Stand, ho!

Give the word, ho! and stand.

What now, Lucilius! is Cassius near?

He is at hand, and Pindarus is come

To do you salutation from his master.

He greets me well. Your master, Pindarus,

In his own change, or by ill officers,

Hath given me some worthy cause to wish

Things done, undone: but, if he be at hand,

I shall be satisfied.

I do not doubt

But that my noble master will appear

Such as he is, full of regard and honour.

He is not doubted. A word, Lucilius;

How he received you, let me be resolv’d.

With courtesy and with respect enough,

But not with such familiar instances,

Nor with such free and friendly conference,

As he hath us’d of old.

Thou hast describ’d

A hot friend cooling. Ever note, Lucilius,

When love begins to sicken and decay

It useth an enforced ceremony.

There are no tricks in plain and simple faith;

But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,

Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;

But when they should endure the bloody spur,

They fall their crests, and like deceitful jades

Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?

They meant this night in Sardis to be quarter’d;

The greater part, the horse in general,

Are come with Cassius.

Hark! he is arriv’d.

March gently on to meet him.

Stand, ho!

Stand, ho! Speak the word along.

Stand!

Stand!

Stand!

Most noble brother, you have done me wrong.

Judge me, you gods; wrong I mine enemies?

And if not so, how should I wrong a brother?

Brutus, this sober form of yours hides wrongs;

And when you do them—

Cassius, be content.

Speak your griefs softly, I do know you well.

Before the eyes of both our armies here,

Which should perceive nothing but love from us,

Let us not wrangle. Bid them move away;

Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,

And I will give you audience.

Pindarus,

Bid our commanders lead their charges off

A little from this ground.

Lucilius, do you the like; and let no man

Come to our tent till we have done our conference.

Lucius and Titinius, guard our door.