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Act IV. Scene I. - Rome. A Room in Antony's
House.
The Triumvirs (Octavius, Mark Antony and Lepidus
also known as The Second Triumvirate) decide which of
the conspirators shall live and which shall will die.
Mark Antony assures Octavius that Lepidus does not and
will not ever have any serious power... The two men
start planning their attack on Brutus' and Cassius'
forces.
Antony, Octavius and Lepidus are gathered together
around a table. Together they are deciding the future.
With Antony explaining that the conspirator's "names
are prick'd" (Line 1), the three have decided on
their future course of action. They decide that amongst
the conspirators, Publius who is Mark Antony's
sister's son will not be spared from death (Line
4).
Lepidus also agrees that his own brother must die (Lines
2-3).
Antony now sends Lepidus off to Caesar's
house to fetch Caesar's will and then the
three will together decide "How to cut off some charge
in legacies" or cut off a part of Caesar's legacy or
will presumably for themselves (Line 9).
With Lepidus now gone, Antony reassures Octavius that
Lepidus is a harmless man "Meet [fit] to be sent on
errands:" (Line 13).
When Octavius now questions the wisdom that a messenger
be one third of a group that will rule the world (Line
13), Antony explains that they will put up with Lepidus
"as the ass [donkey] bears gold," (Line 21).
Lepidus will be used and respected as a donkey which
carries gold. Lepidus will be used while he is useful
and like a donkey will be put out to pasture (retired)
once he is no longer needed (Lines 17- 27).
Octavius does not completely agree with this. He tells
Antony that "You may do your will;" (you may do as you
wish), (Line 28), but adds that Lepidus is "a tried
and valiant soldier" (Line 28).
Antony replies that so is his horse (Line 29), adding
that like a horse, "he must be taught, and train'd,"
(Line 35) and used accordingly.
Telling Antony that he no longer wants to discuss Lepidus,
he adds that he should not talk or think of him as anything
more "But as a property" (Line 40).
Now Antony tells Octavius that they must cast their
minds on more important matters, namely how they should
combine their forces and prepare to fight the forces
of Brutus and Cassius (Lines 40-49).
Act IV. Scene II. - Camp near Sardis. Before
Brutus' Tent.
Cassius: "Most noble brother, you have done me wrong."
Brutus learns that Cassius has finally arrived.
Brutus is angry with Cassius, Cassius saying he has
done his friend no wrong. Brutus wanting privacy from
his troops, tells Cassius to step into his tent where
he will discuss the issue further...
Before Brutus' tent, Lucilius and Pindarus arrive,
telling Brutus that Cassius is near. Pindarus gives
Brutus a letter which Brutus reads. He announces that
Cassius' actions or those by "ill officers," have
given him reason to wish certain things were undone,
but he will be pleased by Cassius' appearance and
more importantly his explanation (Line 7).
Pindarus now tries to smooth things over between Brutus
and his master Cassius, suggesting that he is certain
his noble master will appear "Such as he is, full of
regard and honour" (Lines 10-14).
Brutus asks Lucilius how he was received by Cassius,
and learns that Brutus did greet him with the appropriate
respect but that it was not with the usual "free and
friendly" manner they are used to (Line 17).
Brutus replies that what Lucilius is describing is
the cooling of his friendship with Cassius.
Cassius with his army now arrives and Cassius immediately
tells Brutus that "Most noble brother, you have done
me wrong" (Line 37).
Brutus replies that this cannot be, why would he wrong
a brother? (Lines 38-39).
Cassius disagrees, telling him that his noble form
hides his wrongs, but Brutus interrupts him. He says
they should not argue so publicly in front of their
respective armies who should see nothing but love from
them (Lines 42-44).
Instead he suggests that Cassius make his complaints
in Brutus' tent where he promises to hear him out.
Cassius tells Pindarus to make sure his commanders
move their soldiers away from the tent and Brutus tells
Lucilius to do the same. Brutus ends the scene saying
that Lucius and Titinius will guard the door of their
tent (Lines 41-52).
Act IV. Scene III. - Within the Tent of Brutus.
Brutus: "I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon, /
Than such a Roman."
Brutus angrily attacks Cassius first for contradicting
his order to remove Lucius Pella for taking bribes and
then Cassius himself for his own dishonesty. Cassius
is upset by this but eventually Brutus chooses to forgive
his friend. We learn that Portia, Brutus' wife
has died, over one hundred senators have been put to
death by the Triumvirs and that a large army led by
Mark Antony and Octavius is approaching their position...
Brutus is greeted by Caesar's ghost which
tells Brutus he will see Caesar again at Philippi.
Cassius immediately gets to the point of his frustrations.
He tells Brutus that "you have wrong'd me" (Line
1) adding that Brutus has condemned and noted Lucius
Pella for "taking bribes" from the Sardians
here whilst his letters of support for Pella were brushed
off and ignored (Lines 1-5).
Brutus replies by telling Cassius that he was wrong
to write on Pella's behalf in the first place (Line
6).
Cassius replies that in times like these (with the
threat of Mark Antony and Octavius), they should not
bother over such minor matters (Line 8).
Brutus disagrees, saying "Let me tell you, Cassius,
you yourself / Are much condemn'd [condemned] to
have an itching palm; [to take bribes and sell positions]
/ To sell and mart your offices for gold / To undeservers"
(Line 9-11).
Cassius is infuriated at being called an "itching palm;"
adding that were it not Brutus who calls him this, any
other man who would call Cassius this would soon be
dead (Line 12).
Brutus argues that Cassius' name is legitimizing
corrupt activities asking Cassius to remember that Caesar
was killed for the sake of justice, (Lines 17-27) and
wondering why they killed Caesar for justice only
to now become corrupt themselves by selling "the mighty
space of our large honours / For so much trash as may
be grasped thus?" (Line 25).
Brutus again asserts his honesty when he says, "I had
rather be a dog, and bay the moon, / Than [become] such
a Roman" who like Cassius would sell status and honour
to others for money (Line 27).
Cassius reminds Brutus that he is a soldier, stronger
than Brutus and a man who should not be restricted by
Brutus who forgets who he is dealing with (Lines 28-31).
Brutus says he cannot be speaking to the Cassius. The
two argue and Cassius asks if their friendship has "come
to this?" (Line 50).
The two bicker when Brutus says Cassius said he was
a "better" soldier yet does not act like one. Cassius
says he said "elder" not "better" (Lines 51-60).
Again the two argue, Brutus explaining that he is not
afraid of him. Brutus also attacks Cassius for refusing
him gold which he requested to pay his legions, adding
that he is not capable of raising money by vile and
corrupt means unlike Cassius (by implication), (Lines
70-82).
Cassius denies this. Brutus refuses to believe Cassius,
telling him that "I do not like your faults" (Line 88).
Now remorseful that his friend Brutus does not respect
him, Cassius prepares to take his life, saying that
he is "Hated by one [Brutus] he loves;" (Line 94 and
92-105).
Brutus tells Cassius to "Sheathe your dagger:" (Line
106) deciding to forgive him (Lines 112-125).
Lucius, Titinius, Lucilius, and the poet all learn
of the Brutus' and Cassius' reconciliation
(Lines 122-159).
With their reconciliation complete, Brutus drinks wine
saying that he buries all his unkindness with his drink.
Cassius replies saying "I cannot drink too much of Brutus'
love" (Line 160).
Titinius and Messala arrive with news. We learn that
Portia, Brutus' wife is dead, but Brutus does not
seem to care (Line 166) and that Young Octavius and
Mark Antony are approaching with a large force towards
Philippi. Additionally we learn that a "hundred
senators" have been put to death by these two,
Cicero being one of them (Lines 165-177).
Cassius now suggests that they hold back their forces
and not attack immediately and instead march to Philippi
at once. This way the enemy will be exhausted by searching
for them, increasing their chances of success since
their soldiers will be well rested (Lines 196-211).
Brutus overrides this decision, arguing that their
enemy continues to gain strength in numbers while they
are at their peak and will soon be weaker than their
enemy. Cassius agrees and the two retire to their separate
tents to rest before battle (Line 224).
Now alone, Brutus orders Lucius, his servant to call
Claudius and several other men into his tent to sleep
on cushions (Lines 240-243).
Brutus tells Varro and Claudius to lie in his tent
and sleep despite the two wanting to stand guard over
Brutus instead. He asks Lucius to play some soothing
music, but Lucius soon falls asleep (Lines 256-268).
Brutus is now alone, reading the book that he found
in his nightgown.
Brutus is now interrupted from his reading by the Ghost
of Caesar. Brutus uncertain of what he is seeing,
asking the Ghost if it is "some god, some angel, or
some devil," (Line 278).
Brutus asks why this Ghost has appeared. Caesar's
Ghost answers that it was "to tell thee [you, Brutus]
thou shalt see me at Philippi" (Line 283). By this,
Caesar's Ghost means that he will see Brutus
once more at Philippi.
Brutus now accuses Lucius, Varro and Claudius each
of speaking in their sleep. The servants all plead that
they did nothing of the sort (Lines 285-305).
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