Act IV, Scene 2

Camp near Sardis. Before BRUTUS’s tent.

Drum. Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, LUCIUS, and Soldiers; Tintinius and PINDARUS meeting them

• Brutus. Stand, ho!

• Lucilius. Give the word, ho! and stand.

• Brutus. What now, Lucilius! is Cassius near? 1920

• 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 1925
  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. 1930

• 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, 1935
  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. 1940
  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, 1945
  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. 1950
  [Low march within]
  March gently on to meet him.

Enter CASSIUS and his powers

• Cassius. Stand, ho!

• Brutus. Stand, ho! Speak the word along. 1955

• 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? 1960
  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. 1965
  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. 1970

• 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. 1975
  Let Lucius and Tintinius guard our door.

Exeunt