ACT IV.
Scene I. A house in Rome.[3368]
Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus, seated at a table.[3369]
[Pg 384]
But, Lepidus, go you to Cæsar's house;
Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine[3375]
How to cut off some charge in legacies.
Meet to be sent on errands: is it fit,
The three-fold world divided, he should stand
One of the three to share it?
And took his voice who should be prick'd to die
In our black sentence and proscription.
And though we lay these honours on this man,
To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads, 20
He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold,
To groan and sweat under the business,
Either led or driven, as we point the way;[3376]
And having brought our treasure where we will,
Then take we down his load and turn him off, 25
Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears
And graze in commons.[3377]
But he's a tried and valiant soldier.
I do appoint him store of provender: 30
It is a creature that I teach to fight,
To wind, to stop, to run directly on,
His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit.[3378]
[Pg 385] And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;
He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth; 35
A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds[3379]
On abjects, orts and imitations,[3380]
Which, out of use and staled by other men,[3381]
Begin his fashion: do not talk of him
But as a property. And now, Octavius, 40
Listen great things: Brutus and Cassius
Are levying powers: we must straight make head:
Therefore let our alliance be combined,
Our best friends made, our means stretch'd;[3382]
And let us presently go sit in council, 45
How covert matters may be best disclosed,
And open perils surest answered.
Scene II. Camp near Sardis. Before Brutus's tent.[3385]
Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucilius, Lucius, and Soldiers; Titinius and Pindarus meet them.[3386]
To do you salutation from his master.[3389] 5
In his own change, or by ill officers,[3390]
Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
Things done undone: but if he be at hand,
I shall be satisfied.
But that my noble master will appear
Such as he is, full of regard and honour.
How he received you: let me be resolved.[3392][3393]
But not with such familiar instances,[3392]
Nor with such free and friendly conference,[3392]
As he hath used of old.[3392]
A hot friend cooling: ever note, Lucilius,[3392]
When love begins to sicken and decay,[3392] 20
It useth an enforced ceremony.[3392]
There are no tricks in plain and simple faith:[3392]
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,[3392]
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle,[3392]
But when they should endure the bloody spur,[3392] 25
They fall their crests and like deceitful jades[3392][3394]
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?[3392][3395]
Enter Cassius and his powers.[3398]
And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother?[3404]
And when you do them—
Speak your griefs softly: I do know you well.
Before the eyes of both our armies here,
Which should perceive nothing but love from us,
Let us not wrangle: bid them move away; 45
Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
And I will give you audience.
Scene III. Brutus's tent.[3408]
Enter Brutus and Cassius.[3409]
You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella
For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
Wherein my letters, praying on his side,[3410][3411]
Because I knew the man, were slighted off.[3411][3412] 5
That every nice offence should bear his comment.[3414]
Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm, 10
To sell and mart your offices for gold
To undeservers.
You know that you are Brutus that speaks this,[3417]
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.[3418]
Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?[3419]
What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, 20
And not for justice? What, shall one of us,
[Pg 389] That struck the foremost man of all this world
But for supporting robbers, shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
And sell the mighty space of our large honours 25
For so much trash as may be grasped thus?
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,[3420]
Than such a Roman.[3421]
I'll not endure it: you forget yourself,
To hedge me in; I am a soldier, I,[3422] 30
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.[3423]
Have mind upon your health, tempt me no farther.[3425]
Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares? 40
Go show your slaves how choleric you are,
And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?[3427]
Must I observe you? must I stand and crouch 45
Under your testy humour? By the gods,
You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
Though it do split you; for, from this day forth,[3428]
I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
[Pg 390] When you are waspish.
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.[3429]
I said, an elder soldier, not a better:[3431]
Did I say, better?[3432]
I may do that I shall 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 you
For certain sums of gold, which you denied me: 70
For I can raise no money by vile means:
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart,
And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection. I did send[3433] 75
To you for gold to pay my legions,
Which you denied me: was that done like Cassius?
Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so?
[Pg 391] When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,
To lock such rascal counters from his friends, 80
Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts,[3434]
Dash him to pieces![3434]
That brought my answer back. Brutus hath rived my heart:[3435]
A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,[3436] 85
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
As huge as high Olympus.
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is a-weary of the world;
Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother; 95
Check'd like a bondman; all his faults observed,
Set in a note-book, learn'd and conn'd by rote,
To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep[3439]
My spirit from mine eyes! There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast; within, a heart 100
Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold:[3440]
If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth;[3441]
I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart:
Strike, as thou didst at Cæsar; for I know,
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better 105
Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.
[Pg 392]
Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.[3442]
O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb,[3443]
That carries anger as the flint bears fire, 110
Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark[3444]
And straight is cold again.
To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
When grief and blood ill-temper'd vexeth him?[3445]
When that rash humour which my mother gave me
Makes me forgetful?
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.[3454]
Love, and be friends, as two such men should be;[3450]
For I have seen more years, I'm sure, than ye.[3450] 130
What should the wars do with these jigging fools?[3450][3456] 135
Companion, hence![3450]
Prepare to lodge their companies to-night.
Immediately to us. [Exeunt Lucilius and Titinius.
If you give place to accidental evils.
O insupportable and touching loss!
Upon what sickness?
And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
Have made themselves so strong: for with her death
That tidings came: with this she fell distract,
And, her attendants absent, swallow'd fire.
[Pg 394]
Re-enter Lucius, with wine and taper.[3463]
In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius. [Drinks.
Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup;
I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. [Drinks. [3464]160
Re-enter Titinius, with Messala.
Now sit we close about this taper here,
And call in question our necessities.
Messala, I have here received letters,[3467] 165
That young Octavius and Mark Antony
Come down upon us with a mighty power,
Bending their expedition toward Philippi.[3468]
Octavius, Antony and Lepidus,
Have put to death an hundred senators.[3472]
[Pg 395]
Mine speak of seventy senators that died 175
By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.
And by that order of proscription.[3475]
Had you your letters from your wife, my lord?
For certain she is dead, and by strange manner.
With meditating that she must die once
I have the patience to endure it now. 190
But yet my nature could not bear it so.
Of marching to Philippi presently?[3477] 195
'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. 200
[Pg 396]
The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground
Do stand but in a forced affection,
For they have grudged us contribution:
The enemy, marching along by them, 205
By them shall make a fuller number up,
Come on refresh'd, new-added and encouraged;[3479]
From which advantage shall we cut him off[3480]
If at Philippi we do face him there,[3481]
These people at our back.
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. 215
There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which taken at the flood leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat, 220
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.
We'll along ourselves and meet them at Philippi.[3483][3485]
And nature must obey necessity; 225
Which we will niggard with a little rest.
There is no more to say?[3486]
Good night, Titinius: noble, noble Cassius, 230
Good night, and good repose.
This was an ill beginning of the night:
Never come such division 'tween our souls![3488]
Let it not, Brutus.
[Exeunt all but Brutus.[3490]
Re-enter Lucius, with the gown.
Enter Varro and Claudius.
It may be I shall raise you by and by 245
On business to my brother Cassius.
It may be I shall otherwise bethink me.
Look, Lucius, here's the book I sought for so; 250
I put it in the pocket of my gown. [Var. and Clau. lie down.[3497]
Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile,[3498]
And touch thy instrument a strain or two?[3498][3499] 255
I know young bloods look for a time of rest. 260
I will not hold thee long: if I do live,
I will be good to thee. [Music, and a song.[3503]
This is a sleepy tune. O murderous slumber,[3504] 265
Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy,[3505]
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.[3506] 270
Let me see, let me see; is not the leaf turn'd down[3507]
[Pg 399] Where I left reading? Here it is, I think. [Sits down.[3508]
Enter the Ghost of Cæsar.[3509]
I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous apparition. 275
It comes upon me. Art thou any thing?
Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil,
That makest my blood cold, and my hair to stare?[3510]
Speak to me what thou art.
Now I have taken heart thou vanishest.[3514] 285
Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.[3514]
Boy, Lucius! Varro! Claudius! Sirs, awake![3492][3493]
Claudius![3492]
Lucius, awake!
[Pg 400]
Bid him set on his powers betimes before, 305
And we will follow.
FOOTNOTES:
[3368] Act iv. Scene i.] Rowe. Actus Quartus. Ff.
A house in Rome.] See note (VI).
[3369] Antony ... table.] Malone. Enter Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus. Ff.
[3370] These many] These, marry Grey conj.
[3371] consent—] Knight. consent: Capell. consent. Ff.
[3372] Publius] Lucius Upton conj.
[3373] Who is your] You are his Upton conj.
[3374] damn] F4. dam F1 F2 F3.
[3375] shall] will Steevens (1793).
[3376] Either] Ff. Or Pope.
point] F1. print F2 F3 F4.
[3377] in commons] in common Hanmer. on commons Collier MS.
[3378] motion govern'd] Pope. motion, govern'd Ff.
[3379] barren-spirited] Hyphened by Pope.
[3380] abjects, orts] Staunton. abject orts Theobald. Objects, Arts Ff. abject arts Becket conj.
imitations,] Rowe (ed. 2). Imitations. Ff.
[3381] staled] stal'de F1 F2. stal'd F3. stall'd F4.
[3382] made, our] made secure, our best Anon. conj.
our means stretch'd] our meanes stretcht F1. and our best meanes stretcht out F2 F3 F4 (means F4). our best means stretcht Johnson. our means stretch'd to the utmost Malone. our choicest means stretch'd out Staunton conj.
[3383] bay'd] Pope. bayed Ff.
[3384] mischiefs] mischief Steevens (1778).
[3385] Scene II.] Rowe.
Camp ...] Before Brutus's Tent, in the Camp near Sardis. Rowe.
[3386] Enter Brutus, Lucilius ... Titinius ...] Enter Brutus, Lucius, and soldiers; Lucilius, Titinius ... Nicholson conj.
Lucius] Capell. om. Ff.
Soldiers] Rowe. the Army Ff.
[3387] Stand, ho!] Stand here Steevens (1793).
[3388] S. Walker would read Give ... Lucilius, as one line.
[3389] [presenting Pindarus, who gives a Letter. Capell. Jennens supposes that a speech of Pindarus is lost here.
[3390] change] charge Hanmer (Warburton).
officers] offices Johnson conj.
[3391] He ... Lucilius,] As in Ff. As two lines in Craik.
A word] Hear, a word Hanmer. A word with you Anon. conj.
[3392] A word ... Cassius.] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.
[3393] Lucilius, ... you:] F3 F4. Lucilius ... you: F1F2. Lucilius,— ... you, Rowe.
[3394] crests] F1. crest F2 F3 F4.
[3395] sink] Shrink Craik conj.
[3396] [Low ...] Pope. After line 24 in Ff. March within. Capell.
[3397] [March. Capell.
[3398] Enter ...] Ff (after Cassius, line 30). Enter Cassius and Soldiers. Rowe. Enter Cassius, and Forces. Capell.
[3399] [to his Officers, entering. Capell.
[3400] Stand, ho!] Stand:—[to his.] Capell.
[3401] First Sol.] Edd. (Globe ed.). 1. O. Capell. om. Ff. Within. Rowe. Without. Staunton.
[3402] Sec. Sol.] Edd. (Globe ed.). 2. O. Capell. om. Ff. Within. Rowe. Without. Staunton.
[3403] Third Sol.] Edd. (Globe ed.). 3. O. Capell. om. Ff. Within. Rowe. Without. Staunton.
[One after other, and fainter Collier MS.
[3404] brother?] F3 F4. brother. F1 F2.
[3405] S. Walker would end the lines Lucilius, ... like ... we ... conference.
[3406] Lucilius] Lucius Craik. (See note VII).
you] om. Pope.
let] see you let Mitford conj., ending line 49 at Lucilius.
man] man, Lucilius, Capell, reading Do ... Lucilius as one line.
[3407] Let Lucius] Lucilius Craik. See note (VII).
our] the Rowe.
[3408] Scene III.] Pope. Rowe continues the scene.
Brutus's tent.] Hanmer. The Inside of Brutus's tent. Theobald. Within the Tent. Lucius, and Titinius at the Door. Capell.
[3409] Enter ...] Capell. Manet ... F1. Manent ... F2 F3 F4. Re-enter ... Theobald.
[3410] Wherein] Whereon Seymour conj.
[3411] letters ... man, were] Malone. letters ... man was F1. letter ... man, was F2 F3 F4.
[3412] off] of Rowe (ed. 2).
[3413] case] cause Capell conj.
[3414] his] Ff. its Pope.
[3415] Let] Yet let Pope. And let Capell.
[3416] I] Ay, Rowe.
[3417] speaks] F4. speakes F1 F2 F3. speak Pope.
[3418] doth] does Collier (ed. 1).
his] Ff. its Pope.
[3419] justice'] Capell. justice Ff.
[3420] bay] F1. baite F2. bait F3 F4.
[3421] bait] F3 F4. baite F1 F2. bay Theobald.
[3422] soldier, I] soldier, ay Steevens, 1773 (Jennens conj.).
[3423] to] too F1.
not, Cassius] Hamner. not Cassius Ff.
[3424] I say] Cassius, I say Steevens conj.
[3425] farther] Ff. further Steevens.
[3426] O ye gods] O gods Pope.
[3427] budge] F4. bouge F1. boudge F2 F3.
[3428] Though] Thought F2.
[3429] noble] abler Collier (Collier MS.). able Singer conj.
[3430] You ... Brutus] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.
me every way; you] me; every way you Ritson conj.
[3431] elder] older Collier (one volume edition).
[3432] better] a better Knight (National ed.).
[3433] indirection] indirectness Pope.
[3434] thunderbolts, Dash] thunderbolts Dash Collier (one volume ed.).
[3435] That brought my] Ff. that brought My Dyce.
back] om. Steevens conj.
[3436] his] a Rowe.
[3437] not, till] not. Still Warburton.
not, till ... me.] not: will you practise that on me? Hanmer.
[3438] do] did Collier MS.
[3439] my] his Capell conj.
[3440] Plutus'] Pope. Pluto's Ff.
[3441] be'st a Roman] needst a Roman's Warburton.
[3442] humour] honour Craik conj.
[3443] lamb] man Pope. temper Anon. conj.
[3444] Who] Which Hanmer.
[3445] blood ill-temper'd] blood, ill-temper'd, Staunton.
[3446] [Embracing. Rowe.
[3447] not you] you not Pope (ed. 2).
[3448] forgetful] forgetfulls F2. forget Seymour conj.
from] om. Capell.
[3449] Poet. [Within]. A noise within. Poet within. Theobald. Enter a Poet. Poet. Ff. Enter Lucilius and Titinius, and a Poet. Poet. Rowe. (Lucius, Rowe, ed. 2).
[3450] Poet ... gone!] Put in the margin by Pope.
[3451] 'em] them Capell.
[3452] Lucil. [Within]. Dyce. Lucil. F1. Luci. F2 F3 F4. Luc. Rowe. Luc. within. Theobald.
[3453] Poet. [Within]. Theobald. Poet. Ff.
[3454] Enter ... Lucius.] Edd. (Globe ed.). Enter Poet, followed by Lucilius and Titinius. Dyce. Enter Poet. Theobald. om. Ff.
[3455] vilely] F4. vildely F1 F2. vildly F3.
doth] does Capell.
[3456] jigging] jingling Pope.
[3457] Scene IV. Pope.
[3458] [Exeunt ...] Rowe. om. Ff.
[Exit Lucius.] Capell.
[3459] Portia is] Portia's Pope.
[3460] Portia!] Portia? brother, said you? Seymour conj.
[3461] Impatient] Impatience Capell conj.
[3462] O ye] om. Steevens conj.
[3463] Re-enter Lucius ... taper.] Edd. (Globe ed.). Enter Boy ... Tapers. Ff. Re-enter Lucius ... Tapers. Capell.
[3464] Brutus'] Pope. Brutus F1 F2 F3. Brutus's F4.
[Drinks.] Capell. om. Ff.
[3465] Scene V. Pope.
Come in ... Messala] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.
[Exit Lucius.] Edd. (Globe ed.). om. Ff.
Re-enter ...] Dyce. Enter Titinius and ... Ff (after line 165). Enter ... Theobald (after line 166). Re-enter ... Capell (after line 165).
[3466] Portia] Oh Portia Pope. Ah! Portia Seymour conj.
[3467] here] om. Pope (ed. 2).
[3468] toward] towards Capell.
[3469] tenour] Theobald. tenure Ff.
[3470] addition?] Rowe. addition. Ff.
[3471] proscription] proscriptions Pope.
and ... outlawry] om. Seymour conj.
outlawry] F4. outlarie F1. outlary F2 F3.
[3472] an] a Capell.
[3473] Cicero] Cibero F2.
Cicero ... dead,] As two hemistichs, or as prose, Craik conj.
Cicero] Ay, Cicero Capell. Yes, Cicero Keightley.
[3474] Cicero ... proscription] Arranged as in Johnson. One line in Ff.
[3475] by that] that by Capell.
proscription.] F3 F4. proscription F1 F2.
[3476] Why ... yours?] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.
[3477] presently?] Pope. presently. Ff.
[3478] This it is:] This: Steevens conj.
[3479] new-added] Capell. new added Ff. new aided Singer (ed. 2). new-hearted Craik (Collier MS.).
[3480] shall we] we shall Craik conj.
off] Rowe. off. Ff.
[3481] him there,] Ff. him, there Theobald conj. (withdrawn).
[3482] brother.] brother— Rowe.
[3483] Then ... Philippi] Arranged as in Capell. Two lines, the first ending along, in Ff.
[3484] will] good will Seymour conj., omitting go on.
[3485] We'll along] we will along Rowe. We'll on Capell.
We'll ... ourselves] We will along Seymour conj.
[3486] say?] Capell. say. Ff.
[3487] Lucius! [Re-enter Lucius.] My] Edd. Enter Lucius. Lucius my Ff.
[Exit Lucius.] Hanmer. om. Ff.
Farewell] now farewel Hanmer. Fare you well or Fare ye well S. Walker conj.
[3488] come] came Rowe (ed. 1).
[3489] Cas. Good ... brother] Omitted by Pope.
[3490] [Exeunt ...] Exeunt Cas. Tit. Mes. Capell. Exeunt. Ff.
Re-enter ...] Capell. Enter ... Ff (after Brutus, line 239). Re-enter Hanmer (after Brutus, line 239).
[3491] not] F1. art F2. om. F3 F4.
[3492] Claudius] Rowe. Claudio Ff.
[3493] Varro] Rowe. Varrus Ff. Varus S. Walker conj. (withdrawn).
[3494] Enter ...] Rowe. Enter Varrus and Claudio. Ff.
[3495] Scene VI. Pope.
Calls] Did you call, Seymour conj.
[3496] So ... pleasure] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.
[3497] [Var. and Clau ...] Servants retire, and sleep. Capell. Serv. lie down. Malone. om. Ff.
[3498] heavy ... two] F1. instrument a straine or two. And touch thy heavy eyes a-while F2 F3 F4.
[3499] two?] Rowe. two. Ff.
[3500] Ay,] Ay, good Seymour conj.
[3501] S. Walker would arrange thus: It ... much, But ... sir.
[3502] duty, sir] duty to my still kind lord Seymour conj.
[3503] [... song.] Ff.... song: toward the End, Lucius falls asleep. Capell.
[3504] slumber] F3 F4. slumbler F1 F2.
[3505] Lay'st Rowe. Layest Ff.
[3506] [lays the Instrument by, and sits down. Capell.
[3507] Let me see, let me see] But let me see Pope.
see;] F1. see? F2 F3 F4.
[3508] [Sits down.] He sits down to read. Rowe. om. Ff.
[3509] Scene VII. Pope.
[3510] stare] start or stand Anon. conj.
[3511] Brutus.] F3 F4. Brutus? F1. Brutuss F2.
[3512] Well] As in Ff. om. Pope. Put in a separate line by Steevens (1793).
[3513] [Exit Ghost.] Rowe (after line 288). om. Ff. vanishes. Capell (after line 288).
[3514] vanishest. Ill spirit,] vanishest, Ill spirit; Rowe.
[3515] still is] is still F4.
[3516] [waking. Capell.
[3517] Didst ... out?] As in Pope. Prose in Ff.
Lucius] Lucus F1.
[3518] Sleep ... Fellow] As in Capell. One line in Ff.
[3519] [To Var.] Edd. (Globe ed.). om. Ff.
Fellow thou,] fellow! Varro! Theobald (Warburton).
[3520] Var. Clau.] Capell. Both. Ff.
