Bru. Good reasons must of force give place to better.
The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground
Do stand but in a forced affection,
For they have grudged us contribution:
The enemy, marching along by them, 205
By them shall make a fuller number up,
Come on refresh'd, new-added and encouraged;[3479]
From which advantage shall we cut him off[3480]
If at Philippi we do face him there,[3481]
These people at our back.
Cas. Hear me, good brother.[3482] 210
Bru. Under your pardon. You must note beside
That we have tried the utmost of our friends,
Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe:
The enemy increaseth every day;
We, at the height, are ready to decline. 215
There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which taken at the flood leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat, 220
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.
Cas. Then, with your will, go on;[3483][3484]
We'll along ourselves and meet them at Philippi.[3483][3485]
Bru. The deep of night is crept upon our talk,
And nature must obey necessity; 225
Which we will niggard with a little rest.
There is no more to say?[3486]
Cas. No more. Good night:
Early to-morrow will we rise and hence.
Bru. Lucius! [Re-enter Lucius.] My gown. [Exit Lucius.] Farewell, good Messala:[3487]
Good night, Titinius: noble, noble Cassius, 230
Good night, and good repose.
Cas. O my dear brother!
This was an ill beginning of the night:
Never come such division 'tween our souls![3488]
Let it not, Brutus.
Bru. Every thing is well.
Cas. Good night, my lord.