Act VScene III
Another part of the field
Alarum. Enter Cassius and Titinius.
Cassius
O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly!Myself have to mine own turn’d 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 enclos’d.
Enter Pindarus.
Pindarus
Fly further off, my lord, fly further off;Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord.Fly, therefore, noble Cassius, fly far 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 troopsAnd here again, that I may rest assur’dWhether yond 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 notest about the field.
Pindarus goes up.
This day I breathed first. Time is come round,And where I did begin, there shall I end.My life is run his compass. Sirrah, what news?
Pindarus
Above.
O my lord!
Cassius
What news?
Pindarus
Above.
Titinius is enclosed round aboutWith 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.
And, hark! they shout for joy.
Cassius
Come down; behold no more.O, coward that I am, to live so long,To see my best friend ta’en before my face!
Pindarus descends.
Come hither, sirrah.In Parthia did I take thee prisoner;And then I swore thee, saving of thy life,That whatsoever I did bid thee do,Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath.Now be a freeman; and with this good sword,That ran through Caesar’s bowels, search this bosom.Stand not to answer. Here, take thou the hilts;And when my face is cover’d, as ’tis now,Guide thou the sword.—Caesar, thou art reveng’d,Even with the sword that kill’d thee.
Dies.
Pindarus
So, I am free, yet would not so have been,Durst I have done my will. O Cassius!Far from this country Pindarus shall run,Where never Roman shall take note of him.
Exit.
Enter Titinius with Messala.
Messala
It is but change, Titinius; for OctaviusIs overthrown by noble Brutus’ power,As Cassius’ legions are by Antony.
Titinius
These tidings would well comfort Cassius.
Messala
Where did you leave him?
Titinius
All disconsolate,With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.
Messala
Is not that he that lies upon the ground?
Titinius
He lies not like the living. O my heart!
Messala
Is not that he?
Titinius
No, this was he, Messala,But Cassius is no more. O setting sun,As in thy red rays thou dost sink to night,So in his red blood Cassius’ day is set.The sun of Rome is set. Our day is gone;Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are done.Mistrust of my success hath done this deed.
Messala
Mistrust of good success hath done this deed.O hateful Error, Melancholy’s child!Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of menThe things that are not? O Error, soon conceiv’d,Thou never com’st unto a happy birth,But kill’st the mother that engender’d thee!
Titinius
What, Pindarus! where art thou, Pindarus?
Messala
Seek him, Titinius, whilst I go to meetThe noble Brutus, thrusting this reportInto his ears. I may say thrusting it;For piercing steel and darts envenomedShall be as welcome to the ears of BrutusAs tidings of this sight.
Titinius
Hie you, Messala,And I will seek for Pindarus the while.
Exit Messala.
Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius?Did I not meet thy friends? And did not theyPut on my brows this wreath of victory,And bid me give it thee? Didst thou not hear their shouts?Alas, thou hast misconstrued everything!But, hold thee, take this garland on thy brow;Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and IWill do his bidding. Brutus, come apace,And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.By your leave, gods. This is a Roman’s part.Come, Cassius’ sword, and find Titinius’ heart.
Dies.
Alarum. Enter Brutus, Messala, young Cato, Strato, Volumnius and Lucilius.
Brutus
Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie?
Messala
Lo, yonder, and Titinius mourning it.
Brutus
Titinius’ face is upward.
Cato
He is slain.
Brutus
O Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet!Thy spirit walks abroad, and turns our swordsIn our own proper entrails.
Low alarums.
Cato
Brave Titinius!Look whether he have not crown’d dead Cassius!
Brutus
Are yet two Romans living such as these?The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!It is impossible that ever RomeShould breed thy fellow. Friends, I owe more tearsTo this dead man than you shall see me pay.I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.Come therefore, and to Thassos send his body.His funerals shall not be in our camp,Lest it discomfort us. Lucilius, come;And come, young Cato; let us to the field.Labeo and Flavius, set our battles on.’Tis three o’clock; and Romans, yet ere nightWe shall try fortune in a second fight.
Exeunt.