Julius Caesar: Act 4, Scene 2

    tragedy

    Camp near Sardis. Before BRUTUS's tent.

    Scene Summary

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    Brutus and Cassius meet outside Sardis with their armies. Cassius is angry. Brutus asks him inside the tent to avoid their quarrel being visible to the troops.

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