Julius Caesar

Actus Quartus

Enter Antony, Octauius, and Lepidus.

 
  Ant. These many then shall die, their names are prickt
 
 
  Octa. Your Brother too must dye: consent you Lepidus?
 
 
  Lep. I do consent
 
 
Octa. Pricke him downe Antony
 
 
   Lep. Vpon condition Publius shall not liue,
Who is your Sisters sonne, Marke Antony
 
 
   Ant. He shall not liue; looke, with a spot I dam him.
But Lepidus, go you to Caesars house:
Fetch the Will hither, and we shall determine
How to cut off some charge in Legacies
 
 
   Lep. What? shall I finde you heere?
 
 
  Octa. Or heere, or at the Capitoll.
 
 
Exit Lepidus
 
 
  Ant. This is a slight vnmeritable man,
Meet to be sent on Errands: is it fit
The three-fold World diuided, he should stand
One of the three to share it?
 
 
  Octa. So you thought him,
And tooke his voyce who should be prickt to dye
In our blacke Sentence and Proscription
 
 
   Ant. Octauius, I haue seene more dayes then you,
And though we lay these Honours on this man,
To ease our selues of diuers sland'rous loads,
He shall but beare them, as the Asse beares Gold,
To groane and swet vnder the Businesse,
Either led or driuen, as we point the way:
And hauing brought our Treasure, where we will,
Then take we downe his Load, and turne him off
(Like to the empty Asse) to shake his eares,
And graze in Commons
 
 
   Octa. You may do your will:
But hee's a tried, and valiant Souldier
 
 
   Ant. So is my Horse Octauius, and for that
I do appoint him store of Prouender.
It is a Creature that I teach to fight,
To winde, to stop, to run directly on:
His corporall Motion, gouern'd by my Spirit,
And in some taste, is Lepidus but so:
He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth:
A barren spirited Fellow; one that feeds
On Obiects, Arts, and Imitations.
Which out of vse, and stal'de by other men
Begin his fashion. Do not talke of him,
But as a property: and now Octauius,
Listen great things. Brutus and Cassius
Are leuying Powers; We must straight make head:
Therefore let our Alliance be combin'd,
Our best Friends made, our meanes stretcht,
And let vs presently go sit in Councell,
How couert matters may be best disclos'd,
And open Perils surest answered
 
 
   Octa. Let vs do so: for we are at the stake,
And bayed about with many Enemies,
And some that smile haue in their hearts I feare
Millions of Mischeefes.
 
 
Exeunt.
 
 
Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucillius, and the Army. Titinius and Pindarus meete them.
 
 
Bru. Stand ho
 
 
Lucil. Giue the word ho, and Stand
 
 
   Bru. What now Lucillius, is Cassius neere?
 
 
  Lucil. He is at hand, and Pindarus is come
To do you salutation from his Master
 
 
   Bru. He greets me well. Your Master Pindarus
In his owne change, or by ill Officers,
Hath giuen me some worthy cause to wish
Things done, vndone: But if he be at hand
I shall be satisfied
 
 
   Pin. I do not doubt
But that my Noble Master will appeare
Such as he is, full of regard, and Honour
 
 
   Bru. He is not doubted. A word Lucillius
How he receiu'd you: let me be resolu'd
 
 
   Lucil. With courtesie, and with respect enough,
But not with such familiar instances,
Nor with such free and friendly Conference
As he hath vs'd of old
 
 
   Bru. Thou hast describ'd
A hot Friend, cooling: Euer note Lucillius,
When Loue begins to sicken and decay
It vseth an enforced Ceremony.
There are no trickes, in plaine and simple Faith:
But hollow men, like Horses hot at hand,
Make gallant shew, and promise of their Mettle:
 
 
Low March within.
 
 
But when they should endure the bloody Spurre,
They fall their Crests, and like deceitfull Iades
Sinke in the Triall. Comes his Army on?
 
 
  Lucil. They meane this night in Sardis to be quarter'd:
The greater part, the Horse in generall
Are come with Cassius.
 
 
Enter Cassius and his Powers.
 
 
  Bru. Hearke, he is arriu'd:
March gently on to meete him
 
 
Cassi. Stand ho
 
 
   Bru. Stand ho, speake the word along.
Stand.
Stand.
Stand
 
 
Cassi. Most Noble Brother, you haue done me wrong
 
 
   Bru. Iudge me you Gods; wrong I mine Enemies?
And if not so, how should I wrong a Brother
 
 
   Cassi. Brutus, this sober forme of yours, hides wrongs,
And when you do them-
 
 
  Brut. Cassius, be content,
Speake your greefes softly, I do know you well.
Before the eyes of both our Armies heere
(Which should perceiue nothing but Loue from vs)
Let vs not wrangle. Bid them moue away:
Then in my Tent Cassius enlarge your Greefes,
And I will giue you Audience
 
 
   Cassi. Pindarus,
Bid our Commanders leade their Charges off
A little from this ground
 
 
   Bru. Lucillius, do you the like, and let no man
Come to our Tent, till we haue done our Conference.
Let Lucius and Titinius guard our doore.
 
 
Exeunt.
 
 
Manet Brutus and Cassius.
 
 
  Cassi. That you haue wrong'd me, doth appear in this:
You haue condemn'd, and noted Lucius Pella
For taking Bribes heere of the Sardians;
Wherein my Letters, praying on his side,
Because I knew the man was slighted off
 
 
Bru. You wrong'd your selfe to write in such a case
 
 
   Cassi. In such a time as this, it is not meet
That euery nice offence should beare his Comment
 
 
   Bru. Let me tell you Cassius, you your selfe
Are much condemn'd to haue an itching Palme,
To sell, and Mart your Offices for Gold
To Vndeseruers
 
 
   Cassi. I, an itching Palme?
You know that you are Brutus that speakes this,
Or by the Gods, this speech were else your last
 
 
   Bru. The name of Cassius Honors this corruption,
And Chasticement doth therefore hide his head
 
 
   Cassi. Chasticement?
 
 
  Bru. Remember March, the Ides of March reme[m]ber:
Did not great Iulius bleede for Iustice sake?
What Villaine touch'd his body, that did stab,
And not for Iustice? What? Shall one of Vs,
That strucke the Formost man of all this World,
But for supporting Robbers: shall we now,
Contaminate our fingers, with base Bribes?
And sell the mighty space of our large Honors
For so much trash, as may be grasped thus?
I had rather be a Dogge, and bay the Moone,
Then such a Roman
 
 
   Cassi. Brutus, baite not me,
Ile not indure it: you forget your selfe
To hedge me in. I am a Souldier, I,
Older in practice, Abler then your selfe
To make Conditions
 
 
Bru. Go too: you are not Cassius
 
 
Cassi. I am
 
 
Bru. I say, you are not
 
 
   Cassi. Vrge me no more, I shall forget my selfe:
Haue minde vpon your health: Tempt me no farther
 
 
Bru. Away slight man
 
 
   Cassi. Is't possible?
 
 
  Bru. Heare me, for I will speake.
Must I giue way, and roome to your rash Choller?
Shall I be frighted, when a Madman stares?
 
 
  Cassi. O ye Gods, ye Gods, Must I endure all this?
 
 
  Bru. All this? I more: Fret till your proud hart break.
Go shew your Slaues how Chollericke you are,
And make your Bondmen tremble. Must I bouge?
Must I obserue you? Must I stand and crouch
Vnder your Testie Humour? By the Gods,
You shall digest the Venom of your Spleene
Though it do Split you. For, from this day forth,
Ile vse you for my Mirth, yea for my Laughter
When you are Waspish
 
 
   Cassi. Is it come to this?
 
 
  Bru. You say, you are a better Souldier:
Let it appeare so; make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well. For mine owne part,
I shall be glad to learne of Noble men
 
 
   Cass. You wrong me euery way:
You wrong me Brutus:
I saide, an Elder Souldier, not a Better.
Did I say Better?
 
 
  Bru. If you did, I care not
 
 
Cass. When Caesar liu'd, he durst not thus haue mou'd me
 
 
Brut. Peace, peace, you durst not so haue tempted him
 
 
Cassi. I durst not
 
 
Bru. No
 
 
   Cassi. What? durst not tempt him?
 
 
  Bru. For your life you durst not
 
 
   Cassi. Do not presume too much vpon my Loue,
I may do that I shall be sorry for
 
 
   Bru. You haue done that you should be sorry for.
There is no terror Cassius in your threats:
For I am Arm'd so strong in Honesty,
That they passe by me, as the idle winde,
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certaine summes of Gold, which you deny'd me,
For I can raise no money by vile meanes:
By Heauen, I had rather Coine my Heart,
And drop my blood for Drachmaes, then to wring
From the hard hands of Peazants, their vile trash
By any indirection. I did send
To you for Gold to pay my Legions,
Which you deny'd me: was that done like Cassius?
Should I haue answer'd Caius Cassius so?
When Marcus Brutus growes so Couetous,
To locke such Rascall Counters from his Friends,
Be ready Gods with all your Thunder-bolts,
Dash him to peeces
 
 
Cassi. I deny'd you not
 
 
Bru. You did
 
 
   Cassi. I did not. He was but a Foole
That brought my answer back. Brutus hath riu'd my hart:
A Friend should beare his Friends infirmities;
But Brutus makes mine greater then they are
 
 
Bru. I do not, till you practice them on me
 
 
Cassi. You loue me not
 
 
Bru. I do not like your faults
 
 
Cassi. A friendly eye could neuer see such faults
 
 
   Bru. A Flatterers would not, though they do appeare
As huge as high Olympus
 
 
   Cassi. Come Antony, and yong Octauius come,
Reuenge your selues alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is a-weary of the World:
Hated by one he loues, brau'd by his Brother,
Check'd like a bondman, all his faults obseru'd,
Set in a Note-booke, learn'd, and con'd by roate
To cast into my Teeth. O I could weepe
My Spirit from mine eyes. There is my Dagger,
And heere my naked Breast: Within, a Heart
Deerer then Pluto's Mine, Richer then Gold:
If that thou bee'st a Roman, take it foorth.
I that deny'd thee Gold, will giue my Heart:
Strike as thou did'st at Caesar: For I know,
When thou did'st hate him worst, y loued'st him better
Then euer thou loued'st Cassius
 
 
   Bru. Sheath your Dagger:
Be angry when you will, it shall haue scope:
Do what you will, Dishonor, shall be Humour.
O Cassius, you are yoaked with a Lambe
That carries Anger, as the Flint beares fire,
Who much inforced, shewes a hastie Sparke,
And straite is cold agen
 
 
   Cassi. Hath Cassius liu'd
To be but Mirth and Laughter to his Brutus,
When greefe and blood ill temper'd, vexeth him?
 
 
  Bru. When I spoke that, I was ill temper'd too
 
 
Cassi. Do you confesse so much? Giue me your hand
 
 
Bru. And my heart too
 
 
   Cassi. O Brutus!
 
 
  Bru. What's the matter?
 
 
  Cassi. Haue not you loue enough to beare with me,
When that rash humour which my Mother gaue me
Makes me forgetfull
 
 
   Bru. Yes Cassius, and from henceforth
When you are ouer-earnest with your Brutus,
Hee'l thinke your Mother chides, and leaue you so.
 
 
Enter a Poet.
 
 
  Poet. Let me go in to see the Generals,
There is some grudge betweene 'em, 'tis not meete
They be alone
 
 
Lucil. You shall not come to them
 
 
Poet. Nothing but death shall stay me
 
 
   Cas. How now? What's the matter?
 
 
  Poet. For shame you Generals; what do you meane?
Loue, and be Friends, as two such men should bee,
For I haue seene more yeeres I'me sure then yee
 
 
   Cas. Ha, ha, how vildely doth this Cynicke rime?
 
 
  Bru. Get you hence sirra: Sawcy Fellow, hence
 
 
Cas. Beare with him Brutus, 'tis his fashion
 
 
   Brut. Ile know his humor, when he knowes his time:
What should the Warres do with these Iigging Fooles?
Companion, hence
 
 
Cas. Away, away be gone.
 
 
Exit Poet
 
 
  Bru. Lucillius and Titinius bid the Commanders
Prepare to lodge their Companies to night
 
 
   Cas. And come your selues, & bring Messala with you
Immediately to vs
 
 
Bru. Lucius, a bowle of Wine
 
 
Cas. I did not thinke you could haue bin so angry
 
 
Bru. O Cassius, I am sicke of many greefes
 
 
   Cas. Of your Philosophy you make no vse,
If you giue place to accidentall euils
 
 
Bru. No man beares sorrow better. Portia is dead
 
 
   Cas. Ha? Portia?
 
 
  Bru. She is dead
 
 
   Cas. How scap'd I killing, when I crost you so?
O insupportable, and touching losse!
Vpon what sicknesse?
 
 
  Bru. Impatient of my absence,
And greefe, that yong Octauius with Mark Antony
Haue made themselues so strong: For with her death
That tydings came. With this she fell distract,
And (her Attendants absent) swallow'd fire
 
 
   Cas. And dy'd so?
 
 
  Bru. Euen so
 
 
   Cas. O ye immortall Gods!
 
 
Enter Boy with Wine, and Tapers.
 
 
  Bru. Speak no more of her: Giue me a bowl of wine,
In this I bury all vnkindnesse Cassius.
 
 
Drinkes
 
 
  Cas. My heart is thirsty for that Noble pledge.
Fill Lucius, till the Wine ore-swell the Cup:
I cannot drinke too much of Brutus loue.
 
 
Enter Titinius and Messala.
 
 
  Brutus. Come in Titinius:
Welcome good Messala:
Now sit we close about this Taper heere,
And call in question our necessities
 
 
   Cass. Portia, art thou gone?
 
 
  Bru. No more I pray you.
Messala, I haue heere receiued Letters,
That yong Octauius, and Marke Antony
Come downe vpon vs with a mighty power,
Bending their Expedition toward Philippi
 
 
Mess. My selfe haue Letters of the selfe-same Tenure
 
 
Bru. With what Addition
 
 
   Mess. That by proscription, and billes of Outlarie,
Octauius, Antony, and Lepidus,
Haue put to death, an hundred Senators
 
 
   Bru. Therein our Letters do not well agree:
Mine speake of seuenty Senators, that dy'de
By their proscriptions, Cicero being one
 
 
   Cassi. Cicero one?
  Messa. Cicero is dead, and by that order of proscription
Had you your Letters from your wife, my Lord?
 
 
  Bru. No Messala
 
 
   Messa. Nor nothing in your Letters writ of her?
 
 
  Bru. Nothing Messala
 
 
Messa. That me thinkes is strange
 
 
   Bru. Why aske you?
Heare you ought of her, in yours?
 
 
  Messa. No my Lord
 
 
Bru. Now as you are a Roman tell me true
 
 
   Messa. Then like a Roman, beare the truth I tell,
For certaine she is dead, and by strange manner
 
 
   Bru. Why farewell Portia: We must die Messala:
With meditating that she must dye once,
I haue the patience to endure it now
 
 
Messa. Euen so great men, great losses shold indure
 
 
   Cassi. I haue as much of this in Art as you,
But yet my Nature could not beare it so
 
 
   Bru. Well, to our worke aliue. What do you thinke
Of marching to Philippi presently
 
 
Cassi. I do not thinke it good
 
 
   Bru. Your reason?
 
 
  Cassi. This it is:
'Tis better that the Enemie seeke vs,
So shall he waste his meanes, weary his Souldiers,
Doing himselfe offence, whil'st we lying still,
Are full of rest, defence, and nimblenesse
 
 
   Bru. Good reasons must of force giue place to better:
The people 'twixt Philippi, and this ground
Do stand but in a forc'd affection:
For they haue grug'd vs Contribution.
The Enemy, marching along by them,
By them shall make a fuller number vp,
Come on refresht, new added, and encourag'd:
From which aduantage shall we cut him off.
If at Philippi we do face him there,
These people at our backe
 
 
Cassi. Heare me good Brother
 
 
   Bru. Vnder your pardon. You must note beside,
That we haue tride the vtmost of our Friends:
Our Legions are brim full, our cause is ripe,
The Enemy encreaseth euery day,
We at the height, are readie to decline.
There is a Tide in the affayres of men,
Which taken at the Flood, leades on to Fortune:
Omitted, all the voyage of their life,
Is bound in Shallowes, and in Miseries.
On such a full Sea are we now a-float,
And we must take the current when it serues,
Or loose our Ventures
 
 
   Cassi. Then with your will go on: wee'l along
Our selues, and meet them at Philippi
 
 
   Bru. The deepe of night is crept vpon our talke,
And Nature must obey Necessitie,
Which we will niggard with a little rest:
There is no more to say
 
 
   Cassi. No more, good night,
Early to morrow will we rise, and hence.
 
 
Enter Lucius.
 
 
  Bru. Lucius my Gowne: farewell good Messala,
Good night Titinius: Noble, Noble Cassius,
Good night, and good repose
 
 
   Cassi. O my deere Brother:
This was an ill beginning of the night:
Neuer come such diuision 'tweene our soules:
Let it not Brutus.
 
 
Enter Lucius with the Gowne.
 
 
Bru. Euery thing is well
 
 
Cassi. Good night my Lord
 
 
Bru. Good night good Brother
 
 
Tit. Messa. Good night Lord Brutus
 
 
Bru. Farwell euery one.
 
 
Exeunt.
 
 
Giue me the Gowne. Where is thy Instrument?
 
 
  Luc. Heere in the Tent
 
 
   Bru. What, thou speak'st drowsily?
Poore knaue I blame thee not, thou art ore-watch'd.
Call Claudio, and some other of my men,
Ile haue them sleepe on Cushions in my Tent
 
 
   Luc. Varrus, and Claudio.
 
 
Enter Varrus and Claudio.
 
 
  Var. Cals my Lord?
 
 
  Bru. I pray you sirs, lye in my Tent and sleepe,
It may be I shall raise you by and by
On businesse to my Brother Cassius
 
 
   Var. So please you, we will stand,
And watch your pleasure
 
 
   Bru. I will it not haue it so: Lye downe good sirs,
It may be I shall otherwise bethinke me.
Looke Lucius, heere's the booke I sought for so:
I put it in the pocket of my Gowne
 
 
Luc. I was sure your Lordship did not giue it me
 
 
   Bru. Beare with me good Boy, I am much forgetfull.
Canst thou hold vp thy heauie eyes a-while,
And touch thy Instrument a straine or two
 
 
Luc. I my Lord, an't please you
 
 
   Bru. It does my Boy:
I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing
 
 
Luc. It is my duty Sir
 
 
   Brut. I should not vrge thy duty past thy might,
I know yong bloods looke for a time of rest
 
 
Luc. I haue slept my Lord already
 
 
   Bru. It was well done, and thou shalt sleepe againe:
I will not hold thee long. If I do liue,
I will be good to thee.
 
 
Musicke, and a Song.
 
 
This is a sleepy Tune: O Murd'rous slumber!
Layest thou thy Leaden Mace vpon my Boy,
That playes thee Musicke? Gentle knaue good night:
I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee:
If thou do'st nod, thou break'st thy Instrument,
Ile take it from thee, and (good Boy) good night.
Let me see, let me see; is not the Leafe turn'd downe
Where I left reading? Heere it is I thinke.
 
 
Enter the Ghost of Caesar.
 
 
How ill this Taper burnes. Ha! Who comes heere?
I thinke it is the weakenesse of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous Apparition.
It comes vpon me: Art thou any thing?
Art thou some God, some Angell, or some Diuell,
That mak'st my blood cold, and my haire to stare?
Speake to me, what thou art
 
 
   Ghost. Thy euill Spirit Brutus?
 
 
  Bru. Why com'st thou?
 
 
  Ghost. To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi
 
 
   Brut. Well: then I shall see thee againe?
 
 
  Ghost. I, at Philippi
 
 
   Brut. Why I will see thee at Philippi then:
Now I haue taken heart, thou vanishest.
Ill Spirit, I would hold more talke with thee.
Boy, Lucius, Varrus, Claudio, Sirs: Awake:
Claudio
 
 
Luc. The strings my Lord, are false
 
 
   Bru. He thinkes he still is at his Instrument.
 
 
Lucius, awake
 
 
Luc. My Lord
 
 
   Bru. Did'st thou dreame Lucius, that thou so cryedst
out?
 
 
  Luc. My Lord, I do not know that I did cry
 
 
   Bru. Yes that thou did'st: Did'st thou see any thing?
 
 
  Luc. Nothing my Lord
 
 
   Bru. Sleepe againe Lucius: Sirra Claudio, Fellow,
 
 
Thou: Awake
 
 
Var. My Lord
 
 
Clau. My Lord
 
 
   Bru. Why did you so cry out sirs, in your sleepe?
 
 
  Both. Did we my Lord?
 
 
  Bru. I: saw you any thing?
 
 
  Var. No my Lord, I saw nothing
 
 
Clau. Nor I my Lord
 
 
   Bru. Go, and commend me to my Brother Cassius:
Bid him set on his Powres betimes before,
And we will follow
 
 
Both. It shall be done my Lord.
 
 
Exeunt.