This is a sleepy tune:-O murderous slumber! Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy, That plays thee music?—Gentle knave, good night: I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee. If thou dost nod, thou break'st thy instrument: I'll take it from thee : and, good boy, good night. Let me see, let me see: is not the leaf turned down Where I left reading ? Here it is, I think. [He sits doon. How ill this taper burns!-Ha! who comes here? SCENE 1.-The Plains of Philippi. Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their Army. Oct. Now, Antony, our hopes are answered: You said the enemy would not come down, But keep the hills and upper regions. It proves not so: their battles are at hand : They mean to warn us at Philippi here, Answering before we do demand of them. Ant. Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I know Wherefore they do it. They could be content To visit other places: and come down With fearful bravery, thinking by this face To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage: But 't is not so. Enter a Messenger. Mess. Prepare you, generals: Oct. Upon the right hand I; keep thou the left. Ant. Why do you cross me in this exigent? Oct. I do not cross you; but I will do so. [March. Hacked one another in the sides of Cæsar : And bowed like bondmen, kissing Cæsar's feet; Oct. Come, come, the cause. If arguing The proof of it will turn to redder drops. Unless thou bring'st them with thee. Oct. So I hope : I was not born to die on Brutus' sword. Bru. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain, Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable. Cas. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour; Joined with a masker and a reveller. Ant. Old Cassius still! Oct. Come, Antony; away. Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth. [Exeunt OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their Army. The storm is up, and all is on the hazard. [BRUTUS and LUCILIUS converse apart. Cas. Messala, Mes. Cas. What says my general? This is my birth-day: as this very day Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala: You know that I held Epicurus strong, This morning are they fled away and gone: As we were sickly prey: their shadows seem Cas. I but believe it partly; For I am fresh of spirit, and resolved Now, most noble Brutus, Bru. Even by the rule of that philosophy By which I did blame Cato for the death Which he did give himself:-I know not how, But I do find it cowardly and vile, For fear of what might fall, so to prevent That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome : Cas. For ever and for ever, farewell, Brutus! |