Camp near Sardis. Before BRUTUS' Tent. |
| |
Drum. Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, LUCIUS, and Soldiers: TITINIUS and PINDARUS meet them. |
| Bru. Stand, ho! |
| Lucil. Give the word, ho! and stand. |
| Bru. What now, Lucilius! is Cassius near? |
| Lucil. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come |
| To do you salutation from his master. [PINDARUS gives a letter to BRUTUS. |
| Bru. 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. |
| Pin. I do not doubt |
| But that my noble master will appear |
| Such as he is, full of regard and honour. |
| Bru. He is not doubted. A word, Lucilius; |
| How he receiv'd you, let me be resolv'd. |
| Lucil. With courtesy and with respect enough; |
| But not with such familiar instances, |
| Nor with such free and friendly conference, |
| As he hath us'd of old. |
| Bru. Thou hast describ'd |
| 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? |
| Lucil. They mean this night in Sardis to be quarter'd; |
| The greater part, the horse in general, |
| Are come with Cassius. |
| Bru. Hark! he is arriv'd. [Low march within. |
| March gently on to meet him. |
| |
Enter CASSIUS and Soldiers. |
| Cas. Stand, ho! |
| Bru. Stand, ho! Speak the word along. |
| First Sold. Stand! |
| Sec. Sold. Stand! |
| Third Sold. Stand! |
| Cas. Most noble brother, you have done me wrong. |
| Bru. Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine enemies? |
| And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother? |
| Cas. Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs; |
| And when you do them— |
| Bru. 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. |
| Cas. Pindarus, |
| Bid our commanders lead their charges off |
| A little from this ground. |
| Bru. 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. |
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