That you have wrong’d me doth appear in this:You have condemn’d and noted Lucius PellaAn officer in Brutus’s forces whom Brutus condemns for accepting bribes.For taking bribes here of the Sardiansan inhabitant of Sardis, the city near which Brutus and Cassius encamp.;Wherein my letters, praying on his sideBecause I knew the man, were slighted off.
BRUTUS
You wrong’d yourself to write in such a case.
CASSIUS
In such a time as this it is not meetThat every nice offence should bear his comment.
BRUTUS
Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourselfAre much condemn’d to have an itching palm,To sell and mart your offices for goldTo undeservers.
CASSIUS
I an itching palm!You know that you are Brutus that speak this,Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
BRUTUS
The name of Cassius honours this corruption,And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
CASSIUS
Chastisement!
BRUTUS
Remember March, the Idesthe fifteenth day of March, May, July, and October in the Roman calendar, and the thirteenth day of the other months. of March remember:Did not great Julius bleed for justice’ sake?What villain touch’d his body, that did stab,And not for justice? What! Shall one of us,That struck the foremost man of all this worldBut for supporting robbers, shall we nowContaminate our fingers with base bribes,And sell the mighty space of our large honoursFor so much trash as may be grasped thus?I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,Than such a Roman.
CASSIUS
Brutus, bait not me,I’ll not endure it. You forget yourself,To hedge me in. I am a soldier, I,Older in practice, abler than yourselfTo make conditions.
BRUTUS
Go to; you are not, Cassius.
CASSIUS
I am.
BRUTUS
I say you are not.
CASSIUS
Urge me no more, I shall forget myself;Have mind upon your health, tempt me no farther.
BRUTUS
Away, slight man!
CASSIUS
Is’t possible?
BRUTUS
Hear me, for I will speak.Must I give way and room to your rash choler?Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?
CASSIUS
O ye gods, ye gods! Must I endure all this?
BRUTUS
All this? ay, more: fret till your proud heart break;Go show your slaves how choleric you are,And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouchUnder your testy humour? By the gods,You shall digest the venom of your spleen,Though it do split you; for, from this day forth,I’ll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,When you are waspish.
CASSIUS
Is it come to this?
BRUTUS
You say you are a better soldier:Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,And it shall please me well. For mine own part,I shall be glad to learn of noble men.
CASSIUS
You wrong me every way, you wrong me, Brutus.I said, an elder soldier, not a better:Did I say better?
BRUTUS
If you did, I care not.
CASSIUS
When Caesar liv’d, he durst not thus have mov’d me.
BRUTUS
Peace, peace! you durst not so have tempted him.
CASSIUS
I durst not?
BRUTUS
No.
CASSIUS
What? durst not tempt him?
BRUTUS
For your life you durst not.
CASSIUS
Do not presume too much upon my love.I may do that I shall be sorry for.
BRUTUS
You have done that you should be sorry for.There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats,For I am arm’d so strong in honesty,That they pass by me as the idle wind,Which I respect not. I did send to youFor certain sums of gold, which you denied me;For I can raise no money by vile means:By Heaven, I had rather coin my heart,And drop my blood for drachmasAn ancient Greek silver coin and unit of money., than to wringFrom the hard hands of peasants their vile trashBy any indirection. I did sendTo you for gold to pay my legions,Which you denied me: was that done like Cassius?Should I have answer’d Caius Cassius so?When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,To lock such rascal counters from his friends,Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts,Dash him to pieces!
CASSIUS
I denied you not.
BRUTUS
You did.
CASSIUS
I did not. He was but a foolThat brought my answer back. Brutus hath riv’d my heart.A friend should bear his friend’s infirmities;But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
BRUTUS
I do not, till you practise them on me.
CASSIUS
You love me not.
BRUTUS
I do not like your faults.
CASSIUS
A friendly eye could never see such faults.
BRUTUS
A flatterer’s would not, though they do appearAs huge as high Olympus.
CASSIUS
Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,For Cassius is a-weary of the world:Hated by one he loves; brav’d by his brother;Check’d like a bondman; all his faults observ’d,Set in a note-book, learn’d and conn’d by rote,To cast into my teethto reproach or taunt someone openly with something.. O, I could weepMy spirit from mine eyes! There is my dagger,And here my naked breast; within, a heartDearer than Plutus’the ancient god of wealth, invoked as the source or possessor of riches. mine, richer than gold:If that thou be’st a Roman, take it forth.I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart:Strike as thou didst at Caesar; for I know,When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him betterThan ever thou lovedst Cassius.
BRUTUS
Sheathe your dagger.Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.O Cassius, you are yoked with a lambThat carries anger as the flint bears fire,Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark,And straight is cold again.
CASSIUS
Hath Cassius liv’dTo be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,When grief and blood ill-temper’d vexeth him?
BRUTUS
When I spoke that, I was ill-temper’d too.
CASSIUS
Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.
BRUTUS
And my heart too.
CASSIUS
O Brutus!
BRUTUS
What’s the matter?
CASSIUS
Have not you love enough to bear with me,When that rash humour which my mother gave meMakes me forgetful?
BRUTUS
Yes, Cassius; and from henceforth,When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,He’ll think your mother chides, and leave you so.
Enter Poet, followed by Lucilius, Titinius and Lucius.
POET
Let me go in to see the generals,There is some grudge between ’em; ’tis not meetThey be alone.
LUCILIUS
You shall not come to them.
POET
Nothing but death shall stay me.
CASSIUS
How now! What’s the matter?
POET
For shame, you generals! What do you mean?Love, and be friends, as two such men should be;For I have seen more years, I’m sure, than ye.
CASSIUS
Ha, ha! How vilely doth this cynic rhyme!
BRUTUS
Get you hence, sirrah. Saucy fellow, hence!
CASSIUS
Bear with him, Brutus; ’tis his fashion.
BRUTUS
I’ll know his humour when he knows his time.What should the wars do with these jigging fools?Companion, hence!
CASSIUS
Away, away, be gone!
Exit Poet.
BRUTUS
LuciliusA Roman officer and loyal follower of Brutus who impersonates him at Philippi to protect him. and Titinius, bid the commandersPrepare to lodge their companies tonight.
CASSIUS
And come yourselves and bring MessalaA Roman officer allied with Brutus and Cassius who fights at Philippi and brings news of events in Rome. with youImmediately to us.
Exeunt Lucilius and Titinius.
BRUTUS
Lucius, a bowl of wine.
Exit Lucius.
CASSIUS
I did not think you could have been so angry.
BRUTUS
O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.
CASSIUS
Of your philosophy you make no use,If you give place to accidental evils.
BRUTUS
No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead.
CASSIUS
Ha? Portia?
BRUTUS
She is dead.
CASSIUS
How ’scap’d I killing, when I cross’d you so?O insupportable and touching loss!Upon what sickness?
BRUTUS
Impatient of my absence,And grief that young Octavius with Mark AntonyHave made themselves so strong; for with her deathThat tidings came. With this she fell distract,And, her attendants absent, swallow’d fire.
CASSIUS
And died so?
BRUTUS
Even so.
CASSIUS
O ye immortal gods!
Enter Lucius, with wine and a taper.
BRUTUS
Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine.In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius.
Drinks.
CASSIUS
My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge.Fill, LuciusBrutus’s young servant, who attends him at home and on campaign., till the wine o’erswell the cup.I cannot drink too much of Brutus’ love.
Drinks.
Exit Lucius.
Enter Titinius and Messala.
BRUTUS
Come in, Titinius!Welcome, good Messala.Now sit we close about this taper here,And call in question our necessities.
CASSIUS
Portia, art thou gone?
BRUTUS
No more, I pray you.Messala, I have here received letters,That young Octavius and Mark AntonyCome down upon us with a mighty power,Bending their expedition toward Philippi.
MESSALA
Myself have letters of the selfsame tenor.
BRUTUS
With what addition?
MESSALA
That by proscriptionan official decree naming people as outlaws who may be killed and have their property confiscated. and bills of outlawryThe legal condition of being declared outside the protection of the law.Octavius, Antony, and LepidusMarcus Aemilius Lepidus, the Roman leader who rules with Antony and Octavius in the triumvirate formed after Caesar’s death.Have put to death an hundred Senators.
BRUTUS
Therein our letters do not well agree.Mine speak of seventy Senators that diedBy their proscriptions, Cicero being one.
CASSIUS
Cicero one!
MESSALA
Cicero is dead,And by that order of proscription.Had you your letters from your wife, my lord?
BRUTUS
No, Messala.
MESSALA
Nor nothing in your letters writ of her?
BRUTUS
Nothing, Messala.
MESSALA
That, methinks, is strange.
BRUTUS
Why ask you? Hear you aught of her in yours?
MESSALA
No, my lord.
BRUTUS
Now as you are a Roman, tell me true.
MESSALA
Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell,For certain she is dead, and by strange manner.
BRUTUS
Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala.With meditating that she must die once,I have the patience to endure it now.
MESSALA
Even so great men great losses should endure.
CASSIUS
I have as much of this in art as you,But yet my nature could not bear it so.
BRUTUS
Well, to our work alive. What do you thinkOf marching to Philippi presently?
CASSIUS
I do not think it good.
BRUTUS
Your reason?
CASSIUS
This it is:’Tis better that the enemy seek us;So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers,Doing himself offence, whilst we, lying still,Are full of rest, defence, and nimbleness.
BRUTUS
Good reasons must of force give place to better.The people ’twixt Philippi and this groundDo stand but in a forced affection;For they have grudg’d us contribution.The enemy, marching along by them,By them shall make a fuller number up,Come on refresh’d, new-added, and encourag’d;From which advantage shall we cut him offIf at Philippi we do face him there,These people at our back.
CASSIUS
Hear me, good brother.
BRUTUS
Under your pardon. You must note besides,That we have tried the utmost of our friends,Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe.The enemy increaseth every day;We, at the height, are ready to decline.There is a tide in the affairs of men,Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;Omitted, all the voyage of their lifeIs bound in shallows and in miseries.On such a full sea are we now afloat,And we must take the current when it serves,Or lose our ventures.
CASSIUS
Then, with your will, go on:We’ll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi.
BRUTUS
The deep of night is crept upon our talk,And nature must obey necessity,Which we will niggard with a little rest.There is no more to say?
CASSIUS
No more. Good night:Early tomorrow will we rise, and hence.
Enter Lucius.
BRUTUS
Lucius! My gown.
Exit Lucius.
BRUTUS
Farewell now, good Messala.Good night, Titinius. Noble, noble Cassius,Good night, and good repose.
CASSIUS
O my dear brother!This was an ill beginning of the night.Never come such division ’tween our souls!Let it not, Brutus.
Enter Lucius with the gown.
BRUTUS
Everything is well.
CASSIUS
Good night, my lord.
BRUTUS
Good night, good brother.
BRUTUS
TITINIUS and MESSALA.Good night, Lord Brutus.
BRUTUS
Farewell, everyone.
Exeunt Cassius, Titinius and Messala.
BRUTUS
Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument?
LUCIUS
Here in the tent.
BRUTUS
What, thou speak’st drowsily?Poor knave, I blame thee not, thou art o’er-watch’d.Call Claudiusa servant attending Brutus during the military campaign. and some other of my men;I’ll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.
LUCIUS
VarroVarro, a servant of Brutus who attends him in his camp. and Claudius!
Enter Varro and Claudius.
VARRO
Calls my lord?
BRUTUS
I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep;It may be I shall raise you by-and-byOn business to my brother Cassius.
VARRO
So please you, we will stand and watch your pleasure.
BRUTUS
I will not have it so; lie down, good sirs,It may be I shall otherwise bethink me.Look, Lucius, here’s the book I sought for so;I put it in the pocket of my gown.
Servants lie down.
LUCIUS
I was sure your lordship did not give it me.
BRUTUS
Bear with me, good boy, I am much forgetful.Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile,And touch thy instrument a strain or two?
LUCIUS
Ay, my lord, an’t please you.
BRUTUS
It does, my boy.I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing.
LUCIUS
It is my duty, sir.
BRUTUS
I should not urge thy duty past thy might;I know young bloods look for a time of rest.
LUCIUS
I have slept, my lord, already.
BRUTUS
It was well done, and thou shalt sleep again;I will not hold thee long. If I do live,I will be good to thee.
Lucius plays and sings till he falls asleep.
BRUTUS
This is a sleepy tune. O murd’rous slumber,Layest 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 turn’d downWhere I left reading? Here it is, I think.
Enter the Ghost of Caesar.
BRUTUS
How ill this taper burns! Ha! who comes here?I think it is the weakness of mine eyesThat shapes this monstrous apparition.It comes upon me. Art thou anything?Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil,That mak’st my blood cold and my hair to stare?Speak to me what thou art.
GHOST
Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
BRUTUS
Why com’st thou?
GHOST
To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.
BRUTUS
Well; then I shall see thee again?
GHOST
Ay, at Philippi.
BRUTUS
Why, I will see thee at Philippi then.
Ghost vanishes.
BRUTUS
Now I have taken heart, thou vanishest.Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.Boy! Lucius! Varro! Claudius! Sirs, awake! Claudius!
LUCIUS
The strings, my lord, are false.
BRUTUS
He thinks he still is at his instrument.Lucius, awake!
LUCIUS
My lord?
BRUTUS
Didst thou dream, Lucius, that thou so criedst out?