Drum. Enter Brutus, Caffius, and their army. Bru. They ftand, and would have parley. Caf. Stand faft, Titinius, we muft out and talk. Octa. Mark Antony, fhall we give fign of battle? Ant. No, Cafar, we will anfwer on their charge. Make forth, the Generals would have fome words. Oca. Stir not until the fignal.. Bru. Words before blows: is it fo, countrymen ? Octa. Not that we love words better, as you do. Bru. Good words are better than bad ftrokes, O&avius. Ant. In your bad ftrokes, Brutus, you give good words. Witness the hole you made in Cajar's heart, Crying, "long live! hail, Cafar!" Caf. Antony, The posture of your blows are yet unknown; Ant. Not ftinglefs too. Bru. O yes, and foundlefs too: For you have ftol'n their buzzing, Antony; Ant. Villains! you did not fo, when your Struck Cafar on the neck. O flatterers! Caf. Flatterers! now Brutus, thank yourself; This tongue had not offended fo to-day, If Caffius might have rul'd. Octa. Come, come, the caufe. If arguing make us fweat, The proof of it will turn to redder drops. Behold, I draw a fword against conspirators; When think you, that the fword goes up again? Never, 'till Cafar's three and twenty wounds (17) Be (17) Three and thirty wounds.] Thus all the Editions implicitly; but I have ventured to reduce this Number to three and eventy from Be well aveng'd; or till another Cafar Have added flaughter to the fword of traitors. Bru. Cæfar, thou canst not die by traitors' hands, Unless thou bring'ft them with thee. Octa. So I hope; I was not born to die on Brutus' fword. Bru. O, if thou wert the nobleft of thy ftrain, Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable. Caf. A peevish fchool-boy, worthlefs of fuch honour, 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, -hark, a word with you. [Lucilius and Meffala ftand forth. [Brutus Speaks apart to Lucilius. Me. What fays my General ? Caf. Meffala, This is my birth-day; as this very day Was Caffius born. Give me thy hand, Meffala; You know, that I held Epicurus ftrong, from the joint Authorities of Appian, Plutarch, and Suetonius: and, I am perfuaded, the Error was not from the Poet but his Tranfcribers. VOL. VII. D This This morning are they fled away and gone, Our army lies ready to give the ghoft. Caf. I but believe it partly; For I am fresh of spirit, and refolv'd Caf. Now, moft noble Brutus,` The Gods to-day ftand friendly; that we may, 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 Roman, That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome; He bears too great a mind. But this fame day If If we do meet again, we'll fmile indeed; If not, 'tis true, this parting was well made. But it fufficeth, that the day will end; And then the end is known. Come, ho, away. Alarm. Enter Brutus and Meffala. [Exeunt. Bru. Ride, ride, Meffala; ride, and give these bills Unto the legions, on the other fide. [Loud alarm. Let them fet on at once; for I perceive [Exe. Alarm. 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. Caf. This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius, Are those 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, Tit. I will be here again, ev'n with a thought. [Exit. Caf Caf. Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill, Caf. What news? Pind. Titinius is enclofed round about Enter Pindarus. Come hither, firrah; my face! In Parthia did I take thee prifoner; [Shout. Thou shouldft attempt it. Come, now keep thine oath, 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, [Exit. |