Module 2: "Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act 5

Why do you cross me in this exigent?

They stand and would have parley.

A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honor,
Joined with a masker and a reveler!

Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth.
If you dare fight today, come to the field;
If not, when you have stomachs.

Why now, blow wind, swell billow, and swim bark!
The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.

Now I change my mind,
And partly credit things that do presage.

Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign
Two mighty eagles fell, and there they perched,
Gorging and feeding from our soldiers’ hands,
Who to Philippi here consorted us.

Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign
Two mighty eagles fell, and there they perched,
Gorging and feeding from our soldiers’ hands,
Who to Philippi here consorted us.

This morning are they fled away and gone,
And in their steads do ravens, crows, and kites
Fly o’er our heads and downward look on us
As we were sickly prey. Their shadows seem
A canopy most fatal, under which
Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost.

This morning are they fled away and gone,
And in their steads do ravens, crows, and kites
Fly o’er our heads and downward look on us
As we were sickly prey. Their shadows seem
A canopy most fatal, under which
Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost.

But, since the affairs of men rest still incertain,
Let’s reason with the worst that may befall.

Even by the rule of that philosophy
By which I did blame Cato for the death
Which he did give himself (I know not how,
But I do find it cowardly and vile,
For fear of what might fall, so to prevent
The time of life), arming myself with patience
To stay the providence of some high powers
That govern us below.

Even by the rule of that philosophy
By which I did blame Cato for the death
Which he did give himself (I know not how,
But I do find it cowardly and vile,
For fear of what might fall, so to prevent
The time of life), arming myself with patience
To stay the providence of some high powers
That govern us below.

Let them set on at once, for I perceive
But cold demeanor in Octavius’ wing,
And sudden push gives them the overthrow.

All disconsolate,
With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.

Alas, thou hast misconstrued everything!

Brutus, come apace,
And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.

I will proclaim my name about the field.
I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!
A foe to tyrants, and my country’s friend.

Yield, or thou diest.

It is more worthy to leap in ourselves
Than tarry till they push us.

I shall have glory by this losing day
More than Octavius and Mark Antony
By this vile conquest shall attain unto.

Free from the bondage you are in, Messala.

Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?

According to his virtue, let us use him
With all respect and rites of burial.

According to his virtue, let us use him
With all respect and rites of burial.