Julius Caesar: Act 5, Scene 5

    tragedy

    Another part of the field.

    Scene Summary

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    Brutus asks each of his remaining friends to help him die. They all refuse. His servant Strato holds the sword while Brutus runs onto it. Antony arrives and stands over the body. He says Brutus was the only conspirator who acted out of genuine principle rather than envy — 'This was the noblest Roman of them all.' Octavius orders an honourable burial.

    Enter BRUTUS, DARDANIUS, CLITUS, STRATO, and VOLUMNIUS
    BRUTUS
    Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock.
    CLITUS
    Statilius show'd the torch-light, but, my lord,
    He came not back: he is or ta'en or slain.
    BRUTUS
    Sit thee down, Clitus: slaying is the word;
    It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus.
    Whispers
    CLITUS
    What, I, my lord? No, not for all the world.
    BRUTUS
    Peace then! no words.
    CLITUS
    I'll rather kill myself.
    BRUTUS
    Hark thee, Dardanius.
    Whispers
    DARDANIUS
    Shall I do such a deed?
    CLITUS
    O Dardanius!
    DARDANIUS
    O Clitus!
    CLITUS
    What ill request did Brutus make to thee?
    DARDANIUS
    To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates.
    CLITUS
    Now is that noble vessel full of grief,
    That it runs over even at his eyes.
    BRUTUS
    Come hither, good Volumnius; list a word.
    VOLUMNIUS
    What says my lord?
    BRUTUS
    Why, this, Volumnius:
    The ghost of Caesar hath appear'd to me
    Two several times by night; at Sardis once,
    And, this last night, here in Philippi fields:
    I know my hour is come.
    VOLUMNIUS
    Not so, my lord.
    BRUTUS
    Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.
    Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes;
    Our enemies have beat us to the pit:
    Low alarums
    It is more worthy to leap in ourselves,
    Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius,
    Thou know'st that we two went to school together:
    Even for that our love of old, I prithee,
    Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it.
    VOLUMNIUS
    That's not an office for a friend, my lord.
    Alarum still
    CLITUS
    Fly, fly, my lord; there is no tarrying here.
    BRUTUS
    Farewell to you; and you; and you, Volumnius.
    Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep;
    Farewell to thee too, Strato. Countrymen,
    My heart doth joy that yet in all my life
    I found no man but he was true to me.
    I shall have glory by this losing day
    More than Octavius and Mark Antony
    By this vile conquest shall attain unto.
    So fare you well at once; for Brutus' tongue
    Hath almost ended his life's history:
    Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest,
    That have but labour'd to attain this hour.
    Alarum. Cry within, 'Fly, fly, fly!'
    CLITUS
    Fly, my lord, fly.
    BRUTUS
    Hence! I will follow.
    Exeunt CLITUS, DARDANIUS, and VOLUMNIUS
    I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord:
    Thou art a fellow of a good respect;
    Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it:
    Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face,
    While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?
    STRATO
    Give me your hand first. Fare you well, my lord.
    BRUTUS
    Farewell, good Strato.
    Runs on his sword
    Caesar, now be still:
    I kill'd not thee with half so good a will.
    Dies
    Alarum. Retreat. Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, MESSALA, LUCILIUS, and the army
    OCTAVIUS
    What man is that?
    MESSALA
    My master's man. Strato, where is thy master?
    STRATO
    Free from the bondage you are in, Messala:
    The conquerors can but make a fire of him;
    For Brutus only overcame himself,
    And no man else hath honour by his death.
    LUCILIUS
    So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus,
    That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true.
    OCTAVIUS
    All that served Brutus, I will entertain them.
    Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?
    STRATO
    Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.
    OCTAVIUS
    Do so, good Messala.
    MESSALA
    How died my master, Strato?
    STRATO
    I held the sword, and he did run on it.
    MESSALA
    Octavius, then take him to follow thee,
    That did the latest service to my master.
    ANTONY
    This was the noblest Roman of them all:
    All the conspirators save only he
    Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
    He only, in a general honest thought
    And common good to all, made one of them.
    His life was gentle, and the elements
    So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up
    And say to all the world 'This was a man!'
    OCTAVIUS
    According to his virtue let us use him,
    With all respect and rites of burial.
    Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie,
    Most like a soldier, order'd honourably.
    So call the field to rest; and let's away,
    To part the glories of this happy day.
    Exeunt