Julius Caesar Translation

Julius Caesar — Act 5, Scene 2

original text and modern English, side by side

The same. The field of battle · Brutus, Messala

A brief battlefield scene in the middle of the fighting at Philippi. Brutus sends Messala racing off with written orders for the legions on the far side of the field, having spotted that Octavius's wing is fighting without conviction. He judges that one hard, immediate push will break them, and orders every unit to attack at once.

Alarum. Enter Brutus and Messala.

Brutus

Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills

Unto the legions on the other side.

Ride, Messala, ride — take these written orders to the legions on the other side of the field.

Loud alarum.

Brutus

Let them set on at once; for I perceive

But cold demeanor in Octavius’ wing,

And sudden push gives them the overthrow.

Tell them to attack all at once. I can see that Octavius's wing is fighting half-heartedly, and one sudden push will break them.

Ride, ride, Messala; let them all come down.

Ride, Messala — get them all to come down.

Exeunt.

Julius Caesar Act 5, Scene 2 summary

A brief battlefield scene in the middle of the fighting at Philippi. Brutus sends Messala racing off with written orders for the legions on the far side of the field, having spotted that Octavius's wing is fighting without conviction. He judges that one hard, immediate push will break them, and orders every unit to attack at once.

Who appears in this scene

Brutus, Messala — The same. The field of battle.

Keep reading

About this translation: the original text follows the public-domain Project Gutenberg Globe edition; the modern English translation was written in-house for Polytranslator and is reviewed on an ongoing basis (last revised August 2026). Free to print and photocopy for classroom use. Cite as: “Julius Caesar, Act 5, Scene 2. Polytranslator side-by-side translation, polytranslator.com/shakespeare/julius-caesar/act-5-scene-2.”

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