As Pompey was, am I compell'd to fet
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 prefage.
Coming from Sardis, on our former enfign
Two mighty eagles fell; and there they perch'd,
Gorging and feeding from our foldiers' hands;
Who to Philippi here conforted 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 fickly prey; their shadows feem
A canopy most fatal, under which

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

I but believe it partly;

Caf.
For I am fresh of spirit, and refolv'd

To meet all perils very constantly.

Bru. Even fo, Lucilius.
Caf.
The gods to-day stand friendly; that we may,
Lovers, in peace, lead on our days to age!
But, fince the affairs of men reft ftill uncertain,
Let's reason with the worst that may befall.
If we do lose this battle, then is this
The very laft time we shall speak together:
What are you then determined to do?

Now, most noble Brutus,

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,

Το

To ftay the providence of fome high powers,
That govern us below.

Caf.

Then, if we lose this battle,

You are contented to be led in triumph

Thorough the ftreets of Rome?

Bru. No, Caffius, no: think not, thou noble Roman, 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 shall meet again, I know not.
Therefore our everlasting farewell take :-
For ever, and for ever, farewell, Caffius!
If we do meet again, why we shall simile;
If not, why then this parting was well made.
Caf. For ever, and for ever, farewell, Brutus !
If we do meet again, we'll fmile 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 fufficeth, that the day will end,

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

SCENE II.

The fame. The field of battle.

Alarum. Enter BRUTUS and MESSALA

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

Unto the legions on the other fide :

Let them fet on at once; for I perceive
But cold demeanour in Octavius' wing,
And fudden pufh gives them the overthrow.
Ride, ride, Meffala; let them all come down.

[Loud alarum.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE III.

The fame. Another part of the field.

Alarum. Enter CASSIUS and TITINIUS.

Caf. O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly!
Myself have to mine own turn'd enemy :
This enfign here of mine was turning back;
I flew the coward, and did take it from him.
Tit. O Caffius, Brutus gave the word too early:
Who, having fome advantage on Octavius,
Took it too eagerly; his foldiers fell to spoil,
Whilft 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 Caffius, fly far off.

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

Are those my tents, where I perceive the fire?

Tit. They are, my lord.

Caf.

Titinius, if thou lov'ft me,
Mount thou my horse, and hide thy fpurs 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.
Caf. Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill;

My fight was ever thick; regard Titinius,
And tell me what thou not'st about the field.-

[Exit.

[Exit PINDARUS.

This day I breathed first time is come round,

:

And, where I did begin, there fhall I end;

My life is run his compafs.-Sirrah, what news?
Pin. [above.] O my lord!
Caf. What news?

Pin. Titinius is

Enclosed round about with horsemen, that

Make to him on the spur ;-yet he fpurs on.-
Now they are almost on him; now, Titinius!—

Now fome 'light :-0, he 'lights too :-he's ta'en ;—and,

hark!

They shout for joy.

Caf.

[Shout.

Come down, behold no more.—

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

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

Come hither, firrah :

Enter PINDARUS.

In Parthia did I take thee prisoner;

And then I fwore thee, faving of thy life,

That whatsoever I did bid thee do,

Thou should'st attempt it. Come now, keep thine cath! Now be a freeman; and, with this good fword,

That ran through Cæfar's bowels, fearch this bofom.
Stand not to answer: Here, take thou the hilts;
And, when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now,

Guide thou the sword.-Cæfar, thou art reveng`d,

Even with the sword that kill'd thee.

[Dies.

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

Durst I have done my will. O Caffius!

Far from this country Pindarus fhall run,
Where never Roman fhall take note of him.

[Exit.

Re-enter

Re-enter TITINIUS, with MESSALA.

Mej. It is but change, Titinius; for Octavius
Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power,
As Caffius' legions are by Antony.

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

Tit.

All difconfolate,
With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.

Mef. Is not that 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,
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 done! Mistrust of my success hath done this deed.

Mef. Miftruft of good fuccefs hath done this deed.

O hateful error, melancholy's child!

Why doft thou fhow 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,

G 2

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