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Julius Caesar (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: John D. Cox
Peer Reviewed
Alarums.Enter Cassius and Titinius.
Cassi. O looke Titinius, looke, the Villaines flye:
2480My 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.
Titin. O Cassius, Brutus gaue the word too early,
Who hauing some aduantage on Octauius,
2485Tooke it too eagerly: his Soldiers fell to spoyle,
Whil'st 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:
2490Flye therefore Noble Cassius, flye farre off.
Cassi. This Hill is farre enough. Looke, look Titinius
Are those my Tents where I perceiue the fire?
Tit. They are, my Lord.
Cassi. Titinius, if thou louest me,
2495Mount 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 assur'd
Whether yond Troopes, are Friend or Enemy.
Tit. I will be heere againe, euen with a thought. Exit.
2500Cassi. Go Pindarus, get higher on that hill,
My sight was euer thicke: regard Titinius,
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,
2505My life is run his compasse. Sirra, what newes?
Pind. Aboue. O my Lord.
Cassi. What newes?
Pind. Titinius is enclosed round about
With Horsemen, that make to him on the Spurre,
2510Yet he spurres on. Now they are almost on him:
Now Titinius. Now some light: O he lights too.
Hee's tane. Showt.
And hearke, they shout for ioy.
Cassi. Come downe, behold no more:
2515O 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,
2520That 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 Cæsars bowels, search this bosome.
Stand not to answer: Heere, take thou the Hilts,
2525And when my face is couer'd, as 'tis now,
Guide thou the Sword--- Cæsar, thou art reueng'd,
Euen with the Sword that kill'd thee.
Pin. So, I am free,
Yet would not so haue beene
2530Durst I haue done my will. O Cassius,
Farre from this Country Pindarus shall run,
Where neuer Roman shall take note of him.
Enter Titinius and Messala.
Messa. It is but change, Titinius: for Octauius
2535Is ouerthrowne by Noble Brutus power,
As Cassius Legions are by Antony.
Titin. These tydings will well comfort Cassius.
Messa. Where did you leaue him.
Titin. All disconsolate,
2540With Pindarus his Bondman, on this Hill.
Messa. Is not that he that lyes vpon the ground?
Titin. He lies not like the Liuing. O my heart!
Messa. Is not that hee?
Titin. No, this was he Messala,
2545But Cassius is no more. O setting Sunne:
As in thy red Rayes thou doest sinke to night;
So in his red blood Cassius day is set.
The Sunne of Rome is set. Our day is gone,
Clowds, Dewes, and Dangers come; our deeds are done:
2550Mistrust 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,
2555Thou neuer com'st vnto a happy byrth,
But kil'st the Mother that engendred thee.
Tit. What Pindarus? Where art thou Pindarus?
Messa. Seeke him Titinius, whilst I go to meet
The Noble Brutus, thrusting this report
2560Into 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.
Tit. Hye you Messala,
2565And I will seeke for Pindarus the while:
Why did'st thou send me forth braue Cassius?
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
2570Alas, 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 Cassius:
2575By your leaue Gods: This is a Romans part,
Come Cassius Sword, and finde Titinius hart.
Dies
Alarum. Enter Brutus, Messala, yong Cato,
Strato, Volumnius, and Lucillius.
Bru. Where, where Messala, doth his body lye?
2580Messa. Loe yonder, and Titinius mourning it.
Bru. Titinius face is vpward.
Cato. He is slaine.
Bru. O Iulius Cæsar, thou art mighty yet,
Thy Spirit walkes abroad, and turnes our Swords
2585In our owne proper Entrailes.
Low Alarums.
Cato. Braue Titinius,
Looke where he haue not crown'd dead Cassius.
Bru. Are yet two Romans liuing such as these?
The last of all the Romans, far thee well:
2590It 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, Cassius: I shall finde time.
Come therefore, and to Tharsus send his body,
2595His 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,
2600We shall try Fortune in a second fight.
Exeunt.