diest. Lucil. There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight; Only I yield to die: [Offering money. Kill Brutus, and be honored in his death. 2 Sold. Room, ho! 1 Sold. I'll tell the Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord. Ant. Where is he? Lucil. 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! He will be found like Brutus, like himself. Ant. This is not Brutus, friend; but, I assure you, Give him all kindness: I had rather have And see whe'r Brutus be alive, or dead; And bring us word, unto Octavius' tent, How everything is chanced. SCENE V. Another Part of the Field [Exeunt Enter BRUTUS, DARDANIUS, CLITUS, STRATO, and VOLUMNIUS 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. What ill request did Brutus make to thee? Cli. Now is that noble vessel full of grief, That it runs over even at his eyes. Bru. Come hither, good Volumnius: list a word. Bru. Why, this, Volumnius: - at Sardis once, The ghost of Cæsar hath appeared to me Two several times by night, And, this last night, here in Philippi fields: I know my hour has come. Vol. Not so, my lord. Bru. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius. Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes; [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; Vol. That's not an office for a friend, my lord. [Alarum still. Cli. Fly, fly, my lord! there is no tarrying here. and you; and you, Volumnius. Bru. Farewell to you;- 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 labored to obtain this hour. Cli. Fly, my lord, fly! Bru. [Alarum. Cry within, "Fly, fly, fly!" Hence! I will follow. [Exeunt CLITUS, DARDANIUS, and VOLUMNIUS I pr'ythee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord. Thy life hath had some smatch of honor in it: Stra. Give me your hand first: fare you well, my lord. I killed 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 man. Strato, where is thy master? Stra. 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 honor by his death. Lucil. So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus, That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true. Oct. All that served Brutus, I will entertain them. Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me? Stra. Ay; if Messala will prefer me to you. 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. Ant. This was the noblest Roman of them all: Did that they did in envy of great Cæsar; Oct. According to his virtue let us use him, [Exeunt. SHORT SELECTIONS FROM SHAKESPEARE NOTE TO THE PUPIL. The following selections are made to show you how the writings of Shakespeare have become a part of our common life. No doubt you will find here many expressions familiar to you which you had no idea were from Shakespeare. It will serve to show you what a mine of wealth his writings are. No one has any claim to be considered well read who is not familiar with the Bible and Shakespeare. Some one said that all other books in the English language might be destroyed, and yet leave us an exceedingly rich literature. AULTING ambition o'erleaps itself. VAUL Conscience does make cowards of us all. Thrice is he armed that has his quarrel just. One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. Ill blows the wind that profits nobody. All that glitters is not gold. Brevity is the soul of wit. Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. Make assurance doubly sure. The course of true love never did run smooth. The whirligig of time brings in his revenges. Sweet are the uses of adversity. The better part of valor is discretion. The empty vessel makes the greatest sound. A quicksand of deceit. |