SEARCH TEXTS  

Plays  +  Sonnets  +  Poems  +  Concordance  +  Advanced Search  +  About OSS

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

print/save print/save view

---
       

Act IV, Scene 2

Camp near Sardis. Before BRUTUS’s tent.

       
---

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

  • 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

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