The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.

BRUTUS

Ho, Lucillius! Hark, a word with you.

LUCILLIUS My lord.

He stands forth, and speaks with Brutus

CASSIUS

Messala.

MESSALA (standing forth) What says my general?

CASSIUS Messala,

This is my birthday; as this very day

Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala.

Be thou my witness that, against my will,

As Pompey was, am I compelled to set

Upon one battle all our liberties.

You know that I held Epicurus strong,

And his opinion. Now I change my mind,

And partly credit things that do presage.

Coming from Sardis, on our former ensigns

Two mighty eagles fell, and there they perched,

Gorging and feeding from our soldiers’ hands,

Who to Philippi here consorted us.

This morning are they fled away and gone,

And in their steads do ravens, crows, and kites

Fly o’er our heads and downward look on us,

As we were sickly prey. Their shadows seem

A canopy most fatal, under which

Our army lies ready to give the ghost.

MESSALA

Believe not so.

CASSIUS I but believe it partly,

For I am fresh of spirit, and resolved

To meet all perils very constantly.

BRUTUS

Even so, Lucillius.

CASSIUS (joining Brutus) Now, most noble Brutus,

The gods today stand friendly, that we may,

Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age.

But since the affairs of men rest still incertain,

Let’s reason with the worst that may befall.

If we do lose this battle, then is this

The very last time we shall speak together.

What are you then determined to do?

BRUTUS

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

The time of life—arming myself with patience

To stay the providence of some high powers

That govern us below.

CASSIUS Then if we lose this battle,

You are contented to be led in triumph

Thorough the streets of Rome?

BRUTUS No, Cassius, no.

Think not, thou noble Roman,

That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome.

He bears too great a mind. But this same day

Must end that work the ides of March begun;

And whether we shall meet again I know not.

Therefore our everlasting farewell take.

For ever and for ever farewell, Cassius.

If we do meet again, why, we shall smile.

If not, why then, this parting was well made.

CASSIUS

For ever and for ever farewell, Brutus.

If we do meet again, we’ll smile indeed.

If not, ’tis true this parting was well made.

BRUTUS

Why then, lead on. O that a man might know

The end of this day’s business ere it come!

But it sufliceth that the day will end,

And then the end is known.—Come, ho, away!

Exeunt

5.2 Alarum. Enter Brutus and Messala

BRUTUS

Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills

Unto the legions on the other side.

Loud alarum

Let them set on at once, for I perceive

But cold demeanour in Octavio’s wing,

And sudden push gives them the overthrow.

Ride, ride, Messala; let them all come down.

Exeunt ⌈severally⌉

5.3 Alarums. Enter Cassius ⌈with an ensign⌉, and Titinius

CASSIUS

O look, Titinius, look: the villains fly.

Myself have to mine own turned enemy:

This ensign here of mine was turning back;

I slew the coward, and did take it from him.

TITINIUS

O Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early,

Who, having some advantage on Octavius,

Took it too eagerly. His soldiers fell to spoil,

Whilst we by Antony are all enclosed.

Enter Pindarus

PINDARUS

Fly further off, my lord, fly further off!

Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord;

Fly therefore, noble Cassius, fly farre off.

CASSIUS

This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius,

Are those my tents where I perceive the fire?

TITINIUS

They are, my lord.

CASSIUS Titinius, if thou lovest me,

Mount thou my horse, and hide thy spurs in him

Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops

And here again, that I may rest assured

Whether yon troops are friend or enemy.

TITINIUS

I will be here again even with a thought. Exit

CASSIUS

Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill.

My sight was ever thick. Regard, Titinius,

And tell me what thou not’st about the field.

Exit Pindarus

This day I breathed first. Time is come round,

And where I did begin, there shall I end.

My life is run his compass.

Enter Pindarus above

Sirrah, what news?

PINDARUS O my lord!

CASSIUS What news?

PINDARUS

Titinius is enclosed round about

With horsemen, that make to him on the spur.

Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him.

Now Titinius. Now some light. O, he lights too.

He’s ta’en.

Shout within

And hark, they shout for joy.

CASSIUS Come down; behold no more.

Exit Pindarus

O coward that I am, to live so long