622. Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe; We, at the height, are ready to decline. Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Is bound in shallows, and in miseries. And we must take the current when it serves, Cas. Then, with your will, go on; We'll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi. 623. Bru. The deep of night is crept upon our talk, And nature must obey necessity; Which we will niggard with a little rest. 624. Cas. No more. Good night! Early to-morrow will we rise, and hence. 625. Bru. Lucius, my gown. [Exit LUCIUS. Farewell, good Messala! Good night, Titinius! - Noble, noble Cassius, Good night, and good repose! Cas. O my dear brother, This was an ill beginning of the night: Never come such division 'tween our souls! Let it not, Brutus. Bru. Everything is well. Cas. Good night, my lord! Bru. Good night, good brother! Tit. Mes. Good night, lord Brutus ! Bru. Farewell, every one! [Exeunt CASSIUS, TITINIUS, and MESSALA. Re-enter LUCIUS, with the Gown. Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument? Luc. Here, in the tent. 633. Bru. What, thou speak'st drowsily? Poor knave, I blame thee not; thou art o'erwatched. Call Claudius, and some other of my men; I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent. 634. Luc. Varro and Claudius! Enter VARRO and CLAUDIUS. Var. Calls my lord? 636. Bru. 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. Var. So please you, we will stand, and watch your pleasure. 638. Bru. I will 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. [SERVANTS lie down. And touch thy instrument a strain or two? Bru. It does, my boy: I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing. 644. Bru. I should not urge thy duty past thy might; Luc. I have slept, my lord, already. 646. Bru. 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 murderous slumber, That plays thee music?-Gentle knave, good night; 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 turned down, Where I left reading? Here it is, I think. [He sits down. Enter the GHOST of CÆSAR. How ill this taper burns! — Ha! who comes here? I think it is the weakness of mine eyes That shapes this monstrous apparition. Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil, That mak'st my blood cold, and my hair to stare? Speak to me what thou art. 647. Ghost. Thy evil spirit, Brutus. 648. Bru. Why com'st thou? Ghost. To tell thee, thou shalt see me at Philippi. 650. Bru. Well; then I shall see thee again? 651. Ghost. Ay, at Philippi. [GHOST vanishes. 652. Bru. Why, I will see thee at Philippi then. Luc. The strings, my lord, are false. Bru. He thinks, he still is at his instrument. - Luc. My lord! Bru. Didst thou dream, Lucius, that thou so criedst out? Luc. My lord, I do not know that I did cry. Bru. Yes, that thou didst. Didst thou see anything? 660. Bru. Sleep again, Lucius. Fellow thou! awake! Var. My lord! Clau. My lord! Sirrah, Claudius! Bru. Why did you so cry out, Sirs, in your sleep? Var. Clau. Did we, my lord? Bru. Ay: saw you anything? Var. No, my lord, I saw nothing. Clau. Nor I, my lord. 668. 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. ACT V. SCENE I.-The Plains of Philippi. Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their Army. It proves not so; their battles are at hand; With fearful bravery, thinking by this face To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage; Enter a MESSENGER. Mess. Prepare you, generals: The enemy comes on in gallant show; Their bloody sign of battle is hung out, And something to be done immediately. 673. Ant. Octavius, lead your battle softly on, Upon the left hand of the even field. 674. 675. Oct. Upon the right hand I; keep thou the left. [March. Drum. Enter BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and their Army; LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, MESSALA, and others. 677. Bru. They stand, and would have parley. Cas. Stand fast, Titinius: we must out and talk. Bru. Words before blows: is it so, countrymen? Ant. In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words: 686. Cas. Antony, The posture of your blows are yet unknown; Ant. Not stingless too. Bru. O, yes, and soundless too; For you have stolen their buzzing, Antony, And, very wisely, threat before you sting. 689. Ant. Villains, you did not so, when your vile dag gers Hacked one another in the sides of Cæsar: You showed your teeth like apes, and fawned like hounds, Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind, Struck Cæsar on the neck. O you flatterers! 690. Cas. Flatterers! - Now, Brutus, thank yourself: This tongue had not offended so to-day, If Cassius might have ruled. 691. Oct. Come, come, the cause: if arguing make us sweat, The proof of it will turn to redder drops. Look! I draw a sword against conspirators; When think you that the sword goes up again?- Be well avenged; or till another Cæsar Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors. 692. Bru. Cæsar, thou canst not die by traitors' hands, Unless thou bring'st them with thee. Oct. So I hope; I was not born to die on Brutus' sword. 694. Bru. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain, Young man, thou couldst not die more honorable. Cas. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honor, Joined with a masker and a reveller. Ant. Old Cassius still! 697. Oct. Come, Antony; away! Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth. |