A CTV, SCENE, the Fields of Philippi, with the two Camps. N Enter Octavius, Antony, and their Army, OCTAVI U S. OW, Antony, our hopes are answered. Enter a Meffenger. The enemy comes on in gallant fhew; Upon the left hand of the even field. Octa. Upon the right hand I, keep thou the left. Octa. I do not cross you; but I will do fo. [March Drum. Enter Brutus, Caffius, and their Army." Bru. They ftand, and would have parley. Caf. Stand faft, Titinius, we muft out and talk. Oda. Mark Antony, fhall we give fign of battle? Bru. Words before blows: is it fo, countrymen? Ant. In your bad ftrokes, Brutus, you give good words. Witnefs the hole you made in Cæfar's heart, The pofture of your blows are yet unknown; Ant. Not ftingless too. For Bru. O yes, and found lefs too : you have ftoln their buzzing, Antony; And very wifely threat, before you fting. Hack'd one another in the fides of Cæfar, vile dag You fhew'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like hounds, Struck Cafar on the neck. O flatterers? ; Caf. Flatterers! now, Brutus, thank your felf; This tongue had not offended fo to day, If Caffius might have rul'd. Octa. Come, come, the cause. If arguing make us fweat, The proof of it will turn to redder drops. Behold, I draw a fword against confpirators; When think you, that the fword goes up again? Be (17) Three and thirty wounds.] Thus all the Editions implicitly; but I have ventur'd to reduce this Number to three and twenty from Be well aveng'd; or 'till another Cafar Bru. Cafar, thou canst not die by traitors' hands, Octa. So I hope; I was not born to die on Brutus' fword. Bru. O, if thou wert the nobleft of thy Strain, Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable. Caf. A peevish school-boy, worthless of fuch ho nour, Join'd with a masker and a reveller. Ant. Old Caffius ftill! Octa. Come, Antony, away; Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth: you dare fight to day, come to the field; If If not, when you have ftomachs. [Exe. Octavius, Antony, and army. Caf. Why, now blow wind, fwell billow, and fwim bark! The ftorm is up, and all is on the hazard. Bru. Lucilius, Luc. My lord, Caf. Melala. hark, a word with you. [Lucilius and Meffala ftand forth. [Brutus peaks apart to Lucilius. Mef. What fays my General? Caf. Meffala, This is my birth-day; as this very day Was Caffius born. Give me thy hand, Meffala; As Pompey was, am I compell'd to fet You know, that I held Epicurus strong, from the joint Authorities of Appian, Plutarch, and Suetonius: and, I am perfuaded, the Error was not from the Poet but his Transcribers. VOL. VII. D Who Who to Philippi here conforted us: This morning are they fled and Our army lies ready to give the ghost. Caf. I but believe it partly; Caf. Now, moft noble Brutus, The Gods to day ftand friendly; that we may, very The laft time we shall speak together, Bru. Ev'n by the rule of that philofophy, For fear of what might fall, fo to prevent Caf. Then, if we lose this battle, You are contented to be led in triumph Bru. No, Caffius, no; think not, thou noble Re man, That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome; He bears too great a mind. But this fame day If not, why, then 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. Alarum. Enter Brutus and Meffala. [Exeunt. [Loud alarum. Bru. Ride, ride, Meffala; ride, and give these bills Alarum. Enter Caffius and Titinius. 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. [Exe Caf. This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius, Are thofe my Tents, where I perceive the fire? Tit. They are, my lord. Caf. Titinius, if thou lov't 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. [Exit. D 2 Caf. |