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.

Cass. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour, Join'd with a masker and a reveller!

Come, Antony; away!

Ant. Old Cassius still!
Oct.
Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth:
If you dare fight to-day, come to the field;
have stomachs.

If not,

when you

[Exeunt Octavius, Antony, and their Army.

Cass. Why, now, blow wind, swell billow, and swim bark! The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.

This is my birth-day; as this very day

Messala,

Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala:
Be thou my witness that, against my will,
As Pompey was, am I compell'd 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 ensign
Two mighty eagles fell; and there they perch'd,
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 up the ghost.
Mes. Believe not so.

Cass.

I but believe it partly;

For I am fresh of spirit, and resolv'd
To meet all perils very constantly.
Bru. Even so, Lucilius.

Cass.

Now, most noble Brutus,

The gods to-day stand friendly, that we may,
Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age!
But, since th' 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?

Bru. 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.

Cass.

Then, if we lose this battle,

You are contented to be led in triumph

Thorough the streets of Rome?

Bru. 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.
Cass. 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.

Bru. Why, then, lead on. O, that a man might know The end of this day's business ere it come! But it sufficeth that the day will end.

Bru. 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 Octavius' wing,
And sudden push gives them the overthrow.

Ride, ride, Messala: let them all come down.

SCENE III. The same.

[Exeunt.

Another part of the field.

Alarums. Enter CASSIUS and TITINIUS.

Cass. O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly!
Myself have to mine own turn'd enemy:

This ensign here of mine was turning back;
I slew the coward, and did take it from him.

Tit. 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 enclos'd.

Enter PINDARUS.

Pin. Fly further off, my lord, fly further off;

Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord:

Fly, therefore, noble Cassius, fly far' off.

Cass. This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius;

Are those my tents where I perceive the fire?

Tit. They are, my lord.

Сазг.

Titinius, if thou lov'st 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 assur'd
Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.

Tit. I will be here again, even with a thought.
Cass. Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill;
My sight was ever thick; regard Titinius,
And tell me what thou not'st about the field.

[Exit.

[Pindarus goes up.

This day I breathed first: time is come round,
And where I did begin, there shall I end;
My life is run his compass.

Pin. [above] O my lord!

Cass. What news?

Sirrah, what news?

Pin. [above] Titinius is enclosed round about With horsemen, that make to him on the spur; Yet he spurs on.

Now,

Titinius!

Now they are almost on him;

Now some light: O, he lights too: he's ta'en; [Shout] and, hark!

They shout for joy.

Cass.

Come down, behold no more.

O, coward that I am, to live so long,

To see my best friend ta'en before my face!

Come hither, sirrah:

PINDARUS descends.

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 Cæsar's bowels, search this bosom.
Stand not to answer: here, take thou the hilts;

And, when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now,

Guide thou the sword.

Cæsar, thou art reveng'd,

Even with the sword that kill'd thee.

Pin. So, I am free; yet would not so have been,

[Dies.

Durst I have done my will. O Cassius!
Far from this country Pindarus shall run,
Where never Roman shall take note of him.

Re-enter TITINIUS with MESSALA.

Mes. It is but change, Titinius; for Octavius Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power,

As Cassius' legions are by Antony.

Tit. These tidings will well comfort Cassius.
Where did you leave him?

Mes.

Tit.
All disconsolate,
With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.
Mes. Is not that he that lies upon the ground?
Tit. He lies not like the living. O my heart!
Mes. Is not that he?

Tit.

But Cassius is no more.

No, this was he, Messala,
O setting sun,
As in thy red rays thou dost sink to night,
So in his red blood Cassius' day is set,
The sun of Rome is set! Our day is gone;

--

Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are done!
Mistrust of my success hath done this deed.

Mes. Mistrust of good success hath done this deed.
O hateful Error, Melancholy's child,

Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men
The things that are not? ( Error, soon conceiv'd,
Thou never com'st unto a happy birth,

But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee!

Tit. What, Pindarus! where art thou, Pindarus?
Mes. Seek him, Titinius, whilst I go to meet
The noble Brutus, thrusting this report
Into his ears: I may say, thrusting it;
For piercing steel, and darts envenomèd,
Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus
As tidings of this sight.

Tit.

Hie you, Messala,

And I will seek for Pindarus the while.

[Exit.

[Exit Messala.