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Vol. What says my Lord?

Bru. 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.

Vol. Not so, my Lord.

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Bru. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.
Thou see'st the world, Volumnius, how it goes;
Our enemies have beat us to the pit:

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 toge-

ther;

Even for that our love of old, I pray thee,

Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it.

Vol. That's not an office for a friend, my Lord.

[Alarum still.

Cli. Fly, fly, my Lord; there is no tarrying

here.

Bru. 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 coequest shall attain unto.
So, fare you well at once; for Brutus' tongue
Hath almost ended his life's history:

Night hangs upon wine eyes; my bones would

rest,

That have but labour'd to attain this hour.

[Alarnes. Cry within; Fly, fly, fly.

Cli. Fly, my Lord, fig.

T

Bru. Hence; I will follow thee.

[Exeunt CLITUS, DARDANIUS, and Vo

LUMNIUS.

I pr'ythee, 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?
Stra. Give me your hand first: Fare you well,

my Lord.

Bru. Farewell, good Strato. - Caesar, now

be still;

I kill'd not thee with half so good a will.

[He runs on his sword, and dies.

Alarum. Retreat. Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, MESSALA, LUCILIUS, and their Army.

Oct. What man is that?

Mes. My master's man. - Strato, where is thy master?

Stra. Free from the bondage you are in, Mes

sala;

The conquerors can but make a fire of him:
For Brutus only overcame himself,
And no man else hath honour by his death.

Luc. So Brutus should be found.

thee, Brutus,

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I thank

That thou hast prov'd Lucilius' saying true,
Oct. All that serv'd Brutus, I will entertain

them.

Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?
Stra. Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.
Oct. Do'so, Messala.

Mes. How died my master, Strato?

Stra, I held the sword, and he did run on it.

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Mes. Octavius, then take him to follow thee,
That did the latest service to my master.

An'. 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!

Oct. 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.

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PERSONS REPRESENTED,

M. Antony,
Octavius Caesar,
M. Aemil. Lepidus,
Sextus Pompeius.
Domitius Enobarbus,
Ventidius,

Eros,

Scarus,

Dercetas,

Demetrius,

Philo,

Mecaenas,

Agrippa,
Dolabella,
Proculeius,

Thyreus,

Gallus,

Menas,

}

Triumvirs.

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Friends of Antony.

Friends to Caesar.

Menecrates, Friends of Pompey.

Varrius,

Taurus, Lieutenant-General to Caesar.
Canidius, Lieutenant-General to Antony.
Silius, an Officer in Ventidius's army.
An Ambassador from Antony to Caesar.
Alexas, Mardian, Seleucus, and Diomedes; At-

tendants on Cleopatra.

A Soothsayer. A Clown.
Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt.
Octavia, Sister to Caesar, and Wife to Antony.

Charmian, } Attendants on Cleopatra.

Iras,

Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE, dispersed; in several parts of the Roman Empire.

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