And partly credit things that do presage.
Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign80
Two mighty eagles fell, and there they perch'd,
Gorging and feeding from our soldiers' hands;
Who to Philippi here consorted us:
This morning are they fled away and gone,84
And in their stead 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 which88
Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost.
Mes. Believe not so.
Cas. I but believe it partly,
For I am fresh of spirit and resolv'd
To meet all perils very constantly.92
Bru. Even so, Lucilius.
Cas. Now, most noble Brutus,
The gods to-day stand friendly, that we may,
Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age!
But since the affairs of men rest still incertain,96
Let's reason with the worst that may befall.
If we do lose this battle, then is this
The very last time we shall speak together:
What are you, then, determined to do?100
Bru. 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,104
For fear of what might fall, so to prevent
The time of life)—arming myself with patience,
80 former ensign: banner at the front of our column
83 consorted: accompanied
87 As: as if
sickly prey: so sick as soon to be their prey
88 fatal: fateful, doom-foreboding
94 The gods: may the gods
97 reason with: consider
102 Cato: of Utica; committed suicide, 46 B. C.
