The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground
Do stand but in a forc'd affection;204
For they have grudg'd us contribution:
The enemy, marching along by them.
By them shall make a fuller number up.
Come on refresh'd, new-added, and encourag'd;
From which advantage shall we cut him off,209
If at Philippi we do face him there.
These people at our back.
Cas. Hear me, good brother.
Bru. Under your pardon. You must note beside,212
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.216
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.220
On such a full sea are we now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves.
Or lose our ventures.
Cas. Then, with your will, go on;
We'll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi.224
Bru. The deep of night is crept upon our talk,
And nature must obey necessity.
Which we will niggard with a little rest.
There is no more to say?
204 Are friendly to us only under compulsion
208 new-added: newly augmented
213 That we have drawn on our friends to the utmost
219 Omitted: if it is neglected
220 bound in: confined to
223 ventures: investments
with your will: according to your preference
227 So to nature's need we will dole out a little rest
