SCENE I.A house in Rome.
Antony,Octavius,and Lepidus,seated at a table.
ANTONY.These many then shall die,their names are prick'd.OCTAVIUS.Your brother too must die;consent you,Lepidus?LEPIDUS.I do consent-OCTAVIUS.Prick him down,Antony.LEPIDUS.Upon condition Publius shall not live,Who is your sister's son,Mark Antony.ANTONY.He shall not live;look,with a spot I damn him.But,Lepidus,go you to Caesar's house,Fetch the will hither,and we shall determine How to cut off some charge in legacies.LEPIDUS.What,shall I find you here?OCTAVIUS.Or here,or at the Capitol.Exit Lepidus.ANTONY.This is a slight unmeritable man,Meet to be sent on errands.Is it fit,The three-fold world divided,he should stand One of the three to share it?OCTAVIUS.So you thought him,And took his voice who should be prick'd to die In our black sentence and proion.ANTONY.Octavius,I have seen more days than you,And though we lay these honors on this man To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads,He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold,To groan and sweat under the business,Either led or driven,as we point the way;And having brought our treasure where we will,Then take we down his load and turn him off,Like to the empty ass,to shake his ears And graze in commons.OCTAVIUS.You may do your will,But he's a tried and valiant soldier.ANTONY.So is my horse,Octavius,and for that I do appoint him store of provender.It is a creature that I teach to fight,To wind,to stop,to run directly on,His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit.And,in some taste,is Lepidus but so:He must be taught,and train'd,and bid go forth;A barren-spirited fellow,one that feeds On objects,arts,and imitations,Which,out of use and staled by other men,Begin his fashion.Do not talk of him But as a property.And now,Octavius,Listen great things.Brutus and Cassius Are levying powers;we must straight make head;Therefore let our alliance be combined,Our best friends made,our means stretch'd;And let us presently go sit in council,How covert matters may be best disclosed,And open perils surest answered.OCTAVIUS.Let us do so,for we are at the stake,And bay'd about with many enemies;And some that smile have in their hearts,I fear,Millions of mischiefs.Exeunt.
SCENE II.Camp near Sardis.Before Brutus'tent.
Drum.
Enter Brutus,Lucilius,Lucius,and Soldiers;Titinius and Pindarus meet them.
BRUTUS.Stand,ho!LUCILIUS.Give the word,ho,and stand.BRUTUS.What now,Lucilius,is Cassius near?LUCILIUS.He is at hand,and Pindarus is come To do you salutation from his master.BRUTUS.He greets me well.Your master,Pindarus,In his own change,or by ill officers,Hath given me some worthy cause to wish Things done undone;but if he be at hand,I shall be satisfied.PINDARUS.I do not doubt But that my noble master will appear Such as he is,full of regard and honor.BRUTUS.He is not doubted.A word,Lucilius,How he received you.Let me be resolved.LUCILIUS.With courtesy and with respect enough,But not with such familiar instances,Nor with such free and friendly conference,As he hath used of old.BRUTUS.Thou hast described A hot friend cooling.Ever note,Lucilius,When love begins to sicken and decay It useth an enforced ceremony.There are no tricks in plain and simple faith;But hollow men,like horses hot at hand,Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;But when they should endure the bloody spur,They fall their crests and like deceitful jades Sink in the trial.Comes his army on?LUCILIUS.They meant his night in Sard is to be quarter'd;The greater part,the horse in general,Are come with Cassius.Low march within.BRUTUS.Hark,he is arrived.March gently on to meet him.
Enter Cassius and his Powers.
CASSIUS.Stand,ho!BRUTUS.Stand,ho!Speak the word along.FIRST SOLDIER.Stand!SECOND SOLDIER.Stand!THIRD SOLDIER.
Stand!CASSIUS.Most noble brother,you have done me wrong.BRUTUS.Judge me,you gods!Wrong I mine enemies?And,if not so,how should I wrong a brother?CASSIUS.Brutus,this sober form of yours hides wrongs,And when you do them-BRUTUS.Cassius,be content,Speak your griefs softly,I do know you well.Before the eyes of both our armies here,Which should perceive nothing but love from us,Let us not wrangle.Bid them move away;Then in my tent,Cassius,enlarge your griefs,And I will give you audience.CASSIUS.Pindarus,Bid our commanders lead their charges off A little from this ground.BRUTUS.Lucilius,do you the like,and let no man Come to our tent till we have done our conference.Let Lucius and Titinius guard our door.Exeunt.
SCENE III.Brutus'tent.
Enter Brutus and Cassius.