ACT IV MES. That by proscription and bills of outlawry, Have put to death an hundred Senators. MES. Cicero is dead, And by that order of proscription. Had you your letters from your wife, my Lord? BRU. No, Messala. MES. Nor nothing in your letters writ of her? BRU. Nothing, Messala. MES. That, methinks, is strange. BRU. Why ask you? hear you aught of her in your's? MES. No, my Lord. BRU. Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true. MES. Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell: For certain she is dead, and by strange manner. I have the patience to endure it now. MES. Even so great men great losses should endure. But yet my nature could not bear it so. BRU. Well, to our work alive. What do you think CASS. I do not think it good. BRU. CASS. Your reason? This: 180 191 "Tis better that the Enemy seek us: So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers, BRU. Good reasons must, of force, give place to better. Do stand but in a forc'd affection; 200 Come on refresh'd, new-added, and encourag'd; These people at our back. CASS. Hear me, good Brother. That we have tried the utmost of our friends, We, at the height, are ready to decline. Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life And we must take the current when it serves, CASS. Then, with your will, go on: We'll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi. BRU. 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? 210 220 Good night: 230 Early to-morrow will we rise, and hence. BRU. Lucius! [Enter LUCIUS.] My gown. [Exit LUCIUS.] Fare ye well, good Messala: Good night, Titinius: noble, noble Cassius, Good night, and good repose. CASS. O my dear Brother! ACT IV Sc. III ACT IV Re-enter LUCIUS, with the gown. Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument? BRU. What, thou speak'st drowsily: 239 Poor Knave,' I blame thee not; thou art o'er-watch'd." Call Claudius and some other of my men; I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent. Luc. Varro and Claudius! Enter VARRO and CLAUDIUS. VAR. Calls my Lord? 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. BRU. I will not have it so; lie down, good Sirs: It may be I shall otherwise bethink me. 250 [VARRO and CLAUDIUS lie down. Luc. I was sure your Lordship did not give it me. BRU. Bear with me, good Boy, I am much forgetful. And touch thy instrument a strain or two? Luc. Ay, my Lord; an 't please you. It does, my Boy: I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing. BRU. I should not urge thy duty past thy might; Luc. I have slept, my Lord, already. 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. 260 [Music, and a song. This is a sleepy tune. O murderous Slumber, That plays thee music? Gentle Knave, good night; I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee: 270 If thou dost nod, thou break'st thy instrument; 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. 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 ?1 280 GHOST. Thy evil Spirit, Brutus. BRU. Why com'st thou ? GHOST. To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi. BRU. Well; then I shall see thee again? GHOST. Ay; at Philippi. BRU. 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! Luc. The strings, my Lord, are false. BRU. He thinks he still is at his instrument. Lucius, awake! Luc. My Lord? 290 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 any thing? Luc. Nothing, my Lord. BRU. Sleep again, Lucius. Sirrah Claudius! [to VARRO.] Fellow thou, awake! VAR. My Lord? CLAU. My Lord? BRU. Why did you so cry out, Sirs, in your sleep? 300 ACT IV Sc. III ACT IV Clau. Sc. III Nor I, my Lord. BRU. Go and commend me to my brother Cassius; And we will follow. VAR. It shall be done, my Lord. [exeunt. ACT V SCENE I. The Plains of Philippi. Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their Army. The Enemy comes on in gallant show; OCT. Upon the right hand I; keep thou the left. OCT. I do not cross you; but I will do so. [March. Drum. Enter BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and their Army; BRU. They stand, and would have parley. CASS. Stand fast, Titinius: we must out and talk. 21 |