Act 5 — V. 1 Scene I. The plains of Philippi[1]

Octavius. Now, Antony, our hopes are answered: You said the enemy would not come down, But keep the hills and upper regions. It proves not so: their battles[2] are at hand; 5They mean to warn[3] us at Philippi here, Answering before we do demand of them.

Antony. Tut, I am in their bosoms,[4] and I know Wherefore they do it: they could be content To visit other places, and come down 10With fearful bravery,[5] thinking by this face To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage; But 'tis not so.

Messenger. Prepare you, generals: The enemy comes on in gallant show; Their bloody sign[6] of battle is hung out, 15And something to be done immediately.

Antony. Octavius, lead your battle softly on, Upon the left hand of the even field.[7]

Octavius. Upon the right hand I; keep thou the left.

Antony. Why do you cross me in this exigent?[8]

20Octavius. I do not cross you; but I will do so.[9]

Brutus. They stand, and would have parley.

Cassius. Stand fast, Titinius: we must out and talk.

Octavius. Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle?

Antony. No, Cæsar, we will answer on their charge. 25Make forth; the generals would have some words.

Octavius. Stir not until the signal.

Brutus. Words before blows: is it so, countrymen?

Octavius. Not that we love words better, as you do.

Brutus. Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius.

30Antony. In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words. Witness the hole you made in Cæsar's heart, Crying, 'Long live! hail, Cæsar!'

Cassius. Antony, The posture of your blows[12] are[13] yet unknown; But, for your words, they rob the Hybla[14] bees, And leave them honeyless.

35Antony. Not stingless too.

Brutus. O, yes, and soundless too; For you have stol'n their buzzing, Antony, And very wisely threat before you sting.

Antony.[15] Villains, you did not so, when your vile daggers 40Hack'd one another in the sides of Cæsar: You show'd your teeth[16] like apes, and fawn'd like hounds,[17] And bow'd like bondmen, kissing Cæsar's feet; Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind Struck[18] Cæsar on the neck. O you flatterers!

45Cassius. Flatterers! Now, Brutus, thank yourself: This tongue had not offended so to-day, If Cassius might have rul'd.

Octavius.[19] Come, come, the cause: if arguing make us sweat, The proof of it will turn to redder drops. 50Look;[20] I draw a sword against conspirators; When think you that the sword goes up[21] again? Never, till Cæsar's three and thirty wounds[22] Be well aveng'd; or till another Cæsar 55Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors.[23]

Brutus. Cæsar, thou canst not die by traitors' hands, Unless thou bring'st them with thee.

Octavius. So I hope; I was not born to die on Brutus' sword.

Brutus. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain,[24] 60Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable.

Cassius. A peevish[25] schoolboy, worthless of such honour, Join'd with a masker and a reveller!

Antony. Old Cassius still!

Octavius. Come, Antony; away! Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth; 65If you dare fight to-day, come to the field; If not, when you have stomachs.[26]

Cassius.[28] Why, now, blow wind, swell billow, and swim bark! The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.

Brutus. Ho, Lucilius! hark, a word with you.

70Lucilius. [Standing forth][29] My lord?

Cassius. Messala!

Messala. What says my general?

Cassius. Messala,[31] This is my birth-day; as[32] this very day Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala: Be thou my witness that, against my will, 75As Pompey was,[33] am I compell'd to set Upon one battle all our liberties. You know that I held Epicurus strong,[34] And his opinion: now I change my mind, And partly credit things that do presage. 80Coming from Sardis, on our former[35][36] 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; 85And in their steads[37] 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.

Messala. Believe not so.

90Cassius. I but believe it partly; For I am fresh of spirit, and resolv'd To meet all perils[38] very constantly.

Brutus. Even so, Lucilius.

Cassius. Now, most noble Brutus, The gods to-day stand friendly, that we may, 95Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age! But, since the affairs of men rests[39] still incertain, 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: 100What are you then determined to do?

Brutus. Even by the rule of that philosophy By[40] 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, 105For fear of what might fall, so to prevent The time[41] of life: arming myself with patience To stay the providence of some high powers That govern us below.

Cassius. Then, if we lose this battle, You are contented to be led in triumph 110Thorough[42] the streets of Rome?[43]

Brutus.[44] No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble Roman, That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome; He bears too great a mind.[45] But this same day Must end that work the Ides[46] of March begun; 115And 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.

120Cassius. For ever, and for ever, farewell, Brutus! If we do meet again, we'll smile indeed; If not, 'tis true this parting was well made.

Brutus. Why, then, lead on. O, that a man might know The end of this day's business ere it come! 125But it sufficeth that the day will end, And then the end is known. Come, ho! away!