Bru. No man bears sorrow better: -Portia is dead. Cus. Ha! Portia? Bru. She is dead. Cas. How scap'd I killing, when I cross'd you so? O insupportable and touching loss! Upon what sickness ? Bru. Impatient of my absence; And grief, that young Octavius with Mark Antony Have made themselves so strong; -for with her death That tidings came; -With this she fell distract, And, her attendants absent, swallow'd fire33. Cas. And died so? Bru. Even so.. Cas. O ye immortal gods! Enter LUCIUS, with wine and tapers. Bru. Speak no more of her.-Give me a bowl of wine: In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius. [Drinks. Cas. My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge: Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'er-swell the cup; I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. [Drinks. Re-enter TITINIUS, with MESSALA. Bru. Some in, Titinius : - Welcome, good Mes sala. Now sit we close about this taper here, Cas. Portia! art thou gone? Bru. No more, I pray you. Messala, I have here received letters, That young Octavius, and Mark Antony, Come down upon us with a mighty power, Bending their expedition toward Philippi. Mes. Myself have letters of the self-same tenour, Bru. With what addition? Mes. That by proscription, and bills of outlawry, Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus, Have put to death an hundred senators. Bru. Therein our letters do not well agree; Mine speak of seventy senators, that died Cas. Cicero one? Mes. Ay, Cicero is dead, And by that order of proscription. Had you your letters from your wife, my lord? Bru. No, Messala. Mes. Nor nothing in your letters writ of her? Bru. Nothing, Messala. Mes. That, methinks, is strange. Bru. Why ask you? Hear you aught of her in yours? Mes. No, my lord. Bru. Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true. For certain she is dead, and by strange manner. Bru. Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, 1 With meditating that she must die once, Mes. Even so great men great losses should en dure. Cas. I have as much of this in art as you, But yet my nature could not bear it so. Bru. Well, to our work alive. What do you think Of marching to Philippi presently? Cas. I do not think it good. Bru. Cas. Your reason? This it is: 'Tis better, that the enemy seek us: So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers, Doing himself offence; whilst we, lying still, Are full of rest, defence, and nimbleness. Bru. Good reasons must, of force, give place to better. The people, 'twixt Philippi and this ground, Do stand but in a forc'd affection; For they have grudg'd us contribution : The enemy, marching along by them, These people at our back. Hear me, good brother. Bru. Under your pardon. You must note beside, That we have try'd the utmost of our friends, Is bound in shallows, and in miseries. Or lose our ventures. Cas. Then, with your will, go on; We'll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi. And nature must obey necessity; Which we will niggard with a little rest. There is no more to say? No more. Good night; Early to-morrow will we rise, and hence. Bru. Lucius, my gown. [Exit Lucius.] Farewell, good Messala; Good night, Titinius : -Noble, noble Cassius, Good night, and good repose. Cas. O my dear brother! This was an ill beginning of the night: Never come such division 'tween our souls! Let it not, Brutus. Bru. Every thing is well. Cas. Good night, my lord. Re-enter LUCIUS, with the gown. Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument? Luc. Here in the tent. Bru. What, thou speak'st drowsily? Poor knave, I blame thee not; thou art o'er watch'd. Call Claudius, and some other of my men; I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent. Enter VARRO and CLAUDIUS. Var. Calls my lord ? Bru. I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent, and sleep; It may be, I shall raise you by and by On business to my brother Cassius. Var. So please you, we will stand, and watch your pleasure. Bru. I will not have it so: lie down, good sirs; It may be, I shall otherwise bethink me. Look, Lucius, here's the book I sought for so; I put it in the pocket of my gown. [Servants lie down. Luc. I was sure, your Lordship did not give it me. Bru. Bear with me, good boy, I am much forgetful. Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile, And touch thy instrument a strain or two? |