Bru, Go, and commend me to my brother Cassius; Bid him set on his powers betimes before, And we will follow. Var. Clau. It shall be done, my Lord. [Exeunt. Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their army. Oct. Now, Antony, our hopes are answered: You said, the enemy would not come down, But keep the hills and upper regions; It proves not so 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 bosoms, and I know Wherefore they do it: they could be content To visit other places; and come down With fearful bravery, thinking, by this face, To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage; But 'tis not so. Enter a Messenger. Mes. Prepare you, Generals: The enemy comes on in gallant show; Ant. Octavins, lead your battle softly on, Upon the left hand of the even field. Oct. Upon the right hand I, keep thou the left. Drum. Enter BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and their army; Oct. Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle? Ant. No, Caesar, we will answer on their charge. Make forth, the generals would have some words. Oct. Stir not nutil the sigual 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 Caesar's heart, Crying, Long live! hail, Caesar! Cas. Antony, The posture of your blows are yet unknown, 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 Caesar: You show'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like hounds, And bow'd like boudmen, kissing Caesar's feet; Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind," Struck Caesar on the neck. O flatterers! Now, Brutus, thank your felf: This tongue bad not offended so to-day, Oct., Come, come, the cause: us sweat, If argning make The proof of it will turn to redder drops. 1 draw a sword against conspirators; When think you that the sword goes up again? Have added slanghter to the sword of traitors. Oct. So I hope; I was not born to die oa Brutus' sword. Bru. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain, Young man, thou could'st not die more honour able. Cas. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour, Join'd with a masker and a reveller. Ant: Old Cassins still Oct. Come, Antony; away. Defauce, traitors, hurl we in your teeth: [Exeunt OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their Army, Cas Cas. Why now, blow, wind; swell', billowi and swim, bark! The storm is up, and all is on the hazard. Cas. Messala, This is my birth-day; as this very day Was Cassius born. Give me thy haud, Messala: You know, that I held Epicurus strong, This morning are they fled away, and gone; 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 Cas. Now, most noble Brutus, The Gods to-day stand friendly; that we may, Lovers, in peace, lead on our days to age! VOL. XV. But, since the affairs of men rest still uncertain, Bru. Even by the rule of that philosophy, ~ But I do find it cowardly and vile, For fear of what might fall, so to prevent Cas. Then, if we lose this battle, You are contented to be led in triumph Bru. No, Cassius no: think not, thou noble That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome; For ever, and for ever, farewell, Cassius! If not, 'tis true, this parting was well inade. And then the end is known. Come, ho! away [Exeunt! |