Reading Help THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR
BRUTUS. Lucius, a bowl of wine! Exit Lucius. `
` CASSIUS. I did not think you could have been so angry. `
` BRUTUS. O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs. `
` CASSIUS. Of your philosophy you make no use, `
` If you give place to accidental evils. `
` BRUTUS. No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead. `
` CASSIUS. Ha? Portia? `
` BRUTUS. She is dead. `
` CASSIUS. How 'scaped killing when I cross'd you so? `
` O insupportable and touching loss! `
` Upon what sickness? `
` BRUTUS. Impatient of my absence, `
` And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony `
` Have made themselves so strong- for with her death `
` That tidings came- with this she fell distract, `
` And (her attendants absent) swallow'd fire. `
` CASSIUS. And died so? `
` BRUTUS. Even so. `
` CASSIUS. O ye immortal gods! `
` `
` Re-enter Lucius, with wine and taper. `
` `
` BRUTUS. Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine. `
` In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius. Drinks. `
` CASSIUS. My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge. `
` Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup; `
` I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. Drinks. `
` BRUTUS. Come in, Titinius! Exit Lucius. `
` `
` Re-enter Titinius, with Messala. `
` `
` Welcome, good Messala. `
` Now sit we close about this taper here, `
` And call in question our necessities. `
` CASSIUS. Portia, art thou gone? `
` BRUTUS. No more, I pray you. `
` Messala, I have here received letters `
` That young Octavius and Mark Antony `
` Come down upon us with a mighty power, `
` Bending their expedition toward Philippi. `
` MESSALA. Myself have letters of the selfsame tenure. `
` BRUTUS. With what addition? `
` MESSALA. That by proscription and bills of outlawry `
` Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus `
` Have put to death an hundred senators. `
` BRUTUS. There in our letters do not well agree; `
` Mine speak of seventy senators that died `
` By their proscriptions, Cicero being one. `
` CASSIUS. Cicero one! `
` MESSALA. Cicero is dead, `
` And by that order of proscription. `
` Had you your letters from your wife, my lord? `
` BRUTUS. No, Messala. `
` MESSALA. Nor nothing in your letters writ of her? `
` BRUTUS. Nothing, Messala. `
` MESSALA. That, methinks, is strange. `
` BRUTUS. Why ask you? Hear you aught of her in yours? `
` MESSALA. No, my lord. `
` BRUTUS. Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true. `
` MESSALA. Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell: `
` For certain she is dead, and by strange manner. `
` BRUTUS. Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala. `
` With meditating that she must die once `
` I have the patience to endure it now. `
` MESSALA. Even so great men great losses should endure. `
` CASSIUS. I have as much of this in art as you, `
` But yet my nature could not bear it so. `
` BRUTUS. Well, to our work alive. What do you think `
` Of marching to Philippi presently? `
` CASSIUS. I do not think it good. `
` BRUTUS. Your reason? `
` CASSIUS. This it is: `
` 'Tis better that the enemy seek us; `
` So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers, `
` Doing himself offense, whilst we lying still `
` Are full of rest, defense, and nimbleness. `
` BRUTUS. Good reasons must of force give place to better. `
` The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground `
` Do stand but in a forced affection, `
` For they have grudged us contribution. `
` The enemy, marching along by them, `
` By them shall make a fuller number up, `
` Come on refresh'd, new-added, and encouraged; `
` From which advantage shall we cut him off `
` If at Philippi we do face him there, `
` These people at our back. `
` CASSIUS. Hear me, good brother. `
` BRUTUS. Under your pardon. You must note beside `
` That we have tried the utmost of our friends, `
` Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe: `
` The enemy increaseth every day; `
` We, at the height, are ready to decline. `
` There is a tide in the affairs of men `
` Which taken at the flood leads on to fortune; `
` Omitted, all the voyage of their life `
` Is bound in shallows and in miseries. `
` On such a full sea are we now afloat, `
` And we must take the current when it serves, `
` Or lose our ventures. `
` CASSIUS. Then, with your will, go on; `
` We'll along ourselves and meet them at Philippi. `
` BRUTUS. The deep of night is crept upon our talk, `
` And nature must obey necessity, `
` Which we will niggard with a little rest. `
` There is no more to say? `
` CASSIUS. No more. Good night. `
` Early tomorrow will we rise and hence. `
` BRUTUS. Lucius! `
` `
` Re-enter Lucius. `
` `
` My gown. Exit Lucius. `
` Farewell, good Messala; `
` Good night, Titinius; noble, noble Cassius, `
` Good night and good repose. `
` CASSIUS. O my dear brother! `
` This was an ill beginning of the night. `
` Never come such division 'tween our souls! `
` Let it not, Brutus. `
` BRUTUS. Everything is well. `
` CASSIUS. Good night, my lord. `
` BRUTUS. Good night, good brother. `
` TITINIUS. MESSALA. Good night, Lord Brutus. `
` BRUTUS. Farewell, everyone. `
` Exeunt all but Brutus. `
` `
` Re-enter Lucius, with the gown. `
` `
` Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument? `
` LUCIUS. Here in the tent. `
` BRUTUS. What, thou speak'st drowsily? `
` Poor knave, I blame thee not, thou art o'erwatch'd. `
` Call Claudio and some other of my men, `
` I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent. `
` LUCIUS. Varro and Claudio! `
` `
` Enter Varro and Claudio. `
` `
` VARRO. Calls my lord? `
` BRUTUS. I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep; `
` It may be I shall raise you by and by `
` On business to my brother Cassius. `
` VARRO. So please you, we will stand and watch your pleasure. `
` BRUTUS. I would not have it so. Lie down, good sirs. `
` It may be I shall otherwise bethink me. `
` Look Lucius, here's the book I sought for so; `
` I put it in the pocket of my gown. `
` Varro and Claudio lie down. `
` LUCIUS. I was sure your lordship did not give it me. `
` BRUTUS. Bear with me, good boy, I am much forgetful. `
` Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile, `
` And touch thy instrument a strain or two? `
` LUCIUS. Ay, my lord, an't please you. `
` BRUTUS. It does, my boy. `
` I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing. `
` LUCIUS. It is my duty, sir. `
` BRUTUS. I should not urge thy duty past thy might; `
` I know young bloods look for a time of rest. `
` LUCIUS. I have slept, my lord, already. `
` BRUTUS. It was well done, and thou shalt sleep again; `
` I will not hold thee long. If I do live, `
` I will be good to thee. Music, and a song. `
` This is a sleepy tune. O murtherous slumber, `
` Layest thou thy leaden mace upon my boy `
` That plays thee music? Gentle knave, good night. `
` I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee. `
` If thou dost nod, thou break'st thy instrument; `
` I'll take it from thee; and, good boy, good night. `
` Let me see, let me see; is not the leaf turn'd down `
` Where I left reading? Here it is, I think. Sits down. `
` `
` Enter the Ghost of Caesar. `
` `
` How ill this taper burns! Ha, who comes here? `
` I think it is the weakness of mine eyes `
` That shapes this monstrous apparition. `
` It comes upon me. Art thou anything? `
` Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil `
` That makest my blood cold and my hair to stare? `
` Speak to me what thou art. `
` GHOST. Thy evil spirit, Brutus. `
` BRUTUS. Why comest thou? `
` GHOST. To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi. `
` BRUTUS. Well, then I shall see thee again? `
` GHOST. Ay, at Philippi. `
` BRUTUS. Why, I will see thee at Philippi then. Exit Ghost. `
` Now I have taken heart thou vanishest. `
` Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee. `
` Boy! Lucius! Varro! Claudio! Sirs, awake! `
` Claudio! `
` LUCIUS. The strings, my lord, are false. `
` BRUTUS. He thinks he still is at his instrument. `
` Lucius, awake! `
` LUCIUS. My lord? `
` BRUTUS. Didst thou dream, Lucius, that thou so criedst out? `
` LUCIUS. My lord, I do not know that I did cry. `
` BRUTUS. Yes, that thou didst. Didst thou see anything? `
` LUCIUS. Nothing, my lord. `
` BRUTUS. Sleep again, Lucius. Sirrah Claudio! `
` [To Varro.] Fellow thou, awake! `
` VARRO. My lord? `
`
` CASSIUS. I did not think you could have been so angry. `
` BRUTUS. O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs. `
` CASSIUS. Of your philosophy you make no use, `
` If you give place to accidental evils. `
` BRUTUS. No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead. `
` CASSIUS. Ha? Portia? `
` BRUTUS. She is dead. `
` CASSIUS. How 'scaped killing when I cross'd you so? `
` O insupportable and touching loss! `
` Upon what sickness? `
` BRUTUS. Impatient of my absence, `
` And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony `
` Have made themselves so strong- for with her death `
` That tidings came- with this she fell distract, `
` And (her attendants absent) swallow'd fire. `
` CASSIUS. And died so? `
` BRUTUS. Even so. `
` CASSIUS. O ye immortal gods! `
` `
` Re-enter Lucius, with wine and taper. `
` `
` BRUTUS. Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine. `
` In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius. Drinks. `
` CASSIUS. My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge. `
` Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup; `
` I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. Drinks. `
` BRUTUS. Come in, Titinius! Exit Lucius. `
` `
` Re-enter Titinius, with Messala. `
` `
` Welcome, good Messala. `
` Now sit we close about this taper here, `
` And call in question our necessities. `
` CASSIUS. Portia, art thou gone? `
` BRUTUS. No more, I pray you. `
` Messala, I have here received letters `
` That young Octavius and Mark Antony `
` Come down upon us with a mighty power, `
` Bending their expedition toward Philippi. `
` MESSALA. Myself have letters of the selfsame tenure. `
` BRUTUS. With what addition? `
` MESSALA. That by proscription and bills of outlawry `
` Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus `
` Have put to death an hundred senators. `
` BRUTUS. There in our letters do not well agree; `
` Mine speak of seventy senators that died `
` By their proscriptions, Cicero being one. `
` CASSIUS. Cicero one! `
` MESSALA. Cicero is dead, `
` And by that order of proscription. `
` Had you your letters from your wife, my lord? `
` BRUTUS. No, Messala. `
` MESSALA. Nor nothing in your letters writ of her? `
` BRUTUS. Nothing, Messala. `
` MESSALA. That, methinks, is strange. `
` BRUTUS. Why ask you? Hear you aught of her in yours? `
` MESSALA. No, my lord. `
` BRUTUS. Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true. `
` MESSALA. Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell: `
` For certain she is dead, and by strange manner. `
` BRUTUS. Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala. `
` With meditating that she must die once `
` I have the patience to endure it now. `
` MESSALA. Even so great men great losses should endure. `
` CASSIUS. I have as much of this in art as you, `
` But yet my nature could not bear it so. `
` BRUTUS. Well, to our work alive. What do you think `
` Of marching to Philippi presently? `
` CASSIUS. I do not think it good. `
` BRUTUS. Your reason? `
` CASSIUS. This it is: `
` 'Tis better that the enemy seek us; `
` So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers, `
` Doing himself offense, whilst we lying still `
` Are full of rest, defense, and nimbleness. `
` BRUTUS. Good reasons must of force give place to better. `
` The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground `
` Do stand but in a forced affection, `
` For they have grudged us contribution. `
` The enemy, marching along by them, `
` By them shall make a fuller number up, `
` Come on refresh'd, new-added, and encouraged; `
` From which advantage shall we cut him off `
` If at Philippi we do face him there, `
` These people at our back. `
` CASSIUS. Hear me, good brother. `
` BRUTUS. Under your pardon. You must note beside `
` That we have tried the utmost of our friends, `
` Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe: `
` The enemy increaseth every day; `
` We, at the height, are ready to decline. `
` There is a tide in the affairs of men `
` Which taken at the flood leads on to fortune; `
` Omitted, all the voyage of their life `
` Is bound in shallows and in miseries. `
` On such a full sea are we now afloat, `
` And we must take the current when it serves, `
` Or lose our ventures. `
` CASSIUS. Then, with your will, go on; `
` We'll along ourselves and meet them at Philippi. `
` BRUTUS. The deep of night is crept upon our talk, `
` And nature must obey necessity, `
` Which we will niggard with a little rest. `
` There is no more to say? `
` CASSIUS. No more. Good night. `
` Early tomorrow will we rise and hence. `
` BRUTUS. Lucius! `
` `
` Re-enter Lucius. `
` `
` My gown. Exit Lucius. `
` Farewell, good Messala; `
` Good night, Titinius; noble, noble Cassius, `
` Good night and good repose. `
` CASSIUS. O my dear brother! `
` This was an ill beginning of the night. `
` Never come such division 'tween our souls! `
` Let it not, Brutus. `
` BRUTUS. Everything is well. `
` CASSIUS. Good night, my lord. `
` BRUTUS. Good night, good brother. `
` TITINIUS. MESSALA. Good night, Lord Brutus. `
` BRUTUS. Farewell, everyone. `
` Exeunt all but Brutus. `
` `
` Re-enter Lucius, with the gown. `
` `
` Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument? `
` LUCIUS. Here in the tent. `
` BRUTUS. What, thou speak'st drowsily? `
` Poor knave, I blame thee not, thou art o'erwatch'd. `
` Call Claudio and some other of my men, `
` I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent. `
` LUCIUS. Varro and Claudio! `
` `
` Enter Varro and Claudio. `
` `
` VARRO. Calls my lord? `
` BRUTUS. I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep; `
` It may be I shall raise you by and by `
` On business to my brother Cassius. `
` VARRO. So please you, we will stand and watch your pleasure. `
` BRUTUS. I would not have it so. Lie down, good sirs. `
` It may be I shall otherwise bethink me. `
` Look Lucius, here's the book I sought for so; `
` I put it in the pocket of my gown. `
` Varro and Claudio lie down. `
` LUCIUS. I was sure your lordship did not give it me. `
` BRUTUS. Bear with me, good boy, I am much forgetful. `
` Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile, `
` And touch thy instrument a strain or two? `
` LUCIUS. Ay, my lord, an't please you. `
` BRUTUS. It does, my boy. `
` I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing. `
` LUCIUS. It is my duty, sir. `
` BRUTUS. I should not urge thy duty past thy might; `
` I know young bloods look for a time of rest. `
` LUCIUS. I have slept, my lord, already. `
` BRUTUS. It was well done, and thou shalt sleep again; `
` I will not hold thee long. If I do live, `
` I will be good to thee. Music, and a song. `
` This is a sleepy tune. O murtherous slumber, `
` Layest thou thy leaden mace upon my boy `
` That plays thee music? Gentle knave, good night. `
` I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee. `
` If thou dost nod, thou break'st thy instrument; `
` I'll take it from thee; and, good boy, good night. `
` Let me see, let me see; is not the leaf turn'd down `
` Where I left reading? Here it is, I think. Sits down. `
` `
` Enter the Ghost of Caesar. `
` `
` How ill this taper burns! Ha, who comes here? `
` I think it is the weakness of mine eyes `
` That shapes this monstrous apparition. `
` It comes upon me. Art thou anything? `
` Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil `
` That makest my blood cold and my hair to stare? `
` Speak to me what thou art. `
` GHOST. Thy evil spirit, Brutus. `
` BRUTUS. Why comest thou? `
` GHOST. To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi. `
` BRUTUS. Well, then I shall see thee again? `
` GHOST. Ay, at Philippi. `
` BRUTUS. Why, I will see thee at Philippi then. Exit Ghost. `
` Now I have taken heart thou vanishest. `
` Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee. `
` Boy! Lucius! Varro! Claudio! Sirs, awake! `
` Claudio! `
` LUCIUS. The strings, my lord, are false. `
` BRUTUS. He thinks he still is at his instrument. `
` Lucius, awake! `
` LUCIUS. My lord? `
` BRUTUS. Didst thou dream, Lucius, that thou so criedst out? `
` LUCIUS. My lord, I do not know that I did cry. `
` BRUTUS. Yes, that thou didst. Didst thou see anything? `
` LUCIUS. Nothing, my lord. `
` BRUTUS. Sleep again, Lucius. Sirrah Claudio! `
` [To Varro.] Fellow thou, awake! `
` VARRO. My lord? `
`