[V.47] Scene II Capell | Scene IV Pope.
[V.48] bills: written instructions, dispatches. "In the meantime Brutus, that led the right wing, sent little bills to the colonels and captains of private bands, in the which he wrote the word of the battle."—Plutarch, Marcus Brutus.
[V.49] 'The legions on the other side' are those commanded by Cassius, the left wing of the joint army of Brutus and Cassius. Brutus wants Cassius to attack the enemy at the same time that he himself does. In the next scene, Messala and his escort are met by Titinius coming from Cassius.
[V.50] Octavius' Pope | Octavio's Ff.
[V.51] Scene III Capell | Scene continued in Pope.
[V.52] 'Ensign' was used in the Elizabethan time, as it is still, either for the flag (cf. [V, i, 80]) or for the bearer of it: here it is used for both at once. Cf. the form 'ancient,' Othello, I, i, 33. It was in killing the cowardly ensign that Cassius "to his own turn'd enemy."
[V.53] yonder troops. Messala and his escort coming from Brutus.
[V.54] with a thought: quick as thought. Cf. The Tempest, IV, i, 64.
[V.55] higher F1 | thither F2F3F4.
[V.56] "Cassius himself was at length compelled to fly ... into a little hill from whence they might see ... howbeit Cassius saw nothing, for his sight was very bad."—Plutarch, Marcus Brutus.