ACT 4
[Drum. Enter BRUTUS, LUCILIUS, LUCIUS, and Soldiers; TITINIUS and PINDARUS meeting them]
BRUTUS
Stand, ho!
Stop there!
LUCILIUS
Give the word, ho! And stand.
Spread the word: we’re stopping here!
BRUTUS
What now, Lucilius! Is Cassius near?
What’s up, Lucilius? Is Cassius near?
LUCILIUS
He is at hand; and Pindarus is come
He’s near. His servant Pindarus is here
To do you salutation from his master.
To pass on salutation from his master.
BRUTUS
He greets me well. Your master, Pindarus,
It’s well received. Your master, Pindarus,
In his own change, or by ill officers,
By changing views or heeding bad advice,
Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
Has given me some reason to desire
Things done, undone: but, if he be at hand,
I hadn’t done some things; but if he’s near,
I shall be satisfied.
I’d like to hear his side.
PINDARUS
I do not doubt
I have no doubt
But that my noble master will appear
That my most noble master will appear
Such as he is, full of regard and honour.
Just as he is: respectful and upstanding.
BRUTUS
He is not doubted. A word, Lucilius;
I do not doubt it. Lucilius, a word, please?
How he received you, let me be resolved.
How was he when you met him? Tell me how.
LUCILIUS
With courtesy and with respect enough;
Quite courteous, and showed enough respect,
But not with such familiar instances,
But he was not as friendly as before,
Nor with such free and friendly conference,
Nor amiable or open in discussion
As he hath used of old.
Like how he was before.
BRUTUS
Thou hast described
You have described
A hot friend cooling: ever note, Lucilius,
A once-warm friendship cooling off. Lucilius,
When love begins to sicken and decay,
When friendships start to wane from what they once were,
It useth an enforced ceremony.
They do so with a rather strained politeness.
There are no tricks in plain and simple faith;
There’s no veneer in plain and simple friendships;
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
But prats, like horses chomping at the bit,
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;
Show-off about their prowess and their strength,
But when they should endure the bloody spur,
But when they’re spurred on as they start to fade,
They fall their crests, and, like deceitful jades,
Their heads begin to fall, like shoddy horses,
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?
And fail when tested. Is the army coming?
LUCILIUS
They mean this night in Sardis to be quartered;
They’re camping sixty miles away, at Sardis.
The greater part, the horse in general,
The stronger part, the horse-backed cavalry,
Are come with Cassius.
Have come with Cassius.
BRUTUS
Hark! He is arrived.
Listen, he’s arrived.
[Low march within]
March gently on to meet him.
Let’s go and warmly greet him.
[Enter CASSIUS and his powers]
CASSIUS
Stand, ho!
Wait up!
BRUTUS
Stand, ho! Speak the word along.
Wait up! Spread the word amongst the troops.
FIRST SOLDIER
Stand!
Halt!
SECOND SOLDIER
Stand!
Halt!
THIRD SOLDIER
Stand!
Halt!
CASSIUS
Most noble brother, you have done me wrong.
Most noble brother, you have done me wrong.
BRUTUS
Judge me, you gods! Wrong I mine enemies?
God judge me! I don’t even wrong my foes,
And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother?
And if don’t, how could I wrong my brother?
CASSIUS
Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs;
Brutus, your casual manner masks your wrong deeds,
And when you do them--
And when you do them…
BRUTUS
Cassius, be content.
Cassius, you must calm down.
Speak your griefs softly: I do know you well.
Share your gripes quietly. I know you well.
Before the eyes of both our armies here,
In front of both our armies watching us,
Which should perceive nothing but love from us,
(And they should witness only love between us,)
Let us not wrangle: bid them move away;
We mustn’t fight. Tell them to move away.
Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
Inside my tent, Cassius, explain your griefs,
And I will give you audience.
And I will listen to you.
CASSIUS
Pindarus,
Pindarus,
Bid our commanders lead their charges off
Have our commanders lead our soldiers off
A little from this ground.
Away from here a little.
BRUTUS
Lucilius, do you the like; and let no man
Lucius, go do the same, and make sure no one
Come to our tent till we have done our conference.
Comes to our tent until we’ve had our meeting.
Let Lucius and Titinius guard our door.
Have Lucilius and Titinius guard our door.
[Exeunt]
