Julius Caesar

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Original text
Act IV, Scene I
Enter Antony, Octauius, and Lepidus.

Ant.
These many then shall die, their names are prickt

Octa.
Your Brother too must dye: consent you Lepidus?

Lep.
I do consent.

Octa.
Pricke him downe Antony.

Lep.
Vpon condition Publius shall not liue,
Who is your Sisters sonne, Marke Antony.

Ant.
He shall not liue; looke, with a spot I dam him.
But Lepidus, go you to Casars house:
Fetch the Will hither, and we shall determine
How to cut off some charge in Legacies.

Lep.
What? shall I finde you heere?

Octa.
Or heere, or at the Capitoll.
Exit Lepidus

Ant.
This is a slight vnmeritable man,
Meet to be sent on Errands: is it fit
The three-fold World diuided, he should stand
One of the three to share it?

Octa.
So you thought him,
And tooke his voyce who should be prickt to dye
In our blacke Sentence and Proscription.

Ant.
Octauius, I haue seene more dayes then you,
And though we lay these Honours on this man,
To ease our selues of diuers sland'rous loads,
He shall but beare them, as the Asse beares Gold,
To groane and swet vnder the Businesse,
Either led or driuen, as we point the way:
And hauing brought our Treasure, where we will,
Then take we downe his Load, and turne him off
(Like to the empty Asse) to shake his eares,
And graze in Commons.

Octa.
You may do your will:
But hee's a tried, and valiant Souldier.

Ant.
So is my Horse Octauius, and for that
I do appoint him store of Prouender.
It is a Creature that I teach to fight,
To winde, to stop, to run directly on:
His corporall Motion, gouern'd by my Spirit,
And in some taste, is Lepidus but so:
He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth:
A barren spirited Fellow; one that feeds
On Obiects, Arts, and Imitations.
Which out of vse, and stal'de by other men
Begin his fashion. Do not talke of him,
But as a property: and now Octauius,
Listen great things. Brutus and Cassius
Are leuying Powers; We must straight make head:
Therefore let our Alliance be combin'd,
Our best Friends made, our meanes stretcht,
And let vs presently go sit in Councell,
How couert matters may be best disclos'd,
And open Perils surest answered.

Octa.
Let vs do so: for we are at the stake,
And bayed about with many Enemies,
And some that smile haue in their hearts I feare
Millions of Mischeefes.
Exeunt
Original text
Act IV, Scene II
Drum.
Enter Brutus, Lucillius, and the Army. Titinius
and Pindarus meete them.

Bru.
Stand ho.

Lucil.
Giue the word ho, and Stand.

Bru.
What now Lucillius, is Cassius neere?

Lucil.
He is at hand, and Pindarus is come
To do you salutation from his Master.

Bru.
He greets me well. Your Master Pindarus
In his owne change, or by ill Officers,
Hath giuen me some worthy cause to wish
Things done, vndone: But if he be at hand
I shall be satisfied.

Pin.
I do not doubt
But that my Noble Master will appeare
Such as he is, full of regard, and Honour.

Bru.
He is not doubted. A word Lucillius

How he receiu'd you: let me be resolu'd.

Lucil.
With courtesie, and with respect enough,
But not with such familiar instances,
Nor with such free and friendly Conference
As he hath vs'd of old.

Bru.
Thou hast describ'd
A hot Friend, cooling: Euer note Lucillius,
When Loue begins to sicken and decay
It vseth an enforced Ceremony.
There are no trickes, in plaine and simple Faith:
But hollow men, like Horses hot at hand,
Make gallant shew, and promise of their Mettle:
Low March within.
But when they should endure the bloody Spurre,
They fall their Crests, and like deceitfull Iades
Sinke in the Triall. Comes his Army on?

Lucil.
They meane this night in Sardis to be quarter'd:
The greater part, the Horse in generall
Are come with Cassius.
Enter Cassius and his Powers.
Hearke, he is arriu'd:
March gently on to meete him.

Cassi.
Stand ho.

Bru.
Stand ho, speake the word along.
Stand.
Stand.



Stand.

Cassi.
Most Noble Brother, you haue done me wrong.

Bru.
Iudge me you Gods; wrong I mine Enemies?
And if not so, how should I wrong a Brother.

Cassi.
Brutus, this sober forme of yours, hides wrongs,
And when you do them---

Brut.
Cassius, be content,
Speake your greefes softly, I do know you well.
Before the eyes of both our Armies heere
(Which should perceiue nothing but Loue from vs)
Let vs not wrangle. Bid them moue away:
Then in my Tent Cassius enlarge your Greefes,
And I will giue you Audience.

Cassi.
Pindarus,
Bid our Commanders leade their Charges off
A little from this ground.

Bru.
Lucillius, do you the like, and let no man
Come to our Tent, till we haue done our Conference.
Let Lucilius and Titinius guard our doore.
Exeunt / Manet Brutus and Cassius
Original text
Act IV, Scene III

Cassi.
That you haue wrong'd me, doth appear in this:
You haue condemn'd, and noted Lucius Pella
For taking Bribes heere of the Sardians;
Wherein my Letters, praying on his side,
Because I knew the man was slighted off.

Bru.
You wrong'd your selfe to write in such a case.

Cassi.
In such a time as this, it is not meet
That euery nice offence should beare his Comment.

Bru.
Let me tell you Cassius, you your selfe
Are much condemn'd to haue an itching Palme,
To sell, and Mart your Offices for Gold
To Vndeseruers.

Cassi.
I, an itching Palme?
You know that you are Brutus that speakes this,
Or by the Gods, this speech were else your last.

Bru.
The name of Cassius Honors this corruption,
And Chasticement doth therefore hide his head.

Cassi.
Chasticement?

Bru.
Remember March, the Ides of March remẽber:
Did not great Iulius bleede for Iustice sake?
What Villaine touch'd his body, that did stab,
And not for Iustice? What? Shall one of Vs,
That strucke the Formost man of all this World,
But for supporting Robbers: shall we now,
Contaminate our fingers, with base Bribes?
And sell the mighty space of our large Honors
For so much trash, as may be grasped thus?
I had rather be a Dogge, and bay the Moone,
Then such a Roman.

Cassi.
Brutus, baite not me,
Ile not indure it: you forget your selfe
To hedge me in. I am a Souldier, I,
Older in practice, Abler then your selfe
To make Conditions.

Bru.
Go too: you are not Cassius.

Cassi.
I am.

Bru.
I say, you are not.

Cassi.
Vrge me no more, I shall forget my selfe:
Haue minde vpon your health: Tempt me no farther.

Bru.
Away slight man.

Cassi.
Is't possible?

Bru.
Heare me, for I will speake.
Must I giue way, and roome to your rash Choller?
Shall I be frighted, when a Madman stares?
O ye Gods, ye Gods, Must I endure all this?

Bru.
All this? I more: Fret till your proud hart break.
Go shew your Slaues how Chollericke you are,
And make your Bondmen tremble. Must I bouge?
Must I obserue you? Must I stand and crouch
Vnder your Testie Humour? By the Gods,
You shall digest the Venom of your Spleene
Though it do Split you. For, from this day forth,
Ile vse you for my Mirth, yea for my Laughter
When you are Waspish.

Cassi.
Is it come to this?

Bru.
You say, you are a better Souldier:
Let it appeare so; make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well. For mine owne part,
I shall be glad to learne of Noble men.

Cass.
You wrong me euery way: / You wrong me Brutus:
I saide, an Elder Souldier, not a Better.
Did I say Better?

Bru.
If you did, I care not.

Cass.
When Casar liu'd, he durst not thus haue mou'd me.

Brut.
Peace, peace, you durst not so haue tempted him.

Cassi.
I durst not.

Bru.
No.

Cassi.
What? durst not tempt him?

Bru.
For your life you durst not.

Cassi.
Do not presume too much vpon my Loue,
I may do that I shall be sorry for.

Bru.
You haue done that you should be sorry for.
There is no terror Cassius in your threats:
For I am Arm'd so strong in Honesty,
That they passe by me, as the idle winde,
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certaine summes of Gold, which you deny'd me,
For I can raise no money by vile meanes:
By Heauen, I had rather Coine my Heart,
And drop my blood for Drachmaes, then to wring
From the hard hands of Peazants, their vile trash
By any indirection. I did send
To you for Gold to pay my Legions,
Which you deny'd me: was that done like Cassius?
Should I haue answer'd Caius Cassius so?
When Marcus Brutus growes so Couetous,
To locke such Rascall Counters from his Friends,
Be ready Gods with all your Thunder-bolts,
Dash him to peeces.

Cassi.
I deny'd you not.

Bru.
You did.

Cassi.
I did not. He was but a Foole / That brought
my answer back. Brutus hath riu'd my hart:
A Friend should beare his Friends infirmities;
But Brutus makes mine greater then they are.

Bru.
I do not, till you practice them on me.

Cassi.
You loue me not.

Bru.
I do not like your faults.

Cassi.
A friendly eye could neuer see such faults.

Bru.
A Flatterers would not, though they do appeare
As huge as high Olympus.

Cassi.
Come Antony, and yong Octauius come,
Reuenge your selues alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is a-weary of the World:
Hated by one he loues, brau'd by his Brother,
Check'd like a bondman, all his faults obseru'd,
Set in a Note-booke, learn'd, and con'd by roate
To cast into my Teeth. O I could weepe
My Spirit from mine eyes. There is my Dagger,
And heere my naked Breast: Within, a Heart
Deerer then Pluto's Mine, Richer then Gold:
If that thou bee'st a Roman, take it foorth.
I that deny'd thee Gold, will giue my Heart:
Strike as thou did'st at Casar: For I know,
When thou did'st hate him worst, yu loued'st him better
Then euer thou loued'st Cassius.

Bru.
Sheath your Dagger:
Be angry when you will, it shall haue scope:
Do what you will, Dishonor, shall be Humour.
O Cassius, you are yoaked with a Lambe
That carries Anger, as the Flint beares fire,
Who much inforced, shewes a hastie Sparke,
And straite is cold agen.

Cassi.
Hath Cassius liu'd
To be but Mirth and Laughter to his Brutus,
When greefe and blood ill temper'd, vexeth him?

Bru.
When I spoke that, I was ill remper'd too.

Cassi.
Do you confesse so much? Giue me your hand.

Bru.
And my heart too.

Cassi.
O Brutus!

Bru.
What's the matter?

Cassi.
Haue not you loue enough to beare with me,
When that rash humour which my Mother gaue me
Makes me forgetfull.

Bru.
Yes Cassius, and from henceforth
When you are ouer-earnest with your Brutus,
Hee'l thinke your Mother chides, and leaue you so.
Enter a Poet.

Poet.
Let me go in to see the Generals,
There is some grudge betweene 'em, 'tis not meete
They be alone.

Lucil.
You shall not come to them.

Poet.
Nothing but death shall stay me.

Cas.
How now? What's the matter?

Poet.
For shame you Generals; what do you meane?
Loue, and be Friends, as two such men should bee,
For I haue seene more yeeres I'me sure then yee.

Cas.
Ha, ha, how vildely doth this Cynicke rime?

Bru.
Get you hence sirra: Sawcy Fellow, hence.

Cas.
Beare with him Brutus, 'tis his fashion.

Brut.
Ile know his humor, when he knowes his time:
What should the Warres do with these Iigging Fooles?
Companion, hence.

Cas.
Away, away be gone.
Exit Poet

Bru.
Lucillius and Titinius bid the Commanders
Prepare to lodge their Companies to night.

Cas.
And come your selues, & bring Messala with you
Immediately to vs.

Bru.
Lucius, a bowle of Wine.


Cas.
I did not thinke you could haue bin so angry.

Bru.
O Cassius, I am sicke of many greefes.

Cas.
Of your Philosophy you make no vse,
If you giue place to accidentall euils.

Bru.
No man beares sorrow better. Portia is dead.

Cas.
Ha? Portia?

Bru.
She is dead.

Cas.
How scap'd I killing, when I crost you so?
O insupportable, and touching losse!
Vpon what sicknesse?

Bru.
Impatient of my absence,
And greefe, that yong Octauius with Mark Antony
Haue made themselues so strong: For with her death
That tydings came. With this she fell distract,
And (her Attendants absent) swallow'd fire.

Cas.
And dy'd so?

Bru.
Euen so.

Cas.
O ye immortall Gods!
Enter Boy with Wine, and Tapers.

Bru.
Speak no more of her: Giue me a bowl of wine,
In this I bury all vnkindnesse Cassius.
Drinkes

Cas.
My heart is thirsty for that Noble pledge.
Fill Lucius, till the Wine ore-swell the Cup:
I cannot drinke too much of Brutus loue.
Enter Titinius and Messala.

Brutus.
Come in Titinius: / Welcome good Messala:
Now sit we close about this Taper heere,
And call in question our necessities.

Cass.
Portia, art thou gone?

Bru.
No more I pray you.
Messala, I haue heere receiued Letters,
That yong Octauius, and Marke Antony
Come downe vpon vs with a mighty power,
Bending their Expedition toward Philippi.

Mess.
My selfe haue Letters of the selfe-same Tenure.

Bru.
With what Addition.

Mess.
That by proscription, and billes of Outlarie,
Octauius, Antony, and Lepidus,
Haue put to death, an hundred Senators.

Bru.
Therein our Letters do not well agree:
Mine speake of seuenty Senators, that dy'de
By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.

Cassi.
Cicero one?

Messa.
Cicero is dead,
and by that order of proscription
Had you your Letters from your wife, my Lord?

Bru.
No Messala.

Messa.
Nor nothing in your Letters writ of her?

Bru.
Nothing Messala.

Messa.
That me thinkes is strange.





Then like a Roman, beare the truth I tell,
For certaine she is dead, and by strange manner.

Bru.
Why farewell Portia: We must die Messala:
With meditating that she must dye once,
I haue the patience to endure it now.

Messa.
Euen so great men, great losses shold indure.

Cassi.
I haue as much of this in Art as you,
But yet my Nature could not beare it so.

Bru.
Well, to our worke aliue. What do you thinke
Of marching to Philippi presently.

Cassi.
I do not thinke it good.

Bru.
Your reason?

Cassi.
This it is:
'Tis better that the Enemie seeke vs,
So shall he waste his meanes, weary his Souldiers,
Doing himselfe offence, whil'st we lying still,
Are full of rest, defence, and nimblenesse.

Bru.
Good reasons must of force giue place to better:
The people 'twixt Philippi, and this ground
Do stand but in a forc'd affection:
For they haue grug'd vs Contribution.
The Enemy, marching along by them,
By them shall make a fuller number vp,
Come on refresht, new added, and encourag'd:
From which aduantage shall we cut him off.
If at Philippi we do face him there,
These people at our backe.

Cassi.
Heare me good Brother.

Bru.
Vnder your pardon. You must note beside,
That we haue tride the vtmost of our Friends:
Our Legions are brim full, our cause is ripe,
The Enemy encreaseth euery day,
We at the height, are readie to decline.
There is a Tide in the affayres of men,
Which taken at the Flood, leades on to Fortune:
Omitted, all the voyage of their life,
Is bound in Shallowes, and in Miseries.
On such a full Sea are we now a-float,
And we must take the current when it serues,
Or loose our Ventures.

Cassi.
Then with your will go on: wee'l along
Our selues, and meet them at Philippi.

Bru.
The deepe of night is crept vpon our talke,
And Nature must obey Necessitie,
Which we will niggard with a little rest:
There is no more to say.

Cassi.
No more, good night,
Early to morrow will we rise, and hence.

Bru.
Lucius
Enter Lucius.
my Gowne:
farewell good Messala,
Good night Titinius: Noble, Noble Cassius,
Good night, and good repose.

Cassi.
O my deere Brother:
This was an ill beginning of the night:
Neuer come such diuision 'tweene our soules:
Let it not Brutus.
Enter Lucius with the Gowne.

Bru.
Euery thing is well.

Cassi.
Good night my Lord.

Bru.
Good night good Brother.

Tit. Messa.
Good night Lord Brutus.

Bru.
Farwell euery one.
Exeunt.
Giue me the Gowne. Where is thy Instrument?

Luc.
Heere in the Tent.

Bru.
What, thou speak'st drowsily?
Poore knaue I blame thee not, thou art ore-watch'd.
Call Claudio, and some other of my men,
Ile haue them sleepe on Cushions in my Tent.

Luc.
Varrus, and Claudio.
Enter Varrus and Claudio.

Var.
Cals my Lord?

Bru.
I pray you sirs, lye in my Tent and sleepe,
It may be I shall raise you by and by
On businesse to my Brother Cassius.

Var.
So please you, we will stand, / And watch your pleasure.

Bru.
I will it not haue it so: Lye downe good sirs,
It may be I shall otherwise bethinke me.
Looke Lucius, heere's the booke I sought for so:
I put it in the pocket of my Gowne.

Luc.
I was sure your Lordship did not giue it me.

Bru.
Beare with me good Boy, I am much forgetfull.
Canst thou hold vp thy heauie eyes a-while,
And touch thy Instrument a straine or two.

Luc.
I my Lord, an't please you.

Bru.
It does my Boy:
I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing.

Luc.
It is my duty Sir.

Brut.
I should not vrge thy duty past thy might,
I know yong bloods looke for a time of rest.

Luc.
I haue slept my Lord already.

Bru.
It was well done, and thou shalt sleepe againe:
I will not hold thee long. If I do liue,
I will be good to thee.
Musicke, and a Song.


This is a sleepy Tune: O Murd'rous slumbler!
Layest thou thy Leaden Mace vpon my Boy,
That playes thee Musicke? Gentle knaue good night:
I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee:
If thou do'st nod, thou break'st thy Instrument,
Ile take it from thee, and (good Boy) good night.
Let me see, let me see; is not the Leafe turn'd downe
Where I left reading? Heere it is I thinke.
Enter the Ghost of Casar.
How ill this Taper burnes. Ha! Who comes heere?
I thinke it is the weakenesse of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous Apparition.
It comes vpon me: Art thou any thing?
Art thou some God, some Angell, or some Diuell,
That mak'st my blood cold, and my haire to stare?
Speake to me, what thou art.

Ghost.
Thy euill Spirit Brutus?

Bru.
Why com'st thou?

Ghost.
To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.

Brut.
Well: then I shall see thee againe?

Ghost.
I, at Philippi.

Brut.
Why I will see thee at Philippi then:
Now I haue taken heart, thou vanishest.
Ill Spirit, I would hold more talke with thee.
Boy, Lucius, Varrus, Claudio, Sirs: Awake:
Claudio.

Luc.
The strings my Lord, are false.

Bru.
He thinkes he still is at his Instrument.
Lucius, awake.

Luc.
My Lord.

Bru.
Did'st thou dreame Lucius, that thou so cryedst out?

Luc.
My Lord, I do not know that I did cry.

Bru.
Yes that thou did'st: Did'st thou see any thing?

Luc.
Nothing my Lord.

Bru.
Sleepe againe Lucius: Sirra Claudio,
Fellow, / Thou: Awake.

Var.
My Lord.

Clau.
My Lord.

Bru.
Why did you so cry out sirs, in your sleepe?

Both.
Did we my Lord?

Bru.
I: saw you any thing?

Var.
No my Lord, I saw nothing.

Clau.
Nor I my Lord.

Bru.
Go, and commend me to my Brother Cassius:
Bid him set on his Powres betimes before,


Both.
It shall be done my Lord.
Exeunt

Cassi.
Modern text
Act IV, Scene I
Enter Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus

ANTONY
These many then shall die; their names are pricked.

OCTAVIUS
Your brother too must die; consent you, Lepidus?

LEPIDUS
I do consent.

OCTAVIUS
Prick him down, Antony.

LEPIDUS
Upon condition Publius shall not live,
Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony.

ANTONY
He shall not live. Look, with a spot I damn him.
But, Lepidus, go you to Caesar's house;
Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine
How to cut off some charge in legacies.

LEPIDUS
What, shall I find you here?

OCTAVIUS
Or here or at the Capitol.
Exit Lepidus

ANTONY
This is a slight unmeritable man,
Meet to be sent on errands. Is it fit,
The threefold world divided, he should stand
One of the three to share it?

OCTAVIUS
So you thought him,
And took his voice who should be pricked to die
In our black sentence and proscription.

ANTONY
Octavius, I have seen more days than you;
And though we lay these honours on this man,
To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads,
He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold,
To groan and sweat under the business,
Either led or driven, as we point the way;
And having brought our treasure where we will,
Then take we down his load, and turn him off,
Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears
And graze in commons.

OCTAVIUS
You may do your will;
But he's a tried and valiant soldier.

ANTONY
So is my horse, Octavius, and for that
I do appoint him store of provender.
It is a creature that I teach to fight,
To wind, to stop, to run directly on,
His corporal motion governed by my spirit.
And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so:
He must be taught and trained, and bid go forth:
A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds
On objects, arts, and imitations,
Which, out of use and staled by other men,
Begins his fashion. Do not talk of him
But as a property. And now, Octavius,
Listen great things. Brutus and Cassius
Are levying powers; we must straight make head.
Therefore let our alliance be combined,
Our best friends made, our means stretched;
And let us presently go sit in council,
How covert matters may be best disclosed,
And open perils surest answered.

OCTAVIUS
Let us do so; for we are at the stake,
And bayed about with many enemies;
And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,
Millions of mischiefs.
Exeunt
Modern text
Act IV, Scene II
Drum
Enter Brutus, Lucilius, Lucius, and the army. Titinius
and Pindarus meet them

BRUTUS
Stand, ho!

LUCILIUS
Give the word, ho! and stand!

BRUTUS
What now, Lucilius, is Cassius near?

LUCILIUS
He is at hand, and Pindarus is come
To do you salutation from his master.

BRUTUS
He greets me well. Your master, Pindarus,
In his own change, or by ill officers,
Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
Things done undone; but if he be at hand
I shall be satisfied.

PINDARUS
I do not doubt
But that my noble master will appear
Such as he is, full of regard and honour.

BRUTUS
He is not doubted. A word, Lucilius;
Brutus and Lucilius draw apart
How he received you, let me be resolved.

LUCILIUS
With courtesy and with respect enough,
But not with such familiar instances,
Nor with such free and friendly conference,
As he hath used of old.

BRUTUS
Thou hast described
A hot friend cooling. Ever note, Lucilius,
When love begins to sicken and decay,
It useth an enforced ceremony.
There are no tricks in plain and simple faith;
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;
Low march within
But when they should endure the bloody spur,
They fall their crests, and like deceitful jades
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?

LUCILIUS
They mean this night in Sardis to be quartered;
The greater part, the horse in general,
Are come with Cassius.
Enter Cassius and his powers
Hark! he is arrived.
March gently on to meet him.

CASSIUS
Stand, ho!

BRUTUS
Stand, ho! Speak the word along.

FIRST SOLDIER
Stand!

SECOND SOLDIER
Stand!

THIRD SOLDIER
Stand!

CASSIUS
Most noble brother, you have done me wrong.

BRUTUS
Judge me, you gods; wrong I mine enemies?
And if not so, how should I wrong a brother?

CASSIUS
Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs;
And when you do them –

BRUTUS
Cassius, be content.
Speak your griefs softly; I do know you well.
Before the eyes of both our armies here,
Which should perceive nothing but love from us,
Let us not wrangle. Bid them move away;
Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
And I will give you audience.

CASSIUS
Pindarus,
Bid our commanders lead their charges off
A little from this ground.

BRUTUS
Lucius, do you the like, and let no man
Come to our tent till we have done our conference.
Lucilius and Titinius guard our door.
Exeunt all except Brutus and Cassius
Modern text
Act IV, Scene III

CASSIUS
That you have wronged me doth appear in this;
You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella
For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
Wherein my letters, praying on his side,
Because I knew the man, were slighted off.

BRUTUS
You wronged yourself to write in such a case.

CASSIUS
In such a time as this it is not meet
That every nice offence should bear his comment.

BRUTUS
Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
Are much condemned to have an itching palm,
To sell and mart your offices for gold
To undeservers.

CASSIUS
I an itching palm!
You know that you are Brutus that speak this,
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.

BRUTUS
The name of Cassius honours this corruption,
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.

CASSIUS
Chastisement!

BRUTUS
Remember March, the ides of March remember.
Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?
What villain touched his body, that did stab,
And not for justice? What, shall one of us,
That struck the foremost man of all this world
But for supporting robbers, shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
And sell the mighty space of our large honours
For so much trash as may be grasped thus?
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,
Than such a Roman.

CASSIUS
Brutus, bait not me;
I'll not endure it. You forget yourself,
To hedge me in. I am a soldier, I,
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.

BRUTUS
Go to! You are not, Cassius.

CASSIUS
I am.

BRUTUS
I say you are not.

CASSIUS
Urge me no more, I shall forget myself;
Have mind upon your health; tempt me no further.

BRUTUS
Away, slight man!

CASSIUS
Is't possible?

BRUTUS
Hear me, for I will speak.
Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?
O ye gods, ye gods! Must I endure all this?

BRUTUS
All this? Ay, more: fret till your proud heart break;
Go show your slaves how choleric you are,
And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?
Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch
Under your testy humour? By the gods,
You shall disgest the venom of your spleen,
Though it do split you; for, from this day forth,
I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
When you are waspish.

CASSIUS
Is it come to this?

BRUTUS
You say you are a better soldier:
Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well. For mine own part,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men.

CASSIUS
You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus.
I said an elder soldier, not a better;
Did I say better?

BRUTUS
If you did, I care not.

CASSIUS
When Caesar lived, he durst not thus have moved me.

BRUTUS
Peace, peace! You durst not so have tempted him.

CASSIUS
I durst not!

BRUTUS
No.

CASSIUS
What, durst not tempt him?

BRUTUS
For your life you durst not.

CASSIUS
Do not presume too much upon my love;
I may do that I shall be sorry for.

BRUTUS
You have done that you should be sorry for.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats;
For I am armed so strong in honesty
That they pass by me as the idle wind,
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certain sums of gold, which you denied me;
For I can raise no money by vile means;
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart,
And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection. I did send
To you for gold to pay my legions.
Which you denied me; was that done like Cassius?
Should I have answered Caius Cassius so?
When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,
To lock such rascal counters from his friends,
Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts,
Dash him to pieces!

CASSIUS
I denied you not.

BRUTUS
You did.

CASSIUS
I did not. He was but a fool
That brought my answer back. Brutus hath rived my heart;
A friend should bear his friend's infirmities;
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.

BRUTUS
I do not, till you practise them on me.

CASSIUS
You love me not.

BRUTUS
I do not like your faults.

CASSIUS
A friendly eye could never see such faults.

BRUTUS
A flatterer's would not, though they do appear
As huge as high Olympus.

CASSIUS
Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is aweary of the world;
Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother;
Checked like a bondman; all his faults observed,
Set in a notebook, learned, and conned by rote,
To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep
My spirit from mine eyes! There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast; within, a heart
Dearer than Pluto's mine, richer than gold:
If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth.
I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart:
Strike, as thou didst at Caesar; for I know,
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better
Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.

BRUTUS
Sheathe your dagger.
Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.
O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb
That carries anger as the flint bears fire,
Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark,
And straight is cold again.

CASSIUS
Hath Cassius lived
To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
When grief and blood ill-tempered vexeth him?

BRUTUS
When I spoke that, I was ill-tempered too.

CASSIUS
Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.

BRUTUS
And my heart too.

CASSIUS
O Brutus!

BRUTUS
What's the matter?

CASSIUS
Have not you love enough to bear with me,
When that rash humour which my mother gave me
Makes me forgetful?

BRUTUS
Yes, Cassius; and from henceforth,
When you are overearnest with your Brutus,
He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so.
Enter a Poet followed by Lucius; Titinius and Lucilius
attempting to restrain him

POET
Let me go in to see the Generals.
There is some grudge between 'em; 'tis not meet
They be alone.

LUCILIUS
You shall not come to them.

POET
Nothing but death shall stay me.

CASSIUS
How now? What's the matter?

POET
For shame, you Generals! What do you mean?
Love, and be friends, as two such men should be;
For I have seen more years, I'm sure, than ye.

CASSIUS
Ha, ha! How vilely doth this cynic rhyme!

BRUTUS
Get you hence, sirrah! Saucy fellow, hence!

CASSIUS
Bear with him, Brutus; 'tis his fashion.

BRUTUS
I'll know his humour, when he knows his time.
What should the wars do with these jigging fools?
Companion, hence!

CASSIUS
Away, away, be gone!
Exit Poet

BRUTUS
Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders
Prepare to lodge their companies tonight.

CASSIUS
And come yourselves, and bring Messala with you
Immediately to us.
Exeunt Lucilius and Titinius

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 I killing, when I crossed 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, swallowed fire.

CASSIUS
And died so?

BRUTUS
Even so.

CASSIUS
O ye immortal gods!
Enter Boy (Lucius) with wine and tapers

BRUTUS
Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine.
In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius.
He 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.
Exit Lucius
Cassius drinks
Enter Titinius and Messala

BRUTUS
Come in, Titinius. 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 tenor.

BRUTUS
With what addition?

MESSALA
That by proscription and bills of outlawry
Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus
Have put to death an hundred senators.

BRUTUS
Therein 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
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 offence, whilst we, lying still,
Are full of rest, defence, 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 refreshed, 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 brimful, 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!
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.
Enter Lucius, with the gown

BRUTUS
Everything is well.

CASSIUS
Good night, my lord.

BRUTUS
Good night, good brother.

TITINIUS and MESSALA
Good night, Lord Brutus.

BRUTUS
Farewell, every one.
Exeunt Cassius, Titinius, and Messala
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'erwatched.
Call Claudius and some other of my men;
I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.

LUCIUS
Varro and Claudius!
Enter Varro and Claudius

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 will not have it so; lie down, good sirs.
It may be I shall otherwise bethink me.
Varro and Claudius lie down
Look, Lucius, here's the book I sought for so;
I put it in the pocket of my gown.

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
Lucius falls asleep
This is a sleepy tune; O murderous 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 turned down
Where I left reading? Here it is, I think.
He sits and reads
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 any thing?
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.

GHOST
Thy evil spirit, Brutus.

BRUTUS
Why com'st 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! Claudius! Sirs, awake!
Claudius!

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 Claudius!
Fellow thou, awake!

VARRO
My lord?

CLAUDIUS
My lord?

BRUTUS
Why did you so cry out, sirs, in your sleep?

VARRO and CLAUDIUS
Did we, my lord?

BRUTUS
Ay; saw you anything?

VARRO
No, my lord, I saw nothing.

CLAUDIUS
Nor I, my lord.

BRUTUS
Go, and commend me to my brother Cassius.
Bid him set on his powers betimes before,
And we will follow.

VARRO and CLAUDIUS
It shall be done, my lord.
Exeunt

CASSIUS
x

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