Imatges de pàgina
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To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus, When grief, and blood ill-temper'd, vexeth him Bru. When I spoke that, I was ill-temper'd too. Caf. Do you confefs fo much? Give me your hand. Bru. And my heart too.

Caf. O Brutus!————

Bru. What's the matter?

Caf. Have not you love enough to bear with me, When that rafh humour, which my mother gave me, Makes me forgetful?

Bru. Yes, Caffius; and, from henceforth, When you are over-earneft with your Brutus, He'll think your mother chides, and leave you fo. [A noife within. Poet. [within.] Let me go in to fee the generals; There is fome grudge between them, 'tis not meet They be alone.

Luc. [within.] You shall not come to them. Poet. [within.] Nothing but death shall stay me.

Enter Poet.

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That tidings came: With this fhe fell distract. And, her attendants abfent, fwallow'd fire 2. Caf. And dy'd fo?

Bru. Even fo.

Caf. O ye immortal gods!

Enter Lucius, with wine, and tapers.

Bru. Speak no more of her.-Give me a bowl of wine :

10In this I bury all unkindness, Caffius.

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20

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Caf. How now? What's the matter? [mean? Peet. For fhame, you generals; What do you 30 Love, and be friends, as two fuch men fhould be ;| For I have feen more years, I am fure, than ye. Caf. Ha, ha; how vilely doth this cynic rhime! Bru. Get you hence, firrah; faucy fellow, hence. Caf. Bear with him, Brutus; 'tis his fashion. Bru. I'll know his humour, when he knows his time: [fools?

What fhould the wars do with thefe jigging Companion', hence.

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[Drinks

:

Caf. My heart is thirfty for that noble pledge :Fill, Lucius, 'till the wine o'er-well the cup; I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. Re-enter Titinius, and Meffala.

Bru. Come in, Titinius :-Welcome, good
Meffala.

Now fit we clofe about this taper here,
And call in queftion our neceffitics.

Caf. Portia! art thou gone?

Bru. No more, I pray you.

Meffala, I have here received letters,
That young Octavius, and Mark Antony,
Come down upon us with a mighty power,
Bending their expedition towards Philippi.

Mef. Myfelf have letters of the felf-fame tenour.
Bru. With what addition?

Mej. That by profcription, and bills of outlawry,
Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus,
Have put to death a hundred fenators.

Bru. Therein our letters do not well agree;
Mine fpeak of feventy fenators, that dy'd
By their profcriptions, Cicero being one.
Caf. Cicero one?

Mef. Cicero is dead,

35 And by that order of profcription.

45

Had you your letters from your wife, my lord? Bru. No, Meffala.

Mef. Nor nothing in your letters writ of her? Bru. Nothing, Meffala.

Mef. That, methinks, is strange.

Bru. Why afk you? Hear you aught of her in yours? Mf. No, my lord.

Bru. Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true. Mef. Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell: For certain fhe is dead, and by strange manner. Bru. Why, farewel, Portia.-We muft die,

Meffala:

With meditating that she must die once, 50I have the patience to endure it now.

[fo?55

Caf. How 'fcap'd I killing, when I crofs'd you O infupportable and touching lofs !— Upon what fickness?

Bru. Impatient of my abfence;

And grief, that young Octavius with Mark Antony 6c Have made themfelves fo ftrong;-for with her death

Mf. Even fo great men great loffes should endure. Caf. I have as much of this in art as you, But yet my nature could not bear it fo.

[think

Bru. Well, to our work alive. What do you Of marching to Philippi presently?

Caf. I do not think it good.

Bru. Your reafon?

Caf. This it is:

'Tis better, that the enemy feek us:.

So fhall he wafte his means, weary his foldiers, Doing himfelf offence; whilft we, lying ftill, Are full of reft, defence, and nimbleness.

1 i. e. fellow. 2 This circumftance is taken from Plutarch, and is alfo mentioned by Val. Maximus. Pliny, however, reports her to have died at Rome of a lingering illnets, while Brutus was abroad.

E

Bra. Good reafons must, of force, give place
to better.

The people, 'twixt Philippi and this ground,
Do stand but in a forc'd affection;

For they have grudg'd us contribution:

The enemy, marching along by them,

By them fhall make a fuller number up,
Come on refresh'd, new-added, and encourag'd;
From which advantage fhall we cut him off,
If at Philippi we do face him there,
These people at our back.

Caf. Hear me, good brother.

Bra. Under your pardon.-You must note befide,
That we have try'd the utmost of our friends,
Our legions are brim full, our caufe 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 miferies.
On fuch a full fea are we now afloat;

And we must take the current when it ferves,
Or lofe our ventures.

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Bru. Bear with me, good boy, I am much for-
getful.

Can't thou hold up thy heavy eyes a while,
And touch thy instrument a strain or two?
Luc. Ay, my lord, an't please you.

Bru. It does, my boy :

trouble thee too much, but thou art willing. Luc. It is my duty, fir.

Bru. I fhould not urge thy duty past thy might; 10I know, young bloods look for a time of reft. Luc. I have flept, my lord, already.

[Mufick, and a fong

Bru. 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. 15 This is a fleepy tune :-O murd'rous flumber! Lay'ft thou thy leaden mace upon my boy, That plays thee mufick?--Gentle knave,good night; I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee.If thou doft nod, thou break'ft thy inftrument; 20 I'll take it from thee; and good boy, good night. Let me fee, let me fee;-Is not the leaf turn'd down,

Caf. Then, with your will, go on; we will along 25 Ourfelves, and meet them at Philippi.

Bru. The deep of night is crept upon our talk,
And nature must obey neceffity;

Which we will niggard with a little reft.
There is no more to fay?

Caf. No more. Good night:
Early to-morrow will we rife, and hence.

Bru. Lucius, my gown. [Exit Luc.] Farewel,
good Meffala;-

Good night, Titinius :-Noble, noble Caffius,
Good night, and good repose.

Caf. O my dear brother!

This was an ill beginning of the night:

Never come fuch divifion 'tween our fouls!

Let it not, Brutus.

Bru. Every thing is well.

Caf. Good night, my lord.

Bru. Good night, good brother.

Tit. Mef. Good night, lord Brutus.

Bra. Farewel, every one...

Re-enter Lucius, with the gown.

Where I left reading? Here it is, I think.
[He fits down to read.
Enter the Ghost of Cæfar.

How ill this taper burns!-Ha! who comes here?
I think, it is the weaknefs of mine eyes
That fhapes this monftrous apparition.
It comes upon me: Art thou any thing?
30 Art thou fome god, fome angel, or fome devil,
That mak'ft my blood cold, and my hair to stare?
Speak to me, what thou art.

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Gheft. Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
Bru. Why com'ft thou?

Gboft. To tell thee, thou fhalt fee me at Philippi.
Bru. Well; Then I fhall fee thee again?
Gbft. Ay, at Philippi.

[Exit Gbot.

Bru. Why, I will fee thee at Philippi then.→ Now I have taken heart, thou vanishest:

40Ill fpirit, I would hold more talk with thee.Boy! Lucius!-Varro! Claudius! Sirs, awake! Claudius!

Luc. The ftrings, my lord, are false.

Bru. He thinks, he still is at the inftrument.

[Exeunt. 45 Lucius, awake.

Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument?

Luc. Here in the tent.

Bru. What, thou speak'st drowsily?

Luc. My lord!

Pru. Didft thou dream, Lucius, that thou fo cry'dft out?

Luc. My lord, I do not know that I did cry.

Poor knave, I blame thee not; thou art o'er 50 Bru. Yes, that thou didft: Didft thou fee any

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SCENE I.

The Plains of Philippi.

ACT V.

Enter Octavius, Antony, and their Army.

Now,

[And bow'd like bondmen, kiffing Cæfar's feet;
Whilft damned Cafca, like a cur, behind,
Struck Cæfar on the neck. O you flatterers!
Caf. Flatterers! Now, Brutus, thank yourself:

TOW, Antony, our hopes are an- 5 This tongue had not offended so to-day,
fwered:

You faid, the enemy would not come down,
But keep the hills and upper regions;

It proves not fo: their battles are at hand;
They mean to warn us at Philippi here,
Answering before we do demand of them.

Ant. Tut, I am in their bofoms, and I know
Wherefore they do it: they could be content
To vifit other places; and come down
With fearful bravery, thinking, by this face,
To faften in our thoughts that they have courage;
But 'tis not fo.

Enter a Mefinger.

Mef. Prepare you, generals:

The enemy comes on in gallant fhew;
Their bloody fign of battle is hung out,
And fomething to be done immediately.

If Caffius might have rul'd.

[us fweat,
OƐta. Come, come, the caufe: If arguing make
The proof of it will turn to redder drops.
Look, I draw a fword against conspirators ;

10 When think you that the sword goes up again?→→
Never, 'till Cæfar's three and twenty wounds
Be well aveng'd; or 'till another Cæfar
Have added flaughter to the sword of traitors.
Bra. Cæfar, thou can'st not die by traitors hands,
15 Unless thou bring'ft them with thee.
Oca. So I hope;

20

Ant. Octavius, lead your battle foftly on,
Upon the left hand of the even field.
Ofta. Upon the right hand I, keep thou the left.25
Aut. Why do you crofs me in this exigent?
Otta. I do not cross you, but I will do fo.

[March. Drum. Enter Brutes, Caffius, and their Army 30 Lucilius, Titinius, Mesjala, &c.

Bru. They stand, and would have parley.
Caf. Stand faft, Titinius: We must out and talk.
Oćła. Mark Antony, shall we give fign of battle?
Ant. No, Cæfar, we will answer on their charge. 35
Make forth, the generals would have fome words.
Octa. Stir not until the fignal.

Br. Words before blows: Is it fo, countrymen?
Ota. Not that we love words better, as you do.
Bru. Good words are better than bad strokes, 40
Octavius.

Ant. In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good
words:

Witness the hole you made in Cæfar's heart,
Crying, Long live! bail Cafar!

Caf. Antony,

The pofture of your blows are yet unknown;
But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
And leave them honeylefs.

Ant. Not ftingless too.

Bru. O, yes, and foundless too;

For you have ftol'n their buzzing, Antony,
And, very wifely, threat before you sting.

Ant. Villains, you did not fo, when your vile]

daggers

Hack'd one another in the fides of Cæfar :

You fhew'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'ɗ like

hounds,

I was not born to die on Brutus' fword.

Bru. O, if thou wert the nobleft of thy ftrain, Young man, thou could'st not die more honourable.

Caf. A peevish fchool-boy, worthlefs of fuch
honour,

Join'd with a masker and a reveller.
Ant. Old Caffius ftill!

Octa. Come, Antony: away.
Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth:
If you dare fight to-day, come to the field;
If not, when you have ftomachs.

[Exeunt Octavius, Antony, and Army. Caf. Why now, blow, wind; fwell, billow; and fwim, bark!

The ftorm is up, and all is on the hazard.
Bru. Ho, Lucilius; hark, a word with you.
[Lucilius and Meffala ftand forth.
[Brutus fpeaks apart to Lucilius.

Luc. My Lord.
Caf. Meffala.

Mef. What fays my general?

Caf. Meffala,

This is my birth-day; as this very day
Was Caffius born. Give me thy hand, Meffala:
Be thou my witnefs, that, against my will,
As Pompey was, am I compell'd to fet
Upon one battle all our liberties.

You know, that I held Epicurus strong,
45 And his opinion: now I change my mind,
And partly credit things that do prefage.
Coming from Sardis, on our foremost enfign
Two mighty eagles fell; and there they perch'd,
Gorging and feeding from our foldiers' hands;
50 Who to Philippi here conforted us:

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This morning are they fled away, and gone;
And, in their fteads, do ravens, crows, and kites,
Fly o'er our heads, and downward look on us,
As we were fickly prey; their fhadows feem
A canopy most fatal, under which

Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost.
Mef. Believe not fo.

Caf. I but believe it partly ;

For

For I am fresh of spirit, and refolv'd

To meet all perils very constantly.
Bru. Even fo, Lucilius.

Caf. Now, most noble Brutus,

The gods to-day ftand friendly; that we may,
Lovers, in peace, lead on our days to age!
But fince the affairs of men reft ftill uncertain,
Let's reafon with the worst that may befall.
If we do lose this battle, then is this
The very laft time we shall speak together 1:
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 fome bigh powers,
That govern us below.

Caf. Then, if we lofe this battle,

You are contented to be led in triumph
Thorough the streets of Rome ?

[Roman,

Bru. No, Caffius, no: think not, thou noble That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome; He bears too great a mind. But this fame day Muft end that work, the ides of March begun; And whether we fhall meet again, I know not. Therefore our everlasting farewel take :For ever, and for ever, farewel, Caffius! If we do meet again, why we shall smile; If not, why then this parting was well made. Caf. For ever, and for ever, farewel, Brutus!

5

Enter Pindarus.

Pin. Fly further off, my lord, fly further off; Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord:

Fly therefore, noble Caffius, fly far off.

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

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

Caf. Titinius, if thou lov’st me,

10 Mount thou my horfe, and hide thy fpurs in him, "Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops, And here again; that I may rest affur'd, Whether yon troops are friend or enemy.

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Tit. I will be here again, even with a thought.

[Exit. Caf. Go, Pindarus, get thither on that hill; My fight was ever thick; regard Titinius, And tell me what thou not'st about the field.[Exit Pindarus. 20 This day I breathed first: time is come round, And, where I did begin, there shall I end: My life is run his compafs.-Sirrah, what news? Pind. [above.] O my lord!

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Caf. What news?

Pind. Titinius is enclosed round about With horfemen, that make to him on the spur; Yet he fpurs on.-Now they are almost on him;

now,

Titinius!-Now fome 'light :-O, he 'lights too: 30 He's ta'en; and, hark, they shout for joy.

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 35
might know

The end of this day's business, ere it come!
But it fufficeth, that the day will end,

And then the end is known.-Come, ho! away!

SCENE II.

Caf. Come down, behold no more.O, coward that I am, to live fo long, To fee my best friend ta'en before my face! Re-enter Pindarus.

Come hither, firrah:

In Parthia did I take thee prisoner;
And then I fwore thee, faving of thy life,
That whatsoever I did bid thee do,

[Shout.

[oath;

[Exeunt. 40 Thou should'st attempt it. Come now, keep thine
Now be a freeman; and, with this good sword,
That ran through Caefar's bowels, fearch this bofom.
Stand not to answer: Here, take thou the hilts;
And, when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now,

Alarum. Enter Brutus, and Messala.

Bra. Ride, ride, Meffala, ride, and give these bills

Unto the legions on the other fide:

Let them fet on at once; for I perceive

[Loud alarm.

But cold demeanor in Octavius' wing,

And sudden push gives them the overthrow. Ride, ride, Meffala; let them all come down.

SCENE III.

Alarum. Enter Caffius, and Titinius.

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[Dies.

Pind. So, I am free; yet would not fo have been, Durft I have done my will. O Caffius!

Far from this country Pindarus shall run,
Where never Roman shall take note of him. [Exit.
Re-enter Titinius, with Mesjala.

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

As Caffius' legions are by Antony.

Tit. Thefe tidings will well comfort Caffius. Mif. Where did you leave him?

Tit. All difconfolate,

With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.

Mef. Is that not he, that lies upon the ground? Tit. He lies not like the living. O my heart! Mef. Is not that he?

Tit. No, this was he, Meffala,

■ i, e. I am refolved in such a cafe to kill myself.

But

But Caffius is no more.-O fetting fun!
As in thy red rays thou doft fink to night,
So in his red blood Caffius' day is fet;
The fun of Rome is fet! Our day is gone;

Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are 5
done;

Miftruft of my fuccefs hath done this deed.

Mef. Miftruft of good fuccefs hath done this deed.
O hateful error, melancholy's child!

Why doft thou fhew to the apt thoughts of men
The things that are not? O error, foon conceiv'd,
Thou never com'ft unto a happy birth,
But kill'ft the mother that engender'd thee.

Tit. What, Pindarus! Where art thou, Pindarus?
Mef. Seek him, Titinius; whilft I go to meet
The noble Brutus, thrusting this report
Into his ears I may fay, thrusting it;
For piercing steel, and darts envenomed,
Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus,

As tidings of this fight.

Tit. Hie you, Meffala,
And I will feek for Pindarus the while. [Exit Mef.
Why didft thou fend me forth, brave Caffius?
Did I not meet thy friends? and did not they
Put on my brows this wreath of victory,

And bid me give it thee? Didft thou not hear their

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I will proclaim my name about the field :-
I am the fon of Marcus Cato, ho!

A foe to tyrants, and my country's friend;
I am the fon of Marcus Cato, ho!

Enter Soldiers, and fight.

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

Luc. O young and noble Cato, art thou down? 10Why, now thou dy'ft as bravely as Titinius; And may'ft be honour'd being Cato's fon.

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Alas, thou haft mifconftrued 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 fee how I regarded Caius Caffius.-

30

1 Sold, Yield, or thou dieft.

Luc. Only 1 yield to die:

There is fo much, that thou wilt kill me ftraight;
[Offering munty.

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:

Enter Antony.

Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord.
Ant. Where is he?

Luc. Safe, Antony; Brutus is safe enough:
dare affure thee, that no enemy

Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus:
The gods defend him from fo great a fhame!
When you do find him, or alive or dead,
He will be found like Brutus, like himself.

Ant. This is not Brutus, friend; but, I affure you,
A prize no lefs in worth: keep this man safe,
Give him all kindness: I had rather have
Such men my friends, than enemies. Go on,
And fee whe'r Brutus be alive, or dead;
[Dies. 35 And bring us word, unto Octavius' tent,
How every thing is chanc'd.

By your leave, gods :-This is a Roman's part;
Come, Caffius' fword, and find Titinius' heart.

Alarum. Enter Brutus, Meffila, yung Cato, Strato,
Volumnius, and Lucilius.

Bra. Where, where, Meffala, doth his body lie?
Mef. Lo, yonder: and Titinius mourning it.
Bru. Titinius's face is upward,
Cato. He is flain.

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Cato. Brave Titinius!-
Look, whe'r he have not crown'd dead Caffius!
Bur. Are yet two Romans living fuch as thefe ?-
Thou laft of all the Romans, fare thee well!
It is impoffible that ever Rome

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Should breed thy fellow.--Friends, I owe more tears 50
To this dead man, than you shall see me pay.-
I shall find time, Caffius, I fhall find time.-
Come, therefore, and to Thaffos fend his body;
His funeral fhall not be in our camp,
Left it discomfort us.-Lucilius, come ;—
And come, young Cato; let us to the field.-
Labeo, and Flavius, fet our battles on:-
'Tis three o'clock; and, Romans, yet ere night
We fhall try fortune in a fecond fight.

55

Cli. What ill request did Brutus make to thee?
Dar. To kill him, Clitus: Look, he meditates.

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Cli. Now is that noble vessel full of grief,
That it runs over even at his eyes.

Bru. Come hither, good Volumnius: lift a word.
Vol. What fays my lord?

Bru. Why, this, Volumnius:

The ghost of Cæfar hath appear'd to me
Two feveral times by night: at Sardis, once;
And, this last night, here in Philippi' fields.

Cato. What baftard doth not? Who will go with 65]I know, my hour is come.

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