SCENE III. Another part of the field.

       [Alarum. Enter Cassius and Titinius.]

       CASSIUS.

       O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly!

       Myself have to mine own turn’d enemy:

       This ensign here of mine was turning back;

       I slew the coward, and did take it from him.

       TITINIUS.

       O Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early;

       Who, having some advantage on Octavius,

       Took it too eagerly: his soldiers fell to spoil,

       Whilst we by Antony are all enclosed.

       [Enter Pindarus.]

       PINDARUS.

       Fly further off, my lord, fly further off;

       Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord:

       Fly, therefore, noble Cassius, fly far’ off.

       CASSIUS.

       This hill is far enough.—Look, look, Titinius;

       Are those my tents where I perceive the fire?

       TITINIUS.

       They are, my lord.

       CASSIUS.

       Titinius, if thou lovest me,

       Mount thou my horse and hide thy spurs in him,

       Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops

       And here again; that I may rest assured

       Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.

       TITINIUS.

       I will be here again, even with a thought.

       [Exit.]

       CASSIUS.

       Go, Pindarus, get higher 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