Ca.s.sIUS. Hear me, good brother.

BRUTUS. Under your pardon. You must note beside, That we have tried the utmost of our friends, Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe: 215 The enemy increaseth every day; We, at the height, are ready to decline.

There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life 220 Is bound in shallows and in miseries.

On such a full sea are we now afloat; And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures.

[Note 209: /new-added/

new added Ff.]

[Note 224: /lose/ Rowe

loose Ff.]

[Note 203: /of force:/ of necessity, necessarily. Plutarch represents this talk as occurring at Philippi just before the battle: "Ca.s.sius was of opinion not to try this war at one battle, but rather to delay time, and to draw it out in length, considering that they were the stronger in money, and the weaker in men and armour. But Brutus, in contrary manner, did alway before, and at that time also, desire nothing more than to put all to the hazard of battle, as soon as might be possible; to the end he might either quickly restore his country to her former liberty, or rid him forthwith of this miserable world."--_Marcus Brutus._]

[Note 209: /new-added:/ reenforced. Singer suggested 'new aided.']

[Note 218-221: Cf. _Troilus and Cressida_, V, i, 90; _The Tempest_, I, ii, 181-184. Dr. Wright (Clar) quotes from Bacon a parallel pa.s.sage: "In the third place I set down reputation, because of the peremptory tides and currents it hath; which, if they be not taken in their due time, are seldom recovered, it being extreme hard to play an after game of reputation."--_The Advancement of Learning_, II, xxiii, 38.]

[Note 224: /ventures:/ what is risked, adventured. The figure of a ship is kept up, and 'venture' denotes whatever is put on board in hope of profit, and exposed to "the perils of waters, winds, and rocks." Cf. _The Merchant of Venice_, I, i, 15, 42; III, ii, 270.]

[Page 138]

Ca.s.sIUS. Then, with your will, go on; We'll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi. 225

BRUTUS. The deep of night is crept upon our talk, And nature must obey necessity; Which we will n.i.g.g.ard with a little rest.

There is no more to say?

Ca.s.sIUS. No more. Good night: Early to-morrow will we rise, and hence. 230

BRUTUS. Lucius! [_Re-enter_ LUCIUS] My gown.

[_Exit_ LUCIUS]. Farewell, good Messala: Good night, t.i.tinius: n.o.ble, n.o.ble Ca.s.sius, Good night, and good repose.

Ca.s.sIUS. O my dear brother!

This was an ill beginning of the night: Never come such division 'tween our souls! 235 Let it not, Brutus.

BRUTUS. Every thing is well.

Ca.s.sIUS. Good night, my lord.

BRUTUS. Good night, good brother.

t.i.tINIUS.} Good night, Lord Brutus.

MESSALA. }

BRUTUS. Farewell, every one.

[_Exeunt_ Ca.s.sIUS, t.i.tINIUS, _and_ MESSALA]

[Note 231: BRUTUS. /Lucius!/ [_Re-enter_ LUCIUS] My Camb

_Enter Lucius_ Bru. Lucius my Ff.]

[Note 231: [_Exit_ LUCIUS] Ff omit.]

[Note 238: [_Exeunt_ Ca.s.sIUS ...] Capell

Exeunt Ff.]

[Note 228: /n.i.g.g.ard:/ supply sparingly. In _Sonnets_, I, 12, occurs 'n.i.g.g.arding'. In Elizabethan English "almost any part of speech can be used as any other part of speech. Any noun, adjective, or neuter verb can be used as an active verb."--Abbott.]

[Page 139]

_Re-enter_ LUCIUS, _with the gown_

Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument?

LUCIUS. Here in the tent.

BRUTUS. What, thou speak'st drowsily?

Poor knave, I blame thee not; thou art o'er-watch'd. 241 Call Claudius and some other of my men; I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.

LUCIUS. Varro and Claudius!

_Enter_ VARRO _and_ CLAUDIUS

VARRO. Calls my lord? 245

BRUTUS. I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep; It may be I shall raise you by-and-by On business to my brother Ca.s.sius.

VARRO. So please you, we will stand and watch your pleasure.

BRUTUS. I will not have it so: lie down, good sirs; 250 It may be I shall otherwise bethink me.

Look, Lucius, here's the book I sought for so; I put it in the pocket of my gown.

[VARRO _and_ CLAUDIUS _lie down_]

[Note: _Re-enter_ LUCIUS, ... Capell

Enter Lucius ... Ff (after Brutus, l. 236).]

[Note 242, 244, etc.: /Claudius/ Rowe

Claudio Ff.]

[Note 244, 289: /Varro/ Rowe

Varrus Ff.]

[Note 245: Scene VI Pope.--_Enter_ VARRO _and_ CLAUDIUS Rowe

Enter Varrus and Claudio Ff.]

[Note 253: [VARRO _and_ ...] Ff omit.]

[Note 241: /Poor knave./ Cf. 'Gentle knave,' l. 269. The word 'knave' is here used in the literal sense of 'boy.' It was used as a term of endearment, or of loving familiarity with those of lower rank. So in _King Lear_, I, iv, 107.--/o'er-watch'd:/ worn out with keeping awake. So in _King Lear_, II, ii, 177. Cf. 'o'ershot' in III, ii, 150.]

[Note 252-253: These two simple lines, with the answer of Lucius, "I was sure your lordship did not give it me," are among the best things in the play. Consider how much is implied in them, and what a picture they give of the earnest, thoughtful, book-loving Brutus. And indeed all his n.o.blest traits of character come out, "in simple and pure soul," in this exquisite scene with Lucius, which is hardly surpa.s.sed by anything in Shakespeare. Who could be troubled by the anachronism in the book being of modern shape? "Brutus was a careful man, and slept very little, both for that his diet was moderate, as also because he was continually occupied. He never slept in the day-time, and in the night no longer than the time he was driven to be alone, and when everybody else took their rest. But now whilst he was in war, and his head ever busily occupied to think of his affairs and what would happen, after he had slumbered a little after supper, he spent all the rest of the night in dispatching of his weightiest causes, and after he had taken order for them, if he had any leisure left him, he would read some book till the third watch of the night, at what time the captains, petty captains, and colonels, did use to come to him."--Plutarch, _Marcus Brutus_.]

[Page 140]

LUCIUS. I was sure your lordship did not give it me.

BRUTUS. Bear with me, good boy, I am much forgetful.

Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile, 256 And touch thy instrument a strain or two?