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Act 5, Scene 2
Julius Caesar Translation Act 5, Scene 3
Sounds of battle. CASSIUS and TITINIUS enter.
CASSIUS
O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly! Myself have to mine own turned enemy. This ensign here of mine was turning back. I slew the coward and did take it from him. [indicates his standard]
CASSIUS
Oh, look, Titinius, look! My soldiers, those scoundrels, are running away! I have become an enemy to my own soldiers! This flag-bearer of mine was running away, so I killed the coward and took the flag from him. [Points to the flag he’s holding]
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.
TITINIUS
Oh, Cassius, Brutus gave the orders too soon. Having an advantage on Octavius, he took a his chance too early. His soldiers began looting, while we were surrounded by Antony’s men.
PINDARUS enters.
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PINDARUS
Fly further off, my lord, fly further off. Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord. Fly, therefore, noble Cassius, fly far off.
PINDARUS
Retreat further, my lord, retreat further. Mark Antony has over-run your camp, my lord. Run, noble Cassius, run far away.
CASSIUS
This hill is far enough.—Look, look, Titinius.Are those my tents where I perceive the fire?
CASSIUS
This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius. Are those my tents on fire?
TITINIUS
They are, my lord.
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.
CASSIUS
Titinius, if you love me, get on your horse and spur him on as fast as you can until he’s brought you near to those troops and back again. That way, I can learn whether those troops are friends or enemies.
TITINIUS
I will be here again, even with a thought.
TITINIUS
I’ll be there and back again, as quick as a thought.
TITINIUS exits.
CASSIUS
Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill. My sight was ever thick. Regard Titinius, And tell me what thou notest about the field.
CASSIUS
Go, Pindarus. Climb a little higher up that hill. My eyesight was always bad. Watch Titinius and tell me what you see in the field.
PINDARUS ascends the hill.
CASSIUS
This day I breathed first. Time is come round, And where I did begin, there shall I end. My life is run his compass. [to PINDARUS] Sirrah, what news?
CASSIUS
Today was the day I breathed my first breath. Time has come around, and I’ll end where I began—on my birthday. My life has run its circle.
[To PINDARUS] What can you see, boy?
PINDARUS
[above] O my lord!
PINDARUS
[From above the stage] Oh, my lord!
CASSIUS
What news?
CASSIUS
What news?
PINDARUS
[above] Titinius is enclosèd 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. Oh, he lights too. He’s ta'en.
PINDARUS
[From above the stage] Titinius is surrounded by horsemen who are riding rapidly toward him. Yet he rides onward. Now they’re almost on him. Now, Titinius! Now some men are dismounting from their horses. Oh, he's getting down too. He’s been taken captive.
A shout offstage.
PINDARUS
And, hark! They shout for joy.
PINDARUS
And listen! They shout for joy.
CASSIUS
Come down, behold no more.Oh, coward that I am, to live so longTo see my best friend ta'en before my face!
CASSIUS
Come down. Don't look anymore. Oh, what a coward I am to live long enough to see my best friend taken before my eyes!
PINDARUS returns.
CASSIUS
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. [gives his sword to PINDARUS] Now be a free man, 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 covered, as ’tis now, Guide thou the sword.
CASSIUS
Come here, boy. I took you prisoner in Parthia, and at that time, I spared your life and made you swear to attempt to do whatever I ordered you to. Come now, keep your oath. [He gives his sword to PINDARUS] Now you’ll be a free man. Take this good sword, which ran through Caesar’s guts, and thrust it into my chest. Don’t pause to ask questions. Here, take the handle, and when my face is covered as it is now, thrust the sword.
PINDARUS stabs CASSIUS.
CASSIUS
Caesar, thou art revenged,Even with the sword that killed thee. [dies]
CASSIUS
Caesar, you are revenged, with the same sword that killed you. [He 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.
PINDARUS
So I’m free. But if I had dared to follow my own desires, I wouldn't be free. Oh, Cassius, I’ll run far from this country to where no Romans can find me.
PINDARUS exits.
TITINIUS and MESSALA enter.
MESSALA
It is but change, Titinius, for OctaviusIs overthrown by noble Brutus' power,As Cassius' legions are by Antony.
MESSALA
Titinius, it’s a meaningless change. Noble Brutus’ forces overcame Octavius' troops at the same time Antony overcame Cassius’ legions.
TITINIUS
These tidings will well comfort Cassius.
TITINIUS
This news will comfort Cassius.
MESSALA
Where did you leave him?
MESSALA
Where did you leave him?
TITINIUS
All disconsolate,With Pindarus his bondman on this hill.
TITINIUS
In despair, with his slave Pindarus on this hill.
MESSALA
Is not that he that lies upon the ground?
MESSALA
Isn’t that him lying on the ground?
TITINIUS
He lies not like the living. O my heart!
TITINIUS
He lies there as if he isn’t alive. Oh, my heart!
MESSALA
Is not that he?
MESSALA
Isn’t that him?
TITINIUS
No, this was he, Messala, But Cassius is no more. O setting sun, As in thy red rays thou dost sink tonight, 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.
TITINIUS
It was him, Messala. But Cassius is no more. Oh, setting sun, just as you sink into your red rays to end the day, so has Cassius’ life ended in his own red blood. The sun of Rome has set! Our day is over. Clouds, dew, and dangers approach. We’re finished! His doubts about the successful outcome of my mission drove him to kill himself.
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 engendered thee!
MESSALA
His uncertainty of any positive outcome drove him to do this. Despair, why do you make men believe things that are false, so that they act in error? And error, as soon as you come into being, you kill the person that created you, instead of bringing joy to that person!
TITINIUS
What, Pindarus! Where art thou, Pindarus?
TITINIUS
Pindarus! Where are you, 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 envenomèd Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus As tidings of this sight.
MESSALA
Titinius, look for Pindarus while I go to meet the noble Brutus and thrust this news into his ears. I say “thrust” because Brutus would prefer to have sharp blades and poisoned darts in his ears than to hear of this.
TITINIUS
Hie you, Messala,And I will seek for Pindarus the while.
TITINIUS
Get going, Messala, and I’ll look for Pindarus in the meantime.
MESSALA exits.
TITINIUS
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 everything! But, hold thee, take this garland on thy brow. Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I Will do his bidding. [lays wreath on CASSIUS’ head] 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. [stabs himself with CASSIUS’s sword and dies]
TITINIUS
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 forehead and ask me to give it to you? Didn’t you hear their shouts? Alas, you misunderstood everything! But, wait, I’ll place this wreath on your head. Your Brutus asked me to give it to you, and I’ll do as he asks. [He lays a wreath on CASSIUS’ head] Brutus, come quickly, and see how much I loved Caius Cassius. With your permission, gods, this is a Roman’s duty. Come, Cassius’s sword, and find Titinius’s heart. [He stabs himself with CASSIUS’ sword and dies.]
Sounds of battle. BRUTUS, MESSALA, Young CATO, STRATO, VOLUMNIUS, LUCILLIUS, LABIO, and FLAVIO enter.
BRUTUS
Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie?
BRUTUS
Where, where is his body lying, Messala?
MESSALA
Lo, yonder, and Titinius mourning it.
MESSALA
Look, over there, where Titinius mourns it.
BRUTUS
Titinius' face is upward.
BRUTUS
Titinius is lying face-up.
CATO
He is slain.
CATO
He is dead.
BRUTUS
O Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet!Thy spirit walks abroad and turns our swordsIn our own proper entrails.
BRUTUS
Oh, Julius Caesar, you are still mighty. Your ghost walks among us, and turns our swords toward our own stomachs.
Faint sounds of battle.
CATO
Brave Titinius!—Look whe 'er he have not crowned dead Cassius.
CATO
Brave Titinius! Look, he even placed a wreath on dead Cassius!
BRUTUS
Are yet two Romans living such as these? —The last of all the Romans, fare thee well! It is impossible that ever Rome Should breed thy fellow. —Friends, I owe more tears To this dead man than you shall see me pay. —I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time. —Come, therefore, and to Thasos send his body. His funerals shall not be in our camp, Lest it discomfort us. —Lucillius, come. — And come, young Cato. Let us to the field. —Labio and Flavio, set our battles on. —'Tis three o'clock, and, Romans, yet ere night We shall try fortune in a second fight.
BRUTUS
Are there two Romans left who are as good as these men?
[To CASSIUS and TITINIUS' bodies] Goodbye, the last of all the Romans. It is impossible that Rome will ever produce your equal.
[To the others] Friends, I owe more tears to this dead man than you will see me shed.
[To CASSIUS' body] I will find the time to cry for you, Cassius, I will find the time.
[To the others] Come, now, and send his body to Thasos. His funeral won’t be held at our camp, because it may make us too demoralized to fight. Lucillius, come. And come, young Cato. Let’s go to the field. Labio and Flavio, send our armies forward. It is three o'clock. And, Romans, before night, we will test our luck in a second battle.
They all exit.
