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Julius Caesar (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: John D. Cox
Peer Reviewed
The Tragedie of Julius Cæsar
127
Ghost. To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.
Brut. Well: then I shall see thee againe?
Ghost. I, at Philippi.
2300Brut. Why I will see thee at Philippi then:
Now I haue taken heart, thou vanishest.
Ill Spirit, I would hold more talke with thee.
Boy, Lucius, Varrus, Claudio, Sirs: Awake:
Claudio.
2305Luc. The strings my Lord, are false.
Bru. He thinkes he still is at his Instrument.
Lucius, awake.
Luc. My Lord.
Bru. Did'st thou dreame Lucius, that thou so cryedst
2310out?
Luc. My Lord, I do not know that I did cry.
Bru. Yes that thou did'st: Did'st thou see any thing?
Luc. Nothing my Lord.
Bru. Sleepe againe Lucius: Sirra Claudio, Fellow,
2315Thou: Awake.
Var. My Lord.
Clæu. My Lord.
Bru. Why did you so cry out sirs, in your sleepe?
Both. Did we my Lord?
2320Bru. I: saw you any thing?
Var. No my Lord, I saw nothing.
Clau. Nor I my Lord.
Bru. Go, and commend me to my Brother Cassius:
Bid him set on his Powres betimes before,
2325And we will follow.
Both. It shall be done my Lord.
Exeunt


Actus Quintus.


Enter Octauius, Antony, and their Army.
Octa. Now Antony, our hopes are answered,
2330You said the Enemy would not come downe,
But keepe the Hilles and vpper Regions:
It proues not so: their battailes are at hand,
They meane to warne vs at Philippi heere:
Answering before we do demand of them.
2335Ant. Tut I am in their bosomes, and I know
Wherefore they do it: They could be content
To visit other places, and come downe
With fearefull brauery: thinking by this face
To fasten in our thoughts that they haue Courage;
2340But 'tis not so.
Enter a Messenger.
Mes. Prepare you Generals,
The Enemy comes on in gallant shew:
Their bloody signe of Battell is hung out,
2345And something to be done immediately.
Ant. Octauius, leade your Battaile softly on
Vpon the left hand of the euen Field.
Octa. Vpon the right hand I, keepe thou the left.
Ant. Why do you crosse me in this exigent.
2350Octa. I do not crosse you: but I will do so.
March.

Drum.Enter Brutus, Cassius, & their Army.
Bru. They stand, and would haue parley.
Cassi. Stand fast Titinius, we must out and talke.
Octa. Mark Antony, shall we giue signe of Battaile?
2355Ant. No Cæsar, we will answer on their Charge.
Make forth, the Generals would haue some words.
Oct. Stirre not vntill the Signall.
Bru. Words before blowes: is it so Countrymen?
Octa. Not that we loue words better, as you do.
2360Bru. Good words are better then bad strokes Octauius.
An. In your bad strokes Brutus, you giue good words
Witnesse the hole you made in Cæsars heart,
Crying long liue, Haile Cæsar.
Cassi. Antony,
2365The posture of your blowes are yet vnknowne;
But for your words, they rob the Hibla Bees,
And leaue them Hony-lesse.
Ant. Not stinglesse too.
Bru. O yes, and soundlesse too:
2370For you haue stolne their buzzing Antony,
And very wisely threat before you sting.
Ant. Villains: you did not so, when your vile daggers
Hackt one another in the sides of Cæsar:
You shew'd your teethes like Apes,
2375And fawn'd like Hounds,
And bow'd like Bondmen, kissing Cæsars feete;
Whil'st damned Caska, like a Curre, behinde
Strooke Cæsar on the necke. O you Flatterers.
Cassi Flatterers? Now Brutus thanke your selfe,
2380This tongue had not offended so to day,
If Cassius might haue rul'd.
Octa. Come, come, the cause. If arguing make vs swet,
The proofe of it will turne to redder drops:
Looke, I draw a Sword against Conspirators,
2385When thinke you that the Sword goes vp againe?
Neuer till Cæsars three and thirtie wounds
Be well aueng'd; or till another Cæsar
Haue added slaughter to the Sword of Traitors.
Brut. Cæsar, thou canst not dye by Traitors hands,
2390Vnlesse thou bring'st them with thee.
Octa. So I hope:
I was not borne to dye on Brutus Sword.
Bru. O if thou wer't the Noblest of thy Straine,
Yong-man, thou could'st not dye more honourable.
2395Cassi. A peeuish School-boy, worthles of such Honor
Ioyn'd with a Masker, and a Reueller.
Ant. Old Cassius still.
Octa. Come Antony: away:
Defiance Traitors, hurle we in your teeth.
2400If you dare fight to day, come to the Field;
If not, when you haue stomackes.
Exit Octauius, Antony, and Army
Cassi. Why now blow winde, swell Billow,
And swimme Barke:
2405The Storme is vp, and all is on the hazard.
Bru. Ho Lucillius, hearke, a word with you.
Lucillius and Messala stand forth.
Luc. My Lord.
Cassi. Messala.
2410Messa. What sayes my Generall?
Cassi. Messala, this is my Birth-day: as this very day
Was Cassius borne. Giue me thy hand Messala:
Be thou my witnesse, that against my will
(As Pompey was) am I compell'd to set
2415Vpon one Battell all our Liberties.
You know, that I held Epicurus strong,
And his Opinion: Now I change my minde,
And partly credit things that do presage.
Comming from Sardis, on our former Ensigne
2420Two mighty Eagles fell, and there they pearch'd,
Gorging and feeding from our Soldiers hands,
Who