Brutus' Lament: A Soliloquy
The Assignment:
Brutus and company have just escaped Rome during the confusion of the riot started by Antony's speech. Write a soliloquy illustrating Brutus' feelings over the situation. Use Elizabethan terms and structure and whatnot.Warning:
All recognizable characters belong to The Bard. The words, however, are my own.Enjoy! ^_^
Brutus.
Ah, the night festoonèd with stars andDarkness blanketing land and soul.
But shield me not, thou good night, for
Brutus alone bears his wearied thoughts.
Fair Diana*, hie away. Bathe not Brutus'
Tortured visage. Hush thy nocturnal chorus,
Brutus' words beg an audience. Would that
They fall beyond a star's deaf ears
To the ears of my lover. O, merciless hands
E'er slick with the blood of Caesar, how you tremble!
Didst thou quaver laying to rest that foul dagger in
Its warm nest?** Nay, you hands drank Caesar's
Lifeblood as ambrosia. You shall have no reprieve
From thy master. Pitiful heart, you are pained.
Caesar, Caesar! Thou art naught but a wraith,
Deprivèd of body by mine villainous hands!
But surely my reasons were pure and my decision
Not made in haste! For sooth, 'twas a quandary:
Be you a spirit, or Rome?*** Tell me, I beseech you.
Shall Rome decay for my love of you? Shall I
Favor patriots, or friendship? Great Caesar,
Shall I come to rue this day? All ready
Mark Antony stirs the commoners from
Their ignorant repose into an avenging storm.
Even the parched earth cries for traitorous blood!
And thou, Marcus Brutus, art that traitor.
* Roman goddess of the moon
** Did you hesitate to stab Caesar?
*** Should you be destroyed or Rome?
Hope you liked it!
