The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 550
Oh, Julius Caesar, you are still mighty! Your spirit walks around and turns our swords against us.
Low alarms.
Cato
Brave Titinius! Look whether he have not crown'd dead Cassius!
Brave Titinius! See if he crowned Cassius.
Brutus
Are yet two Romans living such as these?-- The last of all the Romans, fare thee well! It is impossible that ever Rome Should breed thy fellow.--Friends, I owe more tears To this dead man than you shall see me pay.-- I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.-- Come therefore, and to Thassos send his body: His funerals shall not be in our camp, Lest it discomfort us.--Lucilius, come;-- And come, young Cato;--let us to the field.-- Labeo and Flavius, set our battles on:-- 'Tis three o'clock; and Romans, yet ere night We shall try fortune in a second fight.
Are there two Romans alive like these? They were the last of their kind. Friends, I should cry, but I will not. Cassius, I will find time to mourn you. Send his body to Thasos for the funeral. We don’t want to have it in the camp. Lucilius and young Cato, let’s go back to the battlefield. Laveo and Flavius get ready to fight. We will try a second time to triumph.
Exit.
Alarm. Enter fighting soldiers of both armies, then Brutus, Cato, Lucilius, and others.
Brutus
Yet, countrymen, O, yet hold up your heads!
Hold up your heads, countrymen! Don’t give up!
Cato
What bastard doth not? Who will go with me? I will proclaim my name about the field:-- I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho! A foe to tyrants, and my country's friend; I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!
What bastard is not? Who will go with me? I will proclaim my name about the field. I am the son of Marcus Cato, a foe to tyrants and a friend to Rome. I am the son of Marcus Cato!
Brutus
And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I; Brutus, my country's friend; know me for Brutus!
And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus. I am my country’s friend. You know me!
Exit.
Lucilius
O young and noble Cato, art thou down? Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius; And mayst be honour'd, being Cato's son.
Oh, young and noble Cato, are you hurt? You have died as bravely as Titinius and will be honored as Cato’s son.
First Soldier
Yield, or thou diest.
We must give up or die.
Lucilius
Only I yield to die: There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight; [Offering money.] Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death.
I will only give up to death.
Offering money.
Kill Brutus, and be honored for his death.
First Soldier
We must not. A noble prisoner!
We can’t. He is a noble prisoner!
Second Soldier
Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en.
Make way! Tell Antony, Brutus has been captured.
First Soldier
I'll tell the news. Here comes the General.--
I’ll tell him. Here comes the general.
Enter Antony.
Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord.
Antony
Where is he?
Where is he?
Lucilius
Safe, Antony; Brutus is safe enough: I dare assure thee that no enemy Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus: The gods defend him from so great a shame! When you do find him, or alive or dead, He will be found like Brutus, like himself.
He is safe enough, Antony. I assure you no enemy will take him alive. The gods defend him from such a great shame! When you do find him, he will be Brutus, alive or dead.
Antony
This is not Brutus, friend; but, I assure you, A prize no less in worth. Keep this man safe, Give him all kindness; I had rather have Such men my friends than enemies. Go on, And see whether Brutus be alive or dead; And bring us word unto Octavius' tent How everything is chanced.
This is not Brutus, friend, but I assure you it is a prize, nevertheless. Keep this man safe. Treat him with kindness. I had rather have such men as my friends than my enemies. Go on, and see if Brutus is alive or dead, and come tell us in Octavius’s tent.
Exit.
Enter Brutus, Dardanius, Clitus, Strato, and Volumnius.
Brutus
Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock.
Come on, friends. Let’s rest on this rock.
Clitus
Statilius show'd the torch-light; but, my lord, He came not back: he is or ta'en or slain.
Statilius showed the torch was lit, but he never came back. He is either captured or dead.
Brutus
Sit thee down, Clitus: slaying is the word; It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus.
Sit down, Clitus. He is probably dead. Listen.
Whispers.
Clitus
What, I, my lord? No, not for all the world.
No, not me lord. Not for all of the world.
Brutus
Peace then! no words.
Be quiet, then.
Clitus
I'll rather kill myself.
I’d rather kill myself.
Brutus
Hark thee, Dardanius.
Listen, Dardanius.
Whispers.
Dardanius
Shall I do such a deed?
Would I do such a deed?
Clitus
O Dardanius!
Oh, Dardanius!
Dardanius
O Clitus!
Oh, Clitus!
Clitus
What ill request did Brutus make to thee?
What did Brutus ask of you?
Dardanius
To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates.
He wants me to kill him. Look, he’s thinking about it.
Clitus
Now is that noble vessel full of grief, That it runs over even at his eyes.
He is so full of grief, it is running over in his eyes.
Brutus
Come hither, good Volumnius; list a word.
Come here, Volumnius. I need a word with you.
Volumnius
What says my lord?
What do you need, my lord?
Brutus
Why, this, Volumnius: The ghost of Caesar hath appear'd to me Two several times by night; at Sardis once, And this last night here in Philippi fields: I know my hour is come.
The ghost of Caesar has appeared to me twice by night, once in Sardis and last night in Philippi. I know my time has come.
Volumnius
Not so, my lord.
You don’t know that, my lord.
Brutus
Nay I am sure it is, Volumnius. Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes; Our enemies have beat us to the pit:
No, I am sure of it, Volumnius. Our enemies have beaten us. I know what’s coming next.
Low alarms.
It is more worthy to leap in ourselves Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius, Thou know'st that we two went to school together; Even for that our love of old, I pr'ythee, Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it.
It is better to off ourselves than have them do it. Volumnius, you know we went to school together. We go back a long way. Please, hold my sword, so I may run into it.
Volumnius
That's not an office for a friend, my lord.
That’s not something a friend can do, my lord.
Alarm.
Clitus
Fly, fly, my lord! there is no tarrying here.
Run, run, my lord. You can’t sit here.
Brutus
Farewell to you;--and you;--and you, Volumnius.-- Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep; Farewell to thee too, Strato.--Countrymen, My heart doth joy, that yet in all my life I found no man but he was true to me. I shall have glory by this losing day, More than Octavius and Mark Antony By this vile conquest shall attain unto. So, fare you well at once;
for Brutus' tongue Hath almost ended his life's history: Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest That have but labour'd to attain this hour.
Farewell my friends. Goodbye, Strato. My heart is full of joy that in all of my life, I never met an untrue man. I will have triumph greater than Octavius and Mark Antony today. So, goodbye once and for all. It’s my time to rest.
Alarm. Cries to run from within.
Clitus
Fly, my lord, fly!
Run, my lord, run.
Brutus
Hence! I will follow.--
Go. I will follow.
Exit Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius.
I pr'ythee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord: Thou art a fellow of a good respect; Thy life hath had some smack of honor in it: Hold, then, my sword, and turn away thy face, While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?
I pray you will help me, Strato. You are respectful fellow, and your life has been honorable. Hold my sword and turn your eyes away. Will you, Strato?
Strato
Give me your hand first: fare you well, my lord.
Give me your hand first. Goodbye, my lord.
Brutus
Farewell, good Strato.--Caesar, now be still: I kill'd not thee with half so good a will.
Goodbye, Strato.
Runs on his sword.
Caesar, you may rest. I wanted to kill myself more than you.
Dies.
Alarm. Retreat. Enter Octavius, Antony, Messala, Lucilius, and the army.
Octavius
What man is that?
Who is that man?
Messala
My master's man.--Strato, where is thy master?
My master’s man. Strato, where is your master?
Strato
Free from the bondage you are in, Messala: The conquerors can but make a fire of him; For Brutus only overcame himself, And no man else hath honour by his death.
He is free from the bondage you are in, Messala. The conquerors can burn him, but they can’t kill him, so no man can claim honor by his death.
Lucilius
So Brutus should be found.--I thank thee, Brutus, That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true.
So, Brutus should be found. Thank you, Brutus, for proving me right.
Octavius
All that served Brutus, I will entertain them.-- Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?
All that served Brutus will be entertained. Will you give me your time?
Strato
Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.
Yes, if Messala will prefer me to you.
Octavius
Do so, good Messala.
Do so, Messala.
Messala
How died my master, Strato?
How did my master die, Strato?
Strato
I held the sword, and he did run on it.
I held the sword and he ran upon it.
Messala
Octavius, then take him to follow thee, That did the latest service to my master.
You may have him, Octavius, for his service to my master.
Antony
This was the noblest Roman of them all: All the conspirators, save only he, Did that they did in envy of great Caesar; He only, in a general-honest thought And common good to all, made one of them. His life was gentle; and the elements So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up And say to all the world, "This was a man!"
This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators did what they did out of envy, except for him. He was the only one who thought his actions were for the common good to his country. He lived a gentle life, so that Nature would say, “That was a man!”
Octavius
According to his virtue let us use him With all respect and rites of burial. Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie, Most like a soldier, order'd honorably.-- So, call the field to rest; and let's away, To part the glories of this happy day.
Let’s honor his life and put his body in my tent. Call the field to rest and let’s go away to celebrate this happy day.
Exit.
THE END
Lear, King of Britain
King of France
Duke of Burgundy
Duke of Cornwall
Duke of Albany
Earl of Kent
Earl of Gloster
Edgar, Son to Gloster
Edmund, Bastard Son to Gloster
Curan, a Courtier
Old Man, Tenant to Gloster
Physician
Fool
Oswald, steward to Goneril
An Officer employed by Edmund
Gentleman, attendant on Cordelia
A Herald
Servants to Cornwall
Goneril, daughter to Lear
Regan, daughter to Lear
Cordelia, daughter to Lear
Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants.
Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND
KENT
I thought the king had more affected the Duke of
Albany than Cornwall.
I thought the King preferred the Duke of
Albany over Cornwall.
GLOUCESTER
It did always seem so to us: but now, in the
division of the kingdom, it appears not which of
the dukes he values most; for equalities are so
weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice
of either's moiety.
I always thought so too; but now, in the way
he's split up the kingdom, one can't see which of
the Dukes he prefers; it is so finely
balanced that neither would be able to say
that he prefers the other's portion.
KENT
Is not this your son, my lord?
Isn't this your son, my lord?
GLOUCESTER
His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have
so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am
brazed to it.
He was brought up, Sir, at my expense: I have
so often been embarrassed to admit he's mine
that now I'm quite hardened to it.
KENT
I cannot conceive you.
I can't make you out.
GLOUCESTER
Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon
she grew round-wombed, and had, indeed, sir, a son
for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed.
Do you smell a fault?
Sir, this young fellow's mother could: and so
her womb swelled and in fact she had a son
in the cradle before she had a husband in her bed.
Do you think that's wrong?
KENT
I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it
being so proper.
I wouldn't wish it any different, given there's
such a good result.
GLOUCESTER
But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year
elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account:
though this knave came something saucily into the
world before he was sent for, yet was his mother
fair; there was good sport at his making, and the
whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you know this
noble gentleman, Edmund?
But I have, sir, a legitimate son, a year
older than this one, whom I don't rate as more important:
although this scoundrel came rather cheekily into
the world before he was wanted, his mother was
beautiful; conceiving him was good fun, and the
bastard must be acknowledged. Do you know this
noble gentleman, Edmund?
EDMUND
No, my lord.
No, my lord.
GLOUCESTER
My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my
h
onourable friend.
The Earl of Kent: from now on always remember that he is
my honored friend.
EDMUND
My services to your lordship.
At your Lordship's service.
KENT
I must love you, and sue to know you better.
We must be friends, and I will try to get to know you better.
EDMUND
Sir, I shall study deserving.
Sir, I shall try to deserve the compliment.
GLOUCESTER
He hath been out nine years, and away he shall
again. The king is coming.
Sennet. Enter KING LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants
He's been abroad for nine years, and he'll be
going back. The King is coming.
KING LEAR
Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.
Go and look after the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.
GLOUCESTER
I shall, my liege.
Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EDMUND
I shall, my lord.
KING LEAR
Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.