Julius Caesar: Act 5, Scene 1
Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and
their army.
OCTAVIUS
1
Now, Antony, our hopes are answered:
1. our . . . answered: what we hoped for has come true.
2
You said the enemy would not come down, 3
But keep the hills and upper regions;
3. keep: keep to, remain in.
4
It proves not so: their battles are at hand;
4. battles: battalions.
5
They mean to warn us at Philippi here, 6
Answering before we do demand of them.
5-6. They . . . them: They intend to challenge us here on the plains of Philippi, offering battle before we force them to.
ANTONY
7
Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I know
7. I . . . bosoms: I know what's in their hearts.
8
Wherefore they do it: they could be content 9
To visit other places; and come down
8-9. they . . . places: they would be happy to be anywhere but here.
10
With fearful bravery, thinking by this face
10. this face: i.e., this false show of courage.
11
To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage; 12
But 'tis not so.
Enter a Messenger.
Messenger
Prepare you, generals: 13
The enemy comes on in gallant show; 14
Their bloody sign of battle is hung out,
14. bloody sign of battle: crimson battle flag.
15
And something to be done immediately.
15. And something to be done immediately: i.e., as if battle were to be joined immediately.
ANTONY
16
Octavius, lead your battle softly on,
16. battle: battalion. softly: slowly, cautiously.
17
Upon the left hand of the even field.
17. the even field: i.e., the plains of Philippi.
OCTAVIUS
18
Upon the right hand I; keep thou the left.
ANTONY
19
Why do you cross me in this exigent?
19. cross: contradict. exigent: critical moment.
OCTAVIUS
20
I do not cross you; but I will do so.
20. I do not cross you; but I will do so: There are two different interpretations of this line.
March.
Drum. Enter BRUTUS, CASSIUS,
and their army [LUCILIUS,
TITINIUS, MESSALA, and others].
BRUTUS
21
They stand, and would have parley.
21. They stand, and would have parley: They have halted and want to parley.
CASSIUS
22
Stand fast, Titinius: we must out and talk.
OCTAVIUS
23
Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle?
ANTONY
24
No, Caesar, we will answer on their charge.
24. we . . . charge: we will retaliate when they attack.
25
Make forth; the generals would have some words.
25. Make forth: step forward.
OCTAVIUS [To his troops.]
26
Stir not until the signal.
BRUTUS
27
Words before blows: is it so, countrymen?
OCTAVIUS
28
Not that we love words better, as you do.
BRUTUS
29
Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius.
29. Good words are better than bad strokes: i.e., it's better to negotiate than to engage in unnecessary violence.
ANTONY
30
In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words: 31
Witness the hole you made in Caesar's heart,
31. Witness: for example, consider.
32
Crying 'Long live! hail, Caesar!'
CASSIUS
Antony, 33
The posture of your blows are yet unknown;
33. posture: effectiveness.
34
But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,
34. for: as for. Hybla: a town in Sicily famous for its honey. (Cassius is being heavily sarcastic about Antony's ability to sweet-talk people into doing what he wants.)
35
And leave them honeyless.
ANTONY
Not stingless too?
BRUTUS
36
O, yes, and soundless too;
37
For you have stol'n their buzzing, Antony, 38
And very wisely threat before you sting.
38. very wisely: i.e., with the knowledge that you are much better at making threats than at actually fighting. threat: threaten.
ANTONY
39
Villains, you did not so, when your vile daggers
39. you did not so: i.e., you gave no warning when you assassinated Caesar.
40
Hack'd one another in the sides of Caesar: 41
You show'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like hounds,
40. show'd your teeth: i.e., grinned.
42
And bow'd like bondmen, kissing Caesar's feet; 43
Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind 44
Struck Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers!
CASSIUS
45
Flatterers! Now, Brutus, thank yourself:
46
This tongue had not offended so today,
46. This tongue: i.e., Antony's tongue.
47
If Cassius might have ruled.
47. ruled: prevailed. Cassius urged that Antony be killed, too, but Brutus overruled him. See Act 2, Scene 1.
OCTAVIUS
48
Come, come, the cause: if arguing make us sweat, 49
The proof of it will turn to redder drops.
48-49. Come . . . drops: i.e., Come on, let's on with the battle; if arguing over Caesar's assassination makes us sweat, fighting over it will make us bleed.
50
Look; 51
I draw a sword against conspirators; 52
When think you that the sword goes up again? 53
Never, till Caesar's three and thirty wounds 54
Be well avenged; or till another Caesar 55
Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors.
54-55. till . . . traitors: i.e., until the sword of traitors has slaughtered another Caesar, myself.
BRUTUS
56
Caesar, thou canst not die by traitors' hands, 57
Unless thou bring'st them with thee.
56-57. Unless . . . thee: i.e., unless there are traitors in your army who will kill you.
OCTAVIUS
So I hope;
57. So I hope: i.e., I hope you are right that I can not die by a traitor's hand, because that would mean that you can not kill me, traitor.
58
I was not born to die on Brutus' sword.
BRUTUS
59
O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain,
59. if: even if. strain: family line.
60
Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable.
CASSIUS
61
A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour,
61. schoolboy: i.e., Octavius, 18 years old. worthless . . . honor: unworthy of the honor of doing battle against Brutus.
62. a masker and a reveller: i.e., Antony, who had a playboy reputation. >>>
62. a masker and a reveller: i.e., Antony, who had a playboy reputation. >>>
62
Join'd with a masker and a reveller!
ANTONY
63
Old Cassius still!
63. Old Cassius still!: Still the same old Cassius!
OCTAVIUS
Come, Antony, away! 64
Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth: 65
If you dare fight today, come to the field; 66
If not, when you have stomachs.
66. stomachs: 1) appetites. 2) enough courage to fight.
Exeunt OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and army.
CASSIUS
67
Why, now, blow wind, swell billow and swim bark!
67. billow: wave. swim bark: i.e., the ship will have to cope as best it can.
68
The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.
68. all is on the hazard: everything is at stake and subject to the chances of war.
BRUTUS
69
Ho, Lucilius! hark, a word with you.
Lucilius and [then] Messala stand forth.
LUCILIUS
My lord?
[BRUTUS and LUCILIUS converse apart.]
CASSIUS
70
Messala!
MESSALA
What says my general?
CASSIUS
Messala, 71
This is my birthday; as this very day
71. as: on.
72
Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala: 73
Be thou my witness that against my will, 74
As Pompey was, am I compell'd to set
74. As Pompey was: as Pompey was at the battle of Pharsalus. set: gamble.
75
Upon one battle all our liberties. 76
You know that I held Epicurus strong 77
And his opinion: now I change my mind,
76-77. held . . . opinion: i.e. strongly agreed with the opinion of Epicurus that there are no omens from the gods.
78
And partly credit things that do presage.78. presage: foretell the future.
79
Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign
79. former ensign: foremost banner. >>>
80
Two mighty eagles fell, and there they perch'd,
80. fell: swooped down.
81
Gorging and feeding from our soldiers' hands; 82
Who to Philippi here consorted us:
82. consorted: accompanied.
83
This morning are they fled away and gone; 84
And in their steads do ravens, crows and kites,
84. ravens, crows and kites: all three birds feed on carrion, including the corpses of soldiers.
85
Fly o'er our heads and downward look on us, 86
As we were sickly prey: their shadows seem 87
A canopy most fatal, under which
88
Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost.
MESSALA
89
Believe not so.
CASSIUS
I but believe it partly; 90
For I am fresh of spirit and resolved
90. fresh of spirit: optimistic, hopeful.
91
To meet all perils very constantly.
91. constantly: i.e., with a steady spirit.
BRUTUS
92
Even so, Lucilius.
92. Even so, Lucilius: that's right, Lucilius. Brutus is done speaking to Lucilius and turns to Cassius.
CASSIUS
Now, most noble Brutus, 93
The gods today stand friendly, that we may,
93. The . . . friendly: may the gods be our friends.
94
Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age!
94. Lovers: best friends. lead . . . age: grow old (rather than die now).
95
But since the affairs of men rest still incertain,
95. rest still incertain: are always uncertain.
96
Let's reason with the worst that may befall.
96. reason with: consider.
97
If we do lose this battle, then is this 98
The very last time we shall speak together: 99
What are you then determined to do?
99. What are you then determined to do?: what have you decided that you will do?
BRUTUS
100
Even by the rule of that philosophy
100. that philosophy: i.e., Stoicism.
101
By which I did blame Cato for the death
101. Cato: i.e., Brutus' father-in-law, who committed suicide.
102
Which he did give himself, I know not how,103
But I do find it cowardly and vile,104
For fear of what might fall, so to prevent
104. what might fall: what might chance to happen.
105
The time of life: arming myself with patience
104-105. so . . . life: by suicide cut life short.
106
To stay the providence of some high powers
106. stay: wait for.
107
That govern us below.
CASSIUS
Then, if we lose this battle,108
You are contented to be led in triumph
108. in triumph: as a captive in a triumphal procession.
109
Thorough the streets of Rome?
BRUTUS
110
No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble Roman,111
That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome;
111. bound: bound in chains.
112
He bears too great a mind. But this same day
113
Must end that work the ides of March begun;114
And whether we shall meet again I know not.115
Therefore our everlasting farewell take:116
For ever, and for ever, farewell, Cassius!117
If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;118
If not, why then, this parting was well made.
CASSIUS
119
For ever, and for ever, farewell, Brutus!120
If we do meet again, we'll smile indeed;121
If not, 'tis true this parting was well made.
BRUTUS
122
Why, then, lead on. O, that a man might know123
The end of this day's business ere it come!
123. ere: before.
124
But it sufficeth that the day will end,125
And then the end is known. Come, ho! away!
Exeunt.