ACT FIVE

SCENE ONE
OCTAVIUS and ANTONY enter, along with their army.
OCTAVIUS
Now, Antony, our hopes are answerèd.You said the enemy would not come
downBut keep the hills and upper regions.It proves not so. Their battles are at
5 hand.They mean to warn us at Philippi here,Answering before we do demand of
them.
Now, Antony, our prayers have been answered. You said the enemy wouldn’t
come down, but would keep to the hills and high ground instead. They have
not. Their forces are nearby. They mean to attack us here on the plains of
Philippi, fighting us before we’ve forced them to.
ANTONY
Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I knowWherefore they do it. They could be
10 contentTo visit other places, and come downWith fearful bravery, thinking by
this faceTo fasten in our thoughts that they have courage.But ’tis not so.
No, I know their secret thoughts, and I understand why they’re doing this.
They’d be happier if they were somewhere else. They come here with a false
show of bravery, to convince us that they have courage. But they don’t.
A MESSENGER enters.

MESSENGER
15 Prepare you, generals.The enemy comes on in gallant show.Their bloody sign of
battle is hung out,And something to be done immediately.
Prepare yourselves, generals. The enemy approaches with a great
display. They’ve raised their battle standards as if they are about to attack.
ANTONY
Octavius, lead your battle softly on,Upon the left hand of the even field.
Octavius, lead your forces out slowly, to the left side of the flat field.
OCTAVIUS
Upon the right hand I. Keep thou the left.
I’ll go to the right side. You take the left.
ANTONY
20 Why do you cross me in this exigent?
Why do you defy me at this critical moment?
OCTAVIUS
I do not cross you. But I will do so.
 I’m not defying you. But this is what I’m going to do.
The sound of drums and soldiers. BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and their army enter,
including LUCILLIUS, TITINIUS, and MESSALA.
BRUTUS
They stand and would have parley.
They haven't advanced, and want to talk.
CASSIUS
Stand fast, Titinius. We must out and talk.
Stay here, Titinius. We must go and talk to them.
OCTAVIUS
Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle?
Mark Antony, should we give the signal to attack?
ANTONY
25 No, Caesar, we will answer on their charge.Make forth. The generals would
have some words.
No, Octavius Caesar. We’ll only respond once they attack. Step forward. The
generals want to speak with us.
OCTAVIUS
[to his army] Stir not until the signal.
[To his army] Don’t move until we give the signal.
BRUTUS
Words before blows. Is it so, countrymen?
Words before fighting. Is that it, countrymen?
OCTAVIUS
Not that we love words better, as you do.
Not that we prefer words to fighting, as you do.
BRUTUS
30 Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius.
Good words are better than worthless fighting, Octavius.
ANTONY
In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words.Witness the hole you made in
Caesar’s heart,Crying “Long live, hail, Caesar!”
Brutus, along with your treacherous strokes you say “good” words. For
instance, the hole you made in Caesar’s heart while you cried, “Long live
Caesar! Hail, Caesar!”
CASSIUS
35 Antony,The posture of your blows are yet unknown.But for your words, they rob
the Hybla beesAnd leave them honeyless.
 Antony, we don’t know the effectiveness of your blows yet. But your words are
so sweet, it’s as if you’ve stolen from the bees of Hybla and left them without
honey.
ANTONY
Not stingless too?
Didn’t I take the bees' stingers too?
BRUTUS
40 Oh, yes, and soundless too.For you have stol'n their buzzing, Antony,And very
wisely threat before you sting.
Oh, yes, and their sounds, because you stole their buzzing. Antony, you seem
to do a lot of warning about how you are going to sting.
ANTONY
Villains, you did not so when your vile daggersHacked one another in the sides
45 of Caesar.You showed your teeth like apes, and fawned likehounds,And bowed
like bondmen, kissing Caesar’s feet,Whilst damnèd Casca, like a cur,
behindStruck Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers!
Scoundrels, you did not give any warning before your vile daggers clashed,
hacking away at Caesar's sides. You smiled like apes and fawned like dogs and
bowed like servants, kissing Caesar’s feet. Then damned Casca, like a mangy
dog, struck Caesar on the neck from behind. Oh, you flatterers!
CASSIUS
50 Flatterers?—Now, Brutus, thank yourself.This tongue had not offended so
todayIf Cassius might have ruled.
Flatterers? Now, Brutus, you have only yourself to thank. Antony’s tongue
would not be offending us today if I’d had my way.
OCTAVIUS
Come, come, the cause. If arguing make us sweat,The proof of it will turn to
55 redder drops.[draws his sword] Look, I draw a sword againstconspirators.When
think you that the sword goes up again?Never, till Caesar’s three and thirty
woundsBe well avenged, or till another CaesarHave added slaughter to the
sword of traitors.
Come, come, back to the point. Arguing makes us sweat, but the real trial will
produce blood. [He draws his sword] Look: I draw my sword against
conspirators. When do you think I’ll put this sword away again? Never, until
Caesar’s thirty-three wounds are well avenged, or until you traitors have killed
me too.
 BRUTUS
60 Caesar, thou canst not die by traitors' handsUnless thou bring’st them with
thee.
Octavius Caesar, the only way you will die by a traitor’s hands is if you have
some mutinous soldiers in your army.
OCTAVIUS
So I hope.I was not born to die on Brutus' sword.
I hope you’re right. I wasn’t born to die on your sword.
BRUTUS
65 O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain,Young man, thou couldst not die more
honorable.
Oh, young man, if you were the noblest of your family you couldn’t die more
honorably.
CASSIUS
A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honor,Joined with a masker and a
reveler!
A cranky schoolboy, unworthy of such an honor, partnered with a masquerader
and a partier!
ANTONY
Old Cassius still.
The same old Cassius.
OCTAVIUS
70 Come, Antony, away.—Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth.If you dare fight
today, come to the field.If not, when you have stomachs.
Come, Antony, let’s go.

[To CASSIUS and BRUTUS] Traitors, we throw our defiance at your teeth. If you
dare to fight today, come to the field. If not, come when you have the courage.
OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their army exit.
CASSIUS
Why, now, blow wind, swell billow, and swim bark!The storm is up and all is on
the hazard.
Blow wind, swell waves, and may the ship float where it will! The storm has
risen and everything is at stake.
BRUTUS
75 Ho, Lucillius, hark, a word with you.
Hey, Lucillius! I’d like a word with you.
 LUCILLIUS
[stands forth]My lord?
[Stepping forward] My lord?
BRUTUS and LUCILLIUS converse to the side.
CASSIUS
Messala!
Messala!
MESSALA
80 [stands forth]What says my general?
[Coming forward] What is it, my general?
CASSIUS
Messala,This is my birthday, as this very dayWas Cassius born. Give me thy
85 hand, Messala.Be thou my witness that against my will,As Pompey was, am I
compelled to setUpon one battle all our liberties.You know that I held Epicurus
strongAnd his opinion. Now I change my mind,And partly credit things that do
90 presage.Coming from Sardis, on our former ensignTwo mighty eagles fell, and
there they perched,Gorging and feeding from our soldiers' hands,Who to
95 Philippi here consorted us.This morning are they fled away and gone,And in
their steads do ravens, crows, and kitesFly o'er our heads and downward look
on usAs we were sickly prey. Their shadows seemA canopy most fatal, under
whichOur army lies, ready to give up the ghost.
Messala, today is my birthday. On this very day, I was born. Give me your hand,
Messala. Be my witness that I’ve been forced against my desire, as Pompey
was, to bet all of our freedoms on one battle. You know that I used to believe
in Epicurus' position that the gods did not send omens. Now I’ve changed my
mind, and partly believe in signs that foretell what is to come. As we traveled
from Sardis, two mighty eagles landed and perched on our front flag, and ate
from the hands of the soldiers who marched with us to Philippi. This morning,
they’ve flown away and in their place are ravens, crows, and kites, flying over
our heads and looking down on us, as though we were their sickly prey. Their
shadows are like a deadly canopy, under which our army lies, ready to die.
MESSALA
100 Believe not so.
Don’t believe it.
CASSIUS
 I but believe it partly,For I am fresh of spirit and resolvedTo meet all perils very
constantly.
I believe it only partly, for I’m hopeful and determined to meet all dangers
without flinching.
BRUTUS
[returning with LUCILLIUS] Even so, Lucillius.
[Returning with LUCILLIUS] Right, Lucillius.
CASSIUS
105 Now, most noble Brutus,The gods today stand friendly that we may,Lovers in
peace, lead on our days to age.But since the affairs of men rest still
110 incertain,Let’s reason with the worst that may befall.If we do lose this battle,
then is thisThe very last time we shall speak together.What are you then
determinèd to do?
Now, most noble Brutus, may the gods be friendly with us today so that we,
who love peace, can live on to old age. But since the affairs of men are always
uncertain, let’s think about the worst that may happen. If we lose this battle,
then this will be the last time we speak to each other. What do you plan to do if
we do lose?
BRUTUS
Even by the rule of that philosophyBy which I did blame Cato for the
115 deathWhich he did give himself — I know not how,But I do find it cowardly and
vile,For fear of what might fall, so to preventThe time of life — arming myself
120 with patienceTo stay the providence of some high powersThat govern us below.
By the same Stoic philosophy that made me condemn Cato for committing
suicide, I will be patient and await whatever outcome the gods have in store for
us. I don’t know why, but I find it cowardly and vile to cut off your life early by
suicide, in order to prevent possible suffering later on.
CASSIUS
Then if we lose this battleYou are contented to be led in triumphThorough the
streets of Rome?
Then if we lose this battle, you’d be willing to be led in chains by those who
defeated you through the streets of Rome?
BRUTUS
125 No, Cassius, no. Think not, thou noble Roman,That ever Brutus will go bound to
Rome.He bears too great a mind. But this same dayMust end that work the ides
of March begun.And whether we shall meet again I know not.Therefore our
130 everlasting farewell take.Forever and forever farewell, Cassius.If we do meet
again, why, we shall smile.If not, why then this parting was well made.
No, Cassius, no. Don’t imagine, you noble Roman, that I will ever return to
Rome in chains. I am too great for that. But today will be the end of the work
that we began on March 15th. I don’t know if we will ever meet again.
Therefore, accept my everlasting farewell. Forever and forever, farewell,
Cassius. If we meet again, why, then we’ll smile. If not, then this parting was
well done.
CASSIUS
135 Forever and forever farewell, Brutus.If we do meet again, we’ll smile indeed.If
not, ’tis true this parting was well made.
Forever and forever, farewell, Brutus. If we meet again, we’ll smile indeed. If
not, it’s true this parting was well done.
BRUTUS
Why then, lead on. Oh, that a man might knowThe end of this day’s business
ere it come!But it sufficeth that the day will end,And then the end is known.—
Come, ho! Away!
Then, lead on. Oh, if only I could know the outcome of today’s business before
it happens! But it’s enough to know that the day will end, and then the end will
be known. Come! Let’s go!
They all exit.