ARKCODEX
Act V, Scene 5
1Another part of the field.
2Enter Brutus, Dardanius, Clitus, Strato, and Volumnius.
3BrutusCome, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock.
4ClitusStatilius show’d the torch-light, but, my lord,
He came not back: he is or ta’en or slain.
5BrutusSit thee down, Clitus: slaying is the word;
It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus. Whispers.
6ClitusWhat, I, my lord? No, not for all the world.
7BrutusPeace then! no words.
8ClitusI’ll rather kill myself.
9BrutusHark thee, Dardanius. Whispers.
10DardaniusShall I do such a deed?
11ClitusO Dardanius!
12DardaniusO Clitus!
13ClitusWhat ill request did Brutus make to thee?
14DardaniusTo kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates.
15ClitusNow is that noble vessel full of grief,
That it runs over even at his eyes.
16BrutusCome hither, good Volumnius; list a word.
17VolumniusWhat says my lord?
18BrutusWhy, this, Volumnius:
The ghost of Caesar 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.
19VolumniusNot so, my lord.
20BrutusNay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.
Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes;
Our enemies have beat us to the pit: Low alarums.
It is more worthy to leap in ourselves,
Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius,
Thou know’st that we two went to school together:
Even for that our love of old, I prithee,
Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it.
21VolumniusThat’s not an office for a friend, my lord. Alarum still.
22ClitusFly, fly, my lord; there is no tarrying here.
23BrutusFarewell to you; and you; and you, Volumnius.
Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep;
Farewell to thee too, Strato. Countrymen,
My heart doth joy that yet in all my life
I found no man but he was true to me.
I shall have glory by this losing day
More than Octavius and Mark Antony
By this vile conquest shall attain unto.
So fare you well at once; for Brutus’ tongue
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!”
24ClitusFly, my lord, fly.
25BrutusHence! I will follow. Exeunt Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius.
I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord:
Thou art a fellow of a good respect;
Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it:
Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face,
While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?
26StratoGive me your hand first. Fare you well, my lord.
27BrutusFarewell, good Strato. Runs on his sword. Caesar, now be still:
I kill’d not thee with half so good a will. Dies.
28Alarum. Retreat. Enter Octavius, Antony, Messala, Lucilius, and the army.
29OctaviusWhat man is that?
30MessalaMy master’s man. Strato, where is thy master?
31StratoFree 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.
32LuciliusSo Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus,
That thou hast proved Lucilius’ saying true.
33OctaviusAll that served Brutus, I will entertain them.
Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?
34StratoAy, if Messala will prefer me to you.
35OctaviusDo so, good Messala.
36MessalaHow died my master, Strato?
37StratoI held the sword, and he did run on it.
38MessalaOctavius, then take him to follow thee,
That did the latest service to my master.
39AntonyThis was the noblest Roman of them all:
All the conspirators save only he
Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
He only, in a general honest thought
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mix’d in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world “This was a man!”
40OctaviusAccording to his virtue let us use him,
With all respect and rites of burial.
Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie,
Most like a soldier, order’d honourably.
So call the field to rest; and let’s away,
To part the glories of this happy day. Exeunt.