With fearful bravery, thinking by this face
To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage;
But 'tis not so.
Enter a Messenger.
Mess. Prepare you, generals:12
The enemy comes on in gallant show;
Their bloody sign of battle is hung out.
And something to be done immediately.
Ant. Octavius, lead your battle softly on,16
Upon the left hand of the even field.
Oct. Upon the right hand I; keep thou the left.
Ant. Why do you cross me in this exigent?
Oct. I do not cross you; but I will do so.20
Drum. Enter Brutus, Cassius, and their Army.
Bru. They stand, and would have parley.
Cas. Stand fast, Titinius: we must out and talk.
Oct. Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle?
Ant. No, Cæsar, we will answer on their charge.24
Make forth; the generals would have some words.
Oct. [To his troops.] Stir not until the signal.
Bru. Words before blows: is it so, countrymen?
Oct. Not that we love words better, as you do.28
Bru. Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius.
Ant. In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words:
Witness the hole you made in Cæsar's heart,
10 fearful bravery: cowardly bravado
face: pretense
14 bloody . . . battle: signal for immediate combat
17 even: equally divided
19 exigent: emergency
20 but . . . so: but I shall do as I said
21 parley: conference
24 answer . . . charge: fight when they attack
25 Make forth: step forward
30 In . . . strokes: while delivering foul blows
