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Julius Caesar (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: John D. Cox
Peer Reviewed
Enter Brutus, Dardanius, Clitus, Strato,
and Volumnius.
2640Brut. Come poore remaines of friends, rest on this
Rocke.
Clit. Statillius shew'd the Torch-light, but my Lord
He came not backe: he is or tane, or slaine.
Brut. Sit thee downe, Clitus: slaying is the word,
2645It is a deed in fashion. Hearke thee, Clitus.
Clit. What I, my Lord? No, not for all the World.
Brut. Peace then, no words.
Clit. Ile rather kill my selfe.
Brut. Hearke thee, Dardanius.
2650Dard. Shall I doe such a deed?
Clit. O Dardanius.
Dard. O Clitus.
Clit. What ill request did Brutus make to thee?
Dard. To kill him, Clitus: looke he meditates.
2655Clit. Now is that Noble Vessell full of griefe,
That it runnes ouer euen at his eyes.
Brut. Come hither, good Volumnius, list a word.
Volum. What sayes my Lord?
Brut. Why this, Volumnius:
2660The Ghost of Cæsar hath appear'd to me
Two seuerall times by Night: at Sardis, once;
And this last Night, here in Philippi fields:
I know my houre is come.
Volum. Not so, my Lord.
2665Brut. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.
Thou seest the World, Volumnius, how it goes,
Our Enemies haue beat vs to the Pit:
Low Alarums.
It is more worthy, to leape in our selues,
Then tarry till they push vs. Good Volumnius,
2670Thou know'st, that we two went to Schoole together:
Euen for that our loue of old, I prethee
Hold thou my Sword Hilts, whilest I runne on it.
Vol. That's not an Office for a friend, my Lord.
Alarum still.
2675Cly. Fly, flye my Lord, there is no tarrying heere.
Bru. Farewell to you, and you, and you Volumnius.
Strato, thou hast bin all this while asleepe:
Farewell to thee, to Strato, Countrymen:
My heart doth ioy, that yet in all my life,
2680I found no man, but he was true to me.
I shall haue glory by this loosing day
More then Octauius, and Marke Antony,
By this vile Conquest shall attaine vnto.
So fare you well at once, for Brutus tongue
2685Hath almost ended his liues History:
Night hangs vpon mine eyes, my Bones would rest,
That haue but labour'd, to attaine this houre.
Alarum. Cry within, Flye, flye, flye.
Cly. Fly my Lord, flye.
2690Bru. Hence: I will follow:
I prythee Strato, stay thou by thy Lord,
Thou art a Fellow of a good respect:
Thy life hath had some smatch of Honor in it,
Hold then my Sword, and turne away thy face,
2695While I do run vpon it. Wilt thou Strato?
Stra. Giue me your hand first. Fare you wel my Lord.
Bru. Farewell good Strato. ---Cæsar, now be still,
I kill'd not thee with halfe so good a will.
Dyes.
Alarum. Retreat. Enter Antony, Octauius, Messala,
2700
Lucillius, and the Army.
Octa. What man is that?
Messa. My Masters man. Strato, where is thy Master?
Stra. Free from the Bondage you are in Messala,
The Conquerors can but make a fire of him:
2705For Brutus onely ouercame himselfe,
And no man else hath Honor by his death.
Lucil. So Brutus should be found. I thank thee Brutus
That thou hast prou'd Lucillius saying true.
Octa. All that seru'd Brutus, I will entertaine them.
2710Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?
Stra. I, if Messala will preferre me to you.
Octa. Do so, good Messala.
Messa. How dyed my Master Strato?
Stra. I held the Sword, and he did run on it.
2715Messa. Octauius, then take him to follow thee,
That did the latest seruice to my Master.
Ant. This was the Noblest Roman of them all:
All the Conspirators saue onely hee,
Did that they did, in enuy of great Cæsar:
2720He, onely in a generall honest thought,
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the Elements
So mixt in him, that Nature might stand vp,
And say to all the world; This was a man.
2725Octa. According to his Vertue, let vs vse him
Withall Respect, and Rites of Buriall.
Within my Tent his bones to night shall ly,
Most like a Souldier ordered Honourably:
So call the Field to rest, and let's away,
2730To part the glories of this happy day.
Exeunt omnes.