Alas, thou hast misconstrued everything! He kills himself. Messala has found Brutus, and now returns with him, Lucilius, and He is slain. Thy spirit walks abroad, and turns our swords (Low alarums.] Cato. Brave Titinius! The last of all the Romans, fare thee well! Another part of the field (Alarum.] There enter [R.] soldiers 2 of both armies, fighting. (Exit L.] Brutus, young Cato, and Lucilius appear [R., running and looking backward over their shoulders). Brutus. [Facing round again.) Yet, countrymen, O, yet hold up your heads. Cato. Who doth not? Who will go with me? I will proclaim my name about the field. 1 1 [Cut lights.] The stage should be momentarily darkened. The scene need not be changed, but when the lights are turned on again the bodies of Cassius and Titinius should not be there. Lowering the curtain does not serve quite the same purpose as cutting the lights; it breaks the continuity of the act more. 2 soldiers. The number will be governed, of course, by the size of the cast. It may be necessary to omit them altogether. I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho! [Charges back into the battle R.] He follows young Cato into the thick of the battle. Lucilius. O young and noble Cato, art thou down? Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius, And mayst be honored being Cato's son. [Offering money.) [Enter Antony R.] 2 I dare assure thee that no enemy He will be found like Brutus, like himself. A prize no less in worth. Keep this man safe, straight: immediately. 2 Enter Antony. Of course, if the cast of characters is large enough, Antony should not be unaccompanied, but there should be borne before him his standard with golden eagles, and a body guard should be with him. Likewise Lucilius should be captured not by two single soldiers, but by a number, who overwhelm him. 1 Such men my friends than enemies. Go on, (Exeunt R.] Night falls, and on another part of the field, Brutus enters, with Dardanius, Clitus, Strato, and Volumnius (R.). Brutus. Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock. Clitus. Statilius? showed the torchlight, but, my lord, He came not back. He is taken or slain. He whispers to him (and offers him his sword]. I'd rather kill myself. [Clitus draws away from him to the back of the stage, where his attention is caught by low alarums, and he begins to peer fearfully into the darkness off stage R.] Shall I do such a deed? That it runs over at his eyes. Why, this, Volumnius: The ghost of Cæsar hath appeared to me 1 Night falls, and on another part of the field. This may be the same part of the field on the stage, but the faces of the characters should be lighted only by the faint light of their torches and perhaps a tiny red fire. 2 Statilius (stă-til'l-ůs) was sent to reconnoiter. Two several times by night; at Sard's once, I know my hour is come. Not so, my lord. Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes; Hold thou my sword whilst I run on it. (Louder alarums.] [The stage grows a little lighter.] Alarum and the cry, "Fly, fly, fly!" Hence! I will follow. While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato? Cæsar, now be still; 1 of a good respect: well respected or esteemed. |