Reading Help THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR
MESSALA. Where did you leave him? `
` TITINIUS. All disconsolate, `
` With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill. `
` MESSALA. Is not that he that lies upon the ground? `
` TITINIUS. He lies not like the living. O my heart! `
` MESSALA. Is not that he? `
` TITINIUS. 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. `
` MESSALA. 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 conceived, `
` Thou never comest unto a happy birth, `
` But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee! `
` TITINIUS. What, Pindarus! Where art thou, Pindarus? `
` MESSALA. 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. `
` TITINIUS. 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 it 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. `
` Kills himself. `
` `
` Alarum. Re-enter Messala, with Brutus, young Cato, `
` and others. `
` `
` BRUTUS. Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie? `
` MESSALA. Lo, yonder, and Titinius mourning it. `
` BRUTUS. Titinius' face is upward. `
` CATO. He is slain. `
` BRUTUS. 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 whe'er he have not crown'd dead Cassius! `
` BRUTUS. 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 moe 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; `
` His funerals shall not be in our camp, `
` Lest it discomfort us. Lucilius, come, `
` And come, young Cato; let us to the field. `
` Labio and Flavio, set our battles on. `
` 'Tis 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, `
` young Cato, `
` Lucilius, and others. `
` `
` BRUTUS. 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! `
` BRUTUS. And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I; `
` Brutus, my country's friend; know me for Brutus! Exit. `
` LUCILIUS. O young and noble Cato, art thou down? `
` Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius, `
` And mayst be honor'd, being Cato's son. `
` FIRST SOLDIER. Yield, or thou diest. `
` LUCILIUS. Only I yield to die. `
` [Offers money.] There is so much that thou wilt kill me `
` straight: `
` Kill Brutus, and be honor'd in his death. `
` FIRST SOLDIER. We must not. A noble prisoner! `
` SECOND SOLDIER. Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en. `
` FIRST SOLDIER. I'll tell the news. Here comes the general. `
` `
` Enter Antony. `
` `
` Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord. `
` ANTONY. Where is he? `
` LUCILIUS. 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. `
` ANTONY. 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, `
` And see wheer Brutus be alive or dead, `
` And bring us word unto Octavius' tent `
` How everything is chanced. Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE V. `
` Another part of the field. `
` `
` Enter Brutus, Dardanius, Clitus, Strato, and Volumnius. `
` `
` BRUTUS. Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock. `
` CLITUS. Statilius show'd the torchlight, but, my lord, `
` He came not back. He is or ta'en or slain. `
` BRUTUS. Sit thee down, Clitus. Slaying is the word: `
` It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus. Whispers. `
` CLITUS. What, I, my lord? No, not for all the world. `
` BRUTUS. Peace then, no words. `
` CLITUS. I'll rather kill myself. `
` BRUTUS. Hark thee, Dardanius. Whispers. `
` DARDANIUS. Shall I do such a deed? `
` CLITUS. O Dardanius! `
` DARDANIUS. O Clitus! `
` CLITUS. What ill request did Brutus make to thee? `
` DARDANIUS. To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates. `
` CLITUS. Now is that noble vessel full of grief, `
` That it runs over even at his eyes. `
` BRUTUS. Come hither, good Volumnius, list a word. `
` VOLUMNIUS. What says my lord? `
` BRUTUS. Why, this, Volumnius: `
` The ghost of Caesar hath appear'd to me `
` Two several times by night; at Sardis once, `
` And this last night here in Philippi fields. `
` I know my hour is come. `
` VOLUMNIUS. Not so, my lord. `
` BRUTUS. Nay I am sure it is, Volumnius. `
` Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes; `
` Our enemies have beat us to the pit; Low alarums. `
` It is more worthy to leap in ourselves `
` Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius, `
` Thou know'st that we two went to school together; `
` Even for that our love of old, I prithee, `
` Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it. `
` VOLUMNIUS. That's not an office for a friend, my lord. `
` Alarum still. `
` CLITUS. Fly, fly, my lord, there is no tarrying here. `
` BRUTUS. Farewell to you, and you, and you, Volumnius. `
` Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep; `
` Farewell to thee too, Strato. Countrymen, `
` My heart doth joy that yet in all my life `
` I found no man but he was true to me. `
` I shall have glory by this losing day, `
` More than Octavius and Mark Antony `
` By this vile conquest shall attain unto. `
` 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 labor'd to attain this hour. `
` Alarum. Cry within, "Fly, fly, fly!" `
` CLITUS. Fly, my lord, fly. `
` BRUTUS. Hence! I will follow. `
` Exeunt Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius. `
` I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord. `
` Thou art a fellow of a good respect; `
` Thy life hath had some smatch of honor in it. `
` Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face, `
` While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato? `
` STRATO. Give me your hand first. Fare you well, my lord. `
` BRUTUS. 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, Antony, Messala, `
` Lucilius, and the Army. `
` `
` OCTAVIUS. What man is that? `
` MESSALA. My master's man. Strato, where is thy master? `
` STRATO. 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 honor by his death. `
` LUCILIUS. So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus, `
` That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true. `
` OCTAVIUS. All that served Brutus, I will entertain them. `
` Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me? `
` STRATO. Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you. `
` OCTAVIUS. Do so, good Messala. `
` MESSALA. How died my master, Strato? `
` STRATO. I held the sword, and he did run on it. `
`
` TITINIUS. All disconsolate, `
` With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill. `
` MESSALA. Is not that he that lies upon the ground? `
` TITINIUS. He lies not like the living. O my heart! `
` MESSALA. Is not that he? `
` TITINIUS. 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. `
` MESSALA. 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 conceived, `
` Thou never comest unto a happy birth, `
` But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee! `
` TITINIUS. What, Pindarus! Where art thou, Pindarus? `
` MESSALA. 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. `
` TITINIUS. 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 it 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. `
` Kills himself. `
` `
` Alarum. Re-enter Messala, with Brutus, young Cato, `
` and others. `
` `
` BRUTUS. Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie? `
` MESSALA. Lo, yonder, and Titinius mourning it. `
` BRUTUS. Titinius' face is upward. `
` CATO. He is slain. `
` BRUTUS. 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 whe'er he have not crown'd dead Cassius! `
` BRUTUS. 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 moe 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; `
` His funerals shall not be in our camp, `
` Lest it discomfort us. Lucilius, come, `
` And come, young Cato; let us to the field. `
` Labio and Flavio, set our battles on. `
` 'Tis 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, `
` young Cato, `
` Lucilius, and others. `
` `
` BRUTUS. 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! `
` BRUTUS. And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I; `
` Brutus, my country's friend; know me for Brutus! Exit. `
` LUCILIUS. O young and noble Cato, art thou down? `
` Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius, `
` And mayst be honor'd, being Cato's son. `
` FIRST SOLDIER. Yield, or thou diest. `
` LUCILIUS. Only I yield to die. `
` [Offers money.] There is so much that thou wilt kill me `
` straight: `
` Kill Brutus, and be honor'd in his death. `
` FIRST SOLDIER. We must not. A noble prisoner! `
` SECOND SOLDIER. Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en. `
` FIRST SOLDIER. I'll tell the news. Here comes the general. `
` `
` Enter Antony. `
` `
` Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord. `
` ANTONY. Where is he? `
` LUCILIUS. 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. `
` ANTONY. 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, `
` And see wheer Brutus be alive or dead, `
` And bring us word unto Octavius' tent `
` How everything is chanced. Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` SCENE V. `
` Another part of the field. `
` `
` Enter Brutus, Dardanius, Clitus, Strato, and Volumnius. `
` `
` BRUTUS. Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock. `
` CLITUS. Statilius show'd the torchlight, but, my lord, `
` He came not back. He is or ta'en or slain. `
` BRUTUS. Sit thee down, Clitus. Slaying is the word: `
` It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus. Whispers. `
` CLITUS. What, I, my lord? No, not for all the world. `
` BRUTUS. Peace then, no words. `
` CLITUS. I'll rather kill myself. `
` BRUTUS. Hark thee, Dardanius. Whispers. `
` DARDANIUS. Shall I do such a deed? `
` CLITUS. O Dardanius! `
` DARDANIUS. O Clitus! `
` CLITUS. What ill request did Brutus make to thee? `
` DARDANIUS. To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates. `
` CLITUS. Now is that noble vessel full of grief, `
` That it runs over even at his eyes. `
` BRUTUS. Come hither, good Volumnius, list a word. `
` VOLUMNIUS. What says my lord? `
` BRUTUS. Why, this, Volumnius: `
` The ghost of Caesar hath appear'd to me `
` Two several times by night; at Sardis once, `
` And this last night here in Philippi fields. `
` I know my hour is come. `
` VOLUMNIUS. Not so, my lord. `
` BRUTUS. Nay I am sure it is, Volumnius. `
` Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes; `
` Our enemies have beat us to the pit; Low alarums. `
` It is more worthy to leap in ourselves `
` Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius, `
` Thou know'st that we two went to school together; `
` Even for that our love of old, I prithee, `
` Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it. `
` VOLUMNIUS. That's not an office for a friend, my lord. `
` Alarum still. `
` CLITUS. Fly, fly, my lord, there is no tarrying here. `
` BRUTUS. Farewell to you, and you, and you, Volumnius. `
` Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep; `
` Farewell to thee too, Strato. Countrymen, `
` My heart doth joy that yet in all my life `
` I found no man but he was true to me. `
` I shall have glory by this losing day, `
` More than Octavius and Mark Antony `
` By this vile conquest shall attain unto. `
` 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 labor'd to attain this hour. `
` Alarum. Cry within, "Fly, fly, fly!" `
` CLITUS. Fly, my lord, fly. `
` BRUTUS. Hence! I will follow. `
` Exeunt Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius. `
` I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord. `
` Thou art a fellow of a good respect; `
` Thy life hath had some smatch of honor in it. `
` Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face, `
` While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato? `
` STRATO. Give me your hand first. Fare you well, my lord. `
` BRUTUS. 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, Antony, Messala, `
` Lucilius, and the Army. `
` `
` OCTAVIUS. What man is that? `
` MESSALA. My master's man. Strato, where is thy master? `
` STRATO. 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 honor by his death. `
` LUCILIUS. So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus, `
` That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true. `
` OCTAVIUS. All that served Brutus, I will entertain them. `
` Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me? `
` STRATO. Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you. `
` OCTAVIUS. Do so, good Messala. `
` MESSALA. How died my master, Strato? `
` STRATO. I held the sword, and he did run on it. `
`