Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • Title: Julius Caesar (Modern)
  • Editor: John D. Cox
  • General textual editor: Eric Rasmussen
  • Coordinating editor: Michael Best
  • 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 (Modern)

    [5.3]
    Alarums. Enter Cassius and Titinius.
    Cassius
    O look, Titinius! Look! The villains fly!
    2480Myself have to mine own turned enemy!
    This ensign here of mine was turning back;
    I slew the coward and did take it from him.
    Titinius
    O Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early,
    Who having some advantage on Octavius,
    2485Took it too eagerly. His soldiers fell to spoil,
    Whilst we by Antony are all enclosed.
    Enter Pindarus.
    Pindarus
    Fly further off, my Lord! Fly further off!
    Mark Antony is in your tents, my Lord!
    2490Fly, therefore, noble Cassius! Fly far off!
    Cassius
    This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius!
    Are those my tents, where I perceive the fire?
    Titinius
    They are, my Lord.
    Cassius
    Titinius, if thou lovest me,
    2495Mount thou my horse, and hide thy spurs in him
    Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops
    And here again, that I may rest assured
    Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.
    Titinius
    I will be here again even with a thought.
    Exit.
    2500Cassius
    Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill!
    My sight was ever thick. Regard Titinius,
    And tell me what thou not'st about the field.
    [Pindarus goes up.]
    This day I breathèd first. Time is come round,
    And where I did begin, there shall I end.
    2505My life is run his compass. Sirrah, what news?
    Pindarus
    (Above.) O my Lord!
    Cassius
    What news?
    Pindarus
    Titinius is enclosèd round about
    With horsemen that make to him on the spur,
    2510Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him!
    Now, Titinius! Now some light. Oh, he lights too.
    He's ta'en!
    Shout.
    And hark! They shout for joy.
    Cassius
    Come down. Behold no more.
    2515Oh, coward that I am to live so long,
    To see my best friend ta'en before my face.
    Enter Pindarus [from above].
    Come hither, sirrah.
    In Parthia did I take thee prisoner,
    And then I swore thee, saving of thy life,
    2520That whatsoever I did bid thee do,
    Thou should'st attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath,
    Now be a free man, and with this good sword
    That ran through Caesar's bowels, search this bosom.
    Stand not to answer. Here, take thou the hilts,
    2525And when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now,
    Guide thou the sword--
    [Pindarus kills him.]
    Caesar, thou art revenged,
    Even with the sword that killed thee.
    Pindarus
    So, I am free, yet would not so have been
    2530Durst I have done my will. O Cassius,
    Far from this country Pindarus shall run,
    Where never Roman shall take note of him.
    [Exit.]
    Enter Titinius and Messala.
    Messala
    It is but change, Titinius, for Octavius
    2535Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power,
    As Cassius' legions are by Antony.
    Titinius
    These tidings will well comfort Cassius.
    Messala
    Where did you leave him?
    Titinius
    All disconsolate,
    2540With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.
    Messala
    Is not that he that lies upon the ground?
    Titinius
    He lies not like the living. Oh, my heart!
    Messala
    Is not that he?
    Titinius
    No, this was he, Messala,
    2545But Cassius is no more. O setting sun,
    As in thy red rays thou doest sink tonight,
    So in his red blood Cassius' day is set.
    The sun of Rome is set. Our day is gone;
    Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are done.
    2550Mistrust of my success hath done this deed.
    Messala
    Mistrust of good success hath done this deed.
    O hateful Error, Melancholy's child,
    Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men
    The things that are not? O Error, soon conceived,
    2555Thou never comst unto a happy birth,
    But kill'st the mother that engendered thee.
    Titinius
    What, Pindarus! Where art thou, Pindarus?
    Messala
    Seek him, Titinius, whilst I go to meet
    The noble Brutus, thrusting this report
    2560Into his ears. I may say "thrusting" it,
    For piercing steel and darts envenomed
    Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus
    As tidings of this sight.
    Titinius
    Hie you, Messala,
    2565And I will seek for Pindarus the while.
    [Exit Messala.]
    Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius?
    Did I not meet thy friends, and did not they
    Put on my brows this wreath of victory,
    And bid me give it thee? Did'st thou not hear their shouts?
    2570Alas, thou hast misconstrued everything.
    But hold thee, take this garland on thy brow.
    Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I
    Will do his bidding. Brutus, come apace,
    And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.
    2575By your leave, gods. This is a Roman's part.
    Come Cassius' sword, and find Titinius' heart.
    Dies.
    Alarum. Enter Brutus, Messala, young Cato, Strato, Volumnius, and Lucilius.
    Brutus
    Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie?
    2580Messala
    Lo yonder, and Titinius mourning it.
    Brutus
    Titinius' face is upward.
    Cato
    He is slain.
    Brutus
    O Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet!
    Thy spirit walks abroad and turns our swords
    2585In our own proper entrails.
    Low Alarums.
    Cato
    Brave Titinius!
    Look, whe'er he have not crowned dead Cassius.
    Brutus
    Are yet two Romans living such as these?
    The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!
    2590It is impossible that ever Rome
    Should breed thy fellow. Friends, I owe more tears
    To this dead man than you shall see me pay.
    I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.
    Come therefore, and to Thasos send his body.
    2595His funerals shall not be in our camp,
    Lest it discomfort us. Lucilius, come,
    And come young Cato. Let us to the field.
    Labio and Flavio set our battles on.
    'Tis three o'clock, and Romans, yet ere night,
    2600We shall try fortune in a second fight.
    Exeunt.