Act 5 — Scene I. The plains of Philippi.[3521]

Oct. 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 are at hand; They mean to warn us at Philippi here,[3522] 5 Answering before we do demand of them. Ant. Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I know Wherefore they do it: they could be content To visit other places; and come down[3523] With fearful bravery, thinking by this face[3523] 10 To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage; But 'tis not so.

Mess. Prepare you, generals: The enemy comes on in gallant show; Their bloody sign of battle is hung out, And something to be done immediately.[3524] 15 Ant. Octavius, lead your battle softly on, Upon the left hand of the even field.[3525] Oct. Upon the right hand I; keep thou the left.[3526] Ant. Why do you cross me in this exigent?[3527] Oct. I do not cross you; but I will do so. [March.20

Bru. They stand, and would have parley. Cas. Stand fast, Titinius: we must out and talk. Oct. Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle? Ant. No, Cæsar, we will answer on their charge. Make forth; the generals would have some words. 25 Oct. Stir not until the signal.[3529] Bru. Words before blows: is it so, countrymen? Oct. Not that we love words better, as you do. Bru. Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius. Ant. In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words: 30 Witness the hole you made in Cæsar's heart, Crying 'Long live! hail, Cæsar!' Cas. Antony, The posture of your blows are yet unknown;[3530] But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,[3531] And leave them honeyless. Ant. Not stingless too.[3532] 35 Bru. O, yes, and soundless too;[3533] For you have stol'n their buzzing, Antony,[3533] And very wisely threat before you sting.[3533] Ant. Villains, you did not so, when your vile daggers Hack'd one another in the sides of Cæsar:[3534] 40 You show'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like hounds,[3535] And bow'd like bondmen, kissing Cæsar's feet; Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind[3536] Struck Cæsar on the neck. O you flatterers![3537][3538] Cas. Flatterers! Now, Brutus, thank yourself:[3538][3539] 45 This tongue had not offended so to-day, If Cassius might have ruled. Oct. Come, come, the cause: if arguing make us sweat,[3540] The proof of it will turn to redder drops. Look;[3541][3542] 50 I draw a sword against conspirators;[3542][3543] When think you that the sword goes up again? Never, till Cæsar's three and thirty wounds[3544] Be well avenged, or till another Cæsar Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors.[3545] 55 Bru. Cæsar, thou canst not die by traitors' hands,[3546] Unless thou bring'st them with thee. Oct. So I hope; I was not born to die on Brutus' sword. Bru. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain, Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable.[3547] 60 Cas. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour,[3548] Join'd with a masker and a reveller! Ant. Old Cassius still! Oct. Come, Antony; away! Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth; If you dare fight to-day, come to the field: 65 If not, when you have stomachs.

Cas. Why, now, blow wind, swell billow and swim bark![3550] The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.[3551] Bru. Ho, Lucilius! hark, a word with you. Lucil. [Standing forth] My lord?

Cas. Messala! Mes. [Standing forth] What says my general?[3552][3553] Cas. Messala,[3553][3554][3555]70 This is my birth-day; as this very day[3555][3556] Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala: Be thou my witness that, against my will, As Pompey was, am I compell'd to set[3557] Upon one battle all our liberties. 75 You know that I held Epicurus strong, And his opinion: now I change my mind, And partly credit things that do presage. Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign[3558] Two mighty eagles fell, and there they perch'd, 80 Gorging and feeding from our soldiers' hands; Who to Philippi here consorted us: This morning are they fled away and gone; And in their steads do ravens, crows and kites[3559] Fly o'er our heads and downward look on us, 85 As we were sickly prey: their shadows seem A canopy most fatal, under which Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost.[3560] Mes. Believe not so. Cas. I but believe it partly, For I am fresh of spirit and resolved 90 To meet all perils very constantly.[3561] Bru. Even so, Lucilius.[3562] Cas. Now, most noble Brutus, The gods to-day stand friendly, that we may, Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age! But, since the affairs of men rest still incertain,[3563] 95 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: What are you then determined to do? Bru. Even by the rule of that philosophy 100 By which I did blame Cato for the death[3564] Which he did give himself: I know not how,[3565][3566] But I do find it cowardly and vile,[3566] For fear of what might fall, so to prevent[3566] The time of life: arming myself with patience[3566][3567] 105 To stay the providence of some high powers[3568] That govern us below. Cas. Then, if we lose this battle,[3569] You are contented to be led in triumph Thorough the streets of Rome?[3570] Bru. No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble Roman,[3571] 110 That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome; He bears too great a mind. But this same day Must end that work the ides of March begun;[3572] And whether we shall meet again I know not. Therefore our everlasting farewell take. 115 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. Cas. For ever and for ever farewell, Brutus! If we do meet again, we'll smile indeed; 120 If not, 'tis true this parting was well made. Bru. Why then, lead on. O, that a man might know The end of this day's business ere it come! But it sufficeth that the day will end, And then the end is known. Come, ho! away! [Exeunt.125