William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (298 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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CLAUDIO My lord.
BRUTUS
Why did you so cry out, sirs, in your sleep?
BOTH
Did we, my lord?
BRUTUS Ay. Saw you anything?
VARRUS
No, my lord, I saw nothing.
CLAUDIO Nor I, my lord.
BRUTUS
Go and commend me to my brother Cassius.
Bid him set on his powers betimes before,
And we will follow.
Bid him set on his powers betimes before,
And we will follow.
BOTH It shall be done, my lord.
Exeunt
⌈
Varrus and Claudio at one door, Brutus and Lucius at another door
⌉
Enter Octavius, Antony, and their army
OCTAVIUS
Now, Antony, our hopes are answered.
You said the enemy would not come down,
But keep the hills and upper regions.
It proves not so; their battles are at hand.
They mean to warn us at Philippi here,
Answering before we do demand of them.
You said the enemy would not come down,
But keep the hills and upper regions.
It proves not so; their battles are at hand.
They mean to warn us at Philippi here,
Answering before we do demand of them.
ANTONY
Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I know
Wherefore they do it. They could be content
To visit other places; and come down
With fearful bravery, thinking by this face
To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage;
But ’tis not so.
Enter a Messenger
Wherefore they do it. They could be content
To visit other places; and come down
With fearful bravery, thinking by this face
To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage;
But ’tis not so.
Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER Prepare you, generals.
The enemy comes on in gallant show.
Their bloody sign of battle is hung out,
And something to be done immediately.
Their bloody sign of battle is hung out,
And something to be done immediately.
ANTONY
Octavius, lead your battle softly on
Upon the left hand of the even field.
Upon the left hand of the even field.
OCTAVIUS
Upon the right hand, I; keep thou the left.
ANTONY
Why do you cross me in this exigent?
OCTAVIUS
I do not cross you, but I will do so.
⌈
Drum. Antony and Octavius march with their army.
⌉
Drum within. Enter, marching, Brutus, Cassius, and their army, amongst them Titinius, Lucillius, and Messala. Octavius’ and Antony’s army makes a stand
BRUTUS They stand, and would have parley.
CASSIUS
Stand fast, Titinius. We must out and talk.
Brutus’ and Cassius’ army makes a stand
Brutus’ and Cassius’ army makes a stand
OCTAVIUS
Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle?
ANTONY
No, Caesar, we will answer on their charge.
Make forth, the generals would have some words.
Make forth, the generals would have some words.
OCTAVIUS
(to his army)
(to his army)
Stir not until the signal.
Antony and Octavius meet Brutus and Cassius
BRUTUS
Words before blows: is it so, countrymen?
OCTAVIUS
Not that we love words better, as you do.
BRUTUS
Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius.
ANTONY
In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words.
Witness the hole you made in Caesar’s heart,
Crying ‘Long live, hail Caesar’.
Witness the hole you made in Caesar’s heart,
Crying ‘Long live, hail Caesar’.
CASSIUS
Antony,
The posture of your blows are yet unknown;
But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
And leave them honeyless.
But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
And leave them honeyless.
ANTONY Not stingless too.
BRUTUS O yes, and soundless too,
For you have stolen their buzzing, Antony,
And very wisely threat before you sting.
And very wisely threat before you sting.
ANTONY
Villains, you did not so when your vile daggers
Hacked one another in the sides of Caesar.
You showed your teeth like apes, and fawned like
hounds,
And bowed like bondmen, kissing Caesar’s feet,
Whilst damnèd Casca, like a cur, behind,
Struck Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers!
Hacked one another in the sides of Caesar.
You showed your teeth like apes, and fawned like
hounds,
And bowed like bondmen, kissing Caesar’s feet,
Whilst damnèd Casca, like a cur, behind,
Struck Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers!
CASSIUS
Flatterers? Now, Brutus, thank yourself.
This tongue had not offended so today
If Cassius might have ruled.
This tongue had not offended so today
If Cassius might have ruled.
OCTAVIUS
Come, come, the cause. If arguing make us sweat,
The proof of it will turn to redder drops.
He draws
Look, I draw a sword against conspirators.
When think you that the sword goes up again?
Never till Caesar’s three and thirty wounds
Be well avenged, or till another Caesar
Have added slaughter to the swords of traitors.
The proof of it will turn to redder drops.
He draws
Look, I draw a sword against conspirators.
When think you that the sword goes up again?
Never till Caesar’s three and thirty wounds
Be well avenged, or till another Caesar
Have added slaughter to the swords of traitors.
BRUTUS
Caesar, thou canst not die by traitors’ hands,
Unless thou bring’st them with thee.
Unless thou bring’st them with thee.
OCTAVIUS So I hope.
I was not born to die on Brutus’ sword.
BRUTUS
O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain,
Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable.
Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable.
CASSIUS
A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour,
Joined with a masquer and a reveller!
Joined with a masquer and a reveller!
ANTONY
Old Cassius still.
OCTAVIUS Come, Antony, away.
Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth.
If you dare fight today, come to the field.
If not, when you have stomachs.
If you dare fight today, come to the field.
If not, when you have stomachs.
Exeunt Octavius, Antony, and their army
CASSIUS
Why, now blow wind, swell billow, and swim bark.
The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.
The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.
BRUTUS
Ho, Lucillius! Hark, a word with you.
LUCILLIUS My lord.
He stands forth, and speaks with Brutus
CASSIUS
Messala.
MESSALA (
standing forth
) What says my general?
standing forth
) What says my general?
CASSIUS Messala,
This is my birthday; 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 compelled 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 ensigns
Two mighty eagles fell, and there they perched,
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 the ghost.
Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala.
Be thou my witness that, against my will,
As Pompey was, am I compelled 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 ensigns
Two mighty eagles fell, and there they perched,
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 the ghost.
MESSALA
Believe not so.
CASSIUS I but believe it partly,
For I am fresh of spirit, and resolved
To meet all perils very constantly.
To meet all perils very constantly.
BRUTUS
Even so, Lucillius.
CASSIUS (
joining Brutus
) Now, most noble Brutus,
joining Brutus
) Now, most noble Brutus,
The gods today stand friendly, that we may,
Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age.
But since the affairs of men rest still incertain,
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?
Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age.
But since the affairs of men rest still incertain,
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?
BRUTUS
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.
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.
CASSIUS Then if we lose this battle,
You are contented to be led in triumph
Thorough the streets of Rome?
Thorough the streets of Rome?
BRUTUS 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.
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.
CASSIUS
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.
If we do meet again, we’ll smile indeed.
If not, ’tis true this parting was well made.
BRUTUS
Why then, lead on. O that a man might know
The end of this day’s business ere it come!
But it sufliceth that the day will end,
And then the end is known.—Come, ho, away!
Exeunt
5.2The end of this day’s business ere it come!
But it sufliceth that the day will end,
And then the end is known.—Come, ho, away!
Exeunt
Alarum. Enter Brutus and Messala
BRUTUS
Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills
Unto the legions on the other side.
Let them set on at once, for I perceive
But cold demeanour in Octavio’s wing,
And sudden push gives them the overthrow.
Ride, ride, Messala; let them all come down.
Unto the legions on the other side.
Loud alarum
But cold demeanour in Octavio’s wing,
And sudden push gives them the overthrow.
Ride, ride, Messala; let them all come down.
Exeunt
⌈
severally
⌉
5.3⌈
severally
⌉
Alarums. Enter Cassius
⌈
with an ensign
⌉
, and Titinius
CASSIUS
O look, Titinius, look: the villains fly.
Myself have to mine own turned enemy:
This ensign here of mine was turning back;
I slew the coward, and did take it from him.
Myself have to mine own turned enemy:
This ensign here of mine was turning back;
I slew the coward, and did take it from him.
TITINIUS
O Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early,
Who, having some advantage on Octavius,
Took it too eagerly. His soldiers fell to spoil,
Whilst we by Antony are all enclosed.
Who, having some advantage on Octavius,
Took it too eagerly. His soldiers fell to spoil,
Whilst we by Antony are all enclosed.
Enter Pindarus
PINDARUS
Fly further off, my lord, fly further off!
Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord;
Fly therefore, noble Cassius, fly farre off.
Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord;
Fly therefore, noble Cassius, fly farre off.
CASSIUS
This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius,
Are those my tents where I perceive the fire?
Are those my tents where I perceive the fire?
TITINIUS
They are, my lord.
CASSIUS Titinius, if thou lovest 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 assured
Whether yon troops are friend or enemy.
Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops
And here again, that I may rest assured
Whether yon troops are friend or enemy.
TITINIUS
I will be here again even with a thought. Exit
CASSIUS
Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill.
My sight was ever thick. Regard, Titinius,
And tell me what thou not’st about the field.
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 shall I end.
My life is run his compass.
And where I did begin, there shall I end.
My life is run his compass.
Enter Pindarus above
Sirrah, what news?
PINDARUS O my lord!
CASSIUS What news?
PINDARUS
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. O, he lights too.
He’s ta’en.
And hark, they shout for joy.
With horsemen, that make to him on the spur.
Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him.
Now Titinius. Now some light. O, he lights too.
He’s ta’en.
Shout within
CASSIUS Come down; behold no more.
Exit Pindarus
O coward that I am, to live so long
To see my best friend ta’en before my face!
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
Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath.
Now be a freeman, and, with this good sword
That ran through Caesar’s bowels, search this bosom.
Stand not to answer. Here, take thou the hilts,
And when my face is covered, as ’tis now,
Guide thou the sword.
Caesar, thou art revenged,
Even with the sword that killed thee.
To see my best friend ta’en before my face!
Enter Pindarus below
And then I swore thee, saving of thy life,
That whatsoever I did bid thee do
Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath.
Now be a freeman, and, with this good sword
That ran through Caesar’s bowels, search this bosom.
Stand not to answer. Here, take thou the hilts,
Pindarus takes the sword
Guide thou the sword.
Pindarus stabs him
Even with the sword that killed thee.
He dies
PINDARUS
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.
Durst I have done my will. O Cassius!
Far from this country Pindarus shall run,
Where never Roman shall take note of him.
Exit
Enter Titinius, wearing a wreath of victory, and Messala
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