ACT V.

Historically, there were two battles at Philippi, separated by an interval of two weeks. It is the former of these battles that the poet adopts as the ground-work of his representation, though the death of Brutus took place immediately after the second.

7.

5, 26.

Scene 1.

I am in their bosoms. See 1 Hen. IV, i, 3, 266; Lear, iv,

8. could be content: would like.

16. softly: slowly. See softly again in a military connection, Hamlet, iv, 4, 8.

17-20. Remember that according to military usage the ranking officer takes command of the right.

This little touch of acrimonious dissension between Octavius and Antony is not in Plutarch, who, however, tells of a disagreement, that was amicably settled, between Brutus and Cassius, on the same question of precedence. Cassius, the older man, yields to Brutus in this matter, as we have seen him do whenever difference of opinion arose between them. This grudging acquiescence of Antony in the leadership of young Octavius the poet invents as a foil to set off the ready and willing deference paid by Cassius to Brutus. We are not told in the play that Brutus went into the battle in command of the right of his army; but as we learn from v, 3, 51-53, that Brutus's wing confronted that of Octavius, and have seen that Octavius has insisted on having the command of his own right, we must infer that the poet, if he thought the matter out, gave to Brutus the subordinate position on the left, choosing herein to differ from his authority. Plutarch tells us : "Brutus prayed Cassius he might have the leading of the right wing, the which men thought was farre meeter for Cassius: both because he was the elder man, and also for that he had the better experience. But yet Cassius gave it to him," etc. In his life of Antony, Plutarch tells us: “When they had passed over the seas, and that

they began to make warre, they being both camped by their enemies, to wit, Antonius against Cassius, and Cæsar against Brutus : Cæsar did no great matter, but Antonius had alway the upper hand, and did all.” It is interesting to consider why Shakespeare, who in so many things follows Plutarch exactly, prefers not to follow him in this.

19. exigent. See Ant. and Cle. iv, 14, 63.

24.

we will answer on their charge: i.e., we will let them make the overture of battle.

33. The posture

still exceedingly common.

45.

59.

66.

1, 100.

Probably to be read as a four-syllable line.

strain. See Pericles, iv, 3, 24.

stomachs.

See Hen. V, iii, 7, 166, and iv, 3, 35; Ham. i,

71. as this very day. The as is apparently superfluous. See Meas. for Meas. v, 1, 74; Rom. and Jul. v, 3, 247. Consult Abbott's Shak. Gram. 114.

79. This absolute, or loose, employment of the participle, as in coming, has been common throughout the entire modern English period, and need not to-day be censured as incorrect or slovenly English. See a participle very loosely used, iv, 3, 218, this play. on our former ensign. The comparative former is here equivalent to the superlative foremost, as is shown in the words of Plutarch, "There came two Eagles that flying with a maruellous force, lighted upon two of the foremost ensignes," etc.

is

82. The relative who, says Abbott, Shak. Gram. 259, especially used after antecedents that are lifeless or irrational when personification is employed."

86. As we were.

See Mac. ii, 2, 28; v, 5, 13.

93. stand, subjunctive.

94. lovers. See this play, ii, 3, 8; iii, 2, 13; iii, 2, 44.

96. Let's reason with the worst: let us confer together in view of the possibility of the ruin of our cause in the impending battle. See M. of V. ii, 8, 27; Rom. and Jul. iii, 1, 55.

100-107. In this speech Brutus seems determined to stand by his stoic principles; and so Cassius understands him. But in his

next speech (110-118) he contemplates a fate so horrible as to justify him in sacrificing his philosophy. Thus, just as we have seen Cassius confess that he could no longer quite maintain his Epicurean opinions, so now we see Brutus shrinking from the consistent application of his stoic doctrines. Plutarch, in his life of Brutus, tells the story thus:

"The next morning, by breake of day, the signall of battell was set out in Brutus and Cassius campe

spake together in the midst of their armies.

& both the Chieftaines There Cassius began to o Brutus, that this day

speake first, and sayd: The gods grant vs, we may win the field, and euer after to liue all the rest of our life quietly, one with another. But sith the gods haue so ordained it, that the greatest and chiefest things amongst men are most vncertaine, and that if the battell fall out otherwise to-day than we wish or looke for, we shall hardly meet againe: what art thou then determined to do, to flie, or die? Brutus answered him, being yet but a yong man, and not ouer greatly experienced in the world: I trust (I know not how) a certaine rule of Philosophie, by the which I did greatly blame and reproue Cato for killing himselfe, as being no law full nor godly act, touching the gods: nor concerning men, valiant; nor to give place and yeeld to diuine prouidence, and not constantly and patiently to take whatsoeuer it pleaseth him to send vs, but to draw backe and flie: but being now in the middest of the danger, I am of a contrary mind. For if it be not the will of God, that this battell fall out fortunately for vs: I will looke no more for hope, neither seeke to make any new supply for war againe, but will rid me of this miserable world, and content me with my fortune. For, I gaue vp my life for my countrey in the Ides of March, for the which I shall live in another more glorious world. Cassius fell a laughing to heare what he sayd, & imbracing him, Come on then (said he) let us go & charge our enemies with this mind."

106. stay.

So in M. of V. ii, 8, 40; Mac. iv, 3, 142; Ham. v, 2, 24.

109. Thorough. A frequent form of the preposition when two syllables are needed. See Mid. N. Dream, ii, 1, 3.

113. begun. The English of to-day is still subject to the con

fusion of a and o in the past tense, and the participle of such verbs as begin, sing, spring, drink, etc. The cause of this confusion is easily ascertained.

Scene 2.

"In the meane time Brutus, that led the right wing, sent little bils to the Colonels and Captains of priuate bands, in the which he wrote the word of the battell, and besides, the most of them neuer taried to haue it told them," etc. Plut., Brutus.

Scene 3.

"Cassius thinking indeed that Titinius was taken of the enemies, he then spake these words: desiring too much to liue, I have liued to see one of my best friends taken, for my sake, before my face. After that, he got into a tent where no body was, and tooke Pindarus with him, one of his freed bondmen, whom he reserved euer for such a pinch. Then casting his cloke over his head, and holding out his bare necke vnto Pindarus, he gave him his head to be stricken off. So the head was found seuered from the body: but after that time Pindarus was never seene more." Plut., Brutus.

3, 4. ensign

it. The ensign is the subaltern officer who carried the standard, and the it refers to the standard which he bore.

11. Fly. It is interesting to note that Shakespeare uses the present flee only once, but the past fled very frequently; while in the Bible both tenses are equally common. The Bible always

uses the verb fly, flew, flown in its proper sense. Shakespeare uses the past flew properly, but regularly substitutes fly for flee. Remember that the translators of 1611 were influenced by older versions, while Shakespeare uses the language of his own day. 23. See Scene 1, line 71, this act.

32. Evidently a line of four syllables.

38. Saving of thy life; a mixture of participle with the gerundial form.

48. Durst I have done. Durst is here in precisely the same construction as is were in the clause, Were I Brutus. The mood of the verb in the latter case is obvious to the eye: in the former case it has to be inferred.

66.

Mistrust of my success: not doubt whether I had succeeded or not, but full belief that I had miscarried.

66

67. O hateful error, melancholy's child. Refer to Cassius's speech to Messala, 71-89, this act. Note also what Plutarch says: Touching Cassius, Messala reporteth that he supped by himself in his tent with a few of his friends, and that all supper time he looked verie sadly, & was full of thoughts, although it was against his nature: & that after supper he tooke him by the hand, & holding him fast (in token of kindnesse as his maner was) told him in Greeke: Messala, I protest unto thee, & make thee my witnesse, that I am compelled against my mind and will (as Pompey the great was) to ieopard the liberty of our country, to the hazard of a battell."

68. the apt thoughts of men: apt, as in iii, 1, 160, meaning inclined. See Hamlet, i, 5, 31.

Scene 4.

9. "There was the sonne of Marcus Cato slaine, valiantly fighting among the lustie youths." Plut., Brutus.

14. "One of Brutus friends called Lucilius, seeing a troupe of barbarous men, making no reckoning of all men else they met in their way, but going all together right against Brutus, determined to stay them with the hazard of his life, and being left behind, told them that he was Brutus." Plut., Brutus.

Scene 5.

2. Statilius had voluntarily gone into the enemies' camp to seek for Brutus information about the number of men slain in the battle, promising, if all were well, to lift up a torch-light in the air.