ACT V. SCENE I.-The Plains of Philippi. Ant. Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I know Enter a Messenger. Mess. Prepare you, generals : Oct. Upon the right hand I, keep thou the left. Drum. Enter BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and their Army; LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, MESSALA, and Others. Bru. They stand, and would have parley. Cas. Stand fast, Titinius: We must out and talk. Oct. Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle? Ant. No, Cæsar, we will answer on their charge. Make forth, the generals would have some words. Oct. Stir not until the signal. Bru. Words before blows: Is it so, countrymen? Oct. Not that we love words better, as you do. Bru. Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius. Ant. In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words: Witness the hole you made in Cæsar's heart, Cas. Antony, The posture of your blows are yet unknown; And leave them honeyless. Ant. Not stingless too. Bru. O, yes, and soundless too; For you have stol'n their buzzing, Antony, Ant. Villains, you did not so, when your vile daggers Hack'd one another in the sides of Cæsar: You show'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like hounds, And bow'd like bondmen, kissing Cæsar's feet; Cas. Flatterers!---Now, Brutus, thank yourself: This tongue had not offended so to-day, If Cassius might have rul'd. Oct. Come, come, the cause: If arguing make us sweat, The proof of it will turn to redder drops. Look; I draw a sword against conspirators; When think you that the sword goes up again?- Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors. Unless thou bring'st them with thee. I was not born to die on Brutus' sword. Bru. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain, Young man, thou could'st not die more honourable. Cas. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour, Join'd with a masker and a reveller. Ant. Old Cassius still! Oct. Come, Antony; away. [Exeunt OCTAVIus, Antony, and their Army. Cas. Why now, blow, wind; swell, billow; and swim, bark! The storm is up, and all is on the hazard. Lucilius; hark, a word with you. Luc. My lord. [BRUTUS and LUCILIUS converse apart. Cas. Messala,-- Mes. What says my general? Cas. Messala, This is my birth-day; as this very day 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 You know, that I held Epicurus strong, Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost. Cas. I but believe it partly; For I am fresh of spirit, and resolv'd Cas. Now, most noble Brutus, The gods to-day stand friendly; that we may, But, since the affairs of men rest still uncertain, Let's reason with the worst that may befall. Bru. Even by the rule of that philosophy, For fear of what might fall, so to prevent Cas. Then, if we lose this battle, Through 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 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! |