Such men my friends, than enemies. Go on, And bring us word, unto Octavius' tent, SCENE V. [Exeunt. Another part of the field. Enter BRUTUS, DARDANIUS, CLITUS, STRATO, and VOLUMNIUS. Bru. Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock. Cli. Statilius show'd the torch-light; but, my lord, 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. [whispering. Bru. Hark thee, Dardanius! Cli. O, Dardanius! Dar. O, Clitus! I'll rather kill myself. [whispers him. I do such a deed? Cli. What ill request did Brutus make to thee? That it runs over even at his eyes. Bru. Come hither, good Volumnius; list a word. Vol. What says my lord? Bru. Why, this, Volumnius: The ghost of Cæsar hath appear'd to me Two several times by night: at Sardis, once; And, this last night, here in Philippi' fields. I know, my hour is come. Vol. Not so, my lord. Thou see'st the world, Volumnius, how it goes; It is more worthy, to leap in ourselves, Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius, [Alarum still. Cli. Fly, fly, my lord; there is no tarrying here. Bru. Farewell to you;-and you;-and you, Volumnius. Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep; Hath almost ended his life's history: Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest, That have but labour'd to attain this hour. [Alarum. Cry within; Fly, fly, fly. Cli. Fly, my lord, fly. Bru. Hence; I will follow thee. [Exeunt Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius. I pr'ythee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord: Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it: Stra. Give me your hand first: Fare you well, my lord. Bru. Farewell, good Strato.-Cæsar, now be still; I kill'd not thee with half so good a will. Alarum. [He runs on his sword, and dies. Retreat. Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, MESSALA, LUCILIUS, and their Army. Oct. What man is that? 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 honour by his death. Luc. So Brutus should be found.-I thank thee, Brutus, That thou hast prov'd Lucilius' saying true. Oct. All that serv'd Brutus, I will entertain them. Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me? Stra. Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you. Oct. Do so, 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; So mix'd in him, that Nature might stand up, Oct. According to his virtue let us use him, [Exeunt. A ANNOTATIONS UPON JULIUS CÆSAR. 1 DECIUS-] This person was not Decius, but Decimus Brutus. The poet (as Voltaire has done since) confounds the characters of Marcus and Deci mus. Decimus Brutus was the most cherished by Cæsar of all his friends, while Marcus kept aloof, and declined so large a share of his favours and honours as the other had constantly accepted. STEEVENS. 2 Sennet-] Sennet appears to be a particular tune or mode of martial musick. JOHNSON. I have been informed that Sennet is derived from Senneste, an antiquated French tune formerly used in the army, but the Dictionaries which I have consulted exhibit no such word. STEEVENS. To stale with ordinary oaths my love-] To invite every new protestor to my affection by the stale or allurement of customary oaths. JOHNSON. 4 There was a Brutus once-] Lucius Junius Brutus. |