1

Caf. Why, now blow wind, fwell billow, and fwim

bark!

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

Bru. Lucilius, hark, a word with you.

[Lucilius and Meffala ftand forth.

Luc. My Lord. [Brutus fpeaks apart to Lucilius.
Caf. Meffala.

Mef. What fays my General?

Caf. Meffala.

This is my birth-day; as this very day

Was Caffius born. Give me thy hand, Meffala;
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 prefage.
Coming from Sardis, on our foremost enfign'
Two mighty eagles fell; and there they perch'd;
Gorging and feeding from our foldiers' hands,
Who to Philippi here conforted us;

This morning are they fled away and gone,
And, in their fteads, do ravens, crows and kites
Fly o'er our heads, and downward look on us,
As we were fickly prey; their fhadows feem
A canopy moft fatal, under which

Our army lies ready to give the ghost.
Mef. Believe not fo.

Caf. I but believe it partly;

For I am fresh of fpirit, and refolv'd
To meet all peril very conftantly.
Bru. Even fo, Lucilius.
Caf. Now, most noble Brutus,

The

The Gods to-day ftand friendly; that we may,
Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age!
But fince th' affairs of men reft ftill incertain,
Let's reafon with the worst that may befall.
If we do lose this battle, then is this

3 The very last time we shall speak together,
What are you then determined to do?

Bru. Ev'n by the rule of that philofophy,
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 fome high powers,
That govern us below.

Caf. Then, if we lose this battle,

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

Bru. No, Caffius, no; think not, thou noble Ro

man,

That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome;
He bears too great a mit. But this fame day
Muft end that work, the Ides of March begun,
And, whether we fhall meet again, I know not
Therefore our everlafting farewel take.

3 The very last time we shall
Speak together.

What are you then determined to do?] i. e. I am refolved in fuch a cafe to kill myself. What are you determined of? WARB. 4-arming myself with pa

tience, &c.] It is evident, that, between thefe words and the foregoing, a fentence is dropped out to, this effect [on the contrary, true courage is Jeen in the] arming myself with patience, &c. As the text ftands at prefent, the

two different fentiments of dif like and approbation are run together, as parts related to one another. WARBURTON.

Dr. Warburton thinks, that in this fpeech fomething is loft, but there needed only a parenthefis. to clear it. The conftruction is this; I am determined to act according to that philofophy which directed me to blame the fuicide of Cato, arming myself with patience.

For

For ever, and for ever, farewel, Caffius!
If we do meet again, why, we fhall fmile;
If not, why, then this parting was well made.
Caf. For ever, and for ever, farewel, Brutus!
If we do meet again, we'll fmile indeed;
If not, 'tis true, this parting was well made."
Bru. Why then, lead on. O, that a man might
know

་

The end of this day's business ere it come!

But it fufficeth, that the day will end;

And then the end is known. Come, ho. Away.

SCENE

[Exeunt.

IV.

Alarm. Enter Brutus and Messala.

Bru. Ride, ride, Meffala; ride, and give these

bills

[Loud alarm.

Unto the legions, on the other fide.
Let them fet on at once; fh I perceive
But cold demeanor in Odius' wing;
A fudden Pufh gives them the overthrow.
Ride, ride, Meffala. Let them all come down.
[Exeunt.

Alarm. Enter Caffius and Titinius,

Caf. O lock, Titinius, look, the villains fly!
Myfelf have to mine own turn'd enemy;
This enfign here of mine was turning back,
I flew the coward, and did take it from him.
Tit. O Caffius, Brutus gave the word too early,
Who, having fome advantage on Octavius,
Took it too eagerly; his foldiers fell to fpoil,
Whilft we by Antony were all inclos'd.

Enter

Enter Pindarus.

Pin. Fly further off, my Lord. Fly further off. Mark Antony is in your Tents, my Lord,

Fly therefore, noble Caffius, fly far off.

Caf. This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titi

nius.

Are thofe my Tents, where I perceive the fire?
Tit. They are, my Lord.

Caf. Titinius, if thou lov'ft me,

Mount thou my horse, and hide thy fpurs in him,
'Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops,
And here again; that I may reft affur'd,
Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.
Tit. I will be here again, ev'n with a thought.

Caf. Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill.
My fight was ever thick. Regard Titinius,
And tell me what thou net'ft about the field.

[Exit.

-This day I breathed firft; time is come round; And, where I did begin, there shall I end; My life is run his compafs.-Now, what news? Pind. above. Oh, my Lord!

Caf. What news?

Pind. Titinius is enclofed round about

With horsemen, that make to him on the fpur';
Yet he fpurs on. Now they are almoft on him;
Titinius! now fome 'light-oh, he 'lights too-
He's ta'en-and hark, they fhout for joy.

Caf. Come down, behold no more.
Oh, coward that I am, to live fo long,
To fee my best friend ta'en before my face!

Enter Pindarus.

Come hither, firrah.

In Parthia did I take thee prifoner,

[Shout.

And then I fwore thee, faving of thy life,
That whatsoever I bid thee do,

Thou shouldft attempt it. Come, now keep thine oath,

Now be a freeman; and, with this good sword,
That ran through Cafar's bowels, fearch this bofom,
Stand not to anfwer. Here take thou the hilt;
And when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now,
Guide thou the fword. Cafar, thou art reveng'd,
Ev'n with the sword that kill'd thee. [Kills himself.
Pind. So, I am free; yet would not fo have been,
Durst I have done my Will. Oh, Caffius!
Far from this country Pindarus fhall run,
· Where never Roman fhall take note of him.

[Exit.

SCENE V.

Enter Titinius, and Meffala.

Mef. It is but change, Titinius; for Octavius Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power,

As Caffius' legions are by Antony.

Tit. Thefe tidings will well comfort Caffius.
Mef. Where did you leave him?

Tit. All difconfolate,

With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.

Mef. Is not that he, that lies upon the ground? Tit. He lies not like the living. Oh my heart! Mef. Is not that he?

Tit. No, this was he, Meffala;

But Caffius is no more! Oh, fetting Sun!
As in thy red rays thou doft fink to night,
So in his red blood Caffius' day is set;
The Sun of Rome is fet! our day is gone;

Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are

done.

Miftruft