The Dramatic Works of Shakespeare

Bru. Go, and commend me to my brother

Cassius;

Bid him set on his powers betimes before,

ACT

SCENE I. The Plains of Philippi. Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their Army. Oct. Now, Antony, our hopes are answer'd: You said, the enemy would not come down, But keep the hills and upper regions;

It proves not so: their battles are at hand;
They mean to warn us at Philippi here,
Answering before we do demand of them.
Ant. Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I know
Wherefore they do it: they could be content
To visit other places; and come down
With fearful bravery, thinking, by this face,
To fasten in our thoughts that they have con-
But 'tis not so.
[rage;

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. Ant. Octavius, lead your battle softly on, Upon the left hand of the even field. [left. Oct. Upon the right hand I, keep thou the Ant. Why do you cross me in this exigent? Oct. I do not cross you; but I will do so. [March. Drum. Enter BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and their Army; LUCILIUS, TITINIUS, MESSALA, and Others.

talk.

Bru. They stand, and would have parley. Cas. Stand fast, Titinius: We must out and [battle? Oct. Mark Antony, shall we give sign of Ant. No, Cæsar, we will answer on their charge. [words.

Make forth, the generals would have some
Oct. Stir not until the signal. [men?
Bru. Words before blows: Is it so, country-
Oct. Not that we love words better, as you
do.
[Octavius.
Bru. Good words are better than bad strokes,
Ant. In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give
good words:

Witness the hole you made in Cæsar's heart,
Crying, Long live! hail Cæsar!
Cas.
Antony,
The posture of your blows are yet unknown;
But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
And leave them honeyless.

Ant.

Not stingless too. Bru. O, yes, and soundless too; For you have stol'n their buzzing, Antony, And, very wisely, threat before you sting. Ant. Villains, you did not so, when your vile daggers

Hack'd one another in the sides of Cæsar: You show'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like hounds,

And bow'd like bondmen, kissing Cæsar's feet;

Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind, Struck Cæsar on the neck. O flatterers! Cas. Flatterers!-Now, Brutus, thank your This tongue had not offended so to-day, [self: If Cassius might have ruled. [us sweat,

Oct. Come, come, the cause: If arguing make 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!
Never, till Cæsar's three and twenty wounds
Be well avenged; or till another Cæsar
Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors.
Bru. Cæsar, thou can'st not die by traitors,
Unless thou bring'st them with thee.
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 honour.
able.
[honour,
Cas. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such
Join'd with a masker and a reveller.
Ant. Old Cassius still!
Oct.
Come, Antony; away.—
Defiance, traitors, hurl† we in your teeth:
If you dare fight to-day, come to the field;
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.
Bru. Ho!

Lucilius; hark, a word with you.
Luc.
My lord.
[BRUTUS and LUCILIUS Converse apart.
Cas. Messala,-

Mes.

Cas.

What says my general?

Messala,

This is my birth-day; as this very day [sala:
Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Mes-
Be thou my witness, that, against my will,
As Pompey was, am I compell'd to set
Upon one battle all our liberties.

You know, that I held Epicurus strong,
And his opinion: now I change my mind,
And partly credit things that do presage.
Coming from Sardis, on our former‡ ensign
Two mighty eagles fell, and there they perch'd,
Gorging and feeding from our soldiers' hands;
Who to Philippi here consorted § us;

This morning are they fled away, and gone;
And in their steads, do ravens, crows, and kites,
Fly o'er our heads, and downward look on us,
As we were sickly prey; their shadows seem
A canopy most fatal, under which

Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost.
Mes. Believe not so.
Cas.

+ Foremost.

I but believe it partly;

Accompanied.

For I am fresh of spirit, and resolved
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 uncertain,
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 lead in triumph
Thorough the streets of Rome?

[Roman,
Bru. No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble
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, Bru-
If we do meet again, we'll smile indeed; [tus!
If not,
'tis 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;
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 enclosed.

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?
Tit. They are, my lord.

Cas.
Titinius, if thou lovest me,
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 assured,
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 notest about the field.-
[Exit PINDARUS.
This day I breathed first: time is come round,
And where I did begin, there I shall 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!
[Shout.
They shout for joy.

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, [thine oath!
Thou should'st attempt it. Come now, keep
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 n.y face is cover'd as 'tis now,
Guide thou the sword.-Cæsar, thou art re-
venged,

Even with the sword that kill'd thee. [Dies.

Pin. So, I am free; yet would not so have
Durst I have done my will. O Cassius! [been,
Far from this country Pindarus shall run,
Where never Roman shall take note of him,
[Exit.

Re-enter TITINIUS, with MESSALA.
Mes. It is but change, Titinius; for Octa-
Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power, [vius
As Cassius' legions are by Antony.

Tit. These tidings will well comfort Cassius.
Mes. Where did you leave him?
All disconsolate,
With Pindarus his bondsman on this hill.

Tit.

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.

Directions for the officers.

No, this was he, Messala,

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.
Tit. What, Pindarus! Where art thou, Pin-
darus?
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 every thing.
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 Titinins!
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

more tears

To this dead man, than you shall see me pay.-
I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.-
Come, therefore, and to Thassos 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:-

'Tis three o'clock; and, Romans, yet ere nigh 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! [with me? Cato. What bastard doth not? Who will go 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, 1; 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 honoured being Cato's son.
1 Sold. Yield, or thou diest.
Luc.

There is so much that thou wilt kill me
Only I yield to die:
straight;
[Offering Money.
Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death,
1 Sold. We must not.-A noble prisoner!
2 Sold. Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is
[general:-

ta'en.

1 Sold. I'll tell the news.-Here comes the Enter ANTONY.

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

Ant. Where is he?

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

• Whether.

Cli. What, I, my lord? No, not for all the

world. Bru. Peace then, no words.

Cli.

I'll rather kill myself.

Not so, my lord.

Vol. Bru. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius. Thou see'st the world, Volumnius, how it goes; Our enemies have beat us to the pit : It is more worthy to leap in ourselves, Than tarry till they push us. Good Volum[gether; Thou know'st, that we two went to school toEven for that our love of old, I pray thee, Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it. Vol. That's not an office for a friend, my lord. [Alarum still.

nius,

Cli. Fly, fly, my lord; there is no tarrying
here.
[Volumnius.-

Bru. Farewell to you ;-andyou;-and you,
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,

I pr'ythee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord: Thou art a fellow of a good respect; [it: Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face, While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato? Stra. Give me your hand first: Fare you well, my lord.

Bru. Farewell, good Strato.-Cæsar, now be still:

I kill'd not thee with half so good a will.
[He runs on his Sword, and dies.
Alarum. Retreat. Enter OCTAVIUS, AN-
TONY, MESSALA, LUCILIUS, and their
Army.

Oct. What man is that?

Mess. My master's man.-Strato, where is

thy master?

[Messala; Stra. Free from the bondage you are in, The conquerors can but make a fire of him; For Brutus only overcame himself,

And no inan else hath honour by his death. Luc. So Brutus should be found.-I thank

Ant. This was the noblest Roman of them All the conspirators, save only he, Did that they did in envy of great Cæsar; He, only, in a general honest thought, And common good to all, made one of them. His life was gentle; and the elements So mix'd in him, that Nature might stand up, And say to all the world, This was a man!

Oct. According to his virtue let us use him, That have but labour'd to attain this hour. With all respect and rites of burial. [Alarum. Cry within, Fly, fly, fly. Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie, Cli. Fly, my lord, fly. Most like a soldier, order'd honourably. Bru. Hence; I will follow thee. So, call the field to rest and let's away, [Exeunt CLITUS, DARDANIUS, and Vo-To part the glories of this happy day.

LUMNIUS.

[Exeunt.

Of this tragedy many particular passages deserve regard, and the contention and recon cilement of Brutus and Cassius is universally celebrated; but I have never been strongly agi tated in perusing it, and think it somewhat cold and unaffecting, compared with some other of Shakspeare's plays: his adherence to the real story, and to Roman manners, seem to have impeded the natural vigour of his genius.-JOHNSON.

M. ANTONY,

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR,
M. EMIL. LEPIDUS,
SEXTUS POMPEIUS.

Persons represented

triumvirs.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, VENTIDIUS, EROS,
SCARUS, DERCETAS, DEMETRIUS, PHILO,
friends of Antony.
MECENAS, AGRIPPA, DOLABELLA, PRO-

EUPHRONIUS, an ambassador from Antony
to Cæsar.

ALEXAS, MARDIAN, SELEUCUS, and Dio
MEDES, attendants on Cleopatra.
A Soothsayer. A Clown.
CLEOPATRA, queen of Egypt.

OCTAVIA, sister to Casar, and wife to
Antony.

CULEIUS, THYREUS, GALLUS, friends to CHARMIAN,} attendants on Cleopatra.

Cæsar.

MENAS, MENECRATES, VARRIUS, friends
of Pompey.

TAURUS, lieutenant-general to Cæsar.
CANIDIUS, lieutenant-general to Antony.
SILIUS, an officer in Ventidius's army.

IRAS,

Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other
Attendants.

Scene, dispersed ; in several parts of the
Roman empire.

ACT I.

SCENE I. Alexandria. A Room in
Cleopatra's Palace.

Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO.
Phi. Nay, but this dotage of our general's,
O'erflows the measure: those his goodly eyes,
That o'er the files and musters of the war [turn,
Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now
The office and devotion of their view
Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart
Which in the scuffles of great fights hath
[per;
The buckles on his breast, reneges all tem-
And is become the bellows, and the fan,
To cool a gipsy's lust. Look where they come!
Flourish. Enter ANTONY and CLEO-
PATRA, with their Trains; Eunuchs fan-
ning her.

burst

Take but good note, and you shall see in him
The triple pillar of the world transform'd
Into a strumpet's fool: behold and see.

Cleo. If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
Ant. There's beggary in the love that can be
reck on'd.

Cleo. I'll set a bourn + how far to be beloved.
Ant. Then must thou needs find out new

heaven, new earth.

Enter an Attendant.

Att. News, my good lord, from Rome.
Ant.
Grates me-the sum.
Cleo. Nay, hear them, Antony:
Fulvia, perchance, is angry; Or, who knows
If the scarce-bearded Cæsar have not sent

* Renounces.

His powerful mandate to you, Do this, or
this;
[that;
Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise
Perform't, or else we damn thee.

Ant.
How, my love!
Cleo. Perchance,-nay, and most like,
You must not stay here longer, your dismission
Is come from Cæsar; therefore hear it, An-
tony.
[say?-Both ?-
Where's Fulvia's process ? Cæsar's, I would
Call in the messengers.-As I am Egypt's
queen,
[thine
Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of
Is Cæsar's homager: else so thy cheek pays
shame,
[sengers.
When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds.-The mes-
Ant. Let Rome in Tiber melt! and the wide

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