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.
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
8 I'll rather kill myself.
BRUTUS
9 Hark thee, Dardanius.
Whispers
DARDANIUS
10 Shall I do such a deed?
CLITUS
11 O Dardanius!
DARDANIUS
12 O Clitus!
CLITUS
13 What ill request did Brutus make to thee?
DARDANIUS
14 To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates.
CLITUS
15 Now is that noble vessel full of grief, 16 That it runs over even at his eyes.
BRUTUS
17 Come hither, good Volumnius; list a word.
VOLUMNIUS
18 What says my lord?
BRUTUS
19 Why, this, Volumnius: 20 The ghost of Caesar hath appear'd to me 21 Two several times by night; at Sardis once, 22 And, this last night, here in Philippi fields: 23 I know my hour is come.
VOLUMNIUS
24 Not so, my lord.
BRUTUS
25 Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius. 26 Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes; 27 Our enemies have beat us to the pit: Low alarums 28 It is more worthy to leap in ourselves, 29 Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius, 30 Thou know'st that we two went to school together: 31 Even for that our love of old, I prithee, 32 Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it.
VOLUMNIUS
33 That's not an office for a friend, my lord.
Alarum still
CLITUS
34 Fly, fly, my lord; there is no tarrying here.
BRUTUS
35 Farewell to you; and you; and you, Volumnius. 36 Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep; 37 Farewell to thee too, Strato. Countrymen, 38 My heart doth joy that yet in all my life 39 I found no man but he was true to me. 40 I shall have glory by this losing day 41 More than Octavius and Mark Antony 42 By this vile conquest shall attain unto. 43 So fare you well at once; for Brutus' tongue 44 Hath almost ended his life's history: 45 Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest, 46 That have but labour'd to attain this hour.
Alarum. Cry within, 'Fly, fly, fly!'
CLITUS
47 Fly, my lord, fly.
BRUTUS
48 Hence! I will follow. Exeunt CLITUS, DARDANIUS, and VOLUMNIUS 49 I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord: 50 Thou art a fellow of a good respect; 51 Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it: 52 Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face, 53 While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?
STRATO
54 Give me your hand first. Fare you well, my lord.
BRUTUS
55 Farewell, good Strato. Runs on his sword 56 Caesar, now be still: 57 I kill'd not thee with half so good a will.
Dies
OCTAVIUS
58 What man is that?
MESSALA
59 My master's man. Strato, where is thy master?
STRATO
60 Free from the bondage you are in, Messala: 61 The conquerors can but make a fire of him; 62 For Brutus only overcame himself, 63 And no man else hath honour by his death.
LUCILIUS
64 So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus, 65 That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true.
OCTAVIUS
66 All that served Brutus, I will entertain them. 67 Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?
STRATO
68 Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.
OCTAVIUS
69 Do so, good Messala.
MESSALA
70 How died my master, Strato?
STRATO
71 I held the sword, and he did run on it.
MESSALA
72 Octavius, then take him to follow thee, 73 That did the latest service to my master.
ANTONY
74 This was the noblest Roman of them all: 75 All the conspirators save only he 76 Did that they did in envy of great Caesar; 77 He only, in a general honest thought 78 And common good to all, made one of them. 79 His life was gentle, and the elements 80 So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up 81 And say to all the world 'This was a man!'
OCTAVIUS
82 According to his virtue let us use him, 83 With all respect and rites of burial. 84 Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie, 85 Most like a soldier, order'd honourably. 86 So call the field to rest; and let's away, 87 To part the glories of this happy day.