Shakespeare's First Folio Part 551

Alarum. Enter Brutus and Messala.

Bru. Ride, ride Messala, ride and giue these Billes Vnto the Legions, on the other side.

Lowd Alarum.

Let them set on at once: for I perceiue But cold demeanor in Octauio's wing: And sodaine push giues them the ouerthrow: Ride, ride Messala, let them all come downe.

Exeunt.

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

Ca.s.si. O looke t.i.tinius, looke, the Villaines flye: My selfe haue to mine owne turn'd Enemy: This Ensigne heere of mine was turning backe, I slew the Coward, and did take it from him

t.i.tin. O Ca.s.sius, Brutus gaue the word too early, Who hauing some aduantage on Octauius, Tooke it too eagerly: his Soldiers fell to spoyle, Whilst we by Antony are all inclos'd.

Enter Pindarus.

Pind. Fly further off my Lord: flye further off, Mark Antony is in your Tents my Lord: Flye therefore n.o.ble Ca.s.sius, flye farre off

Ca.s.si. This Hill is farre enough. Looke, look t.i.tinius Are those my Tents where I perceiue the fire?

t.i.t. They are, my Lord

Ca.s.si. t.i.tinius, if thou louest me, Mount thou my horse, and hide thy spurres in him, Till he haue brought thee vp to yonder Troopes And heere againe, that I may rest a.s.sur'd Whether yond Troopes, are Friend or Enemy

t.i.t. I will be heere againe, euen with a thought.

Enter.

Ca.s.si. Go Pindarus, get higher on that hill, My sight was euer thicke: regard t.i.tinius, And tell me what thou not'st about the Field.

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.se. Sirra, what newes?

Pind. Aboue. O my Lord

Ca.s.si. What newes?

Pind. t.i.tinius is enclosed round about With Hors.e.m.e.n, that make to him on the Spurre, Yet he spurres on. Now they are almost on him: Now t.i.tinius. Now some light: O he lights too.

Hee's tane.

Showt.

And hearke, they shout for ioy

Ca.s.si. Come downe, behold no more: O Coward that I am, to liue so long, To see my best Friend tane before my face Enter Pindarus.

Come hither sirrah: In Parthia did I take thee Prisoner, And then I swore thee, sauing of thy life, That whatsoeuer I did bid thee do, Thou should'st attempt it. Come now, keepe thine oath, Now be a Free-man, and with this good Sword That ran through Caesars bowels, search this bosome.

Stand not to answer: Heere, take thou the Hilts, And when my face is couer'd, as 'tis now, Guide thou the Sword- Caesar, thou art reueng'd, Euen with the Sword that kill'd thee

Pin. So, I am free, Yet would not so haue beene Durst I haue done my will. O Ca.s.sius, Farre from this Country Pindarus shall run, Where neuer Roman shall take note of him.

Enter t.i.tinius and Messala.

Messa. It is but change, t.i.tinius: for Octauius Is ouerthrowne by n.o.ble Brutus power, As Ca.s.sius Legions are by Antony

t.i.tin. These tydings will well comfort Ca.s.sius

Messa. Where did you leaue him

t.i.tin. All disconsolate, With Pindarus his Bondman, on this Hill

Messa. Is not that he that lyes vpon the ground?

t.i.tin. He lies not like the Liuing. O my heart!

Messa. Is not that hee?

t.i.tin. No, this was he Messala, But Ca.s.sius is no more. O setting Sunne: As in thy red Rayes thou doest sinke to night; So in his red blood Ca.s.sius day is set.

The Sunne of Rome is set. Our day is gone, Clowds, Dewes, and Dangers come; our deeds are done: Mistrust of my successe hath done this deed

Messa. Mistrust of good successe hath done this deed.

O hatefull Error, Melancholies Childe: Why do'st thou shew to the apt thoughts of men The things that are not? O Error soone conceyu'd, Thou neuer com'st vnto a happy byrth, But kil'st the Mother that engendred thee

t.i.t. What Pindarus? Where art thou Pindarus?

Messa. Seeke him t.i.tinius, whilst I go to meet The n.o.ble Brutus, thrusting this report Into his eares; I may say thrusting it: For piercing Steele, and Darts inuenomed, Shall be as welcome to the eares of Brutus, As tydings of this sight

t.i.t. Hye you Messala, And I will seeke for Pindarus the while: Why did'st thou send me forth braue Ca.s.sius?

Did I not meet thy Friends, and did not they Put on my Browes this wreath of Victorie, And bid me giue it thee? Did'st thou not heare their showts?

Alas, thou hast misconstrued euery thing.

But hold thee, take this Garland on thy Brow, Thy Brutus bid me giue it thee, and I Will do his bidding. Brutus, come apace, And see how I regarded Caius Ca.s.sius: By your leaue G.o.ds: This is a Romans part, Come Ca.s.sius Sword, and finde t.i.tinius hart.

Dies

Alarum. Enter Brutus, Messala, yong Cato, Strato, Volumnius, and Lucillius.

Bru. Where, where Messala, doth his body lye?

Messa. Loe yonder, and t.i.tinius mourning it

Bru. t.i.tinius face is vpward

Cato. He is slaine

Bru. O Iulius Caesar, thou art mighty yet, Thy Spirit walkes abroad, and turnes our Swords In our owne proper Entrailes. Low Alarums

Cato. Braue t.i.tinius, Looke where he haue not crown'd dead Ca.s.sius

Bru. Are yet two Romans liuing such as these?

The last of all the Romans, far thee well: It is impossible, that euer Rome Should breed thy fellow. Friends I owe mo teares To this dead man, then you shall see me pay.

I shall finde time, Ca.s.sius: I shall finde time.

Come therefore, and to Tharsus send his body, His Funerals shall not be in our Campe, Least it discomfort vs. Lucillius come, And come yong Cato, let vs to the Field, Labio and Flauio set our Battailes on: 'Tis three a clocke, and Romans yet ere night, We shall try Fortune in a second fight.

Exeunt.

Alarum. Enter Brutus, Messala, Cato, Lucillius, and Flauius.

Bru. Yet Country-men: O yet, hold vp your heads

Cato. What b.a.s.t.a.r.d doth not? Who will go with me?