on that hill:My sight was ever thick: regard Titinius,
And tell me what thou notest about the field.—
[Pindarus goes up.]
This day I breathed first: time is come round,
And where I did begin, there shall I end;
My life is run his compass.—Sirrah, what news?
PINDARUS.
[Above.] O my lord!
CASSIUS.
What news?
PINDARUS.
[Above.] Titinius is enclosed round about
With horsemen, that make to him on the spur:
Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him.—
Now, Titinius!—Now some ‘light. O, he ‘lights too:
He’s ta’en; [Shout.] and, hark! they shout for joy.
CASSIUS.
Come down; behold no more.—
O, coward that I am, to live so long,
To see my best friend ta’en before my face!
[Pindarus descends.]
Come hither, sirrah:
In Parthia did I take thee prisoner;
And then I swore thee, saving of thy life,
That whatsoever I did bid thee do,
Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath;
Now be a freeman; and with this good sword,
That ran through Caesar’s bowels, search this bosom.
Stand not to answer: here, take thou the hilts;
And when my face is cover’d, as ‘tis now,
Guide thou the sword.—Caesar, thou art revenged,
Even with the sword that kill’d thee.
[Dies.]
PINDARUS.
So, I am free, yet would not so have been,
Durst I have done my will.—O Cassius!
Far from this country Pindarus shall run,
Where never Roman shall take note of him.
[Exit.]
[Re-enter Titinius with Messala.]
MESSALA.
It is but change, Titinius; for Octavius
Is overthrown by noble Brutus’ power,
As Cassius’ legions are by Antony.
TITINIUS.
These tidings would well comfort Cassius.
MESSALA.
Where did you leave him?
TITINIUS.
All disconsolate,
With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.
MESSALA.
Is not that he that lies upon the ground?
TITINIUS.
He lies not like the living. O my heart!
MESSALA.
Is not that he?
TITINIUS.
No, this was he, Messala,
But Cassius is no more.—O setting Sun,
As in thy red rays thou dost sink to night,
So in his red blood Cassius’ day is set,
The sun of Rome is set! Our day is gone;
Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are done!
Mistrust of my success hath done this deed.
MESSALA.
Mistrust of good success hath done this deed.
O hateful Error, Melancholy’s child!
Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men
The things that are not? O Error, soon conceived,
Thou never comest unto a happy birth,
But kill’st the mother that engender’d thee!
TITINIUS.
What, Pindarus! where art thou, Pindarus?
MESSALA.
Seek him, Titinius, whilst I go to meet
The noble Brutus, thrusting this report
Into his ears: I may say, thrusting it;
For piercing steel and darts envenomed
Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus
As tidings of this sight.
TITINIUS.
Hie you, Messala,
And I will seek for Pindarus the while.—
[Exit Messala.]
Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius?
Did I not meet thy friends? And did not they
Put on my brows this wreath of victory,
And bid me give it thee? Didst thou not hear their shouts?
Alas, thou hast misconstrued every thing!
But, hold thee, take this garland on thy brow;
Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I
Will do his bidding.—Brutus, come apace,
And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.—
By your leave, gods: this is a Roman’s part:
Come, Cassius’ sword, and find Titinius’ heart.
[Dies.]
[Alarum. Re-enter Messala, with Brutus, young Cato,
