For I am fresh of spirit, and resolv'd
To meet all perils very constantly.
Bru. Even so, Lucilius.
Cas.
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 incertain,
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.

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;
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, 't is 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 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

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;
1 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!

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?

Titinius, if thou lov'st me,

Tit. They are, my lord. Cas. 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 assur'd Whether yond' troops are friend or enemy. Tit. I will be here again, even with a thought. [Exit.

Cas. Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill:
My sight was ever thick; regard Titinius,
And tell me what thou not'st about the field.-
[Exit PINDARUS.

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?
Pin. [Above.] O my lord!

Cas.

What news?

Pin. 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--and hark! they shout for joy.

[Shout.

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.

Enter PINDARUS.

Come hither, sirrah :

In Parthia did I take thee prisoner;

And then I swore thee, saving of thy life,

That whatsoever I did bid thee do

Thou should'st attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath!

Now be a freeman; and, with this good sword, That ran through Cæsar's bowels, search this bosom.

Stand not to answer: Here, take thou the hilts;
And, when my face is cover'd, as 't is now,
Guide thou the sword.-Cæsar, thou art reveng'd,
Even with the sword that kill'd thee.
[Dies.

Pin. So, I am free; yet would not so have been, Durst I have done my will. O Cassius!

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

Re-enter TITINIUS, with MESSALA,

[Exit.

Mes. It is but change, Titinius; for Octavius Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power,

As Cassius' legions are by Antony.

Tit. These tidings will well comfort Cassius.
Mes. Where did you leave him?

Tit.
All disconsolate,
With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.

Mes. Is not that he that lies upon the ground? Tit. He lies not like the living. O my heart! Mes. Is not that he?

Tit. No, this was he, Messala, But Cassius is no more.--O setting sun! As in thy red rays thou dost sink to night, So in his red blood Cassius' day is set; 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 success hath done this deed.

O hateful error, melancholy's child!

Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men The things that are not? O error, soon conceiv'd,

Thou never com'st unto a happy birth,

But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee.

Tit. What, Pindarus! Where art thou, Pindarus?

Mes. Seek him, Titinius: whilst I go to meet The noble Brutus, thrusting this report Into his ears I may say, thrusting it; For piercing steel, and darts envenomed, Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus As tidings of this sight.

Tit.

Hie you, Messala,

And I will seek for Pindarus the while.

[Exit MESSALA. 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 't thee? Didst thou not hear their shouts ?

Alas, thou hast misconstrued everything.

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 :-This is a Roman's part:
Come, Cassius' sword, and find Titinius' heart.

[Dies.

Alarum. Re-enter MESSALA, with BRUTUS, young
CATO, STRATO, VOLUMNIUS, and LUCILIUS.
Bru. Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie?
Mes. Lo, yonder; and Titinius mourning it.
Bru. Titinius' face is upward.

Cato.

He is slain.

Bru. O Julius Cæsar, thou art mighty yet! Thy spirit walks abroad, and turns our swords In our own proper entrails. [Low alarums.

Cato.

Brave Titinius !

Look, whe'r he have not crown'd dead Cassius !

Bru. Are yet two Romans living such as these?---The last of all the Romans, fare thee well! It is impossible that ever Rome

Should breed thy fellow.-Friends, I owe

tears

more

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;
His funerals shall not be in our camp,
Lest it discomfort us.-Lucilius, come ;-
And come, young Cato; let us to the field. ---

Labeo, and Flavius, set our battles on:

'T is three o'clock; and, Romans, yet ere night We shall try fortune in a second fight.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-Another Part of the Field.

Alarum.

Enter, fighting, Soldiers of both Armies; then BRUTUS, CATO, LUCILIUS, and others. Bru. Yet, countrymen, O yet hold up your heads! Cato. What bastard doth not? Who will go with me?

I will proclaim my name about the field :

I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!

A foe to tyrants, and my country's friend;
I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!

[Charges the enemy.

Bru. And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I; Brutus, my country's friend; know me for Brutus. [Exit, charging the enemy. CATO is

overpowered, and falls. Luc. O young and noble Cato, art thou down? Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius; And may'st be honour'd, being Cato's son. 1 Sold. Yield, or thou diest. Luc. Only I yield to die : There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight;

[Offering money.

Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death.

I Sold. We must not.-A noble prisoner!
2 Sold. Room, ho!
ta'en.

Tell Antony, Brutus is

I Sold. I'll tell the news. --Here comes the

general :-

Enter ANTONY.

Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord.

Ant. Where is he?

Luc. Safe, Antony; Brutus is safe enough; I dare assure thee that no enemy

Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus :

The gods defend him from so great a shame!

When you do find him, or alive, or dead,

He will be found like Brutus, like himself.

Ant. This is not Brutus, friend; but, I assure

you,

A prize no less in worth: keep this man safe,
Give him all kindness: I had rather have
Such men my friends, than enemies. Go on,