Julius Caesar Act 4 Scene 3
Brutus's tent.
The Original
Plain Modern English
Cassius
That you have wronged me doth appear in this:
You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella
For taking bribes here of the Sardians,
Wherein my letters, praying on his side
Because I knew the man, was slighted off.
Cassius
Here's the proof that you've wronged me:
you've convicted and publicly disgraced Lucius Pella
for taking bribes from the Sardians,
and my letters pleading on his behalf,
because I knew the man, were brushed aside.
Brutus
You wronged yourself to write in such a case.
Brutus
You disgraced yourself by writing on such a case.
Cassius
In such a time as this it is not meet
That every nice offense should bear his comment.
Cassius
At a time like this it isn't appropriate
for every trivial offence to be picked over.
Brutus
Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
Are much condemned to have an itching palm,
To sell and mart your offices for gold
To undeservers.
Brutus
Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
are widely accused of having a greedy palm —
of selling official positions for gold
to men who don't deserve them.
Cassius
I an itching palm?
You know that you are Brutus that speaks this,
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
Cassius
I have a greedy palm?
You'd better remember it's Brutus saying this,
or by the gods it would be your last speech.
Brutus
The name of Cassius honors this corruption,
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
Brutus
The name of Cassius lends this corruption respectability,
so punishment hides its face.
Cassius
Chastisement?
Cassius
Punishment?
Brutus
Remember March; the ides of March remember.
Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?
What villain touched his body that did stab
And not for justice? What, shall one of us
That struck the foremost man of all this world
But for supporting robbers, shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes
And sell the mighty space of our large honors
For so much trash as may be graspèd thus?
I had rather be a dog and bay the moon
Than such a Roman.
Brutus
Remember March — remember the ides of March.
Didn't great Julius bleed for the sake of justice?
What villain laid a hand on him and stabbed
for any reason but justice? And shall one of us,
who struck down the greatest man in the world
for protecting thieves — shall we now
dirty our own fingers with sordid bribes
and sell the vast reach of our great honours
for as much rubbish as a hand can hold?
I'd rather be a dog barking at the moon
than that kind of Roman.
Cassius
Brutus, bait not me.
I'll not endure it. You forget yourself
To hedge me in. I am a soldier, I,
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.
Cassius
Brutus, don't provoke me.
I won't stand for it. You're forgetting yourself,
hemming me in like this. I'm a soldier —
longer in service, better qualified than you
to decide terms.
Brutus
Go to! You are not, Cassius.
Brutus
Nonsense. You are not, Cassius.
Cassius
I am.
Cassius
I am.
Brutus
I say you are not.
Brutus
I say you are not.
Cassius
Urge me no more. I shall forget myself.
Have mind upon your health. Tempt me no farther.
Cassius
Push me no further. I'll lose control.
Think of your own safety. Don't provoke me any more.
Brutus
Away, slight man!
Brutus
Get away, you insignificant man!
Cassius
Is 't possible?
Cassius
Is this possible?
Brutus
Hear me, for I will speak.
Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?
Brutus
Listen — I'm going to speak.
Must I give way to your reckless temper?
Am I to be frightened by a madman's glare?
Cassius
O you gods, you gods, must I endure all this?
Cassius
Gods, gods — must I put up with all this?
Brutus
All this? Ay, more. Fret till your proud heart break.
Go show your slaves how choleric you are
And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?
Must I observe you? Must I stand and crouch
Under your testy humor? By the gods,
You shall digest the venom of your spleen
Though it do split you. For, from this day forth,
I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
When you are waspish.
Brutus
All this? And more. Fume until your proud heart bursts.
Go and show your slaves how furious you are
and make your servants tremble. Must I flinch?
Must I defer to you? Must I stand and cringe
under your irritable moods? By the gods,
you'll swallow your own bile
even if it splits you open. From this day on
I'll treat you as entertainment — as a joke —
whenever you turn spiteful.
Cassius
Is it come to this?
Cassius
Has it come to this?
Brutus
You say you are a better soldier.
Let it appear so, make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well. For mine own part,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men.
Brutus
You say you're the better soldier.
Then prove it — make your boasting true,
and I'll be glad of it. For my part,
I'm always happy to learn from noble men.
Cassius
You wrong me every way, you wrong me, Brutus.
I said an elder soldier, not a better.
Did I say 'better'?
Cassius
You wrong me at every turn, Brutus.
I said an older soldier, not a better one.
Did I say 'better'?
Brutus
If you did, I care not.
Brutus
If you did, I don't care.
Cassius
When Caesar lived he durst not thus have moved me.
Cassius
When Caesar was alive he wouldn't have dared provoke me like this.
Brutus
Peace, peace! You durst not so have tempted him.
Brutus
Quiet! You wouldn't have dared provoke him.
Cassius
I durst not?
Cassius
I wouldn't have dared?
Brutus
No.
Brutus
No.
Cassius
What? Durst not tempt him?
Cassius
What — not dared provoke him?
Brutus
For your life you durst not.
Brutus
Not for your life you wouldn't.
Cassius
Do not presume too much upon my love.
I may do that I shall be sorry for.
Cassius
Don't presume too far on my affection.
I might do something I'd regret.
Brutus
You have done that you should be sorry for.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats,
For I am armed so strong in honesty
That they pass by me as the idle wind,
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certain sums of gold, which you denied me,
For I can raise no money by vile means.
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart
And drop my blood for drachmas than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection. I did send
To you for gold to pay my legions,
Which you denied me. Was that done like Cassius?
Should I have answered Caius Cassius so?
When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous
To lock such rascal counters from his friends,
Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts;
Dash him to pieces!
Brutus
You've already done things you ought to regret.
There's no terror in your threats, Cassius,
because I'm so strongly armoured in honesty
that they blow past me like an idle wind
I pay no attention to. I sent to you
for certain sums of gold, and you refused me —
because I can't raise money by dishonest means.
By heaven, I'd rather mint my own heart
and coin my blood than squeeze
peasants' hard hands for their miserable pennies
by any crooked means. I sent
to you for gold to pay my troops,
and you refused. Was that worthy of Cassius?
Would I have answered Caius Cassius that way?
If Marcus Brutus ever grows so greedy
that he locks such worthless coins away from his friends,
then gods, ready your thunderbolts
and smash him to pieces! (He refuses to raise money dishonestly, then rages at Cassius for not giving him money Cassius could only have raised dishonestly.)
Cassius
I denied you not.
Cassius
I didn't refuse you.
Brutus
You did.
Brutus
You did.
Cassius
I did not. He was but a fool that brought
My answer back. Brutus hath rived my heart.
A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
Cassius
I did not. The man who brought back
my answer was a fool. Brutus has split my heart open.
A friend should tolerate his friend's weaknesses,
but Brutus makes mine out to be worse than they are.
Brutus
I do not, till you practice them on me.
Brutus
I don't — until you practise them on me.
Cassius
You love me not.
Cassius
You don't love me.
Brutus
I do not like your faults.
Brutus
I don't like your faults.
Cassius
A friendly eye could never see such faults.
Cassius
A friendly eye would never see such faults.
Brutus
A flatterer's would not, though they do appear
As huge as high Olympus.
Brutus
A flatterer's wouldn't — even if they were
as huge as Mount Olympus.
Cassius
Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come!
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is aweary of the world—
Hated by one he loves, braved by his brother,
Checked like a bondman, all his faults observed,
Set in a notebook, learned and conned by rote
To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep
My spirit from mine eyes! There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast; within, a heart
Dearer than Pluto's mine, richer than gold.
If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth.
I that denied thee gold will give my heart.
Strike as thou didst at Caesar, for I know
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better
Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.
Cassius
Come on then, Antony and young Octavius!
Take your revenge on Cassius alone,
because Cassius is sick of the world —
hated by the man he loves, defied by his brother,
scolded like a slave, all his faults catalogued,
written in a notebook, memorised by heart
to be thrown in my face. I could weep
my very soul out through my eyes! — There's my dagger,
and here's my bare chest. Inside it, a heart
more precious than the god of wealth's mine, richer than gold.
If you're a Roman, cut it out.
I who refused you gold will give you my heart.
Strike as you struck Caesar — because I know
that when you hated him most, you loved him better
than you ever loved Cassius.
Brutus
Sheathe your dagger.
Be angry when you will, it shall have scope.
Do what you will, dishonor shall be humor.
O Cassius, you are yokèd with a lamb
That carries anger as the flint bears fire,
Who, much enforcèd, shows a hasty spark
And straight is cold again.
Brutus
Put your dagger away.
Be angry whenever you like — you'll have room for it.
Do what you want; I'll treat insults as moods.
Cassius, you're yoked to a lamb
who carries anger the way flint carries fire:
struck hard, it gives a quick spark
and is cold again immediately.
Cassius
Hath Cassius lived
To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus
When grief and blood ill-tempered vexeth him?
Cassius
Has Cassius lived
only to be a joke to his Brutus
when grief and a bad temper are tormenting him?
Brutus
When I spoke that, I was ill-tempered too.
Brutus
When I said that, I was in a bad temper myself.
Cassius
Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.
Cassius
You admit that much? Give me your hand.
Brutus
And my heart too.
Brutus
And my heart too.
They clasp hands.
Cassius
O Brutus!
Cassius
Oh, Brutus!
Brutus
What's the matter?
Brutus
What is it?
Cassius
Have not you love enough to bear with me
When that rash humor which my mother gave me
Makes me forgetful?
Cassius
Don't you have enough affection to put up with me
when the hot temper my mother gave me
makes me forget myself?
Brutus
Yes, Cassius, and from henceforth
When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,
He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so.
Brutus
Yes, Cassius. And from now on,
when you get too heated with your Brutus,
he'll assume it's your mother scolding, and let it pass.
Enter a Poet, followed by Lucilius, Titinius, and Lucius.
Poet
Let me go in to see the Generals.
There is some grudge between 'em; 'tis not meet
They be alone.
Poet
Let me in to see the generals.
There's bad blood between them. It isn't right
that they should be alone.
Lucilius
You shall not come to them.
Lucilius
You're not going in to them.
Poet
Nothing but death shall stay me.
Poet
Only death will stop me.
Cassius
How now, what's the matter?
Cassius
What's this? What's going on?
Poet
For shame, you generals, what do you mean?
Love and be friends as two such men should be,
For I have seen more years, I'm sure, than ye.
Poet
Shame on you, generals — what do you think you're doing?
Be loving friends, as two such men should be.
I've certainly seen more years than either of you.
Cassius
Ha, ha, how vilely doth this cynic rhyme!
Cassius
Ha! What awful rhyming from this cynic!
Brutus
Get you hence, sirrah! Saucy fellow, hence!
Brutus
Get out, fellow! Insolent man — out!
Cassius
Bear with him, Brutus. 'Tis his fashion.
Cassius
Put up with him, Brutus. It's just his way.
Brutus
I'll know his humor when he knows his time.
What should the wars do with these jigging fools?—
Companion, hence!
Brutus
I'll tolerate his moods when he learns his timing.
What use are these rhyming fools in a war? —
Off with you, fellow!
Cassius
Away, away, be gone!
Cassius
Go on, go on, get out!
Poet exits.
Brutus
Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders
Prepare to lodge their companies tonight.
Brutus
Lucilius and Titinius, tell the commanders
to prepare to billet their companies for the night.
Cassius
And come yourselves, and bring Messala with you
Immediately to us.
Cassius
And come back yourselves, and bring Messala
to us straight away.
Brutus
Lucius, a bowl of wine.
Brutus
Lucius — a bowl of wine.
Cassius
I did not think you could have been so angry.
Cassius
I didn't think you could get so angry.
Brutus
O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.
Brutus
Cassius, I'm sick with many sorrows.
Cassius
Of your philosophy you make no use
If you give place to accidental evils.
Cassius
You're making no use of your philosophy
if you give way to random misfortunes.
Brutus
No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead.
Brutus
No man bears sorrow better. — Portia is dead. (Six words, dropped in mid-argument, for a wife who killed herself. This is what his self-control costs.)
Cassius
Ha? Portia?
Cassius
What? Portia?
Brutus
She is dead.
Brutus
She's dead.
Cassius
How 'scaped I killing when I crossed you so?
O insupportable and touching loss!
Upon what sickness?
Cassius
How did I escape being killed, provoking you like that?
What an unbearable, heartbreaking loss!
What illness was it?
Brutus
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, swallowed fire.
Brutus
She couldn't bear my absence,
and grief that young Octavius and Mark Antony
had grown so powerful — the news of that came
along with news of her death. She went out of her mind
and, with her servants away, swallowed hot coals.
Cassius
And died so?
Cassius
And died that way?
Brutus
Even so.
Brutus
Just so.
Cassius
O you immortal gods!
Cassius
Immortal gods!
Enter Lucius with wine and candles.
Brutus
Speak no more of her.—Give me a bowl of wine.—
In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius.
Brutus
Say no more about her. — Give me a bowl of wine. —
In this I bury all bad feeling, Cassius.
Cassius
My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge.—
Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup;
I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love.
Cassius
My heart is thirsty for that noble toast. —
Fill it, Lucius, until the wine overflows.
I can't drink too much of Brutus's love.
Enter Titinius and Messala.
Brutus
Come in, Titinius. Welcome, good Messala.
Now sit we close about this taper here,
And call in question our necessities.
Brutus
Come in, Titinius. Welcome, Messala.
Let's sit close around this candle
and go over what needs deciding.
Cassius
Portia, art thou gone?
Cassius
Portia — are you really gone?
Brutus
No more, I pray you.—
Messala, I have here receivèd letters
That young Octavius and Mark Antony
Come down upon us with a mighty power,
Bending their expedition toward Philippi.
Brutus
No more, please. —
Messala, I've received letters here
saying young Octavius and Mark Antony
are coming at us with a huge force,
directing their march toward Philippi.
Messala
Myself have letters of the selfsame tenor.
Messala
I've had letters saying exactly the same.
Brutus
With what addition?
Brutus
With anything extra?
Messala
That by proscription and bills of outlawry,
Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus
Have put to death an hundred senators.
Messala
That by their death lists and outlawry orders,
Octavius, Antony and Lepidus
have executed a hundred senators.
Brutus
Therein our letters do not well agree.
Mine speak of seventy senators that died
By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.
Brutus
Our letters don't agree on that.
Mine says seventy senators died
by their lists, Cicero among them.
Cassius
Cicero one?
Cassius
Cicero one of them?
Messala
Cicero is dead,
And by that order of proscription.
Had you your letters from your wife, my lord?
Messala
Cicero is dead,
killed by that same order.
Did you have letters from your wife, my lord?
Brutus
No, Messala.
Brutus
No, Messala.
Messala
Nor nothing in your letters writ of her?
Messala
And nothing written about her in your letters?
Brutus
Nothing, Messala.
Brutus
Nothing, Messala.
Messala
That methinks is strange.
Messala
That seems strange to me.
Brutus
Why ask you? Hear you aught of her in yours?
Brutus
Why do you ask? Is there news of her in yours?
Messala
No, my lord.
Messala
No, my lord.
Brutus
Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true.
Brutus
Now — as you're a Roman — tell me the truth.
Messala
Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell,
For certain she is dead, and by strange manner.
Messala
Then bear the truth like a Roman:
she is certainly dead, and by a strange means.
Brutus
Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala.
With meditating that she must die once,
I have the patience to endure it now.
Brutus
Then farewell, Portia. We all must die, Messala.
By reflecting that she had to die sometime,
I have the composure to bear it now. (He has already been told. He is performing the news a second time so his men can watch him take it well.)
Messala
Even so great men great losses should endure.
Messala
That is how great men should bear great losses.
Cassius
I have as much of this in art as you,
But yet my nature could not bear it so.
Cassius
I have as much of that philosophy as you do,
but my nature couldn't take it that way.
Brutus
Well, to our work alive. What do you think
Of marching to Philippi presently?
Brutus
Well — back to the business of the living. What do you think
about marching to Philippi immediately?
Cassius
I do not think it good.
Cassius
I don't think it's wise.
Brutus
Your reason?
Brutus
Your reason?
Cassius
This it is:
'Tis better that the enemy seek us;
So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers,
Doing himself offense, whilst we, lying still,
Are full of rest, defense, and nimbleness.
Cassius
It's this:
it's better to make the enemy come to us.
That way he burns his supplies, tires his troops
and damages himself, while we, staying put,
stay rested, defended and quick.
Brutus
Good reasons must of force give place to better.
The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground
Do stand but in a forced affection,
For they have grudged us contribution.
The enemy, marching along by them,
By them shall make a fuller number up,
Come on refreshed, new-added, and encouraged,
From which advantage shall we cut him off
If at Philippi we do face him there,
These people at our back.
Brutus
Good reasons must give way to better ones.
The people between here and Philippi
support us only under compulsion —
they've resented paying us.
If the enemy marches through them,
they'll swell his numbers,
and he'll arrive refreshed, reinforced and encouraged.
We'd cut him off from that advantage
by facing him at Philippi instead,
with these people behind us.
Cassius
Hear me, good brother—
Cassius
Listen to me, brother—
Brutus
Under your pardon. You must note besides
That we have tried the utmost of our friends,
Our legions are brim full, our cause is ripe.
The enemy increaseth every day;
We, at the height, are ready to decline.
There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves
Or lose our ventures.
Brutus
With your permission. You should also note
that we've drawn on our allies to the limit,
our legions are at full strength, our cause is ripe.
The enemy grows stronger daily;
we're at our peak and about to decline.
There's a tide in human affairs
which, caught at the flood, leads on to fortune —
and missed, leaves the whole voyage of a life
stuck in shallows and misery.
We're afloat on just such a full sea now,
and we must take the current while it favours us
or lose everything we've risked. (Magnificent, and completely wrong. Cassius is the soldier. Brutus wins the argument and loses the war.)
Cassius
Then, with your will, go on;
We'll along ourselves and meet them at Philippi.
Cassius
Then, if you insist, so be it.
We'll march and meet them at Philippi.
Brutus
The deep of night is crept upon our talk,
And nature must obey necessity,
Which we will niggard with a little rest.
There is no more to say.
Brutus
Deep night has crept up on our conversation,
and the body must obey necessity,
which we'll grudgingly answer with a little rest.
There's nothing more to say.
Cassius
No more. Good night.
Early tomorrow will we rise and hence.
Cassius
Nothing more. Good night.
We'll rise early tomorrow and move out.
Brutus
Lucius. My gown.
Farewell, good Messala.—
Good night, Titinius.—Noble, noble Cassius,
Good night and good repose.
Brutus
Lucius — my gown.
Farewell, Messala. —
Good night, Titinius. — Noble, noble Cassius,
good night and rest well.
Cassius
O my dear brother,
This was an ill beginning of the night.
Never come such division 'tween our souls!
Let it not, Brutus.
Cassius
My dear brother,
this was a bad way to start the night.
May such a rift never come between us again.
Don't let it, Brutus.
Brutus
Everything is well.
Brutus
All is well.
Cassius
Good night, my lord.
Cassius
Good night, my lord.
Brutus
Good night, good brother.
Brutus
Good night, good brother.
Titinius and Messala
Good night, Lord Brutus.
Titinius and Messala
Good night, Lord Brutus.
Brutus
Farewell, everyone.
Brutus
Farewell, everyone.
All but Brutus and Lucius exit.
Brutus
Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument?
Brutus
Give me the gown. Where's your lute?
Lucius
Here in the tent.
Lucius
Here in the tent.
Brutus
What, thou speak'st drowsily?
Poor knave, I blame thee not; thou art o'erwatched.
Call Claudius and some other of my men;
I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.
Brutus
You sound half asleep.
Poor lad, I don't blame you — you've been up too long.
Call Claudius and some others of my men.
I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.
Lucius
Varro and Claudius.
Lucius
Varro! Claudius!
Enter Varro and Claudius.
Varro
Calls my lord?
Varro
Did my lord call?
Brutus
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.
Brutus
Please, gentlemen, lie down in my tent and sleep.
I may wake you shortly
with an errand to my brother Cassius.
Varro
So please you, we will stand and watch your pleasure.
Varro
If you like, we'll stand watch and await your orders.
Brutus
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.
Brutus
I won't have that. Lie down, good men.
I may change my mind anyway.
Look, Lucius — here's the book I was hunting for.
I'd put it in my gown pocket.
Lucius
I was sure your Lordship did not give it me.
Lucius
I was certain your lordship hadn't given it to me.
Brutus
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?
Brutus
Bear with me, lad — I'm very forgetful.
Can you keep your heavy eyes open a while longer
and play a tune or two?
Lucius
Ay, my lord, an 't please you.
Lucius
Yes, my lord, if you'd like.
Brutus
It does, my boy.
I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing.
Brutus
I would, lad.
I ask too much of you, but you're willing.
Lucius
It is my duty, sir.
Lucius
It's my duty, sir.
Brutus
I should not urge thy duty past thy might.
I know young bloods look for a time of rest.
Brutus
I shouldn't push your duty past your strength.
I know young people need their rest.
Lucius
I have slept, my lord, already.
Lucius
I've already slept, my lord.
Brutus
It was well done, and thou shalt sleep again.
I will not hold thee long. If I do live,
I will be good to thee.
Brutus
Good — and you'll sleep again.
I won't keep you long. If I live,
I'll be good to you.
Music and a song. Lucius falls asleep.
Brutus
This is a sleepy tune. O murd'rous slumber,
Layest thou thy leaden mace upon my boy,
That plays thee music?—Gentle knave, good night.
I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee.
If thou dost nod, thou break'st thy instrument.
I'll take it from thee and, good boy, good night.
Let me see, let me see; is not the leaf turned down
Where I left reading? Here it is, I think.
How ill this taper burns.
Brutus
That's a drowsy tune. — Murderous sleep,
are you laying your leaden club on my boy
who's playing music for you? — Gentle lad, good night.
I won't wrong you by waking you.
If you nod off you'll break your lute.
I'll take it from you. Good boy — good night.
Let me see — isn't the page turned down
where I stopped reading? Here it is, I think.
How badly this candle burns.
Enter the Ghost of Caesar.
Brutus
Ha, who comes here?—
I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous apparition.
It comes upon me.—Art thou any thing?
Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil,
That mak'st my blood cold and my hair to stare?
Speak to me what thou art.
Brutus
Who's there?
I think it's my eyes failing
that shapes this monstrous vision.
It's coming toward me. — Are you anything at all?
Are you some god, some angel, or some devil,
making my blood cold and my hair stand on end?
Tell me what you are.
Ghost
Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
Ghost
Your evil spirit, Brutus.
Brutus
Why com'st thou?
Brutus
Why have you come?
Ghost
To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.
Ghost
To tell you that you'll see me at Philippi.
Brutus
Well, then I shall see thee again?
Brutus
So I'll see you again?
Ghost
Ay, at Philippi.
Ghost
Yes — at Philippi.
Brutus
Why, I will see thee at Philippi, then.
Brutus
Then I'll see you at Philippi.
Ghost exits.
Brutus
Now I have taken heart, thou vanishest.
Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.—
Boy, Lucius!—Varro, Claudius, sirs, awake!
Claudius!
Brutus
Now that I've found my courage, you vanish.
Evil spirit, I'd have talked with you longer. —
Boy! Lucius! — Varro, Claudius — wake up!
Claudius!
Lucius
The strings, my lord, are false.
Lucius
The strings are out of tune, my lord.
Brutus
He thinks he still is at his instrument.
Lucius, awake!
Brutus
He thinks he's still playing.
Lucius — wake up!
Lucius
My lord?
Lucius
My lord?
Brutus
Didst thou dream, Lucius, that thou so criedst out?
Brutus
Were you dreaming, Lucius, to cry out like that?
Lucius
My lord, I do not know that I did cry.
Lucius
My lord, I don't think I cried out.
Brutus
Yes, that thou didst. Didst thou see anything?
Brutus
Yes, you did. Did you see anything?
Lucius
Nothing, my lord.
Lucius
Nothing, my lord.
Brutus
Sleep again, Lucius.—Sirrah Claudius!
Fellow thou, awake!
Brutus
Go back to sleep, Lucius. — Claudius!
You there — wake up!
Varro
My lord?
Varro
My lord?
Claudius
My lord?
Claudius
My lord?
Brutus
Why did you so cry out, sirs, in your sleep?
Brutus
Why did you cry out in your sleep?
Varro and Claudius
Did we, my lord?
Varro and Claudius
Did we, my lord?
Brutus
Ay. Saw you anything?
Brutus
Yes. Did you see anything?
Varro
No, my lord, I saw nothing.
Varro
No, my lord, I saw nothing.
Claudius
Nor I, my lord.
Claudius
Nor I, my lord.
Brutus
Go and commend me to my brother Cassius.
Bid him set on his powers betimes before,
And we will follow.
Brutus
Go and give my regards to my brother Cassius.
Tell him to move his forces out early, ahead of us,
and we'll follow.
Varro and Claudius
It shall be done, my lord.
Varro and Claudius
It'll be done, my lord.
They exit. — End of Act Four.