Bending their expedition toward Philippi.

MESSALA

Myself have letters of the selfsame tenor.

BRUTUS With what addition?

MESSALA

That by proscription and bills of outlawry

Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus

Have put to death an hundred senators.

BRUTUS

Therein our letters do not well agree.

Mine speak of seventy senators that died

By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.

CASSIUS

Cicero one?

MESSALA Ay, Cicero is dead,

And by that order of proscription.

(To Brutus)

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 think

Of 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 ground

Do stand but in a forced affection,

For they have grudged us contribution.

The enemy marching along by them

By them shall make a fuller number up,

Come on refreshed, new added, and encouraged;

From which advantage shall we cut him off,

If at Philippi we do face him there,

These people at our back.

CASSIUS Hear me, good brother.

BRUTUS

Under your pardon. You must note beside

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 life

Is 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.

BRUTUS

Lucius.

Enter Lucius

My gown.

Exit Lucius

Farewell, 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.

TITINIUS and MESSALA

Good night, Lord Brutus.

BRUTUS Farewell, every one.

Exeunt Cassius, Titinius, and Messala

Give me the gown.

⌈He puts on the gown⌉

Where is thy instrument?

LUCIUS

Here in the tent.

BRUTUS What, thou speak’t drowsily.

Poor knave, I blame thee not; thou art o’erwatched.

Call Claudio and some other of my men.

I’ll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.

LUCIUS

Varrus and Claudio!

Enter Varrus and Claudio

VARRUS Calls my lord?

BRUTUS

I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep.

It may be I shall raise you by and by

On business to my brother Cassius.

VARRUS

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.

Varrus and Claudio lie down to sleep

Look, Lucius, here’s the book I sought for so.

I put it in the pocket of my gown.

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 a while,

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 music and sings a song, and so falls asleep

This is a sleepy tune. O murd‘rous 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.

He takes away Lucius’ instrument, then opens the book

Let me see, let me see, is not the leaf turned down