[Brutus.] Did I not hear thee speak in dreaming, Lucius? [Lucius.] I do not know, my lord. [Brutus.] Didst thou see anything? [Lucius.] Nothing, my lord. [Brutus.] Well, sleep again: for shortly you must bear A message for me to my brother Cassius. I 'll sleep myself, if sleep will close my eyes. We will pass the intervening time and space, till we have Brutus and Cassius before us on the plains of Philippi, when the battles are about to be fought: these battles, we may suppose, take place on the same day : let us now believe it early morning: Cassius is first to speak : [Cassius.] My noble Brutus, If we do lose this battle, then is this [Brutus.] No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble Roman, That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome; He bears too great a mind. But this same day [Cassius.] For ever, and for ever, farewell, Brutus! [Brutus.] Why, then, lead on. Oh, that a man might know The end of this day's business ere it come ! And then the end is known: come on; come on We pass to another part of the plains of Philippi: the time, let it now be supposed, is noon: Cassius and Titinius are moving in some disorder : Cassius speaks : [Cassius.] O look, Titinius, look; the villains fly: [Titinius.] O, Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early Pindarus, the bondman of Cassius, runs toward him in haste: [Pindarus.] Fly farther off, my lord, fly farther off; [Cassius.] This hill is far enough. - Look, look, Titinius ;- [a pause.] This day I breathed first: time is come round, [in a high tone, as to one at a distance.] Now, what news? [Cassius.] Come down; behold no more :-O, coward that I am, to live so long, To see my best friend ta'en before my face! In Parthia did I take thee prisoner ; Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath! Cæsar, thou art reveng'd, Even with the sword that kill'd thee! Titinius had not been taken :-they who enclosed him were a party of friends, whom Pindarus mistook for foes. Titinius soon after comes up to the spot where Cassius has breathed his last, with tidings that Brutus has been partially successful. Finding Cassius dead, he sends a messenger to Brutus to acquaint him with the event; and then, in despair, slays himself on the body of Cassius. Brutus hastens to the same spot with Messala and other friends : he is bending over the bodies when he speaks : [Brutus.] Are yct two Romans living, such as these? Thou last of all the Romans, fare thee well! Should breed thy fellow. Friends, I owe more tears Come, let us to the field; and yet, ere night, Again we shift our place and time for a short distance, and a few hours. We still imagine ourselves on the plains of Philippi: the time is now evening: Brutus, and others, weary and disconsolate, appear before us in the dusk: Brutus speaks : [Brutus.] Come, poor remains of friends, let's rest us here: Hold thou my sword-hilt while I run upon it. Yet death must come; and so farewell, Metellus! [a pause.] This was the justest cause that ever men Beloved country! -Cæsar, now be still! The friends of Brutus keep their place around the body, although Antony and Octavius approach them with forces: Antony speaks to them : [Antony.] Whom mourn you over? [Metellus.] Brutus. [Antony.] So Brutus should be found. This was the noblest Roman of them all. THE STATE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, AFTER THE DEATH OF BRUTUS, CASSIUS, AND THEIR ASSOCIATES, DURING THE STRUGGLES OF OCTAVIUS AND ANTONY FOR SUPERIOR POWER, INDICATED BY SCENES SUPPOSED TO OCCUR AT THE HOUSE OF OCTAVIUS IN ROME, AND AT THAT OF LEPIDUS. HISTORICAL MEMORANDA. The triumvirate of Octavius, Lepidus, and Antony, was nothing else than a union of interests for a time in order to subjugate the whole Roman empire before contending who should be its sole master. But in this compact Lepidus was a cipher, and the contest was therefore reserved for Antony and Octavius. Each of these contemplated the final overthrow of the other, even at times when they found it necessary to seem the closest friends: and, in this contest, it is curious to watch the effects of personal qualities in bringing about the events which ultimately settled the condition of the empire. If military talent, courage, and promptitude in difficulties, had been alone necessary to success, there is reason to think that it would have gone to the side of Antony: but Antony wanted what his rival possessed, personal restraint, and cold, calculating prudence. Both were unprincipled men-but the laxity of the one flowed from the unregulated ardour of his heart; the vices of the other came from his head. After the battles of Philippi. Octavius, who, besides sharing in the common command of Italy, had exclusive command in Spain, Sicily, and Sardinia, returned to Rome; while Antony, who had exclusive command in Gaul and in Africa, went to the East, to carry on the wars there that had been long in operation. On his way he cited Cleopatra to appear before him, and, struck by her charms, formed that connection with her, which may be deemed the characteristic event of his life, and which coloured it to the end. |