Julius Caesar: Act 5, Scene 5
Enter BRUTUS, DARDANIUS, CLITUS,
STRATO, and VOLUMNIUS.
BRUTUS
1
Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock.
CLITUS
2
Statilius show'd the torch-light, but, my lord,
3
He came not back: he is or ta'en or slain.
2-3. Statilius . . . back: According to Plutarch, Statilius volunteered to go through enemy lines to Brutus' camp and light a torch if all was well. Statilius made it to the camp and held up the torch, but never made it back to Brutus. he is or ta'en or slain: he has been either taken captive or killed.
BRUTUS
4
Sit thee down, Clitus: slaying is the word; 5
It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus.
[Whispers.]
CLITUS
6
What, I, my lord? No, not for all the world.
BRUTUS
7
Peace then! no words.
CLITUS
I'll rather kill myself.
BRUTUS
8
Hark thee, Dardanius.
[Whispers.]
DARDANIUS
Shall I do such a deed?
CLITUS
9
O Dardanius!
DARDANIUS
10
O Clitus!
CLITUS
11
What ill request did Brutus make to thee?
DARDANIUS
12
To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates.
CLITUS
13
Now is that noble vessel full of grief, 14
That it runs over even at his eyes.
14. That: So that. Grief is bringing tears to Brutus' eyes.
BRUTUS
15
Come hither, good Volumnius; list a word.
15. list: listen to.
VOLUMNIUS
16
What says my lord?
BRUTUS
Why, this, Volumnius: 17
The ghost of Caesar hath appear'd to me 18
Two several times by night; at Sardis once,
18. several: separate.
19
And, this last night, here in Philippi fields: 20
I know my hour is come.
VOLUMNIUS
Not so, my lord.
BRUTUS
21
Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius. 22
Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes; 23
Our enemies have beat us to the pit:
23. beat: driven. pit: animal trap; grave.
Low alarums.
Low alarums.: faint trumpet calls.
24
It is more worthy to leap in ourselves, 25
Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius, 26
Thou know'st that we two went to school together: 27
Even for that our love of old, I prithee, 28
Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it.
28. Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it: hold the hilt of my sword while I run on the sword.
VOLUMNIUS
29
That's not an office for a friend, my lord.
29. an office for a friend: a service that should be performed by a friend.
Alarum still.
Alarum still: sustained trumpet call.
CLITUS
30
Fly, fly, my lord; there is no tarrying here.
BRUTUS
31
Farewell to you; and you; and you, Volumnius. 32
Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep; 33
Farewell to thee too, Strato. Countrymen, 34
My heart doth joy that yet in all my life 35
I found no man but he was true to me. 36
I shall have glory by this losing day 37
More than Octavius and Mark Antony 38
By this vile conquest shall attain unto. 39
So fare you well at once; for Brutus' tongue
39. fare you well at once: farewell without further ado.
40
Hath almost ended his life's history: 41
Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest, 42
That have but labour'd to attain this hour.
42. That have but labour'd to attain this hour: that have striven only to reach this time (of peace).
Alarum. Cry within, 'Fly, fly, fly!'
CLITUS
43
Fly, my lord, fly.
BRUTUS
Hence! I will follow.
[Exeunt CLITUS, DARDANIUS,
and VOLUMNIUS.]
44
I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord: 45
Thou art a fellow of a good respect;
45. respect: reputation.
46
Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it:
46. smatch: smack, taste.
47
Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face, 48
While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?
"Runs on his sword"
STRATO
49
Give me your hand first. Fare you well, my lord.
BRUTUS
50
Farewell, good Strato.
[Runs on his sword.]
Caesar, now be still: 51
I kill'd not thee with half so good a will.
Dies.
Alarum. Retreat. Enter ANTONY
Retreat: trumpet signal to retreat.
OCTAVIUS, MESSALA, LUCILIUS,
MESSALA, LUCILIUS: Messala and Lucilius, soldiers in Brutus' army, are now captives.
and the army.
OCTAVIUS
52
What man is that?
MESSALA
53
My master's man. Strato, where is thy master?
STRATO
54
Free from the bondage you are in, Messala:
54. bondage: Messala, a captive, may be chained.
55
The conquerors can but make a fire of him;
55. make a fire of him: cremate him.
56
For Brutus only overcame himself,
56. Brutus only overcame himself: only Brutus conquered Brutus.
57
And no man else hath honour by his death.
LUCILIUS
58
So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus, 59
That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true.
59. Lucilius' saying: In the previous scene Lucilius said "I dare assure thee that no enemy / Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus."
OCTAVIUS
60
All that served Brutus, I will entertain them.
60. I will entertain them: i.e., I will take them into my army and treat them honorably.
61
Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?
STRATO
62
Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.
62. prefer: recommend.
OCTAVIUS
63
Do so, good Messala.
MESSALA
64
How died my master, Strato?
STRATO
65
I held the sword, and he did run on it.
MESSALA
66
Octavius, then take him to follow thee,
66. follow: serve.
67
That did the latest service to my master.
ANTONY
68
This was the noblest Roman of them all: 69
All the conspirators save only he 70
Did that they did in envy of great Caesar; 71
He only, in a general honest thought 72
And common good to all, made one of them.
71-72. He . . . them: i.e. only he joined the conspiracy out of a sincere commitment to high ideals and the common good.
73
His life was gentle, and the elements
73. gentle: noble.
74
So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up
73-74. the elements . . . him: i.e., his essential characteristics were so perfectly balanced that.
75
And say to all the world 'This was a man!'
OCTAVIUS
76
According to his virtue let us use him,
76. According to: in accordance with. use: treat
77
With all respect and rites of burial. 78
Within my tent his bones tonight shall lie, 79
Most like a soldier, order'd honourably.
79. order'd honourably: treated with due ceremony.
80
So call the field to rest; and let's away,
80. the field: i.e., the soldiers in the field of battle.
81
To part the glories of this happy day.81. part: share. happy: fortunate.
Exeunt.