SCENE changes to another part of the Field.

Bru.

Enter Brutus, Dardanius, Clitus, Strato, and

Volumnius.

OME, poor Remains of friends, reft on this rock.

COME,

Cli. Statilius fhew'd the torch-light, but, my Lord, He came not back, he is or ta'en, or flain.

Bru. Sit thee down, Clitus; flaying is the word; It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus

[Whispering. Cli. What I, my Lord? no, not for all the world. Bru. Peace then, no words.

Cli. I'll rather kill myself.

Bru. Hark thee, Dardanius!

Dar. I do fuch a deed?
Cli. Oh, Dardanius!

Dar. Oh, Clitus!

Cli. What ill requeft did Brutus make to thee?
Dar. To kill him, Clitus: look, he meditates.
Cli. Now is that noble Veffel full of grief,
That it runs over even at his eyes.

Bru. Come hither, good Volumnius; lift a word.
Vol. What fays my Lord?

Bru. Why, this, Volumnius;

The Ghost of Cæfar hath appear'd to me

Two feveral times by night; at Sardis, once;

And, this last night, here in Philippi' fields.

I know, my hour is come.

Vol. Not fo, my Lord.

Bru. Nay, I am fure it is, Volumnius.

Thou feeft the world, Volumnius, how it goes;
Our enemies have beat us to the pit:

It is more worthy to leap in ourselves,

Than tarry, 'till they push us.

[Alarm.

Good Volumnius,

Hold thou my

fword's hilt, while I run on it.

Thou know'ft, that we two went to fchool together;
Even for that, our love of old, I pr'ythee,

Vel. That's not an office for a Friend, my Lord.

[Alarm fill.
Cli. Fly, fly, my Lord; there is no tarrying here.
Bru. Farewel to you, and you, and you, Volumnius.
Strato, thou hast been all this while afleep;

(19) Farewel to thee too, Strato.Countrymen,
My heart doth joy, that yet, in all my life,
I found no man, but he was true to me.
I fhall have Glory by this lofing day,
More than Octavius, and Mark Antony,
By this vile Conqueft shall attain unto.
So, fare you well at once; for Brutus' tongue
Hath almost ended his life's Hiftory.

Night hangs upon mine eyes, my bones would rest,
That have but labour'd to attain this hour.

[Alarm.

Cry within, Fly, fly, fly.

Cli. Fly, my Lord, fly.

Bru. Hence; I will follow thee.

I pr'ythee, Strato, ftay thou by thy Lord;
Thou art a Fellow of a good refpect;

Thy life hath had fome fmatch of honour in't.
Hold then my fword, and turn away thy face,
While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strate?
Stra. Give me your hand firft

my Lord.

Bru. Farewel, good Strato;·

fare you well,

Cafar, now be ftill;

He runs on his word, and dies.

I kill'd not thee with half fo good a will.

Alarm. Retreat. Enter Antony, Octavius, Meffala,, Lucilius, and the army.

Octa. What Man is that?

Mef. My Mafter's Man. Strato, where is thy Mafter

(19) Farewel to thee,, to Strato, Countrymen ;] Thus has this Paffage all along been abfurdly pointed,, to the Praife of our intelligent Editors. I had corrected it long ago; but am, notwithstanding,, to make my Acknowledgments to an ancepon Gentleman, who, unknowing c

Stra. Free from the bondage you are in, Messala;
The Conqu'rors can but make a fire of him:
For Brutus only overcame himself;

And no man eife hath honour by his death.

Luc. So Brutus fhould be found. I thank thee, Brutus, That thou haft prov'd Lucilius' Saying true.

Octa. All that ferv'd Brutus, I will entertain them. Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me? Stra. Ay, if Mejala will prefer me to you. Octa. Do fo, good Meffala.

Mef. How died my Lord, Strato?

Stra. I held the fword, and he did run on it. Mef. Octavius, then take him to follow thee, That did the latest service to my Master.

Ant. This was the nobleft Roman of them all:
All the Confpirators, fave only he,

Did that they did in envy of great Cæfar:
He, only, in a general honeft thought,

And common Good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the elements

So mix'd in him, that Nature might stand up,
And fay to all the world; "This was a Man!"
Ota. According to his virtue, let us use him;
With all refpect, and rites of burial.
Within my Tent his bones to-night fhall lie,
Moft like a Soldier, order'd honourably.
So call the field to Reft; and let's away,
To part the Glories of this happy day.

[Exeunt omnes.

ANTONY