Julius Caesar: Act 5, Scene 5
Enter BRUTUS, DARDANIUS, CLITUS,
STRATO, and VOLUMNIUS.
BRUTUS
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.
2-3. Statilius . . . back: According to Plutarch, Statilius volunteered to go through enemy lines to Brutus' camp and light a torch if all was well. Statilius made it to the camp and held up the torch, but never made it back to Brutus. he is or ta'en or slain: he has been either taken captive or killed.
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
I'll rather kill myself. BRUTUS
8 Hark thee, Dardanius. [Whispers.]
DARDANIUS
Shall I do such a deed? CLITUS
9 O Dardanius! DARDANIUS
10 O Clitus! CLITUS
11 What ill request did Brutus make to thee? DARDANIUS
12 To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates. CLITUS
13 Now is that noble vessel full of grief, 14 That it runs over even at his eyes.
14. That: So that. — Grief is bringing tears to Brutus' eyes.
BRUTUS
15 Come hither, good Volumnius; list a word.
15. list: listen to.
VOLUMNIUS
16 What says my lord? BRUTUS
Why, this, Volumnius: 17 The ghost of Caesar hath appear'd to me 18 Two several times by night; at Sardis once,
18. several: separate.
19 And, this last night, here in Philippi fields: 20 I know my hour is come. VOLUMNIUS
Not so, my lord. BRUTUS
21 Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius. 22 Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes; 23 Our enemies have beat us to the pit:
23. beat: driven. pit: animal trap; grave.
Low alarums.
Low alarums.: faint trumpet calls.
24 It is more worthy to leap in ourselves, 25 Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius, 26 Thou know'st that we two went to school together: 27 Even for that our love of old, I prithee, 28 Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it.
28. Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it: hold the hilt of my sword while I run on the sword.
VOLUMNIUS
29 That's not an office for a friend, my lord.
29. an office for a friend: a service that should be performed by a friend.
Alarum still.
Alarum still: sustained trumpet call.
CLITUS
30 Fly, fly, my lord; there is no tarrying here. BRUTUS
31 Farewell to you; and you; and you, Volumnius. 32 Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep; 33 Farewell to thee too, Strato. Countrymen, 34 My heart doth joy that yet in all my life 35 I found no man but he was true to me. 36 I shall have glory by this losing day 37 More than Octavius and Mark Antony 38 By this vile conquest shall attain unto. 39 So fare you well at once; for Brutus' tongue
39. fare you well at once: farewell without further ado.
40 Hath almost ended his life's history: 41 Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest, 42 That have but labour'd to attain this hour.
42. That have but labour'd to attain this hour: that have striven only to reach this time (of peace).
Alarum. Cry within, 'Fly, fly, fly!'
CLITUS
43 Fly, my lord, fly. BRUTUS
Hence! I will follow. [Exeunt CLITUS, DARDANIUS,
and VOLUMNIUS.]
44 I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord: 45 Thou art a fellow of a good respect;
45. respect: reputation.
46 Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it:
46. smatch: smack, taste.
47 Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face, 48 While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?
"Runs on his sword"
STRATO
49 Give me your hand first. Fare you well, my lord. BRUTUS
50 Farewell, good Strato. [Runs on his sword.]
Caesar, now be still: 51 I kill'd not thee with half so good a will. Dies.
Alarum. Retreat. Enter ANTONY
Retreat: trumpet signal to retreat.
OCTAVIUS, MESSALA, LUCILIUS,
MESSALA, LUCILIUS: Messala and Lucilius, soldiers in Brutus' army, are now captives.
and the army.
OCTAVIUS
52 What man is that? MESSALA
53 My master's man. Strato, where is thy master? STRATO
54 Free from the bondage you are in, Messala:
54. bondage: Messala, a captive, may be chained.
55 The conquerors can but make a fire of him;
55. make a fire of him: cremate him.
56 For Brutus only overcame himself,
56. Brutus only overcame himself: only Brutus conquered Brutus.
57 And no man else hath honour by his death. LUCILIUS
58 So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus, 59 That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true.
59. Lucilius' saying: In the previous scene Lucilius said "I dare assure thee that no enemy / Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus."
OCTAVIUS
60 All that served Brutus, I will entertain them.
60. I will entertain them: i.e., I will take them into my army and treat them honorably.
61 Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me? STRATO
62 Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.
62. prefer: recommend.
OCTAVIUS
63 Do so, good Messala. MESSALA
64 How died my master, Strato? STRATO
65 I held the sword, and he did run on it. MESSALA
66 Octavius, then take him to follow thee,
66. follow: serve.
67 That did the latest service to my master.
67. latest: final.
"This was the noblest Roman of them all"
"This was the noblest Roman of them all"
ANTONY
68 This was the noblest Roman of them all: 69 All the conspirators save only he 70 Did that they did in envy of great Caesar; 71 He only, in a general honest thought 72 And common good to all, made one of them.
71-72. He . . . them: i.e. only he joined the conspiracy out of a sincere commitment to high ideals and the common good.
73 His life was gentle, and the elements
73. gentle: noble.
74 So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up
73-74. the elements . . . him: i.e., his essential characteristics were so perfectly balanced that.
75 And say to all the world 'This was a man!' OCTAVIUS
76 According to his virtue let us use him,
76. According to: in accordance with. use: treat
77 With all respect and rites of burial. 78 Within my tent his bones tonight shall lie, 79 Most like a soldier, order'd honourably.
79. order'd honourably: treated with due ceremony.
80 So call the field to rest; and let's away,
80. the field: i.e., the soldiers in the field of battle.
81 To part the glories of this happy day.81. part: share. happy: fortunate.
Exeunt.