Bru. {R). They stand, and would have
parley.^
Cas. (R). Stand fast, Titinius: we must out
and talk.^
209
JULIUS C^SAR
Oct. (C). Mark Antony, shall we give sign
of battle?
Ant. (L C.) No, Caesar, we will answer on
their charge.
Make forth; the generals would have some words.
Enter Brutus, Cassius, and their Army R
Oct. (C). Stir not until the signal.
Bru. {R C). Words before blows: is it so,
countrymen?
Oct. {L C). Not that we love words better,
as you do.
Bru. {R C). Good words are better than
bad strokes, Octavius.
Ant. (L C). In your bad strokes, Brutus, you
give good words:
Witness the hole you made in Ceesar's heart,
Crying "Long live! hail, Caesar!"
Cas. (R). Antony,
The posture of your blows are yet unknown;
But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
And leave them honeyless.
Ant. Not stingless too.
Bru. O, yes, and soundless too;
For you have stol'n their buzzing, Antony.
^Antony has struck right home; his politics is
pretty had, hut he admired Ccesar.
JULIUS C^SAR
And very wisely threat before you sting.
Ant. Villains, you did not so, when your vile
daggers
Hack'd one another in the sides of Caesar:
You show'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like
hounds.
And bow'd Hke bondmen, kissing Csesar's feet;
Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind
Struck Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers!
Cas. Flatterers! Now. Brutus, thank your-
self:i
This tongue had not offended so to-day,
If Cassius might have rul'd.
Oct. (C). Come, come, the cause. If arguing
make us sweat.
The proof of it will turn to redder drops.
Look (he actually draws his sword).
I draw a sword against conspirators;
When think you that the sword goes up again?
Never, till Caesar's three and thirty wounds
Be well aveng'd; or till another Caesar
Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors.
Bru. Caesar, thou canst not die by traitors'
hands.
Unless thou bring'st them with thee.
213
^Antony laughs; he always despised Cassius;
there was little moral balance to either of them.
^Octavius and Antony both look up; this was as
a kind of joke. Brutus and Cassius take a terribly
serious view of it.
214
JULIUS C^SAR
Oct. So I hope;
I was not born to die on Brutus' sword.
Bru. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain,
Young man, thou couldst not die more honour-
able.
Cas. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such
honour,
Join'd with a masker and a reveller!
Ant} Old Cassius still!
Oct, Come, Antony, away!
Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth:
If you dare fight to-day, come to the field;
{Crosses to L, laughing)
If not, when you have stomachs.
[Exeunt Octavius,^ Antony, andtheirArmy
Cas. Why, now, blow wind, swell billow and
swim bark!
The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.
Bru. Ho, Lucilius! hark, a word with you.
Lucil. [Standing forth.] My lord!
[Brutus and Lucilius converse apart upLC
Cas. (R C). Messala!
Mes. {R). [Standing forth] What says my
general?
Cas. Messala {R C),
215
JULIUS C^SAR
This is my birthday; 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
Upon one battle all our liberties.
Bru. Even so, Lucilius. {{Goes down to L
They have been conversing up LU.)
Cas. {R C). 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 in-
certain,
Let's reason with the worst that may befall.
If we do lose this 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. {R C). Then, if we lose this battle,
217
^Brutus and Cassius embrace, putting hands on
each other^s shoulders.
^In order to blend these scenes Cassius and his
men go of quickly Rl, Brutus remains as if giving
orders to Messala.
218
JULIUS C^SAR
You are contented to be led in triumph
Through the streets of Rome?
Bru. No, Cassius, no: think not, thou no'ole
Roman {coming C),
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, Brutus!^
If we do meet again, we'll smile indeed;
If not, 'tis true this parting was well made.
Bru. {R C). Why, then, lead on. 0, that
a man might know
The end of this day's business ere it come!
But it sulBSceth that the day will end,
And then the end is known. Come, ho! away!^
[Exeunt RI
(Exeunt Rl: or go up, and remain on)
Alarums keep up as in distance R and L. Cas-
sius must go round quickly and come on at Ll.
219
JULIUS CiESAR
No change of scene is needed. The field of battle.
Alarum. Brutus and Messala up R 3
Bru. Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these
bills
Unto the legions on the other side.
[Loud alarum outside R
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 RI
A change of scene is allowable, but unnecessary.
Alarums. Enter Cassius(2) and Titinius(i)
Cas. (C). O, look, Titinius, look, the villains
fly! {He carries an S P QR ensign.)
Myself have to mine own tum'd enemy;
This ensign here of mine was turning back;
I slew the coward, and did take it from him.
Tit. {L C). 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 enclos'd.
// Elizabethan, Pindarus gets up on balcony at
back. If a scenic stage on the raised terrace or
embattlement.
"^Pindarus gets on balcony up C.
JULIUS C^SAR
Enter Pindarus from R
Pin. (R). Fly further off , my lord, fly further
off;
Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord:
Fly, therefore, noble Cassius, fly far off,
Cas. This hill is far enough. Look, look,
Titinius :
Are those my tents where I perceive the fire?
Tit. They are, my lord.
Cas. (R C). Titinius, if thou lovest 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 there again, even with a
thought. [Exit R U
Cas. {R C). Go, Pindarus, (R) get higher on
that hill:
My sight was ever thick; regard Titinius,
And tell me what thou not'st about the field.
[Pindarus ascends the hilV-
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, what news?
223
^Cassius stands L C, faces Pindarus, who is
R C; Cassius puts his pallium up and Pindarus
practically goes right into his arms; Cassius falls
C.
224
JULIUS CESAR
Pin. [Above.] O my lord! {Looking off R.)
Cas. What news?
Pin. [Alove^ Titinius is enclosed round
about
With horsemen, that make to him on the spur;
Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him.
Now, Titinius ! Now some light. O, he lights too.
He's ta'en. [Shouti\ And, hark! 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!
PiNDARUS descends R
Come hither, sirrah: {Gets sword ready)
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;
Now be a freeman: and with this good sword
That ran through Csesar's bowels, search this
bosom.
Stand not to answer: here, take thou the hilts;
And, when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now,^
225
^Pindarus pauses a moment for Cassius to die.
^Titinius kneels above the dead body of Cassius.
226
JULIUS C^SAR
Guide thou the sword. [Pindarus stabs him.]
Cffisar, thou art reveng'd {He falls.)
Even with the sword that kill'd thee, [Dies C
Pin. So, I am free ; yet would not so have been,
Durst I have done my will. Cassius,
Far from this country Pindarus shall run.
Where never Roman shall take note of him.^
[Exit Li running.
Re-enter Titinius with Messala Ki
Mes. It is but change, Titinius: for Octavius
Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power,
As Cassius' legions are by Antony.
Mes. Is not that he that Hes upon the ground?
Fit. He Ues not like the living. my heart!
Mes. Is not that he?
Tit. {Kneels C).^ No, this was he, Messala,
But Cassius is no more. O setting sun,
The sun of Rome is set! Our day is gone;
Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are
done!
Mistrust of my success hath done this deed.
Mes. Mistrust of good succes hath done this
deed.
But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee!
227
'^Takes wreath from his wrist, and as he holds
the body in his arms places wreath on Cassius*
head.
^There should be at least eight soldiers on either
side. Four of them lift the body of Titinius, four
lift that of Cassius, and they march off R to slow
measured drum-beats. A flourish and alarum
as body goes of Ri.
Brutus remains on stage.
228
JULIUS CESAR
Tit. Where art thou, Pindarus? {Calls for him)
Mes. Seek him, Titinius, whilst I go to meet
The noble Brutus, thrusting this report into his
ears.
Tit. {Kneeling). Hie you, Messala,
And I will seek for Pindarus the while.
[Exit Messala L, running
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 it 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: {kiss) this is a Roman's part:
{finds sword) — Come, Cassius' sword, and find
Titinius' heart.
[Kills himself and falls over Cassius'' feet. T-
Alarum. Re-enter Messala, with Brutus, young
Cato, Strato, Volumnius, and Lucilius^
Bru. Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie?
229^
Dardanius
-Strato
Brutus approaches each of his soldiers as they
stand at ease. Strato goes L C when called.
230
JULIUS C^SAR
Mes. Lo, yonder, and Titinius mourning it.
Bru. Titinius' face is upward.
Cato. He is slain.
Bru. O Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet!
Thy spirit walks abroad, and turns our swords
In our own proper entrails. [Low alarums
Cato. Brave Titinius!
Look, whether he have not crown'd dead Cassius!
Bru. The last of all the Romans, fare thee well I
It is impossible that ever Rome
Should breed thy fellow. Friends, I owe more
tears
To this dead man than you shall see me pay.
I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.
Come, therefore, and to Thasos send his body:
'Tis three o'clock; and, Romans, yet ere night
We shall try fortune in a second fight.
[Exeunt Ri soldiers with bodies] — a pause "^
Brutus, DAKDANros, Clitus, Strato, and
VoLUMNius lower swords at exeunt.
Bru. Come, poor remains of friends.
Hark thee, Clitus. [Whispers
Cli. (RC.) What, I, my lord? No, not for
all the world.
231
JULIUS CJESAR
Bru. Peace then! no words.
Cli. I'll rather kill myself.
Bru. Hark thee, Dardanius. \Whispers
Dar. Shall I do such a deed?
Cli. Dardanius!
Dar. CHtus!
Cli. What ill request did Brutus make to thee?
Dar. To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates.
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? {Goes to him)
Bru. Why, this, Volumnius:
The ghost of Csesar hath appear'd to me
I know my hour is come.
Vol. Not so, my lord.
Bru. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.
[Low alarums
Thou know'st that we two went to school to-
gether:
Even for that our love of old, I prithee.
Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it.
Vol. That's not an office for a friend, my lord.
[Alarum still
233
JULIUS CiESAR
CH. Fly, fly, my lord; there is no tarrying
here.
Bru. Farewell to you; and you; and you,
Volumnius. {Strato is L.)
Strato, thou has been all this while asleep,
Farewell to thee too, Strato. Countrjrmen,
My heart doth joy that yet in all my Hfe
I found no man but he was true to me.
I shall have glory by this losing day.
So fare you well at once; for Brutus' tongue
Hath almost ended his life's history:
Night hangs upon mine eyes ; my bones would rest,
That have but labour'd to attain this hour.
[Alarum. Cry within, "Fly, fly, fly!"
from R
Cli. Fly, my lord, fly.
Bru. {C) Hence! I will follow.
{Exeunt Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius ofR
I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord :
Thou art a fellow of a good respect;
Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it:
Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face,
While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?
Stra. Give me your hand first. Fare you
well, my lord.
235
^Brutus dies in the same manner, holding up
cloak so that audience do not see the stab. Strato
remains standing over him L C.
^Antony with drawn sword and shield crosses
to body of Brutus, which is C, stands over him C
to L till end.
236
JULIUS CESAR
Bru. Farewell, good Strato. [Runs on his
sword.] Caesar, now be still:
I kill'd not thee with half so good a will. Dies^
Alarum. Retreat. Enter Octavius (i), An-
TONY^ (2), Messala, Lucilius, and the Army
from R
Oct. (C). What man is that?
Mes. (R). My master's man. Strato (Z, C),
where is thy master?
Stra. {L C). 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.
Oct. (C). All that serv'd Brutus, I will enter-
tain them.
Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with
me?
Stra. (L). Ay, if Messala will prefer me to
you.
Oct. {Crosses to R). Do so, good Messala.
Mes. (R). How died my master, Strato?
Stra. (L). I held the sword, and he did run
on it.
237
A Roman Soldier
^Pointing with his sword over body of Brutus —
C. If a scenic stage the soldiers raise body of
Brutus for picture. If Elizabethan, four soldiers
lift body and carry of R to low drum beats; Ccesar,
Antony, and others following.
238
JULIUS C^SAR
Mes. (R). Octavius, then take him to follow
thee,
That did the latest service to my master.
Ant. (Crosses to C). This was the noblest
Roman of them all.
All the conspirators save only he
Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
He only, in a general honest thought
And common good to all, made one of them.
His Ufe 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 slow march R
239
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