The New Hudson Shakespeare: Julius Caesar Part 48

[Note 9-11: Ff give to LUC. (Lucilius).]

[Note 2: /What b.a.s.t.a.r.d doth not:/ who is so base-born as not to do so?]

[Note 7-8: The Folios omit the speaker's name. Rowe gave the lines to Brutus, but they are utterly uncharacteristic of him.

Plutarch (see quotation below, l. 29) says that Lucilius impersonated Brutus, and Shakespeare follows this, as l. 14 indicates. The Folios have no 'Exit' or stage direction after l. 8. Professor Michael Macmillan says: "It seems probable that the printers of the Folio by mistake put the heading 'Luc.' two lines too low down."]

[Note 11: "There was the son of Marcus Cato slain ... telling aloud his name, and also his father's name."--Plutarch, _Marcus Brutus_.]

[Page 161]

LUCILIUS. Only I yield to die: There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight; [_Offering money_]

Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death.

1 SOLDIER. We must not. A n.o.ble prisoner! 15

2 SOLDIER. Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en.

1 SOLDIER. I'll tell the news. Here comes the general.

_Enter_ ANTONY

Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord.

ANTONY. Where is he?

LUCILIUS. Safe, Antony; Brutus is safe enough: 20 I dare a.s.sure thee that no enemy Shall ever take alive the n.o.ble Brutus: The G.o.ds defend him from so great a shame!

When you do find him, or alive or dead, He will be found like Brutus, like himself 25

ANTONY. This is not Brutus, friend; but, I a.s.sure 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 where Brutus be alive or dead; 30 And bring us word unto Octavius' tent How every thing is chanc'd. [_Exeunt_]

[Note 13: [_Offering money_] Ff omit.]

[Note 15: 1 SOLDIER Sold. Ff.]

[Note 17: /the news/ Pope (ed. 1728) thee newes Ff.]

[Note 18: _Enter_ ANTONY in Ff after l. 15.]

[Note 26: /Brutus, friend/ F4 Brutus friend F1 F2 F3.]

[Note 30: /where/ Ff whether Camb Globe wh'er Capell.]

[Note 29: "There was one of Brutus' friends called Lucilius, who seeing a troop of barbarous men making no reckoning of all men else they met in their way, but going all together right against Brutus, he determined to stay them with the hazard of his life; and being left behind, told them that he was Brutus: and because they should believe him, he prayed them to bring him to Antonius, for he said he was afraid of Caesar, and that he did trust Antonius better. These barbarous men, being very glad of this good hap, and thinking themselves happy men, they carried him in the night, and sent some before unto Antonius, to tell him of their coming. He was marvellous glad of it and went out to meet them that brought him.... When they came near together, Antonius stayed awhile bethinking himself how he should use Brutus. In the meantime Lucilius was brought to him, who stoutly with a bold countenance said: 'Antonius, I dare a.s.sure thee, that no enemy hath taken or shall take Marcus Brutus alive, and I beseech G.o.d keep him from that fortune: for wheresoever ever he be found, alive or dead, he will be found like himself. And now for myself, I am come unto thee, having deceived these men of arms here, bearing them down that I was Brutus, and do not refuse to suffer any torment thou wilt put me to.'... Antonius on the other side, looking upon all them that had brought him, said unto them: 'My companions, I think ye are sorry you have failed of your purpose, and that you think this man hath done you great wrong: but I a.s.sure you, you have taken a better booty than that you followed. For instead of an enemy you have brought me a friend: and for my part, if you had brought me Brutus alive, truly I cannot tell what I should have done to him. For I had rather have such men my friends, as this man here, than mine enemies.' Then he embraced Lucilius, and at that time delivered him to one of his friends in custody; and Lucilius ever after served him faithfully, even to his death."--Plutarch, _Marcus Brutus_.]

[Page 162]

SCENE V. _Another part of the field_

_Enter_ BRUTUS, DARDANIUS, c.l.i.tUS, STRATO, _and_ VOLUMNIUS

BRUTUS. Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock.

c.l.i.tUS. Statilius show'd the torch-light, but, my lord; He came not back. He is or ta'en or slain.

[Note: SCENE V Capell Scene VIII Pope.--_Another_ ... Ff omit.]

[Note 3: "Brutus thought that there was no great number of men slain in battle; and, to know the truth of it, there was one called Statilius that promised to go through his enemies, for otherwise it was impossible to go see their camp; and from thence, if all were well, that he would lift up a torch-light in the air, and then return again with speed to him. The torch-light was lift up as he had promised, for Statilius went thither. Now, Brutus seeing Statilius tarry long after that, and that he came not again, he said, 'If Statilius be alive, he will come again.' But his evil fortune was such that, as he came back, he lighted in his enemies' hands and was slain. Now the night being far spent, Brutus as he sat bowed towards c.l.i.tus, one of his men, and told him somewhat in his ear: the other answered him not, but fell a-weeping. Thereupon he proved[A] Darda.n.u.s, and said somewhat also to him: at length he came to Volumnius himself, and speaking to him in Greek, prayed him for the studies' sake which brought them acquainted together, that he would help him to put his hand to his sword, to thrust it in him to kill him. Volumnius denied his request, and so did many others."--Plutarch, _Marcus Brutus_.]

[Note A: _i.e._ tried. Cf. _1 Samuel_, XVII, 39.]

[Page 163]

BRUTUS. Sit thee down, c.l.i.tus: slaying is the word; 4 It is a deed in fas.h.i.+on. Hark thee, c.l.i.tus. [_Whispering_]

c.l.i.tUS. What, I, my lord? No, not for all the world.

BRUTUS. Peace then! no words.

c.l.i.tUS. I'll rather kill myself.

BRUTUS. Hark thee, Dardanius. [_Whispering_]

DARDANIUS. Shall I do such a deed?

c.l.i.tUS. O Dardanius!

DARDANIUS. O c.l.i.tus! 10

c.l.i.tUS. What ill request did Brutus make to thee?

DARDANIUS. To kill him, c.l.i.tus. Look, he meditates.

c.l.i.tUS. Now is that n.o.ble vessel full of grief, That it runs over even at his eyes.

BRUTUS. Come hither, good Volumnius; list a word. 15

[Note 5, 8: [_Whispering_] Ff omit.]

[Note 8: /Shall/ Ff Pope omits.]

[Note 13: /n.o.ble vessel full./ Cf. _The Winter's Tale_, III, iii, 21-22.]

[Page 164]

VOLUMNIUS. What says my lord?

BRUTUS. Why, this, Volumnius: The ghost of Caesar hath appear'd to me 17 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. 20