Tre. E'en so great men great losses should endure, But yet my nature could not bear it so. Bru. Well, to our work alive. What do you think Of marching to Philippi, presently? Cas. I do not think it good. Bru. Your reason? Cas. This it is: 'Tis better that the enemy seek us; So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers, Bru. Good reasons must of force give place te The people, 'twixt Philippi and this ground, These people at our back. Cas. Hear me, good brother. Bru. Under your pardon. You must note, beside, That we have tried the utmost of our friends; Our legions are brimful, our cause is ripe ; The enemy increaseth every day, We, at the height, are ready to decline. There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; On such a full sea are we now afloat; And we must take the current when it serves, Cas. Then with your will, go on. We will along Ourselves, and meet them at Philippi. F Bru. The deep of night is crept upon our talk, And nature must obey necessity. There is no more to say. Cas. No more :-Good night Early to-morrow will we rise and hence. Bru. Noble, noble, Cassius, Good night, and good repose, Cas. O my dear brother! This was an ill-beginning of the night: Bru. Every thing is well. Casca. Good night, Lord Brutus. Bru. Farewell, every one.- Enter LUCIUS. Where is thy instrument? Luc. Here, in the tent. [Manet BRUTUS Bru. What? thou speak'st drowsily; Poor knave, I blame thee not; thou art o'erwatch'd. Bru. It does, my boy; I trouble thee too much; but thou art willing. Bru. I should not urge thy duty past thy might; Bru. It was well done, and thou shalt sleep again; I will not hold thee long. If I do live, I will be good to thee. [Music. -O murd'rous slumber! [LUCIUS sleeps, Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy, That plays thee music? Gentle knave, good night; I will not do thee so much wrong, to wake thee. If thou dost nod, thou break'st thy instrument; I'll take it from thee;-and, good boy, good night.--But, let me see -is not the leaf turn'd down, Where I left reading:-Here it is, I think. [He sits down to read. Enter the GHOST of CESAR. How ill this taper burns !- -Ha! who comes here? Ghost. Thy evil spirit, Brutus. Bru. Why comest thou? Ghost. To tell thee, thou shalt see me at Philippi. Bru. Then, I shall see thee again— Ghost. Ay, at Philippi. [Exit GHOST. Bru. Why, I will see thee at Philippi, then.Now, I have taken heart, thou vanishest: Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee. Sure, they have raised some devil to their aid, And think to frighten Brutus with a shade; But ere the night closes this fatal day, I'll send more ghosts this visit to repay. [Exit. ACT THE FIFTH. SCENE I. The Field of Philippi, with the two Camps. It proves not so, their battles are at hand; They mean to warn us at Philippi here, Answering before we do demand of them. Ant. Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I know With fearful bravery; thinking, by this face, Enter ANTONY's Servant. Serv. Prepare you, generals; The enemy comes on in gallant show; Their bloody sign of battle is hung out, And something to be done immediately. Ant. Octavius, lead your battle softly on, Upon the left hand of the even field. Oct. Upon the right hand I, keep thou the left. Ant. Why do thou cross me in this exigent? Oct. I do not cross you; but I will do so. [March. Enter BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and their ARMY. Bru. They stand, and would have parley. Words before blows: Is it so, countrymen? Oct. Not that we love words better, as you do. Bru. Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius. Ant. In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good Witness the hole you made in Cæsar's heart, Cas. Antony, The posture of your blows are yet unknown, Ant. Not stingless too? Bru. O yes, and soundless, too; For you have stole their buzzing, Antony; gers Hack'd one another in the sides of Cæsar. vile dag You show'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like hounds, And bow'd like bondmen, kissing Cæsar's feet; Cas. Flatterers!-Now, Brutus, thank yourself; Oct. Come, come, the cause; if arguing make us sweat, The proof of it will turn to redder drops. Behold, I draw a sword against conspirators; Oct. So I hope; I was not born to die on Brutus' sword. Bru. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain, Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable. Cas. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such ho nour; Join'd with a masker and a reveller. Ant. Old Cassius still!- Oct. Come, Antony, away! Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth. [Exeunt OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and ARMY. Cas. Why, now, blow wind, swell billow, and swim bark! |