Question

read the excerpt from act 5, scene 5, of the tragedy of julius caesar. brutus. night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest, that have but laboured to attain this hour. . . . i prithee, strato, stay thou by thy lord. thou art a fellow of a good respect. thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it. hold then my sword, and turn away thy face while i do run upon it. wilt thou, strato? strato. give me your hand first. fare you well, my lord. brutus. farewell, good strato . . . caesar, now be still: i killed not thee with half so good a will. which piece of evidence best supports the theme that dignity has a high cost?

ight hangs upon mine eyes.\
\i prithee, strato, stay thou by thy lord.\
\that have but laboured to attain this hour....\
\i killed not thee with half so good a will.\

Explanation:

1. "Night hangs upon mine eyes" only describes physical tiredness, not dignity's cost.
2. "I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord" is a request for presence, not tied to dignity's cost.
3. "that have but laboured to attain this hour..." references effort but not the final high cost.
4. "I killed not thee with half so good a will" shows Brutus chooses death (the ultimate high cost) to preserve his dignity and honor, rather than being captured and shamed.

Answer:

D. "I killed not thee with half so good a will."