Julius Caesar (Modern)
Peer Reviewed
[5.5]
¶Clitus Statilius showed the torchlight, but, my lord,
¶He came not back. He is or ta'en or slain.
¶Brutus Sit thee down, Clitus. Slaying is the word;
2645It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus.
¶Clitus What I, my Lord? No, not for all the world!
| ¶Brutus | |
| Peace then, no words. | |
¶Clitus
| ¶Brutus | |
| Hark thee, Dardanius. | |
| 2650Dardanius | |
| Shall I do such a deed? | |
¶Clitus O Dardanius!
¶Dardanius O Clitus!
¶Clitus What ill request did Brutus make to thee?
¶Dardanius To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates.
2655Clitus Now is that noble vessel full of grief,
¶That it runs over even at his eyes.
¶Brutus Come hither, good Volumnius. List a word.
| ¶Volumnius | |
| What says my lord? | |
| ¶Brutus | |
| Why this, Volumnius. | |
2660The ghost of Caesar hath appeared to me
¶Two several times by night: at Sardis once,
¶And this last night here in Philippi fields.
| ¶I know my hour is come. | |
| ¶Volumnius | |
| Not so, my lord. | |
2665Brutus Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.
Low alarums.
¶It is more worthy to leap in ourselves
¶Then tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius,
2670Thou know'st that we two went to school together.
¶Even for that, our love of old, I prithee,
¶Hold thou my sword hilts whilst I run on it.
¶Volumnius That's not an office for a friend, my lord.
¶
Alarum still.
2675Clitus Fly! Fly, my Lord! There is no tarrying here!
¶Brutus Farewell to you, and you, and you, Volumnius.
¶Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep.
¶Farewell to thee too, Strato. Countrymen,
¶My heart doth joy that yet in all my life
2680I found no man but he was true to me.
¶I shall have glory by this losing day
¶More then Octavius and Mark Antony
¶By this vile conquest shall attain unto.
¶So fare you well at once, for Brutus' tongue
2685Hath almost ended his life's history.
¶Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest,
¶That have but laboured to attain this hour.
¶
Alarum. Cry within, "Fly! Fly! Fly!"
| ¶Clitus | |
| Fly, my Lord! Fly!. | |
2690Brutus
[Exeunt Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius.]
¶I prithee, 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 turn away thy face,
2695While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?
¶Strato Give me your hand first. Fare you well, my lord.
| ¶Brutus | |
| Farewell, good Strato. | |
[Runs on his sword.] | |
| --Caesar, now be still. ¶I killed not thee with half so good a will. | |
Dies.
¶Octavius What man is that?
¶Messala My master's man. Strato, where is thy master?
¶Strato Free from the bondage you are in, Messala.
¶The conquerors can but make a fire of him,
2705For Brutus only overcame himself,
¶And no man else hath honor by his death.
¶Lucilius So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus,
¶That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true.
¶Octavius All that served Brutus, I will entertain them.
2710Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?
¶Strato Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.
| ¶Octavius | |
| Do so, good Messala. | |
| ¶Messala | |
| How died my master, Strato? | |
¶Strato I held the sword, and he did run on it.
2715Messala Octavius, then take him to follow thee,
¶That did the latest service to my master.
¶Antony This was the noblest Roman of them all.
¶All the conspirators save only he
¶Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
2720He only in a general honest thought
¶And common good to all made one of them.
¶His life was gentle, and the elements
¶So mixed in him that nature might stand up,
¶And say to all the world, "This was a man!"
2725Octavius According to his virtue, let us use him,
¶With all respect and rites of burial.
¶Within my tent his bones tonight shall lie,
¶Most like a soldier, ordered honorably:
¶So call the field to rest, and let's away,
2730To part the glories of this happy day.
Exeunt omnes.