Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus As tidings of this sight. Tit. Hie you, Messala; And I will seek for Pindarus the while. — Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius? Did I not meet thy friends? and did not they Put on my brows this wreath of victory, [Exit MESSALA. And bid me give it thee? Didst thou not hear their shouts ? But hold thee; take this garland on thy brow: Thy Brutus bid me give it thee; and I Will do his bidding. - Brutus, come apace, By your leave, gods (this is a Roman's part), Come, Cassius' sword, and find Titinius' heart. [Dies. Alarum. Re-enter MESSALA, with BRUTUS, young CATO, Strato, VolumniuS, and LUCILIUS. Bru. Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie? Mes. Lo, yonder! and Titinius mourning it. Cato. He is slain. Bru. O Julius Cæsar, thou art mighty yet! Thy spirit walks abroad, and turns our swords In our own proper entrails. Cato. Brave Titinius! Look, whe'r he have not crowned dead Cassius! It is impossible that ever Rome Should breed thy fellow. - Friends, I owe more tears I shall find time, Cassius; I shall find time. - Lest it discomfort us. - Lucilius, come; And come, young Cato; let us to the field. Labeo and Flavius, set our battles on: 'Tis three o'clock; and, Romans, yet ere night We shall try fortune in a second fight. SCENE IV. Another Part of the Field. [Low alarums. [Exeunt. Alarum. Enter, fighting, Soldiers of both Armies; then Brutus, Cato, Lucilius, and Others. Bru. Yet, countrymen, oh, yet, hold up your heads! Cato. What bastard doth not? I will proclaim my name about the field: I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho! A foe to tyrants, and my country's friend; Who will go with me? [Charges the enemy. [Exit, charging the enemy. CATO is overpowered, and falls. I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho! Bru. And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I; Brutus, my country's friend: know me for Brutus. Lucil. O young and noble Cato! art thou down? Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius; And mayst be honored, being Cato's son. 1 Sold. Yield, or thou diest. Lucil. Only I yield to die : There is so much, that thou wilt kill me straight; 1 Sold. We must not. A noble prisoner! 2 Sold. Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en. 1 Sold. I'll tell the news. Here comes the general! Enter ANTONY. Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord! Ant. Where is he? Lucil. Safe, Antony: Brutus is safe enough. I dare assure thee that no enemy Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus : The gods defend him from so great a shame! Ant. This is not Brutus, friend, but, I assure you, SCENE V.- Another Part of the Field. [Offering money. Enter BRUTUS, DARDANIUS, CLITUS, STRATO, and VOLUMNIUS. Bru. Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock. 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! Cli. What! I my lord? No, not for all the world! Cli. What ill request did Brutus make to thee? Cli. Now is that noble vessel full of grief, 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 appeared to me Two several times by night: at Sardis, once; [Exeunt. [Whispering. [Whispers him. And this last night, here in Philippi fields. Vol. Not so, my lord. Bru. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius. Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes; It is more worthy to leap in ourselves Good Volumnius, Thou know'st that we two went to school together: Hold thou my sword-hilts whilst I run on it. [Low alarums. [Alarum still Vol. That's not an office for a friend, my lord. I found no man but he was true to me. So fare you well at once! for Brutus' tongue Night hangs upon mine eyes: my bones would rest, Cli. Fly, my lord! fly! Bru. Hence! I will follow thee. [Alarum. Cry within, “ Fly, fly, fly!” [Exeunt CLITUS, DARDANIUS, and VOLUMNIUS. I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord. Thou art a fellow of a good respect; Thy life hath had some smatch of honor in it: While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato? Stra. Give me your hand first: fare you well, my lord! Cæsar, now be still: I killed not thee with half so good a will. [He runs on his sword, and dies. Alarum. Retreat. Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, MESSALA, LUCILIUS, and their Oct. What man is that? Army. 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 honor by his death. I thank thee, Brutus, That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true. Oct. Do so, good Messala. 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: [Exeunt. EDMUND SPENSER. 1553-1599. Shepheard's Calender;" "Colin Clouts come Home Again: " "Epithalinion; "View of the State of Ireland;" and his greatest work, "The Faerie Queene." "The Faerie Queene," written in what is called the Spenserian stanza, was intended to "fashion a gentleman or noble person in virtuous and gentle discipline." Of the twelve books planned originally, "Foashioning XII. Morall Virtues," there were only six written. Hazlitt says, "Spenser excels in the two qualities in which Chaucer is most deficient, invention and fancy. The invention shown in his allegorical personages is endless, as the fancy shown in his description of them is gorgeous and delightful. He is the poet of romance. He describes things as in a splendid and voluptuous dream." THE KNIGHT AND THE LADY. I. A GENTLE Knight was pricking on the plaine, 1 Tournaments. II. And on his brest a bloodie crosse he bore, Upon his shield the like was also scor'd, For soveraine hope, which in his helpe he had. Right, faithfull, true he was in deede and word; But of his cheere did seeme too solemne sad; Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was ydrad.1 III. Upon a great adventure he was bond, (That greatest glorious queene of Faerie lond,) IV. A lovely Ladie rode him faire beside, So V. pure and innocent as that same lambe She was in life and every vertuous lore; And by descent from royall lynage came Of ancient kinges and queenes that had of yore Their scepters stretcht from east to westerne shore, Till that infernal Feend with foule uprore Forwasted all their land, and them expeld; Whom to avenge, she had this Knight from far compeld. VI. Behind her farre away a Dwarfe did lag, Or wearied with bearing of her bag Of needments at his backe. Thus as they past, 1 Dreaded. 2 Yearn. 3 Gathered, or plaited. 4 Much wasted. |