The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 269

SCENE II.

The field of battle.

Alarum. Enter Brutus and Messala.

BRUTUS. 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 demeanor in Octavia's wing, And sudden push gives them the overthrow.

Ride, ride, Messala. Let them all come down. Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Another part of the field.

Alarums. Enter Ca.s.sius and t.i.tinius.

Ca.s.sIUS. O, look, t.i.tinius, 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.

t.i.tINIUS. O Ca.s.sius, 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.

PINDARUS. Fly further off, my lord, fly further off; Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord; Fly, therefore, n.o.ble Ca.s.sius, fly far off.

Ca.s.sIUS. This hill is far enough. Look, look, t.i.tinius: Are those my tents where I perceive the fire?

t.i.tINIUS. They are, my lord.

Ca.s.sIUS. t.i.tinius, 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 a.s.sured Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.

t.i.tINIUS. I will be here again, even with a thought. Exit.

Ca.s.sIUS. Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill; My sight was ever thick; regard t.i.tinius, And tell me what thou notest about the field.

Pindarus ascends the hill.

This day I breathed first: time is come round, And where I did begin, there shall I end; My life is run his compa.s.s. Sirrah, what news?

PINDARUS. [Above.] O my lord!

Ca.s.sIUS. What news?

PINDARUS. [Above.] t.i.tinius is enclosed round about With hors.e.m.e.n, that make to him on the spur; Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him.

Now, t.i.tinius! Now some light. O, he lights too.

He's ta'en [Shout.] And, hark! They shout for joy.

Ca.s.sIUS. Come down; behold no more.

O, coward that I am, to live so long, To see my best friend ta'en before my face!

Pindarus descends.

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, Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath; Now be a freeman, and with this good sword, That ran through Caesar's bowels, search this bosom.

Stand not to answer: here, take thou the hilts; And when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now, Guide thou the sword. [Pindarus stabs him.] Caesar, thou art revenged, Even with the sword that kill'd thee. Dies.

PINDARUS. So, I am free, yet would not so have been, Durst I have done my will. O Ca.s.sius!

Far from this country Pindarus shall run, Where never Roman shall take note of him. Exit.

Re-enter t.i.tinius with Messala.

MESSALA. It is but change, t.i.tinius, for Octavius Is overthrown by n.o.ble Brutus' power, As Ca.s.sius' legions are by Antony.

t.i.tINIUS. These tidings would well comfort Ca.s.sius.

MESSALA. Where did you leave him?

t.i.tINIUS. All disconsolate, With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.

MESSALA. Is not that he that lies upon the ground?

t.i.tINIUS. He lies not like the living. O my heart!

MESSALA. Is not that he?

t.i.tINIUS. No, this was he, Messala, But Ca.s.sius is no more. O setting sun, As in thy red rays thou dost sink to night, So in his red blood Ca.s.sius' 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!

t.i.tINIUS. What, Pindarus! Where art thou, Pindarus?

MESSALA. Seek him, t.i.tinius, whilst I go to meet The n.o.ble 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.

t.i.tINIUS. Hie you, Messala, And I will seek for Pindarus the while. Exit Messala.

Why didst thou send me forth, brave Ca.s.sius?

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 Ca.s.sius.

By your leave, G.o.ds, this is a Roman's part.

Come, Ca.s.sius' sword, and find t.i.tinius' 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 t.i.tinius mourning it.

BRUTUS. t.i.tinius' 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 t.i.tinius!

Look whe'er he have not crown'd dead Ca.s.sius!

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, Ca.s.sius, 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 b.a.s.t.a.r.d doth not? Who will go with me?

I will proclaim my name about the field.