Scene 1
Enter Antony , Octavius , and Lepidus .
ANTONY
These many , then , shall die ; their names are
pricked .
OCTAVIUS
Your brother too must die . Consent you , Lepidus ?
LEPIDUS
I do consent .
OCTAVIUS
Prick him down , Antony .
LEPIDUS
Upon condition Publius shall not live ,
Who is your sister’s son , Mark Antony .
ANTONY
He shall not live ; look , with a spot I damn him .
But , Lepidus , go you to Caesar’s house ;
Fetch the will hither , and we shall determine
How to cut off some charge in legacies .
LEPIDUS
What , shall I find you here ?
OCTAVIUS
Or here , or at the Capitol .
Lepidus exits .
ANTONY
This is a slight , unmeritable man ,
Meet to be sent on errands . Is it fit ,
The threefold world divided , he should stand
One of the three to share it ?
[143]ACT 4. SC. 1
OCTAVIUS
So you thought him
And took his voice who should be pricked to die
In our black sentence and proscription .
ANTONY
Octavius , I have seen more days than you ,
And , though we lay these honors on this man
To ease ourselves of diverse sland’rous loads ,
He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold ,
To groan and sweat under the business ,
Either led or driven , as we point the way ;
And having brought our treasure where we will ,
Then take we down his load and turn him off
( Like to the empty ass ) to shake his ears
And graze in commons .
OCTAVIUS
You may do your will ,
But he’s a tried and valiant soldier .
ANTONY
So is my horse , Octavius , and for that
I do appoint him store of provender .
It is a creature that I teach to fight ,
To wind , to stop , to run directly on ,
His corporal motion governed by my spirit ;
And , in some taste , is Lepidus but so .
He must be taught and trained and bid go forth —
A barren-spirited fellow , one that feeds
On objects , arts , and imitations
Which , out of use and staled by other men ,
Begin his fashion . Do not talk of him
But as a property . And now , Octavius ,
Listen great things . Brutus and Cassius
Are levying powers . We must straight make head .
Therefore let our alliance be combined ,
Our best friends made , our means stretched ;
And let us presently go sit in council
How covert matters may be best disclosed
And open perils surest answerèd .
[145]ACT 4. SC. 2
OCTAVIUS
Let us do so , for we are at the stake
And bayed about with many enemies ,
And some that smile have in their hearts , I fear ,
Millions of mischiefs .
They exit .
Scene 2
Drum . Enter Brutus , Lucilius , Lucius , and the Army .
Titinius and Pindarus meet them .
BRUTUS
Stand ho !
LUCILIUS
Give the word , ho , and stand !
BRUTUS
What now , Lucilius , is Cassius near ?
LUCILIUS
He is at hand , and Pindarus is come
To do you salutation from his master .
BRUTUS
He greets me well . — Your master , Pindarus ,
In his own change or by ill officers ,
Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
Things done undone , but if he be at hand
I shall be satisfied .
PINDARUS
I do not doubt
But that my noble master will appear
Such as he is , full of regard and honor .
BRUTUS
He is not doubted .
Brutus and Lucilius walk aside .
A word , Lucilius ,
How he received you . Let me be resolved .
LUCILIUS
With courtesy and with respect enough ,
But not with such familiar instances
Nor with such free and friendly conference
As he hath used of old .
[147]ACT 4. SC. 2
BRUTUS
Thou hast described
A hot friend cooling . Ever note , Lucilius ,
When love begins to sicken and decay
It useth an enforcèd ceremony .
There are no tricks in plain and simple faith ;
But hollow men , like horses hot at hand ,
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle ,
Low march within .
But when they should endure the bloody spur ,
They fall their crests and , like deceitful jades ,
Sink in the trial . Comes his army on ?
LUCILIUS
They mean this night in Sardis to be quartered .
The greater part , the horse in general ,
Are come with Cassius .
Enter Cassius and his powers .
BRUTUS
Hark , he is arrived .
March gently on to meet him .
CASSIUS
Stand ho !
BRUTUS
Stand ho ! Speak the word along .
FIRST SOLDIER
Stand !
SECOND SOLDIER
Stand !
THIRD SOLDIER
Stand !
CASSIUS
Most noble brother , you have done me wrong .
BRUTUS
Judge me , you gods ! Wrong I mine enemies ?
And if not so , how should I wrong a brother ?
CASSIUS
Brutus , this sober form of yours hides wrongs ,
And when you do them —
BRUTUS
Cassius , be content .
Speak your griefs softly . I do know you well .
Before the eyes of both our armies here
( Which should perceive nothing but love from us ) ,
[149] ACT 4. SC. 3 Let us not wrangle . Bid them move away .
Then in my tent , Cassius , enlarge your griefs ,
And I will give you audience .
CASSIUS
Pindarus ,
Bid our commanders lead their charges off
A little from this ground .
BRUTUS
Lucius , do you the like , and let no man
Come to our tent till we have done our conference .
Let Lucilius and Titinius guard our door .
All but Brutus and Cassius exit .
Scene 3
CASSIUS
That you have wronged me doth appear in this :
You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella
For taking bribes here of the Sardians ,
Wherein my letters , praying on his side
Because I knew the man , was slighted off .
BRUTUS
You wronged yourself to write in such a case .
CASSIUS
In such a time as this it is not meet
That every nice offense should bear his comment .
BRUTUS
Let me tell you , Cassius , you yourself
Are much condemned to have an itching palm ,
To sell and mart your offices for gold
To undeservers .
CASSIUS
I an itching palm ?
You know that you are Brutus that speaks this ,
Or , by the gods , this speech were else your last .
BRUTUS
The name of Cassius honors this corruption ,
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head .
[151]ACT 4. SC. 3
CASSIUS
Chastisement ?
BRUTUS
Remember March ; the ides of March remember .
Did not great Julius bleed for justice’ sake ?
What villain touched his body that did stab
And not for justice ? What , shall one of us
That struck the foremost man of all this world
But for supporting robbers , shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes
And sell the mighty space of our large honors
For so much trash as may be graspèd thus ?
I had rather be a dog and bay the moon
Than such a Roman .
CASSIUS
Brutus , bait not me .
I’ll not endure it . You forget yourself
To hedge me in . I am a soldier , I ,
Older in practice , abler than yourself
To make conditions .
BRUTUS
Go to ! You are not , Cassius .
CASSIUS
I am .
BRUTUS
I say you are not .
CASSIUS
Urge me no more . I shall forget myself .
Have mind upon your health . Tempt me no farther .
BRUTUS
Away , slight man !
CASSIUS
Is ’t possible ?
BRUTUS
Hear me , for I will speak .
Must I give way and room to your rash choler ?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares ?
CASSIUS
O you gods , you gods , must I endure all this ?
BRUTUS
All this ? Ay , more . Fret till your proud heart break .
Go show your slaves how choleric you are
And make your bondmen tremble . Must I budge ?
[153] ACT 4. SC. 3 Must I observe you ? Must I stand and crouch
Under your testy humor ? By the gods ,
You shall digest the venom of your spleen
Though it do split you . For , from this day forth ,
I’ll use you for my mirth , yea , for my laughter ,
When you are waspish .
CASSIUS
Is it come to this ?
BRUTUS
You say you are a better soldier .
Let it appear so , make your vaunting true ,
And it shall please me well . For mine own part ,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men .
CASSIUS
You wrong me every way , you wrong me , Brutus .
I said an elder soldier , not a better .
Did I say ‘better’ ?
BRUTUS
If you did , I care not .
CASSIUS
When Caesar lived he durst not thus have moved
me .
BRUTUS
Peace , peace ! You durst not so have tempted him .
CASSIUS
I durst not ?
BRUTUS
No .
CASSIUS
What ? Durst not tempt him ?
BRUTUS
For your life you durst
not .
CASSIUS
Do not presume too much upon my love .
I may do that I shall be sorry for .
BRUTUS
You have done that you should be sorry for .
There is no terror , Cassius , in your threats ,
For I am armed so strong in honesty
That they pass by me as the idle wind ,
[155] ACT 4. SC. 3 Which I respect not . I did send to you
For certain sums of gold , which you denied me ,
For I can raise no money by vile means .
By heaven , I had rather coin my heart
And drop my blood for drachmas than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection . I did send
To you for gold to pay my legions ,
Which you denied me . Was that done like Cassius ?
Should I have answered Caius Cassius so ?
When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous
To lock such rascal counters from his friends ,
Be ready , gods , with all your thunderbolts ;
Dash him to pieces !
CASSIUS
I denied you not .
BRUTUS
You did .
CASSIUS
I did not . He was but a fool that brought
My answer back . Brutus hath rived my heart .
A friend should bear his friend’s infirmities ,
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are .
BRUTUS
I do not , till you practice them on me .
CASSIUS
You love me not .
BRUTUS
I do not like your faults .
CASSIUS
A friendly eye could never see such faults .
BRUTUS
A flatterer’s would not , though they do appear
As huge as high Olympus .
CASSIUS
Come , Antony , and young Octavius , come !
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius ,
For Cassius is aweary of the world —
Hated by one he loves , braved by his brother ,
[157] ACT 4. SC. 3 Checked like a bondman , all his faults observed ,
Set in a notebook , learned and conned by rote
To cast into my teeth . O , I could weep
My spirit from mine eyes ! There is my dagger ,
Offering his dagger to Brutus .
And here my naked breast ; within , a heart
Dearer than Pluto’s mine , richer than gold .
If that thou be’st a Roman , take it forth .
I that denied thee gold will give my heart .
Strike as thou didst at Caesar , for I know
When thou didst hate him worst , thou lovedst him
better
Than ever thou lovedst Cassius .
BRUTUS
Sheathe your
dagger .
Be angry when you will , it shall have scope .
Do what you will , dishonor shall be humor .
O Cassius , you are yokèd with a lamb
That carries anger as the flint bears fire ,
Who , much enforcèd , shows a hasty spark
And straight is cold again .
CASSIUS
Hath Cassius lived
To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus
When grief and blood ill-tempered vexeth him ?
BRUTUS
When I spoke that , I was ill-tempered too .
CASSIUS
Do you confess so much ? Give me your hand .
BRUTUS
And my heart too .
They clasp hands .
CASSIUS
O Brutus !
BRUTUS
What’s the matter ?
CASSIUS
Have not you love enough to bear with me
When that rash humor which my mother gave me
Makes me forgetful ?
[159]ACT 4. SC. 3
BRUTUS
Yes , Cassius , and from
henceforth
When you are over-earnest with your Brutus ,
He’ll think your mother chides , and leave you so .
Enter a Poet followed by Lucilius , Titinius , and Lucius .
POET
Let me go in to see the Generals .
There is some grudge between ’em ; ’tis not meet
They be alone .
LUCILIUS
You shall not come to them .
POET
Nothing but death shall stay me .
CASSIUS
How now , what’s the matter ?
POET
For shame , you generals , what do you mean ?
Love and be friends as two such men should be ,
For I have seen more years , I’m sure , than ye .
CASSIUS
Ha , ha , how vilely doth this cynic rhyme !
BRUTUS
Get you hence , sirrah ! Saucy fellow , hence !
CASSIUS
Bear with him , Brutus . ’Tis his fashion .
BRUTUS
I’ll know his humor when he knows his time .
What should the wars do with these jigging fools ? —
Companion , hence !
CASSIUS
Away , away , be gone !
Poet exits .
BRUTUS
Lucilius and Titinius , bid the commanders
Prepare to lodge their companies tonight .
CASSIUS
And come yourselves , and bring Messala with you
Immediately to us .
Lucilius and Titinius exit .
BRUTUS
Lucius , a bowl of wine .
Lucius exits .
[161]ACT 4. SC. 3
CASSIUS
I did not think you could have been so angry .
BRUTUS
O Cassius , I am sick of many griefs .
CASSIUS
Of your philosophy you make no use
If you give place to accidental evils .
BRUTUS
No man bears sorrow better . Portia is dead .
CASSIUS
Ha ? Portia ?
BRUTUS
She is dead .
CASSIUS
How ’scaped I killing when I crossed you so ?
O insupportable and touching loss !
Upon what sickness ?
BRUTUS
Impatient of my absence ,
And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
Have made themselves so strong — for with her
death
That tidings came — with this she fell distract
And , her attendants absent , swallowed fire .
CASSIUS
And died so ?
BRUTUS
Even so .
CASSIUS
O you immortal gods !
Enter Lucius with wine and tapers .
BRUTUS
Speak no more of her . — Give me a bowl of wine . —
In this I bury all unkindness , Cassius .
He drinks .
CASSIUS
My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge . —
Fill , Lucius , till the wine o’erswell the cup ;
I cannot drink too much of Brutus’ love .
He drinks .
Lucius exits .
Enter Titinius and Messala .
[163]ACT 4. SC. 3
BRUTUS
Come in , Titinius . Welcome , good Messala .
Now sit we close about this taper here ,
And call in question our necessities .
They sit .
CASSIUS
Portia , art thou gone ?
BRUTUS
No more , I pray you . —
Messala , I have here receivèd letters
That young Octavius and Mark Antony
Come down upon us with a mighty power ,
Bending their expedition toward Philippi .
MESSALA
Myself have letters of the selfsame tenor .
BRUTUS
With what addition ?
MESSALA
That by proscription and bills of outlawry ,
Octavius , Antony , and Lepidus
Have put to death an hundred senators .
BRUTUS
Therein our letters do not well agree .
Mine speak of seventy senators that died
By their proscriptions , Cicero being one .
CASSIUS
Cicero one ?
MESSALA
Cicero is dead ,
And by that order of proscription .
Had you your letters from your wife , my lord ?
BRUTUS
No , Messala .
MESSALA
Nor nothing in your letters writ of her ?
BRUTUS
Nothing , Messala .
MESSALA
That methinks is strange .
BRUTUS
Why ask you ? Hear you aught of her in yours ?
MESSALA
No , my lord .
[165]ACT 4. SC. 3
BRUTUS
Now , as you are a Roman , tell me true .
MESSALA
Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell ,
For certain she is dead , and by strange manner .
BRUTUS
Why , farewell , Portia . We must die , Messala .
With meditating that she must die once ,
I have the patience to endure it now .
MESSALA
Even so great men great losses should endure .
CASSIUS
I have as much of this in art as you ,
But yet my nature could not bear it so .
BRUTUS
Well , to our work alive . What do you think
Of marching to Philippi presently ?
CASSIUS
I do not think it good .
BRUTUS
Your reason ?
CASSIUS
This it is :
’Tis better that the enemy seek us ;
So shall he waste his means , weary his soldiers ,
Doing himself offense , whilst we , lying still ,
Are full of rest , defense , and nimbleness .
BRUTUS
Good reasons must of force give place to better .
The people ’twixt Philippi and this ground
Do stand but in a forced affection ,
For they have grudged us contribution .
The enemy , marching along by them ,
By them shall make a fuller number up ,
Come on refreshed , new-added , and encouraged ,
From which advantage shall we cut him off
If at Philippi we do face him there ,
These people at our back .
CASSIUS
Hear me , good brother —
[167]ACT 4. SC. 3
BRUTUS
Under your pardon . You must note besides
That we have tried the utmost of our friends ,
Our legions are brim full , 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 ;
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 .
CASSIUS
Then , with your will , go on ;
We’ll along ourselves and meet them at Philippi .
BRUTUS
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 .
CASSIUS
No more . Good night .
They stand .
Early tomorrow will we rise and hence .
BRUTUS
Lucius .
Enter Lucius .
My gown .
Lucius exits .
Farewell , good Messala . —
Good night , Titinius . — Noble , noble Cassius ,
Good night and good repose .
CASSIUS
O my dear brother ,
This was an ill beginning of the night .
Never come such division ’tween our souls !
Let it not , Brutus .
Enter Lucius with the gown .
[169]ACT 4. SC. 3
BRUTUS
Everything is well .
CASSIUS
Good night , my lord .
BRUTUS
Good night , good brother .
TITINIUS / MESSALA
Good night , Lord Brutus .
BRUTUS
Farewell , everyone .
All but Brutus and Lucius exit .
Give me the gown . Where is thy instrument ?
LUCIUS
Here in the tent .
BRUTUS
What , thou speak’st drowsily ?
Poor knave , I blame thee not ; thou art o’erwatched .
Call Claudius and some other of my men ;
I’ll have them sleep on cushions in my tent .
LUCIUS
Varro and Claudius .
Enter Varro and Claudius .
VARRO
Calls my lord ?
BRUTUS
I pray you , sirs , lie in my tent and sleep .
It may be I shall raise you by and by
On business to my brother Cassius .
VARRO
So please you , we will stand and watch your
pleasure .
BRUTUS
I will not have it so . Lie down , good sirs .
It may be I shall otherwise bethink me .
They lie down .
Look , Lucius , here’s the book I sought for so .
I put it in the pocket of my gown .
LUCIUS
I was sure your Lordship did not give it me .
BRUTUS
Bear with me , good boy , I am much forgetful .
[171] ACT 4. SC. 3 Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile
And touch thy instrument a strain or two ?
LUCIUS
Ay , my lord , an ’t please you .
BRUTUS
It does , my boy .
I trouble thee too much , but thou art willing .
LUCIUS
It is my duty , sir .
BRUTUS
I should not urge thy duty past thy might .
I know young bloods look for a time of rest .
LUCIUS
I have slept , my lord , already .
BRUTUS
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 and a song .
Lucius then falls asleep .
This is a sleepy tune . O murd’rous slumber ,
Layest 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 .
He moves the instrument .
Let me see , let me see ; is not the leaf turned down
Where I left reading ? Here it is , I think .
How ill this taper burns .
Enter the Ghost of Caesar .
Ha , who comes here ? —
I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous apparition .
It comes upon me . — Art thou any thing ?
Art thou some god , some angel , or some devil ,
That mak’st my blood cold and my hair to stare ?
Speak to me what thou art .
[173]ACT 4. SC. 3
GHOST
Thy evil spirit , Brutus .
BRUTUS
Why com’st thou ?
GHOST
To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi .
BRUTUS
Well , then I shall see thee again ?
GHOST
Ay , at Philippi .
BRUTUS
Why , I will see thee at Philippi , then .
Ghost exits .
Now I have taken heart , thou vanishest .
Ill spirit , I would hold more talk with thee . —
Boy , Lucius ! — Varro , Claudius , sirs , awake !
Claudius !
LUCIUS
The strings , my lord , are false .
BRUTUS
He thinks he still is at his instrument .
Lucius , awake !
LUCIUS
My lord ?
BRUTUS
Didst thou dream , Lucius , that thou so criedst out ?
LUCIUS
My lord , I do not know that I did cry .
BRUTUS
Yes , that thou didst . Didst thou see anything ?
LUCIUS
Nothing , my lord .
BRUTUS
Sleep again , Lucius . — Sirrah Claudius !
To Varro .
Fellow thou , awake !
They rise up .
VARRO
My lord ?
CLAUDIUS
My lord ?
BRUTUS
Why did you so cry out , sirs , in your sleep ?
BOTH
Did we , my lord ?
BRUTUS
Ay . Saw you anything ?
VARRO
No , my lord , I saw nothing .
[175]ACT 4. SC. 3
CLAUDIUS
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 .
BOTH
It shall be done , my lord .
They exit .