The New Hudson Shakespeare: Julius Caesar Part 45

[Note 80: /former:/ first. Cf. "former things pa.s.sed away."

"When they raised their camp there came two eagles, that, flying with a marvellous force, lighted upon two of the foremost ensigns, and always followed the soldiers, which gave them meat and fed them, until they came near to the city of Philippes; and there, one day only before the battle, they both flew away."--Plutarch, _Marcus Brutus_.]

[Page 150]

MESSALA. Believe not so.

Ca.s.sIUS. I but believe it partly; 90 For I am fresh of spirit, and resolv'd To meet all perils very constantly.

BRUTUS. Even so, Lucilius.

Ca.s.sIUS. Now, most n.o.ble Brutus, The G.o.ds to-day stand friendly, that we may, Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age! 95 But, since the affairs of men rests 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? 100

[Note 92: /perils/ F1 peril F2 F3 F4.]

[Note 96: /rests/ Ff rest Rowe.]

[Page 151]

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 105 The time of life: arming myself with patience To stay the providence of some high powers That govern us below.

Ca.s.sIUS. Then, if we lose this battle, You are contented to be led in triumph Thorough the streets of Rome? 110

[Note 102: /By/ F1 Be F2.]

[Note 110: /Thorough/ Thorow F1 F2 Through F3 F4 Along Pope.--/Rome?/ Theobald Rome Ff.]

[Note 111: Two lines in Ff.]

[Note 105-106: /prevent The time:/ antic.i.p.ate the full, natural period. To the understanding of this speech, it must be observed that the sense of the words, 'arming myself,'

etc., follows next after the words, 'which he did give himself.' In this pa.s.sage, as Dr. Wright (Clar.) has pointed out, Shakespeare was misled by an error in North's version of Amyot's Plutarch, where we have _feis_ (= _fis_) translated as if it were from _fier_: "Brutus answered him, being yet but a young man, and not over greatly experienced in the world; 'I trust (I know not how) a certain rule of philosophy, by the which I did greatly blame ... Cato for killing himself, as being no lawful nor G.o.dly act, touching the G.o.ds; nor, concerning men, valiant: but, being now in the midst of the danger, I am of a contrary mind.'"--Plutarch, _Marcus Brutus_.

Wright, in his note on this pa.s.sage, shows how the true meaning is obscured by bad printing and punctuation. Brutus's answer begins really with, 'Being yet but a young man'; and 'I trust' is evidently a past tense (Old English 'truste') which must have been read by Shakespeare as the present.]

[Page 152]

BRUTUS. No, Ca.s.sius, no: think not, thou n.o.ble 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. 115 Therefore our everlasting farewell take.

For ever, and for ever, farewell, Ca.s.sius!

If we do meet again, why, we shall smile; If not, why then this parting was well made.

Ca.s.sIUS. For ever, and for ever, farewell, Brutus! 120 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 sufficeth that the day will end, 125 And then the end is known. Come, ho! away! [_Exeunt_]

SCENE II. _The field of battle_

_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 Octavius' wing, And sudden push gives them the overthrow. 5 Ride, ride, Messala: let them all come down. [_Exeunt_]

[Note 114: /the Ides/ F1 that Ides F2 F3 F4.]

[Note: SCENE II Capell Scene IV Pope.]

[Note 4: /Octavius'/ Pope Octavio's Ff.]

[Note 113: "The philosopher indeed renounced all confidence in his own principles. He had adopted them from reading or imitation; they were not the natural growth of instinct or genuine reflection; and, as may easily happen in such a case, his faith in them failed when they were tested by adversity.

As long as there seemed a chance that the G.o.dlike stroke would be justified by success, Brutus claimed the glory of maintaining a righteous cause; but, when all hope fled, he could take leave of philosophy and life together, and exclaim, 'I once dreamed that virtue was a thing; I find her only a name, and the mere slave of fortune.' He had blamed Cato for flying from misery by self-murder; but he learnt to justify the same desperate act when he contemplated committing it himself."--Merivale.]

[Note 1: /bills:/ written instructions, dispatches. "In the meantime Brutus, that led the right wing, sent little bills to the colonels and captains of private bands, in the which he wrote the word of the battle."--Plutarch, _Marcus Brutus_.]

[Note 2: 'The legions on the other side' are those commanded by Ca.s.sius, the left wing of the joint army of Brutus and Ca.s.sius. Brutus wants Ca.s.sius to attack the enemy at the same time that he himself does. In the next scene, Messala and his escort are met by t.i.tinius coming from Ca.s.sius.]

[Page 153]

SCENE III. _Another part of the field_

_Alarums. Enter_ Ca.s.sIUS _and_ t.i.tINIUS

Ca.s.sIUS. O, look, t.i.tinius, 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.

t.i.tINIUS. O Ca.s.sius, Brutus gave the word too early; 5 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: 10 Fly, therefore, n.o.ble Ca.s.sius, fly far off.

Ca.s.sIUS. This hill is far enough. Look, look, t.i.tinius; Are those my tents where I perceive the fire?

[Note: SCENE III Capell Scene continued in Pope.]

[Note 3: 'Ensign' was used in the Elizabethan time, as it is still, either for the flag (cf. V, i, 80) or for the bearer of it: here it is used for both at once. Cf. the form 'ancient,'

_Oth.e.l.lo_, I, i, 33. It was in killing the cowardly ensign that Ca.s.sius "to his own turn'd enemy."]

[Page 154]

t.i.tINIUS. They are, my lord.

Ca.s.sIUS. t.i.tinius, if thou lovest me, Mount thou my horse, and hide thy spurs in him, 15 Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops, And here again; that I may rest a.s.sur'd Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.

t.i.tINIUS. I will be here again, even with a thought. [_Exit_]