The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, William Shakespeare [book recommendations based on other books txt] 📗

the Hybla bees, And leave them honeyless.

ANTONY. Not stingless too.

BRUTUS. O, yes, and soundless too,

For you have stol’n their buzzing, Antony, And very wisely threat before you sting.

ANTONY. Villains! You did not so when your vile daggers Hack’d one another in the sides of Caesar.

You show’d your teeth like apes, and fawn’d like hounds, And bow’d like bondmen, kissing Caesar’s feet; Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind Strooke Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers!

CASSIUS. Flatterers? Now, Brutus, thank yourself.

This tongue had not offended so today, If Cassius might have ruled.

OCTAVIUS. Come, come, the cause. If arguing make us sweat, The proof of it will turn to redder drops.

Look,

I draw a sword against conspirators;

When think you that the sword goes up again?

Never, till Caesar’s three and thirty wounds Be well avenged, or till another Caesar Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors.

BRUTUS. Caesar, thou canst not die by traitors’ hands, Unless thou bring’st them with thee.

OCTAVIUS. So I hope,

I was not born to die on Brutus’ sword.

BRUTUS. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain, Young man, thou couldst not die more honorable.

CASSIUS. A peevish school boy, worthless of such honor, Join’d with a masker and a reveler!

ANTONY. Old Cassius still!

OCTAVIUS. Come, Antony, away!

Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth.

If you dare fight today, come to the field; If not, when you have stomachs.

Exeunt Octavius, Antony, and their Army.

CASSIUS. Why, now, blow and, swell billow, and swim bark!

The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.

BRUTUS. Ho, Lucilius! Hark, a word with you.

LUCILIUS. [Stands forth.] My lord?

Brutus and Lucilius converse apart.

CASSIUS. Messala!

MESSALA. [Stands forth.] What says my general?

CASSIUS. Messala,

This is my birthday, as this very day Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala.

Be thou my witness that, against my will, As Pompey was, am I compell’d to set

Upon one battle all our liberties.

You know that I held Epicurus strong, And his opinion. Now I change my mind, And partly credit things that do presage.

Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign Two mighty eagles fell, and there they perch’d, Gorging and feeding from our soldiers’ hands, Who to Philippi here consorted us.

This morning are they fled away and gone, And in their steads do ravens, crows, and kites Fly o’er our heads and downward look on us, As we were sickly prey. Their shadows seem A canopy most fatal, under which

Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost.

MESSALA. Believe not so.

CASSIUS. I but believe it partly,

For I am fresh of spirit and resolved To meet all perils very constantly.

BRUTUS. Even so, Lucilius.

CASSIUS. Now, most noble Brutus,

The gods today stand friendly that we may, Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age!

But, since the affairs of men rest still incertain, Let’s reason with the worst that may befall.

If we do lose this battle, then is this The very last time we shall speak together.

What are you then determined to do?

BRUTUS. Even by the rule of that philosophy By which I did blame Cato for the death Which he did give himself-I know not how, But I do find it cowardly and vile,

For fear of what might fall, so to prevent The time of life-arming myself with patience To stay the providence of some high powers That govern us below.

CASSIUS. Then, if we lose this battle,

You are contented to be led in triumph Thorough the streets of Rome?

BRUTUS. No, Cassius, no. Think not, thou noble Roman, That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome; He bears too great a mind. But this same day Must end that work the ides of March begun.

And whether we shall meet again I know not.

Therefore our everlasting farewell take.

Forever, and forever, farewell, Cassius!

If we do meet again, why, we shall smile; If not, why then this parting was well made.

CASSIUS. Forever and forever farewell, Brutus!

If we do meet again, we’ll smile indeed; If not, ‘tis true this parting was well made.

BRUTUS. Why then, lead on. O, that a man might know The end of this day’s business ere it come!

But it sufficeth that the day will end, And then the end is known. Come, ho! Away! Exeunt.

 

SCENE II.

The field of battle.

 

Alarum. Enter Brutus and Messala.

 

BRUTUS. Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills Unto the legions on the other side. Loud alarum.

Let them set on at once, for I perceive But cold demeanor in Octavia’s wing,

And sudden push gives them the overthrow.

Ride, ride, Messala. Let them all come down. Exeunt.

 

SCENE III.

Another part of the field.

 

Alarums. Enter Cassius and Titinius.

 

CASSIUS. O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly!

Myself have to mine own turn’d 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, Took 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; Fly, 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,

Mount 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.

CASSIUS. Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill; My sight was ever thick; regard Titinius, And tell me what thou notest about the field.

Pindarus ascends the hill.

This day I breathed first: time is come round, And where I did begin, there shall I end; My life is run his compass. Sirrah, what news?

PINDARUS. [Above.] O my lord!

CASSIUS. What news?

PINDARUS. [Above.] Titinius is enclosed round about With horsemen, that make to him on the spur; Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him.

Now, Titinius! Now some light. O, he lights too.

He’s ta’en [Shout.] And, hark! They shout for joy.

CASSIUS. Come down; behold no more.

O, coward that I am, to live so long, To see my best friend ta’en before my face!

Pindarus descends.

Come hither, sirrah.

In Parthia did I take thee prisoner,

And then I swore thee, saving of thy life, That whatsoever I did bid thee do,

Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath; Now be a freeman, and with this good sword, That ran through Caesar’s bowels, search this bosom.

Stand not to answer: here, take thou the hilts; And when my face is cover’d, as ‘tis now, Guide thou the sword. [Pindarus stabs him.] Caesar, thou art revenged,

Even with the sword that kill’d thee. Dies.

PINDARUS. So, I am free, yet would not so have been, Durst I have done my will. O Cassius!

Far from this country Pindarus shall run, Where never Roman shall take note of him. Exit.

 

Re-enter Titinius with Messala.

 

MESSALA. It is but change, Titinius, for Octavius Is overthrown by noble Brutus’ power, As Cassius’ legions are by Antony.

TITINIUS. These tidings would well comfort Cassius.

MESSALA. Where did you leave him?

TITINIUS. All disconsolate,

With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.

MESSALA. Is not that he that lies upon the ground?

TITINIUS. He lies not like the living. O my heart!

MESSALA. Is not that he?

TITINIUS. No, this was he, Messala,

But Cassius is no more. O setting sun, As in thy red rays thou dost sink to night, 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!

Mistrust 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, Thou never comest unto a happy birth, But kill’st the mother that engender’d thee!

TITINIUS. What, Pindarus! Where art thou, Pindarus?

MESSALA. Seek him, Titinius, whilst I go to meet The noble Brutus, thrusting this report Into 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,

And 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? Didst thou not hear their shouts?

Alas, 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.

By your leave, gods, this is a Roman’s part.

Come, Cassius’ sword, and find Titinius’ heart.

Kills himself.

 

Alarum. Re-enter Messala, with Brutus, young Cato, and others.

 

BRUTUS. Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie?

MESSALA. 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 In our own proper entrails. Low alarums.

CATO. Brave Titinius!

Look whe’er he have not crown’d dead Cassius!

BRUTUS. Are yet two Romans living such as these?

The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!

It is impossible that ever Rome

Should breed thy fellow. Friends, I owe moe 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; His 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 We shall try fortune in a second fight. Exeunt.

 

SCENE IV.

Another part of the field.

 

Alarum. Enter, fighting, Soldiers of both armies; then Brutus, young Cato, Lucilius, and others.

 

BRUTUS. Yet, countrymen, O, yet hold up your heads!

CATO. What bastard doth not? Who will go with me?

I will proclaim my name about the field.

I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!

A foe to tyrants, and my country’s friend.

I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!

BRUTUS. And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I; Brutus, my country’s friend; know me for Brutus! Exit.

LUCILIUS. O young and noble Cato, art thou down?

Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius, And mayst be honor’d, being Cato’s son.

FIRST SOLDIER. Yield, or thou diest.

LUCILIUS. Only I yield to die.

[Offers money.] There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight: Kill Brutus, and be honor’d in his death.

FIRST SOLDIER. We must not. A noble prisoner!

SECOND SOLDIER. Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta’en.

FIRST SOLDIER. I’ll tell the news. Here comes the general.

 

Enter Antony.

 

Brutus is ta’en, Brutus is ta’en, my lord.

ANTONY. Where is he?

LUCILIUS. Safe, Antony, Brutus is safe enough.

I dare assure thee that no enemy

Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus; The gods defend him from so great a shame!

When you do find him, or alive or dead, He will be found like Brutus, like himself.

ANTONY.