No Fear Shakespeare: Julius Caesar: Act 5, scene 1

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Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their army

OCTAVIUS and ANTONY enter with their army.

	OCTAVIUS
	Now, Antony, our hopes are answerèd.
	You said the enemy would not come down
	But keep the hills and upper regions.
	It proves not so. Their battles are at hand.
5	They mean to warn us at Philippi here,
	Answering before we do demand of them.

OCTAVIUS

Now, Antony, our prayers have been answered. You said the enemy wouldn't come down but keep to the hills and upper regions. It seems not. Their forces are nearby. They intend to challenge us here at Philippi, responding to our challenge before we've even challenged him.

	ANTONY
	Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I know
	Wherefore they do it. They could be content
	To visit other places, and come down
10	With fearful bravery, thinking by this face
	To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage.
	But 'tis not so.

ANTONY

I know how they think, and I understand why they're doing this. They really wish they were somewhere else, but they want to descend on us, looking fierce so we'll think they're brave. But they aren't.

Enter a MESSENGER

A MESSENGER enters.

	MESSENGER
	Prepare you, generals.
	The enemy comes on in gallant show.
	Their bloody sign of battle is hung out,
15	And something to be done immediately.

MESSENGER

Prepare yourselves, generals. The enemy approaches with great display. They show their bloody heralds of battle, and something must be done immediately.

	ANTONY
	Octavius, lead your battle softly on,
	Upon the left hand of the even field.

ANTONY

Octavius, lead your forces slowly out to the left side of the level field.

	OCTAVIUS
	Upon the right hand I. Keep thou the left.

OCTAVIUS

I'll go to the right side. You stay on the left.

	ANTONY
	Why do you cross me in this exigent?

ANTONY

Why are you defying me in this urgent matter?


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