Cas. Stand fast, Titinius: We must out and talk. Oct. Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle? Ant. No, Cæsar, we will answer on their charge. Make forth, the generals would have some words. Oct. Stir not until the signal. Bru. Words before blows: Is it so, countrymen? Ant. In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good Witness the hole you made in Cæsar's heart, Cas. Ant. Not stingless too. Bru. O, yes, and soundless too; For you have stol'n their buzzing, Antony, And, very wisely, threat before you sting. Ant. Villains, you did not so, when your vile daggers Hack'd one another in the sides of Cæsar: You show'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like hounds, And bow'd like bondmen, kissing Cæsar's feet; Cas. Flatterers!-Now, Brutus, thank yourself: This tongue had not offended so to-day, If Cassius might have rul'd. Oct. Come, come, the cause: If arguing make us The proof of it will turn to redder drops. I draw a sword against conspirators; When think you that the sword goes up again?→→→ Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors. Oct. So I hope; I was not born to die on Brutus' sword. Bru. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain, Young man, thou could'st not die more honourable. Cas. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour, Join'd with a masker and a reveller. 1 • Ant. Old Cassius still! Oct. Come, Antony; away. Defiance, traitors, hurl we? in your teeth: [Exeunt OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their Army. Cas. Why now, blow, wind; swell, billow; and swim, bark! The storm is up, and all is on the hazard. Bru. Ho! This is my birth-day; as this very day Messala, Was Cassius born. Give my thy hand, Messala: Be thou my witness, that, against my will, As Pompey was, am I compell'd to set 7 Defiance, traitors, hurl we-] Hurl is peculiarly expressive. The challenger in judicial combats was said to hurl down his gage, when he threw his glove down as a pledge that he would make good his charge against his adversary. Upon one battle all our liberties. This morning are they fled 8 away, and gone; Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost, I but believe it partly; Cas. Now, most noble Brutus, 1 Cas. 8 Bru. Even by the rule of that philosophy,' 9 The our former ensign—] Former is foremost. very last time we shall speak together: What are you then determined to do?] i. e. I am resolved in such a case to kill myself. What are you determined of? 1 of that philosophy,] There is certainly an apparent contradiction between the sentiments which Brutus expresses in this, and in his subsequent speech;, but there is no real inconsistency. Brutus had laid down to himself as a principle, to abide every chance and extremity of war; but when Cassius reminds him of the disgrace of being led in triumph through the streets of Rome, When think you that the sword goes up again? Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors. Oct. So I hope; I was not born to die on Brutus' sword. Bru. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain, Young man, thou could'st not die more honourable. Cas. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour, Oct. Come, Antony; away.Defiance, traitors, hurl we? in your teeth: you dare fight to-day, come to the field; If not, when you have stomachs. If [Exeunt OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their Army. Cas. Why now, blow, wind; swell, billow; and swim, bark! The storm is up, and all is on the hazard. Bru. Ho! Lucilius; hark, a word with you. Luc. My lord. [BRUTUS and LUCILIUS Converse apart. Cas. Messala, Mes. Cas. What says my general? This is my birth-day; as this very day Messala, Was Cassius born. Give my thy hand, Messala: Be thou my witness, that, against my will, As Pompey was, am I compell'd to set 7 Defiance, traitors, hurl we-] Hurl is peculiarly expressive. The challenger in judicial combats was said to hurl down his gage, when he threw his glove down as a pledge that he would make good his charge against his adversary. Upon one battle all our liberties. 8 This morning are they fled away, and gone; Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost, Cas. I but believe it partly; For I am fresh of spirit, and resolv'd Bru. Even so, Lucilius. Now, most noble Brutus, Cas. 8 Bru. Even by the rule of that philosophy,' our former ensign-] Former is foremost. 9 The very last time we shall speak together: What are you then determined to do?] i. e. I am resolved in such a case to kill myself. What are you determined of? 1 of that philosophy,] There is certainly an apparent contradiction between the sentiments which Brutus expresses in this, and in his subsequent speech;, but there is no real inconsistency. Brutus had laid down to himself as a principle, to abide every chance and extremity of war; but when Cassius reminds him of the disgrace of being led in triumph through the streets of Rome, |