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 soldier's hands;
Who to Phil

Philippi here consortedt 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.

Cas. I but believe it partly;

For I am fresh of spirit, and resolv'd

To meet all perils very constantly.

Bru. Even so, Lucilius.

Cas. Now, most noble Brutus,

The gods to-day stand friendly; that we may, Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age!

But, since the affairs of men rest still uncer

tain, Let's reason with the worst that may befall. If we do lose the 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.

Cas. 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.
Cas. For ever, and for ever, farewell, Bru-
tus!

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,
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 billst

Unto the legions on the other side:

[Loud Alarum.

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.
[Exeunt.

tinius;

Are those my tents, where I perceive the fire ? Tit. They are, my lord.

Cas. Titinius, if thou lov'st me, [him, Mount thou my horse, and hide thy spurs in 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. [Exit.

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

news?

Tit. These tidings will well comfort Cassius.
Mes. Where did you leave him?
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. No, this was he, Messala,

But Cassius is no more. 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!

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 enveuomed, 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 MESSALA. Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius? Did I not meet thy friends? and did not they Put on my brows this wreath of victory,

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;
Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I
Will do his bidding.-Brutus, come apace,
And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.-
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 CATO, STRATO, VOLUMNIUS, and Luci

LIUS.

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;
I am the son of Marcus Cato, hó!

[Charges the Enemy. Bru. And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I; Brutus, my country's friend; know me for

Brutus.

[Exit, charging the Enemy. CATO is overpowered, and falls.

Luc. O young and noble Cato, art thou down?

Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius;
And may'st be honour'd being Cato's son.
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 honour'd 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 general:

A prize no less in worth: keep this man safe,
Give him all kindness: I had rather have
Such men my friends, than enemies. Go on,
And see whe'r* Brutus be alive, or dead:
And bring us word unto Octavius' tent,
How every thing is chanc'd.

[Exeunt

Bru. Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock.

Cli. Statilius show'd the torch-light; but, my lord,

He came not back; he is or ta'en, or slain. Bru. Sit thee down, Clitus: Slaying is the word;

It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus.[Whispering. Cli. What, I, my lord? No, not for all the world.

Bru. Peace then, no words.
Cli. I'll rather kill myself.

Bru. Hark thee, Dardanius! [Whispers him.
Dar. I do such a deed?

Cli. O, Dardanius!

Dar. O, Clitus!

Cli. What ill request did Brutus make to thee?

tates.

Cli. Now is that noble vessel full of grief,

That it runs over even at his eyes.

Bru. Come hither, good Volumnius; list a word.

Vol. What says my lord?

Bru. Why, this, Volumnius:

The ghost of Cesar hath appear'd to me

Two several times by night: at Sardis, once; And, this last night, here in Philippi' fields. I know, my hour is come.

Vol. Not so, my lord.

Bru. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius. Thou see'st the world, Volumnius, how it goes; Our enemies have beat us to the pit: It is more worthy to leap in ourselves, Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius, [gether; Thou know'st, that we two went to school toEven for that our love of old, I pray thee, Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it. Vol. That's not an office for a friend, my lord. [Alarum still. Cli. Fly, fly, my lord; there is no tarrying Bru. Farewell to you;-and you; and you, Volumnius.

here.

Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep:;
Farewell to thee too, Strato.-Countrymen, |
My heart doth joy, that yet, in all my life,
I found no man, but he was true to me.
I shail have glory by this losing day,
More than Octavius, and Mark Antony,
By this vile conquest shall attain unto.
So, fare you well at once; for Brutus' tongue

Hath almost ended his life's history:
[rest,
Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would
That have but labour'd to attain this hour.

[Alarum. Cry within; Fly, fly, fly.

Cli. Fly, my lord, fly.

Bru. Hence; I will follow thee.

[Exeunt CLITUS, DARDANIUS, and VOLUM

NIUS.

I pr'ythee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord:
Thou art a fellow of a good respect;

Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it:

While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato? Stra. Give me your hand first: Fare you well, my lord.

Bru. Farewell, good Strato.-Cesar, now be

still:

I kill'd not thee with half so good a will. [He runs on his Sword and dies.

Alurum. Retreat. Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, MESSALA, LUCILIUS, and their Army.

Oct. What man is that?

Mes. My master's man. Strato, where is

thy master?

Stra. Free from the bondage you are in
Messala;

The conquerors can but make a fire of him;
For Brutus only overcame himself,
And no man else hath honour by his death.

Luc. So Brutus should be found. I thank
thee, Brutus,

That thou hast prov'd Lucilius' saying true. Oct. All that serv'd Brutus, I will entertain them.*

Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me? Stra. Ay, if Messala will prefert me to you. Oct. Do so, Messala.

Mes. How died my master, Strato? Stra. I held the sword, and he did run on it. Mes. Octavius, then take him to follow thee, That did the latest service to my master.

Ant. This was the noblest Roman of them

[all:

All the conspirators, save only he,
Did that they did in envy of great Cesar;
He, only, in a general honest thought,
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle; and the elements
So mix'd in him, that Nature might stand up,
And say to all the world, This was a man!

Oct. According to his virtue let us use him,
With all respect and rites of burial.
Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie,
Most like a soldier, order'd honourably.-
So, call the field to rest: and let's away,
To part the glories of this happy day. [Exeunt.

PATRA'S Palace.

Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO.

Phil. Nay, but this dotage of our general's, O'erflows the measure: those his goodly eyes, That o'er the files and musters of the war

Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn,

The office and devotion of their view
Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart,
Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst
The buckles on his breast, reneges* all tem-
per;

And is become the bellows, and the fan,
To cool a gypsy's lust. Look where they

come!

Enter an ATTENDANT.

Att. News, my good lord, from Rome.
Ant. Grates* me: -The sum.

Cleo. Nay, hear them, Antony:
Fulvia, perchance is angry; Or, who knows
If the scarce-bearded Cesar have not sent
His powerful mandate to you, Do this, or this;
Take int that kingdom, and enfranchise that;
Perform't, or else we damn thee.

Ant. How, my love!

Cleo. Perchance,-nay, and most like, You must not stay here longer, your dismission Is come from Cesar; therefore hear it, Antony.Where's Fulvia's process! Cesar's, I would say?-Both?

Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt's queen, Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine [shame, Is Cesar's homager; else so thy cheek pays When shrill-tongu'd Fulvia scolds. The messengers.

Ant. Let Rome in Tyber melt! and the wide arch

Of the rang'd empire fall! Here is my space; Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life Is, to do thus; when such a mutual pair, [Embracing. And such a twain can do't, in which, I bind * Offends.

† Subdue, conquer. ‡ Summons,

Than that which is to approach.

Char. Then, belike, my children shall have no names: Pr'ythee, how many boys and wenches must I have?

Sooth. If every of your wishes had a womb, And fertile every wish, a million.

Char. Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch. Alex. You think, none but your sheets are

privy to your wishes.

Char. Nay, come, tell Iras hers.
Alex. We'll know all our fortunes.

Eno. Mine, and most of our fortunes, to

night, shall be-drunk to bed.

Iras. There's a palm presages chastity, if nothing else.

Char. Even as the overflowing Nilus presageth famine.

Iras. Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot soothsay.

Char. Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful prognostication, I cannot scratch mine ear.Pr'ythee, tell her but a worky-day fortune. Sooth. Your fortunes are alike. Iras. But how, but how? give me particulars.

Sooth. I have said.

Iras. Am I not an inch of fortune better than

she?

Char. Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better than I, where would you choose it? Iras. Not in my husband's nose.

Char. Our worser thoughts heavens mend!

Alexas, come, his fortune, his fortune.-O, Isis, I beseech thee! And let her die too, and

let him marry a woman that cannot go, sweet

give him a worse! and let worse follow worse, till the worst of all follow him laughing to his grave, fifty-fold a cuckold! Good Isis, hear me this prayer, though thou deny me a matter of more weight; good Isis, I beseech thee!

Iras. Amen. Dear goddess, hear that prayer of the people! for, as it is a heart-breaking to see a handsome man loose-wived, so it is a deadly sorrow to behold a foul knave uncuckolded; Therefore, dear Isis, keep decorum, and fortune him accordingly !

Char. Amen.