Enter ANTONY. Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord. Luc. Safe, Antony; Brutus is safe enough: Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus : Ant. This is not Brutus, friend; but, I assure you And bring us word, unto Octavius' tent, SCENE V. [Exeunt. Another Part of the Field. Enter BRUTUS, DARDANIUS. CLITUS, STRATO, and VOLUMNIUS. Bru. Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock. Cli. Statilius show'd the torch-light; but, my lord, He came not back; he is or ta'en, or slain. Bru. Sit thee down, Clitus: Slaying 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. O, Clitus! [Whispers him. Cli. What ill request did Brutus make to thee? That it runs over even at his eyes. Bru. Come hither, good Volumnius : list a word. Bru. Why, this, Volumnius : The ghost of Cæsar hath appear'd to me : Two several times by night at Sardis, once; Vol. Not so, my lord. Bru. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius. It is more worthy to leap in ourselves, [Alarum still. Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest, [Alarum. Cry within; Fly, fly, fly. Cli. Fly, my lord, fly. Bru. Hence; I will follow thee. [Exe. CLITUS, DARDANIUS, and VOLUMNIUS. I pr'ythee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord: Thou art a fellow of a good respect; [9] So in the old translation of Plutarch: "Now, the night being farre spent Brutus as he sate, bowed towards Clitus one of his men, and told him somewhat in his eare; the other aunswered not, but fell a weeping. Thereupon he proued Dardanus, and sayd somewhat also to him: at length he came to Volumnius him selfe, and speaking to him in Græke, prayed him for the studies sake which brought them acquainted together, that he woulde helpe him to put his hande to his sword, to thrust it in him to kille him. Volumnius denied his request, and so did many others: and amongst the rest, one of them sayd, there was no tarrying for them there, but that they must needes flie. Then Brutus rising vp, we must flie in deede, sayd he, but it must be with our hands, not with our feete. Then taking euery man' by the hand, he sayd these words vnto them with a chearfull countenance. It rejoyceth my hart that not one of my frends hath failed me at my neede, and I do not complaine of my fortune, but only for my countries sake: for, as for me, I thinke my selfe happier than they that have ouercome, considering that I leaue a perpetuall fame of our corage and manhoode, the which our enemies, the conquerors shall neuer attaine vnto by force nor money, neither can let their posteritie to say, that they have been naughtie and unjust men, haue slain good men, to vsurpe tyrannical power not pertaining to them. Hauing sayd so, he prayed euery man to shift for them selues, and then he went a little aside," &c. STEEVENŠ. VOL. VIII. D Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it : Stra. Give me your hand first: Fare you well, my lor Bru. Farewell, good Strato.-Cæsar, now be still; I kill'd not thee with half so good a will. [He runs on his sword, and die Alarum. Retreat. Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, MESSAL LUCILIUS, and their Army. Oct. What man is that? Mes. My master's man.-Strato, where is thy master Stra. Free from the bondage you are in, Messala : The conquerors can but make a fire of him; For Brutus only overcame himself. And no man else hath honour by his death. Luc. So Brutus should be found.-I thank thee, Brutu That thou hast prov'd Lucilius' saying true. Oct. All that serv'd Brutus, I will entertain them. Mes. How died my master, Strato? Stra. I held the sword, and he did run on it. Mes. Octavius, then take him to follow thee, That did the latest service to my master. Ant. This was the noblest Roman of them all : Did that they did in envy of great Cæsar; Oct. According to his virtue let us use him, [Exeunt [5] To prefer seems to have been the established phrase for recommending a ser vant. REED. |