The Sunday News
THE die is cast and battle lines are drawn. Armies from both camps are getting ready for bruising encounters. The future is uncertain. Cassius is disturbed and comments that the storm is about to break, they have gambled everything on one engagement and do not yet know what the outcome will be.
While Brutus confers with Lucilius, Cassius talks to Messala. He tells him that this is his birthday and that he has been most reluctant to risk all their fortunes on a single battle. He reveals that Messala knows that he strongly believes in the doctrine of Epicurus and his views, but now he changes his mind and accepts the truth of the omens. Epicurus’s view was that death is not to be feared. Cassius now believes in the omens.
He says as they were coming from Sardis, two mighty eagles fell down upon their foremost flag and they continued to sit, eating from their soldier’s hands, who accompanied them to Phillipi. This morning they were gone, and in their place, ravens, cows, and kites — birds of ill-omen — flew over their heads and looked down upon them from above as if they were their sure victims. Their shadows appeared like a fatal canopy under which their army lies, ready to give up the ghost.
Brutus joins Cassius who asks him what his intentions are if a fortune goes against them and they are defeated. In response Brutus does not really commit himself to what he is going to do. He does not believe in suicide according to the rule of that philosophy, with which he did blame Cato. He considers it cowardly and evil to do so for fear of what the future may bring. He thinks one should have patience and fortitude to live through anything that the gods have in store for him.
On the other hand, he will never allow himself to be led in chains to Rome. He says he has a mind too noble to endure such disgrace. But, what he is certain of, though, is that this day, one way or another, will end the work which the Ides of March began. Brutus does not know whether they would outlive this day, and says they should bid everlasting farewell to each other. If they do meet again they shall smile, if not, why then? This parting was well made. Cassius concurs with Brutus and they part.
On the field of battle, Brutus hands Messala messages for Cassius (who is in charge of the other wing of the army) which urge an attack, since Brutus believes Octavius’ forces are timid and lack fighting spirit, and that a sharp sudden engagement will be enough to defeat them. On the other side of the battlefield Antony’s soldiers have engaged and routed those of Cassius and Cassius tells Titinius of how he was forced to kill his own standard bearer in order to prevent a complete defeat.
Titinius tells Cassius of Brutus’ poor strategy that he gave the order to attack too early. Having gained some advantage over Octavius, his soldiers began plundering while they were all surrounded by Antony’s. Pindarus reports that Antony has already reached his (Cassius’) tents and is burning them.
Cassius sends Titinius to see whether an approaching column is a friend or an enemy, and Pindarus to climb a nearby hill to report what happens to Titinius.
Left alone Cassius comments that his life has run its full circle. Time has come round, and where he began, there shall he end. Pindarus shouts down that Titinius seems to have been taken prisoner. Cassius, thinking that the enemy is closing in on him, instructs Pindarus to come down. Cassius recalls that he took Pindarus as a prisoner in Parthia, and then he made him take a vow, that he would do whatever he asked him to do to save his life. He says it is now time for his debt to be repaid. Cassius asks Pindarus to keep his oath. Handing Pindarus the sword “that ran through Caesar’s bowels”, Cassius commands Pindarus to stab him while he covers his face. He dies with the words: “Caesar, thou art reveng’d.” Having performed such an unpleasant duty, Pindarus flees. At this point in time Titinius and Messala arrive.
Pindarus had been mistaken. Titinius had met friends who were seeking Cassius to tell him the good news that Brutus had been victorious over Octavius. They find Cassius dead as Titinius tells Messala that it was he, but Cassius is no more. He adds: “O setting sun, as in thy red rays thou dost sink tonight, so in his red blood Cassius’ day is set. The sun of Rome is set. Our day is gone; clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are done. Mistrust of my success hath done this deed.”
Titinius says that the glorious sun of Rome has perished with Cassius. Their day has ended too. He says Cassius is dead because he doubted his ability to carry out the mission for which he sent him. Titinius is greatly agitated by Cassius’ death who doubted his capabilities and ordered Pindarus to kill him. He decides to follow suit and kill himself. He says: “Brutus, come space, and see how I regarded Caius Cassius. By your leave, gods. This is a Roman’s part. Come Cassius’ sword, and find Titinius’ heart.” He kills himself.
Messala comes back with Brutus and they discover the two bodies, and Brutus observes how mighty the spirit of Caesar still is even when he is dead. It has walked abroad at Phillipi, turning “our swords in our entrails!” He mourns for Cassius saying Rome will never see his equal, and vows that he shall find time to shed all the tears that are due to Cassius.
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