I draw a sword against conspirators; When think you that the sword goes up again?— Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors. 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 could'st not die more honourable. Cas. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such ho nour, Join'd with a masker and a reveller. Ant. Old Cassius still! Oct. Come, Antony; away. Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth: If not, when you have stomachs. [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. This is my birth-day; as this very day Messala, & Throw. Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, 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. Cas. I but believe it partly; For I am fresh of spirit, and resolv'd To meet all perils very constantly. Bru. Even so, Lucilius. Now, most noble Brutus, Cas. 9 Foremost. ■ Accompanied. 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, Cas. Then, if we lose this battle, You are contented to be led in triumph Thorough the streets of Rome? Bru, No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble Roman, That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome; Bru. Why then, lead on.-O, that a man might know The end of this day's business, ere it come! But it sufficeth, that the day will end, And then the end is known.-Come, ho! away! [Exeunt. SCENE II. The same. The Field of Battle. Alarum. Enter BRUTUS and MESSALA. Bru. Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills 2 Unto the legions on the other side: [Loud Alarum. 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. SCENE III. The same. Another Part of the Field. Alarum. Enter CASSIUS and TITINIUS. Cas, O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly! Myself have to mine own turn'd enemy: This ensign here of mine was turning back; I slew the coward, and did take it from him. Tit. 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. Enter PINDARUS. Pin. Fly further off, my lord, fly further off; Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord! 2 Directions for the officers. Fly therefore, noble Cassius, fly far off. Cas. This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titi nius ; Are those my tents, where I perceive the fire? Tit. They are, my lord. Titinius, if thou lov'st me, Cas. Mount thou my horse, and hide thy spurs in him, [Exit PINDARUS, This day I breathed first: time is come round, Cas. What news? Pin. Titinius is Enclosed round about with horsemen, that Now they are almost on him; now, Titinius!— Now some 'light :-O, he 'lights too :-he's ta'en -and, hark! They shout for joy. Cas. [Shout. Come down, behold no more. O, coward, that I am, to live so long, To see my best friend ta'en before my face! |