Antony and Octavius squabble before meeting Brutus and Cassius in the field for a parley, and Octavius resents being told what to do by Antony. Brutus and Cassius arrive with their armies and each side accuses the other of merely making a show of bravery. Antony and Octavius leave, and Brutus consults with Lucilius while Cassius consults with Messala. Cassius reveals that it is his birthday, and that while he is not generally prone to believing in omens, he believes that seeing vultures follow the army to Philippi and then depart means that they will be deafeated. Cassius asks Brutus what he will do if their armies are defeated. Brutus says that he does not generally believe suicide is a good option, but he will not allow himself to be paraded through Rome as a captive.
Octavius
Now, Antony, everything is turning out as we had hoped. You said the enemy wouldn't come down into the valleys, but would stick to the hills and higher ground. That proves to be false. Their forces are nearby, and they intend to confront us at Philippi, entering into battle before we force it on them.
Antony
Ha, I know what they're thinking, and why they're doing this. They would rather be somewhere else, and yet by coming down into the valley with a show of bravery, they hope to make us think that they're courageous. But they are not.
Messenger
Make preparations, generals. They enemy is making a show of approaching boldly. They have their blood-red battle standards flying and we must do something immediately.
Antony
Octavius, carefully lead your forces over to the left side of the level field.
Octavius
I'll take the right side; you take the left.
Antony
Why are you contradicting me in this urgent situation?
Octavius
I'm not opposing you; but I will take the right side.
Brutus
They've halted and want to speak to us.
Cassius
Halt, Titinius. We must go out and talk to them.
Octavius
Mark Antony, should we signal our forces to attack?
Antony
No, Octavius Caesar, we'll wait and respond to their charge. Let's go forward, their generals want to talk with us.
Octavius
[To his officers] Don't move until the signal's given.
Brutus
Will it be words before blows then, countrymen?
Octavius
Yes, but not because we prefer to talk rather than fight, like you do.
Brutus
Good words are better than bad sword strikes, Octavius.
Antony
With your bad strikes, Brutus, you have provoked good words. I speak of the hole you stabbed in Caesar's heart, a hole that cannot help but cry out to every Roman, "Long live Caesar! Hail, Caesar!"
Cassius
Antony, we don't know if you're an effective fighter, but your talking is so sweet you must have stolen the honey of the legendary Hybla bees.
Antony
You don't think I took their stingers to use as well?
Brutus
Well you've certainly taken their buzzing, because you're wisely making noisy threats before stinging.
Antony
You villains! You gave no warning when your vile daggers hacked into each other inside of Caesar's body. You smiled like apes, fawned on him like pet dogs, and bowed to Caesar like slaves, kissing his feet; while that damned Casca snuck up like a mongrel dog from behind and stabbed Caesar in the neck. Oh you flatterers!
Cassius
You call us flatterers? Brutus, you only have yourself; Antony would not be alive to insult us today if I my advice had been taken.
Octavius
Come on, let's get to the issue at hand. If arguing is making us sweat, resolving the issue will surely result in bloody drops. Look, I am drawing my sword against you conspirators. When do you think that I'll lower this sword again? Never, until either Caesar's thirty-three stab wounds have been revenged, or until I'm killed and you traitors have the blood of another Caesar on your hands.
Brutus
Caesar, you can't be killed by a traitor, unless they came with you.
Octavius
I hope I won't be killed by a traitor; I wasn't born to die by the sword of Brutus.
Brutus
Oh, young man, if you were the noblest of all your family, you couldn't wish for a more honorable death.
Cassius
Octavius you're just an angry schoolboy unworthy of being killed by Brutus, joining forces with this partying socialite, Antony!
Antony
Still the same old Cassius.
Octavius
Come on, Antony. Let's go! Traitors, we'll defy you to your faces. If you dare to fight us today, come to the battlefield. If not, wait until you feel brave enough.
Cassius
Why let the wind blow, the waves swell, and ship sail! There's a storm brewing and everything's at risk.
Brutus
Hey, Lucilius! Listen, I'd like a word with you.
Lucilius
My lord?
Cassius
Messala.
Messala
What's that, general?
Cassius
Messala, this is my birthday; I was born this very day. Give me your hand, Messala. You'll be my witness that I do not want to risk all of our freedoms on this one battle, but I compelled to, just as Pompey was in the civil war against Caesar. You know that I've always admired Epicurus and his philosophy, which denies any influence of the supernatural on human events. I've starting to wonder if their isn't some truth in omens. When we were coming here from Sardis, two eagles landed on our foremost battle flag, perched there and took food from the hands of our soldiers. They traveled with us all the way to Philippi.
But this morning they had flown off, and ravens, crows, and other birds of prey have come to take their places. These fly over our heads and look down at us as though we were their struggling prey. The shadows from these birds seem to make a dark cloud, under which our army lies, prepared to die.
Messala
Don't believe that.
Cassius
I only half believe it. I'm full of vigor and resolved to meet all dangers resolutely.
Brutus
It's just like that, Lucilius.
Cassius
Now, most noble Brutus, may the gods favor us today so that we live on into old age! But because one can never predict human affairs, let's consider the worst that might happen. If we lose this battle, this will be the last time we speak to each other. What will you do if we lose?
Brutus
For the same reasons I blamed Cato for killing himself, I find it cowardly and vile—although I don't know why—to commit suicide in fear of what might happen later in life. I will be patient and endure what the gods who rule us have in store for me.
Cassius
Then if we lose this battle, you're content to be led through the streets of Rome as a captive in their triumphal procession?
Brutus
No, Cassius, I am not. Noble Roman, don't think that I will ever be led in chains through the streets of Rome. I have too great a character for that. But today will end what the 15th of March began, and I don't know whether we'll ever meet again or not. Therefore let's say an everlasting farewell. Farewell forever and forever, Cassius! If we do meet again, we'll smile thinking about this. If not, then we have parted well.
Cassius
Farewell forever and forever, Brutus! If we do meet again we'll definitely smile, and if not then it's true these were goodbyes well said.
Brutus
Why then, lead on. Oh, if only men could know the outcome of a day's endeavor before it's begun! But it's enough to know that the day will end, and then the end will be known. Come on, let's go!
