Julius Caesar Translation: Act 5, Scene 4

Brutus was moving about the battlefield, inspiring his troops. ‘Come on countrymen,’ he shouted. ‘Keep it up, keep going!’

‘What mongrels won’t?’ shouted Cato, brandishing his sword. ‘Who’s coming with me? I’ll shout my name around the field. He ran off until he reached the centre of the action.

‘I’m the son of Marcus Cato,’ he shouted. ‘You hear me? I’m an enemy to tyrants and a friend of my country! I am the son of Marcus Cato!’

Some of the enemy rushed at him and he fought them furiously. He fought and killed as he went, covering a wide area.

A little later in another part of the battlefield, in the thick of the enemy, Lucilius suddenly started shouting. ‘I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I am! Brutus, my country’s friend. Know me for Brutus!’ He stopped when he saw Cato lying dead. ‘Oh young and noble Cato, are you killed? Why, now you’ve died as bravely as Titinius and may be honoured, being Cato’s son.’

Two enemy soldiers came up behind him. ‘Give up, or you die,’ one of them said.

‘I yield only to death,’ said Lucilius. He tried to fight but three of them tackled him and brought him down. ‘There’s a great deal in it for you if you kill me outright,’ he said. ‘Kill Brutus and be honoured in his death.’

‘We can’t, one of them said. ‘You’re a noble prisoner.’

A crowd of soldiers had gathered. ‘Make way,’ one of the captors shouted. ‘Tell Antony Brutus is taken.’

‘I’ll take the news to him,’ one of them said. ‘Oh, here he comes. Brutus has been taken. Brutus is taken, my lord,’ he said.

‘Where is he?’ said Antony. He looked at the man whom they were holding, his hands tied with rope behind his back.

‘He’s safe, Antony,’ said Lucilius. ‘Brutus is safe enough. I assure you that no enemy will ever take the noble Brutus alive. The gods will protect him from such a shameful thing. When you find him, alive or dead, he will be the same Brutus, like himself.’

‘This isn’t Brutus, friend,’ said Antony, ‘but I assure you, a prize no less in worth. Keep this man safe and treat him well. I would rather have such men as friends than enemies. Go and look for Brutus, find out whether he’s alive or dead and bring me news of how things are turning out. I’ll be at Octavius’ tent.’

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