Julius Caesar

Oh, look, Titinius, look! Those villains, our soldiers, flee! I’ve become an enemy to my own soldiers! This standard-bearer here of mine was running away, so I killed him and took the flag from him. (points to his flag)

Oh, Cassius, Brutus gave the orders too soon. Having an advantage over Octavius, he took it too eagerly, and his soldiers began looting, and now we’re surrounded by Antony’s men.

Retreat further, my lord, retreat further. Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord. Therefore you must run, noble Cassius.

This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius. Are those my tents on fire?

They are, my lord.

Titinius, if you love me, get on your horse and spur him on until he’s brought you to those troops and back again, so that I can find out whether those troops are friends or enemies.

I’ll be back quicker than you can think a thought.

Go, Pindarus, climb a little higher on this hill. My eyesight has always been bad. Watch Titinius and tell me what you see in the field.

Today was the day I breathed my first breath. Time has come round, and I’ll end where I began. My life has run its circle. (to PINDARUS) What can you see, boy?

(above) Oh, my lord!

What news?

(above) Titinius is surrounded by horsemen who are quickly approaching him, yet he spurs onward. Now they’re almost on him. Now, Titinius! Now some dismount. Oh, he gets down too. He’s taken.

And listen! They shout for joy.

Come down, look no more. Oh, I’m such a coward for living long enough to see my best friend taken before my eyes!

Come here, boy. I took you prisoner in Parthia, and at that time I made you swear to try to do whatever I ordered you to, except take your own life. Come now, keep your oath. (gives his sword to PINDARUS) Now you’ll be a free man. Take this good sword, which ran through Caesar’s bowels, and plunge it in my chest. Don’t hesitate. Here, take the handle, and when my face is covered as it is now, use the sword.

Caesar, you are revenged with the very same sword that killed you. (he dies)

So I’m free. But I didn’t want to be free like this. Oh, Cassius, I’ll run far from this country to where no Romans can find me.

The armies have merely changed places, Titinius, because Octavius has been overthrown by noble Brutus’ forces at the very moment that Antony overthrew Cassius’ legions.

This news will comfort Cassius.

Where did you leave him?

On this hill and in despair, with his slave Pindarus.

Isn’t that him on the ground?

He doesn’t seem to be alive. Oh, my heart!

Isn’t that him?

No, it was him, Messala, but Cassius is no more. Just as the sun’s rays turn red when it sets, so Cassius has ended his life in a pool of red blood. The sun of Rome has set! Our day is over. Clouds, dew, and dangers approach. We’re finished! He didn’t believe I would ever return on my mission, and so he killed himself.

Yes, he killed himself because he thought we’d lost the whole battle. Sadness, which misconstrues reality, gave birth to his errors in thinking—and then destroyed him.

Pindarus! Where are you, Pindarus?

Look for him, Titinius, while I go to meet the noble Brutus and force him to hear this news. I say “force” because Brutus would rather I stuck sharp blades and poisoned arrows in his ears than fill them with this.

Hurry, Messala, and I’ll look for Pindarus in the meantime.

Why did you send me out, brave Cassius? Didn’t I meet up with your allies? And didn’t they place the wreath of victory on my brow and order me to give it to you? Didn’t you hear their shouts? Alas, you misunderstood everything! But let me place this wreath on your head. Your Brutus ordered me to give it to you, and I’ll do what he says. (he lays a wreath on CASSIUS’ head) Brutus, come this way and see how much I admired Caius Cassius. With your permission, gods, this is a Roman’s duty. Come, Cassius’ sword, and strike Titinius’ heart. (he stabs himself with CASSIUS’ sword and dies.)

Where is his body, Messala?

Over there, where Titinius mourns it.

Titinius is lying face-up.

He’s been killed.

Oh, Julius Caesar, you are still powerful. Your ghost walks the earth and turns our swords toward our own stomachs.

Brave Titinius! Look, he even put the crown on dead Cassius!

Could you have found two Romans as good as these two? Good-bye to you, the last of all the Romans. Rome will never produce your equal. Friends, I owe more tears to this dead man than you will see me shed. I will find the time to cry for you, Cassius, I’ll find the time. Come, then, and send his body to Thasos. We won’t have his funeral at our camp, because it might make us too sad to fight. Lucillius, come. And come, young Cato. Let’s proceed to the field. Labio and Flavio, push our armies onward. It is three o’clock, and, Romans, before night, we will try our luck in a second battle.