Lucil. O young and noble Cato! art thou down? Lucil. Only I yield to die : There is so much, that thou wilt kill me straight; 2 Sold. Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en. Here comes the general! Enter ANTONY. Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord! Lucil. Safe, Antony: Brutus is safe enough. I dare assure thee that no enemy Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus: The gods defend him from so great a shame! He will be found like Brutus, like himself. Ant. This is not Brutus, friend, but, I assure you, A prize no less in worth. Keep this man safe; Give him all kindness: I had rather have Such men my friends than enemies. Go on, SCENE V.- Another Part of the Field. [Offering money. Enter BRUTUS, DARDANIUS, CLITUS, STRATO, and VOLUMNIUS. Bru. Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock. He came not back: he is or ta'en or slain. Bru. Sit thee down, Clitus. Slaying is the word: Cli. What! I my lord? No, not for all the world! Bru. Peace, then! no words. Cli. What ill request did Brutus make to thee? Cli. Now is that noble vessel full of grief, That it runs over even at his eyes. Bru. Come hither, good Volumnius: list a word. Bru. Why, this, Volumnius: The ghost of Cæsar hath appeared to me Two several times by night: at Sardis, once; [Exeunt. [Whispering. [Whispers him. And this last night, here in Philippi fields. Vol. Not so, my lord. Bru. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius. Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes; It is more worthy to leap in ourselves Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius, Thou know'st that we two went to school together: [Low alarums. [Alarum still. Hold thou my sword-hilts whilst I run on it. Night hangs upon mine eyes: my bones would rest, Cli. Fly, my lord! fly! Bru. Hence! I will follow thee. · [Alarum. Cry within, "Fly, fly, fly!" [Exeunt CLITUS, DARDANIUS, and VOLUMNIUS. I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord. Thou art a fellow of a good respect; Thy life hath had some smatch of honor in it: Stra. Give me your hand first: fare you well, my lord! I killed not thee with half so good a will. [He runs on his sword, and dies. Alarum. Retreat. Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, MESSALA, LUCILIUS, and their Army. Mes. My master's man. Oct. What man is that? Stra. Free from the bondage you are in, Messala : The conquerors can but make a fire of him; For Brutus only overcame himself; And no man else hath honor by his death. Lucil. So Brutus should be found. — I thank thee, Brutus, That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true. Oct. All that served Brutus, I will entertain them. Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me? Oct. Do so, good Messala. Mes. How died my master, Strato? Stra. I held the sword, and he did run on it. Mes. Octavius, then take him to follow thee, That did the latest service to my master. Ant. This was the noblest Roman of them all. Did that they did in envy of great Cæsar: - [Exeunt. EDMUND SPENSER. 1553-1599. 99 "Shepheard's Calender;' ""Colin Clouts come Home Again: ""Epithalinion;) "View of the State of Ireland;" and his greatest work, "The Faerie Queene." "The Faerie Queene," written in what is called the Spenserian stanza, was intended to "fashion a gentleinan or noble person in virtuous and gentle discipline." Of the twelve books planned originally, "Foashioning XII. Morall Virtues," there were only six written. Hazlitt says, "Spenser excels in the two qualities in which Chaucer is most deficient, invention and fancy. The invention shown in his allegorical personages is endless, as the fancy shown in his description of them is gorgeous and delightful. He is the poet of romance. He describes things as in a splendid and voluptuous dream." THE KNIGHT AND THE LADY. I. A GENTLE Knight was pricking on the plaine, 1 Tournaments. II. And on his brest a bloodie crosse he bore, Upon his shield the like was also scor'd, For soveraine hope, which in his helpe he had. Right, faithfull, true he was in deede and word; But of his cheere did seeme too solemne sad; Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was ydrad.' III. Upon a great adventure he was bond, IV. 2 A lovely Ladie rode him faire beside, So pure V. and innocent as that same lambe She was in life and every vertuous lore; And by descent from royall lynage came Of ancient kinges and queenes that had of yore Their scepters stretcht from east to westerne shore, Till that infernal Feend with foule uprore VI. Behind her farre away a Dwarfe did lag, Or wearied with bearing of her bag Of needments at his backe. Thus as they past, 1 Dreaded. 2 Yearn. 3 Gathered, or plaited. 4 Much wasted. The day with cloudes was suddeine overcast, That everie wight to shrowd it did constrain; And this faire couple eke to shroud themselves were fain. VII. Enforst to seeke some covert nigh at hand, VIII. And foorth they passe, with pleasure forward led, IX. The laurell, meed of mightie conquerours X. Led with delight, they thus beguile the way That, which of them to take, in diverse doubt they been. 1 Yew. |