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All Site ContentJulius CaesarAct 5Scene 5
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"beat us to the pit"
Wordplay
Act 5,
Scene 5
Lines 20a-25

An explanation of Brutus’ use of the phrase "beat us to the pit" in Act 5, Scene 5 of myShakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

Brutus

I know my hour is come.

Volumnius

                                          Not so, my lord.

Brutus

Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.
Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes.
Our enemies have beat us to the pit.
[Low trumpets.]
It is more worthy to leap in ourselves
Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius,

In some hunts, servants beat pans or drums to drive the game toward a camouflaged pit. Brutus is saying that the enemy has driven them to their certain deaths, and that they should die by their own hands.