The Deaths of Cassius and Titinius

Scene summary

Elsewhere on the field, Cassius sees his soldiers fleeing and kills a standard-bearer who was retreating, in order to seize the banner. Titinius explains that Brutus attacked too early: his soldiers began to plunder while Antony surrounded Cassius's men. Cassius sees fire in his tents, sends Titinius on horseback to check whether the distant troops are friendly, and tells Pindarus to climb higher on the hill where he stands, because his sight is weak. Pindarus, from above, reports that Titinius has been surrounded by horsemen and captured, and shouts of joy are heard. Cassius, in despair, reminds Pindarus that he spared him in Parthia in exchange for obedience and orders him to kill him with the sword that killed Caesar. Pindarus obeys and flees. Titinius returns with Messala bringing good news: Brutus has defeated Octavius, and only Cassius has lost to Antony. On seeing the body, Messala curses Error, the son of melancholy, which shows men what does not exist and kills the one who begot it, and goes to tell Brutus. Titinius places on Cassius the laurel crown his friends had given him and kills himself with Cassius's sword. Brutus arrives with Cato, Strato, Volumnius, and Lucilius, sees the two bodies and says that Caesar's spirit turns the swords against their own entrails, calls Cassius the last of the Romans, orders the body taken to Thasos so that the funeral will not discourage the army, and leads his men into a second battle.