The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 548
Brutus
Impatient of my absence, And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony Have made themselves so strong;--for with her death That tidings came;--with this she fell distract, And, her attendants absent, swallow'd fire.
She was sick with worry about me being gone and the strong armies led by Octavius and Mark Antony, so she became depressed and she swallowed fire.
Cassius
And died so?
And it killed her?
Brutus
Even so.
Yes.
Cassius
O ye immortal gods!
Oh, immortal gods!
Re-enter Lucius, with wine and candle.
Brutus
Speak no more of her.--Give me a bowl of wine.-- In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius.
Let’s not talk of her anymore. Give me the glass of wine. Let’s drink and let bygones be bygones, Cassius.
Cassius
My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge. Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup; I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love.
I agree. Fill up the cup, Lucius. I can’t get enough of Brutus’s love.
Brutus
Come in, Titinius!--
Come in, Titinius!
Exit Lucius.
Re-enter Titinius with Messala.
Welcome, good Messala.-- Now sit we close about this taper here, And call in question our necessities.
Welcome, Messala. Sit with us and let’s figure out what we need.
Cassius
Portia, art thou gone?
Oh Portia, are you gone?
Brutus
No more, I pray you.-- Messala, I have here received letters, That young Octavius and Mark Antony Come down upon us with a mighty power, Bending their expedition toward Philippi.
Don’t say anything else, please. Messala, I have letters here saying Octavius and Mark Antony are coming down on us with a huge army by way of Philippi.
Messala
Myself have letters of the selfsame tenour.
I have letters with the same message.
Brutus
With what addition?
Do they say anything else?
Messala
That by proscription and bills of outlawry Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus Have put to death an hundred Senators.
It says they have put to death a hundred senators.
Brutus
There in our letters do not well agree: Mine speak of seventy Senators that died By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.
My letters say about seventy senators were killed, one being Cicero.
Cassius
Cicero one!
Cicero was killed!
Messala
Cicero is dead, And by that order of proscription.-- Had you your letters from your wife, my lord?
He is dead. Have you received your letters from your wife, my lord?
Brutus
No, Messala.
No, Messala.
Messala
Nor nothing in your letters writ of her?
And, you haven’t heard anything of her in your letters?
Brutus
Nothing, Messala.
Nothing, Messala.
Messala
That, methinks, is strange.
That’s strange.
Brutus
Why ask you? hear you aught of her in yours?
Why? Have you heard something?
Messala
No, my lord.
No, my lord.
Brutus
Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true.
Tell me the truth, as a Roman.
Messala
Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell: For certain she is dead, and by strange manner.
Then, like a Roman, she is dead, but by a strange manner.
Brutus
Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala: With meditating that she must die once, I have the patience to endure it now.
Well, farewell, Portia. We must all die, Messala. I have dealt with it once. I have the patience to endure it now.
Messala
Even so great men great losses should endure.
Great men have to endure great losses.
Cassius
I have as much of this in art as you, But yet my nature could not bear it so.
I don’t think I could bear it.
Brutus
Well, to our work alive. What do you think Of marching to Philippi presently?
Well, back to work. What do you think about us marching to Philippi now?
Cassius
I do not think it good.
I don’t think it’s a good idea.
Brutus
Your reason?
Why not?
Cassius
This it is: 'Tis better that the enemy seek us;: So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers, Doing himself offense; whilst we, lying still, Are full of rest, defense, and nimbleness.
Because I think the enemy should pursue us and wear out his soldiers. In the meantime, we sit and wait, full of rested men ready to fight.
Brutus
Good reasons must, of force, give place to better. The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground Do stand but in a forced affection; For they have grudged us contribution: The enemy, marching along by them, By them shall make a fuller number up, Come on refresh'd, new-added, and encouraged; From which advantage shall we cut him off, If at Philippi we do face him there, These people at our back.
That’s a good reason, but there may be a better one to move us forward. Between here and Philippi, they stand a chance of adding men to their regimen. If we meet them, we cut that chance off.
Cassius
Hear me, good brother.
Listen, brother.
Brutus
Under your pardon. You must note besides, That we have tried the utmost of our friends, Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe: The enemy increaseth every day; We, at the height, are ready to decline. There is a tide in the affairs of men Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat; And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures.
I beg your pardon, but you must remember our armies are full and ready. The enemy is increasing every day. We must act quickly while the time is right.
Cassius
Then, with your will, go on: We'll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi.
Then, we will go and meet them at Philippi.
Brutus
The deep of night is crept upon our talk, And nature must obey necessity; Which we will niggard with a little rest. There is no more to say?
It’s night now, so we better rest. Anything else?
Cassius
No more. Good night: Early to-morrow will we rise, and hence.
No more. Goodnight. We will begin early in the morning.
Brutus
Lucius!--My gown.--Farewell now, good Messala:-- Good night, Titinius:--noble, noble Cassius, Good night, and good repose.
Lucius!
Enter Lucius.
Bring me my gown.
Exit Lucius.
Goodbye, Messala. Goodnight, Titinius. Noble Cassius, goodnight and sleep well.
Cassius
O my dear brother! This was an ill beginning of the night. Never come such division 'tween our souls! Let it not, Brutus.
Oh, my dear brother. We had a rough start tonight. May nothing ever come between us, Brutus.
Brutus
Every thing is well.
All is well.
Cassius
Good night, my lord.
Goodnight, my lord.
Brutus
Good night, good brother.
Goodnight, my good brother.
Titinius and Messala
Good night, Lord Brutus.
Goodnight, Lord Brutus.
Brutus
Farewell, everyone.
Exit all but Brutus.
Re-enter Lucius with the gown.
Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument?
Give me the gown. Where is your instrument?
Lucius
Here in the tent.
Here in the tent.
Brutus
What, thou speak'st drowsily: Poor knave, I blame thee not, thou art o'er-watch'd. Call Claudius and some other of my men; I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.
You sound tired. Poor man, I don’t blame you. You have been overworked. Call Claudius and some of the other men to sleep on cushions in my tent.
Lucius
Varro and Claudius!
Varro and Claudius!
Enter Varro and Claudius.
Varro
Calls my lord?
You called, my lord?
Brutus
I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep; It may be I shall raise you by-and-by On business to my brother Cassius.
Do you mind, sirs, sleeping in here. I may wake up and need you to take a message to my brother, Cassius.
Varro
So please you, we will stand and watch your pleasure.
We will stand guard.
Brutus
I would not have it so; lie down, good sirs: It may be I shall otherwise bethink me.-- Look, Lucius, here's the book I sought for so; I put it in the pocket of my gown.
No, lie down. Look, Lucius, here’s the book I was looking for. I put it in the pocket of my gown.
Varro and Claudius lie down.
Lucius
I was sure your lordship did not give it me.
I didn’t think you gave it to me.
Brutus
Bear with me, good boy, I am much forgetful. Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile, And touch thy instrument a strain or two?
Sorry, boy, I am very forgetful. Can you stay awake a little longer and play some music?
Lucius
Ay, my lord, an't please you.
Yes, my lord, if it pleases you.
Brutus
It does, my boy: I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing.
It does, my boy. I know I am a lot of trouble.
Lucius
It is my duty, sir.
It’s my duty, sir.
Brutus
I should not urge thy duty past thy might; I know young bloods look for a time of rest.
You need your rest, too. I shouldn’t trouble you so much.
Lucius
I have slept, my lord, already.
I have already slept, my lord.
Brutus
It was well done; and thou shalt sleep again; I will not hold thee long: if I do live, I will be good to thee.--
I promise I won’t keep you long, and if I do, I’ll pay you back.
Music and song.
This is a sleepy tune.--O murderous Slumber, Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy, That plays thee music?--Gentle knave, good night; I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee: If thou dost nod, thou breakst thy instrument; I'll take it from thee; and, good boy, good night.-- Let me see, let me see; is not the leaf turn'd down Where I left reading? Here it is, I think.
This is a sleepy tune. Oh, let the music help me sleep. You may go now. You might fall asleep on your instrument. Give it to me and have a good night. Let’s see. Where did I leave off? Here is the page, I think.
Enter the Ghost of Caesar.
How ill this taper burns! Ha! who comes here? I think it is the weakness of mine eyes That shapes this monstrous apparition. It comes upon me.--Art thou any thing? Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil, That makest my blood cold and my hair to stare? Speak to me what thou art.
How weird this candle is burning! Who’s there? My eyes must be weak; I think I see a ghost. Are you some god, or angel, or devil. You make my blood cold and my hair stand on end. Tell me what you are.
Ghost
Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
I am your evil spirit, Brutus.
Brutus
Why comest thou?
Why are you here?
Ghost
To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.
To tell you I will be in Philippi.
Brutus
Well; then I shall see thee again?
Well, then I will see you again.
Ghost
Ay, at Philippi.
Yes, at Philippi.
Brutus
Why, I will see thee at Philippi, then.
Why will I see you at Philippi?
Exit Ghost.
Now I have taken heart, thou vanishest: Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.-- Boy! Lucius!--Varro! Claudius! Sirs, awake!--Claudius!
Now, that I am curious, you have disappeared. Evil spirit, I would like to talk with you some more. Lucius! Varro! Claudius! Wake up! Claudius!
Lucius
The strings, my lord, are false.
The strings are not right, my lord.
Brutus
He thinks he still is at his instrument.-- Lucius, awake!
He thinks he’s still playing his instrument. Wake up, Lucius!
Lucius
My lord?
My lord?
Brutus
Didst thou dream, Lucius, that thou so criedst out?
Did you dream and cry out in your sleep, Lucius?
Lucius
My lord, I do not know that I did cry.
I don’t think so.
Brutus
Yes, that thou didst: didst thou see any thing?
You did. Did you see anything?
Lucius
Nothing, my lord.
Nothing, my lord.
Brutus
Sleep again, Lucius.--Sirrah Claudius!-- [To Varro.] Fellow thou, awake!
Go back to sleep, Lucius. Claudius!
To Varro.
Are you awake?
Varro
My lord?
My lord?
Claudius
My lord?
My lord?
Brutus
Why did you so cry out, sirs, in your sleep?
Why did you all cry out in your sleep?
Varro and Claudius
Did we, my lord?
Did we, my lord?
Brutus
Ay: saw you any thing?
Yes, did you see anything?
Varro
No, my lord, I saw nothing.
No, I didn’t.
Claudius
Nor I, my lord.
Me either.
Brutus
Go and commend me to my brother Cassius; Bid him set on his powers betimes before, And we will follow.
Go tell Cassius, to set out first thing and we will follow him.
Varro and Claudius
It shall be done, my lord.
We will, my lord.
Exit.
Enter Octavius, Antony, and their army.
Octavius
Now, Antony, our hopes are answered. You said the enemy would not come down, But keep the hills and upper regions: It proves not so; their battles are at hand: They mean to warn us at Philippi here, Answering before we do demand of them.
Now, Antony, our hopes are answered. You thought the enemy wouldn’t come to us, but stay in the hills. Yet, here they are to meet us.
Antony
Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I know Wherefore they do it: they could be content To visit other places; and come down With fearful bravery, thinking by this face To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage; But 'tis not so.
I know them, and I know what they are up to. They want us to think they are brave, but I know better.
Enter a Messenger.
Messenger
Prepare you, generals: The enemy comes on in gallant show; Their bloody sign of battle is hung out, And something to be done immediately.
Get ready, generals, t
he enemy is coming. Their battle sign is out and something needs to be done immediately.
Antony
Octavius, lead your battle softly on, Upon the left hand of the even field.
Octavius, lead your men on the left side of the field.
Octavius
Upon the right hand I; keep thou the left.
I’ll take the right. You take the left.
Antony
Why do you cross me in this exigent?
Why do you disagree with me in this dire hour?
Octavius
I do not cross you; but I will do so.
I’m not disagreeing with you, but I will.
March.
Drum. Enter Brutus, Cassius, and their armies. Lucilius, Titinius, Messalus, and others.
Brutus
They stand, and would have parley.
They stand and are ready to fight.
Cassius
Stand fast, Titinius: we must out and talk.
Stay here, Titinius. We must ride out and talk.
Octavius
Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle?
Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle?