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  • Title: Julius Caesar (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: John D. Cox

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-366-3

    Copyright John D. Cox. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: John D. Cox
    Peer Reviewed

    Julius Caesar (Folio 1, 1623)

    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 Caesar, 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 Caesars heart,
    Crying long liue, Haile Caesar.
    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 Caesar:
    You shew'd your teethes like Apes,
    2375And fawn'd like Hounds,
    And bow'd like Bondmen, kissing Caesars feete;
    Whil'st damned Caska, like a Curre, behinde
    Strooke Caesar 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 Caesars three and thirtie wounds
    Be well aueng'd; or till another Caesar
    Haue added slaughter to the Sword of Traitors.
    Brut. Caesar, 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
    128The Tragedie of Julius Caesar
    Who to Philippi heere consorted vs:
    This Morning are they fled away, and gone,
    And in their steeds, do Rauens, Crowes, and Kites
    2425Fly ore our heads, and downward looke on vs
    As we were sickely prey; their shadowes seeme
    A Canopy most fatall, vnder which
    Our Army lies, ready to giue vp the Ghost.
    Messa. Beleeue not so.
    2430Cassi. I but beleeue it partly,
    For I am fresh of spirit, and resolu'd
    To meete all perils, very constantly.
    Bru. Euen so Lucillius.
    Cassi. Now most Noble Brutus,
    2435The Gods to day stand friendly, that we may
    Louers in peace, leade on our dayes to age.
    But since the affayres of men rests still incertaine,
    Let's reason with the worst that may befall.
    If we do lose this Battaile, then is this
    2440The very last time we shall speake together:
    What are you then determined to do?
    Bru. Euen by the rule of that Philosophy,
    By which I did blame Cato, for the death
    Which he did giue himselfe, I know not how:
    2445But I do finde it Cowardly, and vile,
    For feare of what might fall, so to preuent
    The time of life, arming my selfe with patience,
    To stay the prouidence of some high Powers,
    That gouerne vs below.
    2450Cassi. Then, if we loose this Battaile,
    You are contented to be led in Triumph
    Thorow the streets of Rome.
    Bru. No Cassius, no:
    Thinke not thou Noble Romane,
    2455That euer Brutus will go bound to Rome,
    He beares too great a minde. But this same day
    Must end that worke, the Ides of March begun.
    And whether we shall meete againe, I know not:
    Therefore our euerlasting farewell take:
    2460For euer, and for euer, farewell Cassius,
    If we do meete againe, why we shall smile;
    If not, why then this parting was well made.
    Cassi. For euer, and for euer, farewell Brutus:
    If we do meete againe, wee'l smile indeede;
    2465If not, 'tis true, this parting was well made.
    Bru. Why then leade on. O that a man might know
    The end of this dayes businesse, ere it come:
    But it sufficeth, that the day will end,
    And then the end is knowne. Come ho, away. Exeunt.
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