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, And then the end is known.-Come, ho! away! [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. The Field of Battle. Alarum. Enter BRUTUS and MESSALA. Bru. Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills 1 Unto the legions on the other side. [Loud alarum. Let them set on at once; for I perceive [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. Another Part of the Field. Alarum. Enter CASSIUS and TITINIUS. Cas. 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. 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 inclosed. Enter PINDARUS, Pin. Fly farther off, my lord, fly farther off; Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord! Fly, therefore, noble Cassius, fly far off. 1 This and much of the subsequent scene is from the old translation of Plutarch:—“In the meane tyme Brutus, that led the right winge, sent little billes to the collonels and captaines of private bandes, in which he wrote the order of the battle." Cas. This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius; Are those my tents, where I perceive the fire? Tit. They are, my lord. Cas. 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 assured, Whether yond' troops are friend or enemy. Tit. I will be here again, even with a thought. Cas. Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill.1 [Exit. [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.-Sirrah,2 what news? Pin. [Above.] O, my lord! Cas. What news? Pin. Titinius is inclosed round about With horsemen, that make to him on the spur ;- And hark! [Shout.] they shout for joy. Cas. 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. Enter PINDARUS. 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! 1 Cassius is now on a hill: he therefore means a hillock somewhat higher than that on which he now is. 2 Sirrah, as appears from many of the old plays, was the usual address in speaking to servants and children. See note on Macbeth, Act iv. Sc. 2. Now be a freeman; and with this good sword, [Dies. Pin. 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. [Exit. 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. Tit. Mes. Is not that he, that lies upon the ground? Tit. 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 But kill'st the mother that engendered 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 envenomed, Tit. And I will seek for Pindarus the while. Hie you, Messala, [Exit MESSALA. Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius? And bid me give't thee? Didst thou not hear their shouts ? Alas, thou hast misconstrued every thing. But hold thee, take this garland on thy brow; Will do his bidding.-Brutus, come apace, By your leave, gods.-This is a Roman's part; Come, Cassius' sword, and find Titinius' heart. [Dies. Alarum. Re-enter MESSALA, with BRUTUS, young Bru. Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie? Cato. He is slain. Bru. O Julius Cæsar, thou art mighty yet! Thy spirit walks abroad, and turns our swords In our own proper entrails. Cato. [Low alarums. Brave Titinius! Look, whe'r he have not crowned dead Cassius! It is impossible, that ever Rome Should breed thy fellow.-Friends, I owe more tears 1 "Objectum est Historico (Cremutio Cordo. Tacit. Ann. lib. iv. 34,) quod Brutum Cassiumque ultimos Romanorum dixisset."-Suet. Tiber. lib. iii. c. 61. Come, therefore, and to Thassos send his body; [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Another Part of the Field. Alarum. Enter, fighting, Soldiers of both Armies; then BRUTUS, CATO, LUCILIUS, and others. Bru. Yet, countrymen, O yet, hold up your heads! Cato. What bastard doth not? Who will go with me? I will proclaim my name about the field :— I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho! A foe to tyrants, and my country's friend; [Charges the enemy. Bru. And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I; Brutus, my country's friend; know me for Brutus. [Exit, charging the enemy. overpowered, and falls. CATO is Luc. O young and noble Cato, art thou down? 1 Sold. Yield, or thou diest. Luc. Only I yield to die. There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight; [Offering money. Kill Brutus, and be honored in his death. 1 Sold. We must not.-A noble prisoner! 2 Sold. Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en. 1 Sold. I'll tell the news.-Here comes the gen eral; Enter ANTONY. Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord. |