Page:Julius Caesar (1919) Yale.djvu/96

84  With fearful bravery, thinking by this face To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage; But 'tis not so.

Mess. Prepare you, generals: 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, 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.

March.

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. 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.

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 