2329Octa. Now Antony, our hopes are answered,

2330You said the Enemy would not come downe,

2331But keepe the Hilles and vpper Regions:

2332It proues not so: their battailes are at hand,

2333They meane to warne vs at Philippi heere:

2334Answering before we do demand of them.

2335Ant. Tut I am in their bosomes, and I know

2336Wherefore they do it: They could be content

2337To visit other places, and come downe

2338With fearefull brauery: thinking by this face

2339To fasten in our thoughts that they haue Courage;

2340But 'tis not so.

2342Mes. Prepare you Generals,

2343The Enemy comes on in gallant shew:

2344Their bloody signe of Battell is hung out,

2345And something to be done immediately.

2346Ant. Octauius, leade your Battaile softly on

2347Vpon the left hand of the euen Field.

2348Octa. Vpon the right hand I, keepe thou the left.

2349Ant. Why do you crosse me in this exigent.

2350Octa. I do not crosse you: but I will do so. March.

2352Bru. They stand, and would haue parley.

2353Cassi. Stand fast Titinius, we must out and talke.

2354Octa. Mark Antony, shall we giue signe of Battaile?

2355Ant. No Caesar, we will answer on their Charge.

2356Make forth, the Generals would haue some words.

2357Oct. Stirre not vntill the Signall.

2358Bru. Words before blowes: is it so Countrymen?

2359Octa. Not that we loue words better, as you do.

2360Bru. Good words are better then bad strokes Octauius.

2361An. In your bad strokes Brutus, you giue good words

2362Witnesse the hole you made in Caesars heart,

2363Crying long liue, Haile Caesar.

2364Cassi. Antony,

2365The posture of your blowes are yet vnknowne;

2366But for your words, they rob the Hibla Bees,

2367And leaue them Hony-lesse.

2368Ant. Not stinglesse too.

2369Bru. O yes, and soundlesse too:

2370For you haue stolne their buzzing Antony,

2371And very wisely threat before you sting.

2372Ant. Villains: you did not so, when your vile daggers

2373Hackt one another in the sides of Caesar:

2374You shew'd your teethes like Apes,

2375And fawn'd like Hounds,

2376And bow'd like Bondmen, kissing Caesars feete;

2377Whil'st damned Caska, like a Curre, behinde

2378Strooke Caesar on the necke. O you Flatterers.

2379Cassi Flatterers? Now Brutus thanke your selfe,

2380This tongue had not offended so to day,

2381If Cassius might haue rul'd.

2382Octa. Come, come, the cause. If arguing make vs swet,

2383The proofe of it will turne to redder drops:

2384Looke, I draw a Sword against Conspirators,

2385When thinke you that the Sword goes vp againe?

2386Neuer till Caesars three and thirtie wounds

2387Be well aueng'd; or till another Caesar

2388Haue added slaughter to the Sword of Traitors.

2389Brut. Caesar, thou canst not dye by Traitors hands,

2390Vnlesse thou bring'st them with thee.

2391Octa. So I hope:

2392I was not borne to dye on Brutus Sword.

2393Bru. O if thou wer't the Noblest of thy Straine,

2394Yong-man, thou could'st not dye more honourable.

2395Cassi. A peeuish School-boy, worthles of such Honor

2396Ioyn'd with a Masker, and a Reueller.

2397Ant. Old Cassius still.

2398Octa. Come Antony: away:

2399Defiance Traitors, hurle we in your teeth.

2400If you dare fight to day, come to the Field;

2401If not, when you haue stomackes.

2403Cassi. Why now blow winde, swell Billow,

2404And swimme Barke:

2405The Storme is vp, and all is on the hazard.

2406Bru. Ho Lucillius, hearke, a word with you.

2408Luc. My Lord.

2409Cassi. Messala.

2410Messa. What sayes my Generall?

2411Cassi. Messala, this is my Birth-day: as this very day

2412Was Cassius borne. Giue me thy hand Messala:

2413Be thou my witnesse, that against my will

2414(As Pompey was) am I compell'd to set

2415Vpon one Battell all our Liberties.

2416You know, that I held Epicurus strong,

2417And his Opinion: Now I change my minde,

2418And partly credit things that do presage.

2419Comming from Sardis, on our former Ensigne

2420Two mighty Eagles fell, and there they pearch'd,

2421Gorging and feeding from our Soldiers hands,

2422Who to Philippi heere consorted vs:

2423This Morning are they fled away, and gone,

2424And in their steeds, do Rauens, Crowes, and Kites

2425Fly ore our heads, and downward looke on vs

2426As we were sickely prey; their shadowes seeme

2427A Canopy most fatall, vnder which

2428Our Army lies, ready to giue vp the Ghost.

2429Messa. Beleeue not so.

2430Cassi. I but beleeue it partly,

2431For I am fresh of spirit, and resolu'd

2432To meete all perils, very constantly.

2433Bru. Euen so Lucillius.

2434Cassi. Now most Noble Brutus,

2435The Gods to day stand friendly, that we may

2436Louers in peace, leade on our dayes to age.

2437But since the affayres of men rests still incertaine,

2438Let's reason with the worst that may befall.

2439If we do lose this Battaile, then is this

2440The very last time we shall speake together:

2441What are you then determined to do?

2442Bru. Euen by the rule of that Philosophy,

2443By which I did blame Cato, for the death

2444Which he did giue himselfe, I know not how:

2445But I do finde it Cowardly, and vile,

2446For feare of what might fall, so to preuent

2447The time of life, arming my selfe with patience,

2448To stay the prouidence of some high Powers,

2449That gouerne vs below.

2450Cassi. Then, if we loose this Battaile,

2451You are contented to be led in Triumph

2452Thorow the streets of Rome.

2453Bru. No Cassius, no:

2454Thinke not thou Noble Romane,

2455That euer Brutus will go bound to Rome,

2456He beares too great a minde. But this same day

2457Must end that worke, the Ides of March begun.

2458And whether we shall meete againe, I know not:

2459Therefore our euerlasting farewell take:

2460For euer, and for euer, farewell Cassius,

2461If we do meete againe, why we shall smile;

2462If not, why then this parting was well made.

2463Cassi. For euer, and for euer, farewell Brutus:

2464If we do meete againe, wee'l smile indeede;

2465If not, 'tis true, this parting was well made.

2466Bru. Why then leade on. O that a man might know

2467The end of this dayes businesse, ere it come:

2468But it sufficeth, that the day will end,

2469And then the end is knowne. Come ho, away. Exeunt.