Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Act 5 - Scene 5
Another part of the field.
Brutus : Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock.
Clitus : Statilius show'd the torch-light, but, my lord,
[p]He came not back:
he is or ta'en or slain.
Brutus : Sit thee down, Clitus: slaying is the word;
[p]It is a deed in
fashion. Hark thee, Clitus.
Clitus : What, I, my lord? No, not for all the world.
Brutus : Peace then! no words.
Clitus : I'll rather kill myself.
Brutus : Hark thee, Dardanius.
Dardanius : Shall I do such a deed?
Clitus : O Dardanius!
Dardanius : O Clitus!
Clitus : What ill request did Brutus make to thee?
Dardanius : To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates.
Clitus : Now is that noble vessel full of grief,
[p]That it runs over even at
his eyes.
Brutus : Come hither, good Volumnius; list a word.
Volumnius : What says my lord?
Brutus : Why, this, Volumnius:
[p]The ghost of Caesar hath appear'd to
me
[p]Two several times by night; at Sardis once,
[p]And, this last
night, here in Philippi fields:
[p]I know my hour is come.
Volumnius : Not so, my lord.
Brutus : Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.
[p]Thou seest the world, Volumnius,
how it goes;
[p]Our enemies have beat us to the pit:
[p][Low
alarums]
[p]It is more worthy to leap in ourselves,
[p]Than tarry till
they push us. Good Volumnius,
[p]Thou know'st that we two went to
school together:
[p]Even for that our love of old, I prithee,
[p]Hold
thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it.
Volumnius : That's not an office for a friend, my lord.
Clitus : Fly, fly, my lord; there is no tarrying here.
Brutus : Farewell to you; and you; and you, Volumnius.
[p]Strato, thou hast
been all this while asleep;
[p]Farewell to thee too, Strato.
Countrymen,
[p]My heart doth joy that yet in all my life
[p]I found no
man but he was true to me.
[p]I shall have glory by this losing
day
[p]More than Octavius and Mark Antony
[p]By this vile conquest
shall attain unto.
[p]So fare you well at once; for Brutus'
tongue
[p]Hath almost ended his life's history:
[p]Night hangs upon
mine eyes; my bones would rest,
[p]That have but labour'd to attain
this hour.
Clitus : Fly, my lord, fly.
Brutus : Hence! I will follow.
[p][Exeunt CLITUS, DARDANIUS, and
VOLUMNIUS]
[p]I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord:
[p]Thou art a
fellow of a good respect;
[p]Thy life hath had some smatch of honour
in it:
[p]Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face,
[p]While I do
run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?
Strato : Give me your hand first. Fare you well, my lord.
Brutus : Farewell, good Strato.
[p][Runs on his sword]
[p]Caesar, now be
still:
[p]I kill'd not thee with half so good a
will.
[p][Dies]
[p][Alarum. Retreat. Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY,
MESSALA,]
[p]LUCILIUS, and the army
Messala : My master's man. Strato, where is thy master?
Strato : Free from the bondage you are in, Messala:
[p]The conquerors can but
make a fire of him;
[p]For Brutus only overcame himself,
[p]And no man
else hath honour by his death.
Lucilius : So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus,
[p]That thou hast
proved Lucilius' saying true.
Strato : Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.
Messala : How died my master, Strato?
Strato : I held the sword, and he did run on it.
Messala : Octavius, then take him to follow thee,
[p]That did the latest service
to my master.
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