Julius Caesar Act 5 Scene 4
Another part of the field.
The Original
Plain Modern English
Alarum. Enter, fighting, Soldiers of both armies; then Brutus, young Cato, Lucilius, and others.
Brutus
Yet, countrymen, O, yet hold up your heads!
Brutus
Countrymen — keep your heads up!
Cato
What bastard doth not? Who will go with me?
I will proclaim my name about the field:—
I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!
A foe to tyrants, and my country's friend;
I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!
Cato
What coward doesn't? Who'll come with me?
I'll shout my name across the battlefield:
I am the son of Marcus Cato!
Enemy to tyrants and friend to my country!
I am the son of Marcus Cato!
He charges the enemy.
Brutus
And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I;
Brutus, my country's friend; know me for Brutus!
Brutus
And I am Brutus — Marcus Brutus!
Brutus, my country's friend. Know me for Brutus!
Exit, charging the enemy. Cato is overpowered, and falls.
Lucilius
O young and noble Cato, art thou down?
Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius;
And mayst be honour'd, being Cato's son.
Lucilius
Young, noble Cato — are you down?
You die as bravely as Titinius did,
and deserve honour as Cato's son.
First Soldier
Yield, or thou diest.
First Soldier
Surrender, or you die.
Lucilius
Only I yield to die:
There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight;
Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death.
Lucilius
I surrender only to die.
Here's enough money to make you kill me at once.
Kill Brutus, and be honoured for his death. (He is not Brutus. He is buying time with his own life.)
First Soldier
We must not. A noble prisoner!
First Soldier
We mustn't. A noble prisoner!
Second Soldier
Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en.
Second Soldier
Make way! Tell Antony that Brutus is captured.
First Soldier
I'll tell the news. Here comes the General.—
First Soldier
I'll tell him. Here comes the general.
Enter Antony.
First Soldier
Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord.
First Soldier
Brutus is taken, my lord! Brutus is taken!
Antony
Where is he?
Antony
Where is he?
Lucilius
Safe, Antony; Brutus is safe enough:
I dare assure thee that no enemy
Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus:
The gods defend him from so great a shame!
When you do find him, or alive or dead,
He will be found like Brutus, like himself.
Lucilius
Safe, Antony. Brutus is safe enough.
I can promise you that no enemy
will ever take noble Brutus alive.
May the gods spare him such a disgrace.
When you do find him, alive or dead,
he'll be found as Brutus — as himself.
Antony
This is not Brutus, friend; but, I assure you,
A prize no less in worth. Keep this man safe,
Give him all kindness; I had rather have
Such men my friends than enemies. Go on,
And see whether Brutus be alive or dead;
And bring us word unto Octavius' tent
How everything is chanced.
Antony
This isn't Brutus, friend — but I assure you,
a prize just as valuable. Keep this man safe.
Treat him well. I'd rather have
men like this as friends than enemies. Go on,
and find out whether Brutus is alive or dead.
Bring word to Octavius's tent
about how everything has turned out.
Exeunt.