MARCUS BRUTUS

Marcus Brutus was descended from that Junius Brutus to whom the

ancient Romans erected a statue of brass in the capitol among

the images of their kings with a drawn sword in his hand, in

remembrance of his courage and resolution in expelling the

Tarquins and destroying the monarchy. But that ancient Brutus

was of a severe and inflexible nature, like steel of too hard a

temper, and having never had his character softened by study and

thought, he let himself be so far transported with his rage and

hatred against tyrants, that, for conspiring with them, he

proceeded to the execution even of his own sons. But this

Brutus, whose life we now write, having to the goodness of his

disposition added the improvements of learning and the study of

philosophy, and having stirred up his natural parts, of

themselves grave and gentle, by applying himself to business and

public affairs, seems to have been of a temper exactly framed

for virtue; insomuch that they who were most his enemies upon

account of his conspiracy against Caesar, if in that whole

affair there was any honorable or generous part, referred it

wholly to Brutus, and laid whatever was barbarous and cruel to

the charge of Cassius, Brutus's connection and familiar friend,

but not his equal in honesty and pureness of purpose. His

mother, Servilia, was of the family of Servilius Ahala, who,

when Spurius Maelius worked the people into a rebellion and

designed to make himself king, taking a dagger under his arm,

went forth into the marketplace, and, upon presence of having

some private business with him, came up close to him, and, as he

bent his head to hear what he had to say, struck him with his

dagger and slew him. And thus much, as concerns his descent by

the mother's side, is confessed by all; but as for his father's

family, they who for Caesar's murder bore any hatred or ill-will

to Brutus say that he came not from that Brutus who expelled the

Tarquins, there being none of his race left after the execution

of his two sons; but that his ancestor was a plebeian, son of

one Brutus, a steward, and only rose in the latest times to

office or dignity in the commonwealth. But Posidonius the

philosopher writes that it is true indeed what the history

relates, that two of the sons of Brutus who were of men's estate

were put to death, but that a third, yet an infant, was left

alive, from whom the family was propagated down to Marcus

Brutus; and further, that there were several famous persons of

this house in his time whose looks very much resembled the

statue of Junius Brutus. But of this subject enough.

Cato the philosopher was brother to Servilia, the mother of

Brutus, and he it was whom of all the Romans his nephew most

admired and studied to imitate, and he afterwards married his

daughter Porcia. Of all the sects of the Greek philosophers,

though there was none of which he had not been a hearer and in

which he had not made some proficiency, yet he chiefly esteemed

the Platonists; and, not much approving of the modern and middle

Academy, as it is called, he applied himself to the study of the

ancient. He was all his lifetime a great admirer of Antiochus

of the city of Ascalon, and took his brother Aristus into his

own house for his friend and companion, a man for his learning

inferior indeed to many of the philosophers, but for the

evenness of his temper and steadiness of his conduct equal to

the best. As for Empylus, of whom he himself and his friends

often make mention in their epistles, as one that lived with

Brutus, he was a rhetorician, and has left behind him a short

but well-written history of the death of Caesar, entitled Brutus.

In Latin, he had by exercise attained a sufficient skill to be

able to make public addresses and to plead a cause; but in

Greek, he must be noted for affecting the sententious and short

Laconic way of speaking in sundry passages of his epistles; as

when, in the beginning of the war, he wrote thus to the

Pergamenians: "I hear you have given Dolabella money; if

willingly, you must own you have injured me; if unwillingly,

show it by giving willingly to me." And another time to the

Samians: "Your counsels are remiss and your performances slow:

what think ye will be the end?" And of the Patareans thus: "The

Xanthians, suspecting my kindness, have made their country the

grave of their despair; the Patareans, trusting themselves to

me, enjoy in all points their former liberty; it is in your

power to choose the judgment of the Patareans or the fortune of

the Xanthians." And this is the style for which some of his

letters are to be noted.

When he was but a very young man, he accompanied his uncle Cato,

to Cyprus, when he was sent there against Ptolemy. But when

Ptolemy killed himself, Cato, being by some necessary business

detained in the isle of Rhodes, had already sent one of his

friends, named Canidius, to take into his care and keeping the

treasure of the king; but presently, not feeling sure of his

honesty, he wrote to Brutus to sail immediately for Cyprus out

of Pamphylia, where he then was staying to refresh himself,

being but just recovered of a fit of sickness. He obeyed his

orders, but with a great deal of unwillingness, as well out of

respect to Canidius, who was thrown out of this employment by

Cato with so much disgrace, as also because he esteemed such a

commission mean, and unsuitable to him, who was in the prime of

his youth, and given to books and study. Nevertheless, applying

himself to the business, he behaved himself so well in it that

he was highly commended by Cato, and, having turned all the

goods of Ptolemy into ready money, he sailed with the greatest

part of it in his own ship to Rome.

But upon the general separation into two factions, when, Pompey

and Caesar taking up arms against one another, the whole empire

was turned into confusion, it was commonly believed that he

would take Caesar's side; for his father in past time had been

put to death by Pompey. But he, thinking it his duty to prefer

the interest of the public to his own private feelings, and

judging Pompey's to be the better cause, took part with him;

though formerly he used not so much as to salute or take any

notice of Pompey, if he happened to meet him, esteeming it a

pollution to have the least conversation with the murderer of

his father. But now, looking upon him as the general of his

country, he placed himself under his command, and set sail for

Cilicia in quality of lieutenant to Sestius, who had the

government of that province. But finding no opportunity there

of doing any great service, and hearing that Pompey and Caesar

were now near one another and preparing for the battle upon

which all depended, he came of his own accord to Macedonia to

partake in the danger. At his coming it is said that Pompey was

so surprised and so pleased, that, rising from his chair in the

sight of all who were about him, he saluted and embraced him, as

one of the chiefest of his party. All the time that he was in

the camp, excepting that which he spent in Pompey's company, he

employed in reading and in study, which he did not neglect even

the day before the great battle. It was the middle of summer,

and the heat was very great, the camp having been pitched near

some marshy ground, and the people that carried Brutus's tent

were a long while before they came. Yet though upon these

accounts he was extremely harassed and out of order, having

scarcely by the middle of the day anointed himself and eaten a

sparing meal, whilst most others were either laid to sleep or

taken up with the thoughts and apprehensions of what would be

the issue of the fight, he spent his time until the evening in

writing an epitome of Polybius.

It is said that Caesar had so great a regard for him that he

ordered his commanders by no means to kill Brutus in the battle,

but to spare him, if possible, and bring him safe to him, if he

would willingly surrender himself; but if he made any

resistance, to suffer him to escape rather than do him any

violence. And this he is believed to have done out of a

tenderness to Servilia, the mother of Brutus; for Caesar had, it

seems, in his youth been very intimate with her, and she

passionately in love with him; and, considering that Brutus was

born about that time in which their loves were at the highest,

Caesar had a belief that he was his own child. The story is

told, that when the great question of the conspiracy of

Catiline, which had like to have been the destruction of the

commonwealth, was debated in the senate, Cato and Caesar were

both standing up, contending together on the decision to be come

to; at which time a little note was delivered to Caesar from

without, which he took and read silently to himself. Upon this,

Cato cried out aloud, and accused Caesar of holding

correspondence with and receiving letters from the enemies of

the commonwealth; and when many other senators exclaimed against

it, Caesar delivered the note as he had received it to Cato, who

reading it found it to be a love-letter from his own sister

Servilia, and threw it back again to Caesar with the words,

"Keep it, you drunkard," and returned to the subject of the

debate. So public and notorious was Servilia's love to Caesar.

After the great overthrow at Pharsalia, Pompey himself having

made his escape to the sea, and Caesar's army storming the camp,

Brutus stole privately out by one of the gates leading to marshy

ground full of water and covered with reeds, and, traveling

through the night, got safe to Larissa. From Larissa he wrote

to Caesar, who expressed a great deal of joy to hear that he was

safe, and, bidding him come, not only forgave him freely, but

honored and esteemed him among his chiefest friends. Now when

nobody could give any certain account which way Pompey had fled,

Caesar took a little journey alone with Brutus, and tried what

was his opinion herein, and after some discussion which passed

between them, believing that Brutus's conjecture was the right

one, laying aside all other thoughts, he set out directly to

pursue him towards Egypt. But Pompey, having reached Egypt, as

Brutus guessed his design was to do, there met his fate.

Brutus in the meantime gained Caesar's forgiveness for his

friend Cassius; and pleading also in defense of the king of the

Lybians, though he was overwhelmed with the greatness of the

crimes alleged against him, yet by his entreaties and

deprecations to Caesar in his behalf, he preserved to him a

great part of his kingdom. It is reported that Caesar, when he

first heard Brutus speak in public, said to his friends, "I know

not what this young man intends, but, whatever he intends, he

intends vehemently." For his natural firmness of mind, not

easily yielding, or complying in favor of everyone that

entreated his kindness, once set into action upon motives of

right reason and deliberate moral choice, whatever direction it

thus took, it was pretty sure to take effectively, and to work

in such a way as not to fail in its object. No flattery could

ever prevail with him to listen to unjust petitions; and he held

that to be overcome by the importunities of shameless and

fawning entreaties, though some compliment it with the name of

modesty and bashfulness, was the worst disgrace a great man

could suffer. And he used to say, that he always felt as if

they who could deny nothing could not have behaved well in the

flower of their youth.

Caesar, being about to make his expedition into Africa against

Cato and Scipio, committed to Brutus the government of Cisalpine

Gaul, to the great happiness and advantage of that province.

For while people in other provinces were in distress with the

violence and avarice of their governors, and suffered as much

oppression as if they had been slaves and captives of war,

Brutus, by his easy government, actually made them amends for

their calamities under former rulers, directing moreover all

their gratitude for his good deeds to Caesar himself; insomuch

that it was a most welcome and pleasant spectacle to Caesar,

when in his return he passed through Italy, to see the cities

that were under Brutus's command and Brutus himself increasing

his honor and joining agreeably in his progress.

Now several praetorships being vacant, it was all men's opinion,

that that of the chiefest dignity, which is called the

praetorship of the city, would be conferred either upon Brutus

or Cassius; and some say that, there having been some little

difference upon former accounts between them, this competition

set them much more at variance, though they were connected in

their families, Cassius having married Junia, the sister of

Brutus. Others say that the contention was raised between them

by Caesar's doing, who had privately given each of them such

hopes of his favor as led them on, and provoked them at last

into this open competition and trial of their interest. Brutus

had only the reputation of his honor and virtue to oppose to the

many and gallant actions performed by Cassius against the

Parthians. But Caesar, having heard each side, and deliberating

about the matter among his friends, said, "Cassius has the

stronger plea, but we must let Brutus be first praetor." So

another praetorship was given to Cassius; the gaining of which

could not so much oblige him, as he was incensed for the loss of

the other. And in all other things Brutus was partaker of

Caesar's power as much as he desired; for he might, if he had

pleased, have been the chief of all his friends, and had

authority and command beyond them all, but Cassius and the

company he met with him drew him off from Caesar. Indeed, he

was not yet wholly reconciled to Cassius, since that competition

which was between them; but yet he gave ear to Cassius's

friends, who were perpetually advising him not to be so blind as

to suffer himself to be softened and won upon by Caesar, but to

shun the kindness and favors of a tyrant, which they intimated

that Caesar showed him, not to express any honor to his merit or

virtue, but to unbend his strength, and undermine his vigor of

purpose.

Neither was Caesar wholly without suspicion of him nor wanted

informers that accused Brutus to him; but he feared, indeed, the

high spirit and the great character and the friends that he had,

but thought himself secure in his moral disposition. When it

was told him that Antony and Dolabella designed some

disturbance, "It is not," said he, "the fat and the long-haired

men that I fear, but the pale and the lean," meaning Brutus and

Cassius. And when some maligned Brutus to him, and advised him

to beware of him, taking hold of his flesh with his hand,

"What," he said, "do you think that Brutus will not wait out the

time of this little body?" as if he thought none so fit to

succeed him in his power as Brutus. And indeed it seems to be

without doubt that Brutus might have been the first man in the

commonwealth, if he had had patience but a little time to be

second to Caesar, and would have suffered his power to decline

after it was come to its highest pitch, and the fame of his

great actions to die away by degrees. But Cassius, a man of a

fierce disposition, and one that out of private malice, rather

than love of the public, hated Caesar, not the tyrant,

continually fired and stirred him up. Brutus felt the rule an

oppression, but Cassius hated the ruler; and, among other

reasons on which he grounded his quarrel against Caesar, the

loss of his lions which he had procured when he was aedile elect

was one: for Caesar, finding these in Megara, when that city was

taken by Calenus, seized them to himself. These beasts, they

say, were a great calamity to the Megarians; for, when their

city was just taken, they broke open the lions' dens, and pulled

off their chains and let them loose, that they might run upon

the enemy that was entering the city; but the lions turned upon

them themselves, and tore to pieces a great many unarmed persons

running about, so that it was a miserable spectacle even to

their enemies to behold.

And this, some say, was the chief provocation that stirred up

Cassius to conspire against Caesar; but they are much in the

wrong. For Cassius had from his youth a natural hatred and

rancor against the whole race of tyrants, which he showed when

he was but a boy, and went to the same school with Faustus, the

son of Sylla; for, on his boasting himself amongst the boys, and

extolling the sovereign power of his father, Cassius rose up and

struck him two or three boxes on the ear; which when the

guardians and relations of Faustus designed to inquire into and

to prosecute, Pompey forbade them, and, sending for both the

boys together, examined the matter himself. And Cassius then is

reported to have said thus, "Come, then, Faustus, dare to speak

here those words that provoked me, that I may strike you again

as I did before." Such was the disposition of Cassius.

But Brutus was roused up and pushed on to the undertaking by

many persuasions of his familiar friends, and letters and

invitations from unknown citizens. For under the statue of his

ancestor Brutus, that overthrew the kingly government, they

wrote the words, "O that we had a Brutus now!" and, "O that

Brutus were alive!" And Brutus's own tribunal, on which he sat

as praetor, was filled each morning with writings such as these:

"You are asleep, Brutus," and, "You are not a true Brutus." Now

the flatterers of Caesar were the occasion of all this, who,

among other invidious honors which they strove to fasten upon

Caesar, crowned his statues by night with diadems, wishing to

incite the people to salute him king instead of dictator. But

quite the contrary came to pass, as I have more particularly

related in the life of Caesar.

When Cassius went about soliciting friends to engage in this

design against Caesar, all whom he tried readily consented, if

Brutus would be head of it; for their opinion was that the

enterprise wanted not hands or resolution, but the reputation

and authority of a man such as he was, to give as it were the

first religious sanction, and by his presence, if by nothing

else, to justify the undertaking; that without him they should

go about this action with less heart, and should lie under

greater suspicions when they had done it, for, if their cause

had been just and honorable, people would be sure that Brutus

would not have refused it. Cassius, having considered these

things with himself, went to Brutus, and made him the first

visit after their falling out; and after the compliments of

reconciliation had passed, and former kindnesses were renewed

between them, he asked him if he designed to be present in the

senate on the Calends of March, for it was discoursed, he said,

that Caesar's friends intended then to move that he might be

made king. When Brutus answered, that he would not be there,

"But what," says Cassius, "if they should send for us?" "It

will be my business then," replied Brutus, "not to hold my

peace, but to stand up boldly, and die for the liberty of my

country." To which Cassius with some emotion answered, "But

what Roman will suffer you to die? What, do you not know

yourself, Brutus? Or do you think that those writings that you

find upon your praetor's seat were put there by weavers and

shopkeepers, and not by the first and most powerful men of Rome?

From other praetors, indeed, they expect largesses and shows and

gladiators, but from you they claim, as an hereditary debt, the

extirpation of tyranny; they are all ready to suffer anything

on your account, if you will but show yourself such as they

think you are and expect you should be." Which said, he fell

upon Brutus, and embraced him; and after this, they parted each

to try their several friends.

Among the friends of Pompey there was one Caius Ligarius, whom

Caesar had pardoned, though accused for having been in arms

against him. This man, not feeling so thankful for having been

forgiven as he felt oppressed by that power which made him need

a pardon, hated Caesar, and was one of Brutus's most intimate

friends. Him Brutus visited, and, finding him sick, "O

Ligarius," says he, "what a time have you found out to be sick

in!" At which words Ligarius, raising himself and leaning on

his elbow, took Brutus by the hand, and said, "But, O Brutus, if

you are on any design worthy of yourself, I am well."

From this time, they tried the inclinations of all their

acquaintance that they durst trust, and communicated the secret

to them, and took into the design not only their familiar

friends, but as many as they believed bold and brave and

despisers of death. For which reason they concealed the plot

from Cicero, though he was very much trusted and as well beloved

by them all, lest, to his own disposition, which was naturally

timorous, adding now the wariness and caution of old age, by his

weighing, as he would do, every particular, that he might not

make one step without the greatest security, he should blunt the

edge of their forwardness and resolution in a business which

required all the dispatch imaginable. As indeed there were also

two others that were companions of Brutus, Statilius the

Epicurean, and Favonius the admirer of Cato, whom he left out

for this reason: as he was conversing one day with them, trying

them at a distance, and proposing some such question to be

disputed of as among philosophers, to see what opinion they were

of, Favonius declared his judgment to be that a civil war was

worse than the most illegal monarchy; and Statilius held, that,

to bring himself into troubles and danger upon the account of

evil or foolish men, did not become a man that had any wisdom or

discretion. But Labeo, who was present, contradicted them both;

and Brutus, as if it had been an intricate dispute, and

difficult to be decided, held his peace for that time, but

afterwards discovered the whole design to Labeo, who readily

undertook it. The next thing that was thought convenient, was to

gain the other Brutus, surnamed Albinus, a man of himself of no

great bravery or courage, but considerable for the number of

gladiators that he was maintaining for a public show, and the

great confidence that Caesar put in him. When Cassius and Labeo

spoke with him concerning the matter, he gave them no answer;

but, seeking an interview with Brutus himself alone, and finding

that he was their captain, he readily consented to partake in

the action. And among the others, also, the most and best were

gained by the name of Brutus. And, though they neither gave nor

took any oath of secrecy, nor used any other sacred rite to

assure their fidelity to each other, yet all kept their design

so close, were so wary, and held it so silently among

themselves, that, though by prophecies and apparitions and signs

in the sacrifices the gods gave warning of it, yet could it not

be believed.

Now Brutus, feeling that the noblest spirits of Rome for virtue,

birth, or courage were depending upon him, and surveying with

himself all the circumstances of the dangers they were to

encounter, strove indeed as much as possible, when abroad, to

keep his uneasiness of mind to himself, and to compose his

thoughts; but at home, and especially at night, he was not the

same man, but sometimes against his will his working care would

make him start out of his sleep, and other times he was taken up

with further reflection and consideration of his difficulties,

so that his wife that lay with him could not choose but take

notice that he was full of unusual trouble, and had in agitation

some dangerous and perplexing question. Porcia, as was said

before, was the daughter of Cato, and Brutus, her cousin-german,

had married her very young, though not a maid, but after the

death of her former husband, by whom she had one son, that was

named Bibulus; and there is a little book, called Memoirs of

Brutus, written by him, yet extant. This Porcia, being addicted

to philosophy, a great lover of her husband, and full of an

understanding courage, resolved not to inquire into Brutus's

secrets before she had made this trial of herself. She turned

all her attendants out of her chamber, and, taking a little

knife, such as they use to cut nails with, she gave herself a

deep gash in the thigh; upon which followed a great flow of

blood, and, soon after, violent pains and a shivering fever,

occasioned by the wound. Now when Brutus was extremely anxious

and afflicted for her, she, in the height of all her pain, spoke

thus to him: "I, Brutus, being the daughter of Cato, was given

to you in marriage, not like a concubine, to partake only in the

common intercourse of bed and board, but to bear a part in all

your good and all your evil fortunes; and for your part, as

regards your care for me, I find no reason to complain; but from

me, what evidence of my love, what satisfaction can you receive,

if I may not share with you in bearing your hidden griefs, nor

be admitted to any of your counsels that require secrecy and

trust? I know very well that women seem to be of too weak a

nature to be trusted with secrets; but certainly, Brutus, a

virtuous birth and education, and the company of the good and

honorable, are of some force to the forming our manners; and I

can boast that I am the daughter of Cato and the wife of Brutus,

in which two titles though before I put less confidence, yet now

I have tried myself, and find that I can bid defiance to pain."

Which words having spoken, she showed him her wound, and related

to him the trial that she had made of her constancy; at which he

being astonished, lifted up his hands to heaven, and begged the

assistance of the gods in his enterprise, that he might show

himself a husband worthy of such a wife as Porcia. So then he

comforted his wife.

But a meeting of the senate being appointed, at which it was

believed that Caesar would be present, they agreed to make use

of that opportunity: for then they might appear all together

without suspicion; and, besides, they hoped that all the noblest

and leading men of the commonwealth, being then assembled, as

soon as the great deed was done, would immediately stand

forward, and assert the common liberty. The very place, too,

where the senate was to meet, seemed to be by divine appointment

favorable to their purpose. It was a portico, one of those

joining the theater, with a large recess, in which there stood

a statue of Pompey, erected to him by the commonwealth, when he

adorned that part of the city with the porticos and the theater.

To this place it was that the senate was summoned for the middle

of March (the Ides of March is the Roman name for the day); as

if some more than human power were leading the man thither,

there to meet his punishment for the death of Pompey.

As soon as it was day, Brutus, taking with him a dagger, which

none but his wife knew of, went out. The rest met together at

Cassius's house, and brought forth his son, that was that day to

put on the manly gown, as it is called, into the forum; and from

thence, going all to Pompey's porch, stayed there, expecting

Caesar to come without delay to the senate. Here it was chiefly

that anyone who had known what they had purposed, would have

admired the unconcerned temper and the steady resolution of

these men in their most dangerous undertaking; for many of them,

being praetors, and called upon by their office to judge and

determine causes, did not only hear calmly all that made

application to them and pleaded against each other before them,

as if they were free from all other thoughts, but decided causes

with as much accuracy and judgment as they had heard them with

attention and patience. And when one person refused to stand to

the award of Brutus, and with great clamor and many attestations

appealed to Caesar, Brutus, looking round about him upon those

that were present, said, "Caesar does not hinder me, nor will he

hinder me, from doing according to the laws."

Yet there were many unusual accidents that disturbed them and by

mere chance were thrown in their way. The first and chiefest

was the long stay of Caesar, though the day was far spent, and

his being detained at home by his wife, and forbidden by the

soothsayers to go forth, upon some defect that appeared in his

sacrifice. Another was this: There came a man up to Casca, one

of the company, and, taking him by the hand, "You concealed,"

said he, "the secret from us, but Brutus has told me all." At

which words when Casca was surprised, the other said laughing,

"How come you to be so rich of a sudden, that you should stand

to be chosen aedile?" So near was Casca to let out the secret,

upon the mere ambiguity of the other's expression. Then

Popilius Laenas, a senator, having saluted Brutus and Cassius

more earnestly than usual, whispered them softly in the ear and

said, "My wishes are with you, that you may accomplish what you

design, and I advise you to make no delay, for the thing is now

no secret." This said, he departed, and left them in great

suspicion that the design had taken wind. In the meanwhile,

there came one in all haste from Brutus's house, and brought him

news that his wife was dying. For Porcia, being extremely

disturbed with expectation of the event, and not able to bear

the greatness of her anxiety, could scarce keep herself within

doors; and at every little noise or voice she heard, starting up

suddenly, like those possessed with the bacchic frenzy, she

asked everyone that came in from the forum what Brutus was

doing, and sent one messenger after another to inquire. At

last, after long expectation, the strength of her body could

hold out no longer; her mind was overcome with her doubts and

fears, and she lost the control of herself, and began to faint

away. She had not time to betake herself to her chamber, but,

sitting as she was amongst her women, a sudden swoon and a great

stupor seized her, and her color changed, and her speech was

quite lost. At this sight, her women made a loud cry, and many

of the neighbors running to Brutus's door to know what was the

matter, the report was soon spread abroad that Porcia was dead;

though with her women's help she recovered in a little while,

and came to herself again. When Brutus received this news, he

was extremely troubled, nor without reason, yet was not so

carried away by his private grief as to quit his public purpose.

For now news was brought that Caesar was coming, carried in a

litter. For, being discouraged by the ill omens that attended

his sacrifice, he had determined to undertake no affairs of any

great importance that day, but to defer them till another time,

excusing himself that he was sick. As soon as he came out of

his litter, Popilius Laenas, he who but a little before had

wished Brutus good success in his undertaking, coming up to him,

conversed a great while with him, Caesar standing still all the

while, and seeming to be very attentive. The conspirators, (to

give them this name,) not being able to hear what he said, but

guessing by what themselves were conscious of that this

conference was the discovery of their treason, were again

disheartened, and, looking upon one another, agreed from each

other's countenances that they should not stay to be taken, but

should all kill themselves. And now when Cassius and some

others were laying hands upon their daggers under their robes,

and were drawing them out, Brutus, viewing narrowly the looks

and gesture of Laenas, and finding that he was earnestly

petitioning and not accusing, said nothing, because there were

many strangers to the conspiracy mingled amongst them, but by a

cheerful countenance encouraged Cassius. And after a little

while, Laenas, having kissed Caesar's hand, went away, showing

plainly that all his discourse was about some particular

business relating to himself.

Now when the senate was gone in before to the chamber where they

were to sit, the rest of the company placed themselves close

about Caesar's chair, as if they had some suit to make to him,

and Cassius, turning his face to Pompey's statue, is said to

have invoked it, as if it had been sensible of his prayers.

Trebonius, in the meanwhile, engaged Antony's attention at the

door, and kept him in talk outside. When Caesar entered, the

whole senate rose up to him. As soon as he was set down, the

men all crowded round about him, and set Tillius Cimber, one of

their own number, to intercede in behalf of his brother, that

was banished; they all joined their prayers with his, and took

Caesar by the hand, and kissed his head and his breast. But he

putting aside at first their supplications, and afterwards, when

he saw they would not desist, violently rising up, Tillius with

both hands caught hold of his robe and pulled it off from his

shoulders, and Casca, that stood behind him, drawing his dagger,

gave him the first, but a slight wound, about the shoulder.

Caesar snatching hold of the handle of the dagger, and crying

out aloud in Latin, "Villain Casca, what do you?" he, calling

in Greek to his brother, bade him come and help. And by this

time, finding himself struck by a great many hands, and looking

round about him to see if he could force his way out, when he

saw Brutus with his dagger drawn against him, he let go Casca's

hand, that he had hold of, and, covering his head with his robe,

gave up his body to their blows. And they so eagerly pressed

towards the body, and so many daggers were hacking together,

that they cut one another; Brutus, particularly, received a

wound in his hand, and all of them were besmeared with the

blood.

Caesar being thus slain, Brutus, stepping forth into the midst,

intended to have made a speech, and called back and encouraged

the senators to stay; but they all affrighted ran away in great

disorder, and there was a great confusion and press at the door,

though none pursued or followed. For they had come to an

express resolution to kill nobody besides Caesar, but to call

and invite all the rest to liberty. It was indeed the opinion

of all the others, when they consulted about the execution of

their design, that it was necessary to cut off Antony with

Caesar, looking upon him as an insolent man, an affecter of

monarchy, and one that, by his familiar intercourse, had gained

a powerful interest with the soldiers. And this they urged the

rather, because at that time to the natural loftiness and

ambition of his temper there was added the dignity of being

consul and colleague to Caesar. But Brutus opposed this

counsel, insisting first upon the injustice of it, and

afterwards giving them hopes that a change might be worked in

Antony. For he did not despair but that so highly gifted and

honorable a man, and such a lover of glory as Antony, stirred up

with emulation of their great attempt, might, if Caesar were

once removed, lay hold of the occasion to be joint restorer with

them of the liberty of his country. Thus did Brutus save

Antony's life. But he, in the general consternation, put

himself into a plebeian habit, and fled. But Brutus and his

party marched up to the capitol, in their way showing their

hands all bloody, and their naked swords, and proclaiming

liberty to the people. At first all places were filled with

cries and shouts; and the wild running to and fro, occasioned by

the sudden surprise and passion that everyone was in, increased

the tumult in the city. But no other bloodshed following, and

no plundering of the goods in the streets, the senators and many

of the people took courage and went up to the men in the

capitol; and, a multitude being gathered together, Brutus made

an oration to them, very popular, and proper for the state that

affairs were then in. Therefore, when they applauded his

speech, and cried out to him to come down, they all took

confidence and descended into the forum; the rest promiscuously

mingled with one another, but many of the most eminent persons,

attending Brutus, conducted him in the midst of them with great

honor from the capitol, and placed him in the rostra. At the

sight of Brutus, the crowd, though consisting of a confused

mixture and all disposed to make a tumult, were struck with

reverence, and expected what he would say with order and with

silence, and, when he began to speak, heard him with quiet and

attention. But that all were not pleased with this action they

plainly showed when, Cinna beginning to speak and accuse Caesar,

they broke out into a sudden rage, and railed at him in such

language, that the whole party thought fit again to withdraw to

the capitol. And there Brutus, expecting to be besieged,

dismissed the most eminent of those that had accompanied them

thither, not thinking it just that they who were not partakers

of the fact should share in the danger.

But the next day, the senate being assembled in the temple of

the Earth, and Antony and Plancus and Cicero having made

orations recommending concord in general and an act of oblivion,

it was decreed, that the men should not only be put out of all

fear or danger, but that the consuls should see what honors and

dignities were proper to be conferred upon them. After which

done, the senate broke up; and, Antony having sent his son as an

hostage to the capitol, Brutus and his company came down, and

mutual salutes and invitations passed amongst them, the whole of

them being gathered together. Antony invited and entertained

Cassius, Lepidus did the same to Brutus, and the rest were

invited and entertained by others, as each of them had

acquaintance or friends. And as soon as it was day, the senate

met again and voted thanks to Antony for having stifled the

beginning of a civil war; afterwards Brutus and his associates

that were present received encomiums, and had provinces assigned

and distributed among them. Crete was allotted to Brutus,

Africa to Cassius, Asia to Trebonius, Bithynia to Cimber, and to

the other Brutus Gaul about the Po.

After these things, they began to consider of Caesar's will, and

the ordering of his funeral. Antony desired that the will might

be read, and that the body should not have a private or

dishonorable interment, lest that should further exasperate the

people. This Cassius violently opposed, but Brutus yielded to

it, and gave leave; in which he seems to have a second time

committed a fault. For as before in sparing the life of Antony

he could not be without some blame from his party, as thereby

setting up against the conspiracy a dangerous and difficult

enemy, so now, in suffering him to have the ordering of the

funeral, he fell into a total and irrecoverable error. For

first, it appearing by the will that Caesar had bequeathed to

the Roman people seventy-five drachmas a man, and given to the

public his gardens beyond Tiber (where now the temple of Fortune

stands), the whole city was fired with a wonderful affection for

him, and a passionate sense of the loss of him. And when the

body was brought forth into the forum, Antony, as the custom

was, making a funeral oration in the praise of Caesar, and

finding the multitude moved with his speech, passing into the

pathetic tone, unfolded the bloody garment of Caesar, showed

them in how many places it was pierced, and the number of his

wounds. Now there was nothing to be seen but confusion; some

cried out to kill the murderers, others (as was formerly done

when Clodius led the people) tore away the benches and tables

out of the shops round about, and, heaping them all together,

built a great funeral pile, and, having put the body of Caesar

upon it, set it on fire, the spot where this was done being

moreover surrounded with a great many temples and other

consecrated places, so that they seemed to burn the body in a

kind of sacred solemnity. As soon as the fire flamed out, the

multitude, flocking in some from one part and some from another,

snatched the brands that were half burnt out of the pile, and

ran about the city to fire the houses of the murderers of

Caesar. But they, having beforehand well fortified themselves,

repelled this danger.

There was however a kind of poet, one Cinna, not at all

concerned in the guilt of the conspiracy, but on the contrary

one of Caesar's friends. This man dreamed that he was invited

to supper by Caesar, and that he declined to go, but that Caesar

entreated and pressed him to it very earnestly; and at last,

taking him by the hand, led him into a very deep and dark place,

whither he was forced against his will to follow in great

consternation and amazement. After this vision, he had a fever

the most part of the night; nevertheless in the morning, hearing

that the body of Caesar was to be carried forth to be interred,

he was ashamed not to be present at the solemnity, and came

abroad and joined the people, when they were already infuriated

by the speech of Antony. And perceiving him, and taking him not

for that Cinna who indeed he was, but for him that a little

before in a speech to the people had reproached and inveighed

against Caesar, they fell upon him and tore him to pieces.

This action chiefly, and the alteration that Antony had wrought,

so alarmed Brutus and his party, that for their safety they

retired from the city. The first stay they made was at Antium,

with a design to return again as soon as the fury of the people

had spent itself and was abated, which they expected would soon

and easily come to pass in an unsettled multitude, apt to be

carried away with any sudden and impetuous passion, especially

since they had the senate favorable to them; which, though it

took no notice of those that had torn Cinna to pieces, yet made

a strict search and apprehended in order to punishment those

that had assaulted the houses of the friends of Brutus and

Cassius. By this time, also, the people began to be

dissatisfied with Antony, who they perceived was setting up a

kind of monarchy for himself; they longed for the return of

Brutus, whose presence they expected and hoped for at the games

and spectacles which he, as praetor, was to exhibit to the

public. But he, having intelligence that many of the old

soldiers that had borne arms under Caesar, by whom they had had

lands and cities given them, lay in wait for him, and by small

parties at a time had stolen into the city, would not venture to

come himself; however, in his absence there were most

magnificent and costly shows exhibited to the people; for,

having bought up a great number of all sorts of wild beasts, he

gave order that not any of them should be returned or saved, but

that all should be spent freely at the public spectacles. He

himself made a journey to Naples to procure a considerable

number of players, and hearing of one Canutius, that was very

much praised for his acting upon the stage, he wrote to his

friends to use all their entreaties to bring him to Rome (for,

being a Grecian, he could not be compelled); he wrote also to

Cicero, begging him by no means to omit being present at the

shows.

This was the posture of affairs when another sudden alteration

was made upon the young Caesar's coming to Rome. He was son to

the niece of Caesar, who adopted him, and left him his heir by

his will. At the time when Caesar was killed, he was following

his studies at Apollonia, where he was expecting also to meet

Caesar on his way to the expedition which he had determined on

against the Parthians; but, hearing of his death, he immediately

came to Rome, and, to ingratiate himself with the people, taking

upon himself the name of Caesar, and punctually distributing

among the citizens the money that was left them by the will, he

soon got the better of Antony; and by money and largesses, which

he liberally dispersed amongst the soldiers, he gathered

together and brought over to his party a great number of those

that had served under Caesar. Cicero himself, out of the hatred

which he bore to Antony, sided with young Caesar; which Brutus

took so ill that he treated with him very sharply in his

letters, telling him, that he perceived Cicero could well enough

endure a tyrant, but was afraid that he who hated him should be

the man; that in writing and speaking so well of Caesar, he

showed that his aim was to have an easy slavery. "But our

forefathers," said Brutus, "could not brook even gentle

masters." Further he added, that for his own part he had not as

yet fully resolved whether he should make war or peace; but that

as to one point he was fixed and settled, which was, never to be

a slave; that he wondered Cicero should fear the dangers of a

civil war, and not be much more afraid of a dishonorable and

infamous peace; that the very reward that was to be given him

for subverting Antony's tyranny was the privilege of

establishing Caesar as tyrant in his place. This is the tone of

Brutus's first letters to Cicero.

The city being now divided into two factions, some betaking

themselves to Caesar and others to Antony, the soldiers selling

themselves, as it were, by public outcry, and going over to him

that would give them most, Brutus began to despair of any good

event of such proceedings, and, resolving to leave Italy, passed

by land through Lucania and came to Elea by the seaside. From

hence it was thought convenient that Porcia should return to

Rome. She was overcome with grief to part from Brutus, but

strove as much as was possible to conceal it; but, in spite of

all her constancy, a picture which she found there accidentally

betrayed it. It was a Greek subject, Hector parting from

Andromache when he went to engage the Greeks, giving his young

son Astyanax into her arms, and she fixing her eyes upon him.

When she looked at this piece, the resemblance it bore to her

own condition made her burst into tears, and several times a day

she went to see the picture, and wept before it. Upon this

occasion, when Acilius, one of Brutus's friends, repeated out of

Homer the verses, where Andromache speaks to Hector: --

But Hector, you

To me are father and are mother too,

My brother, and my loving husband true.

Brutus, smiling, replied, "But I must not answer Porcia, as

Hector did Andromache,

'Mind you your loom, and to your maids give law.'

For though the natural weakness of her body hinders her from

doing what only the strength of men can perform, yet she has a

mind as valiant and as active for the good of her country as the

best of us." This narrative is in the memoirs of Brutus written

by Bibulus, Porcia's son.

Brutus took ship from hence, and sailed to Athens where he was

received by the people with great demonstrations of kindness,

expressed in their acclamations and the honors that were decreed

him. He lived there with a private friend, and was a constant

auditor of Theomnestus the Academic and Cratippus the

Peripatetic, with whom he so engaged in philosophical pursuits,

that he seemed to have laid aside all thoughts of public

business, and to be wholly at leisure for study. But all this

while, being unsuspected, he was secretly making preparation for

war; in order to which he sent Herostratus into Macedonia to

secure the commanders there to his side, and he himself won over

and kept at his disposal all the young Romans that were then

students at Athens. Of this number was Cicero's son, whom he

everywhere highly extols, and says that whether sleeping or

waking he could not choose but admire a young man of so great a

spirit and such a hater of tyranny.

At length he began to act openly, and to appear in public

business, and, being informed that there were several Roman

ships full of treasure that in their course from Asia were to

come that way, and that they were commanded by one of his

friends, he went to meet him about Carystus. Finding him there,

and having persuaded him to deliver up the ships, he made a more

than usually splendid entertainment, for it happened also to be

his birthday. Now when they came to drink, and were filling

their cups with hopes for victory to Brutus and liberty to Rome,

Brutus, to animate them the more, called for a larger bowl, and

holding it in his hand, on a sudden upon no occasion or

forethought pronounced aloud this verse: --

But fate my death and Leto's son have wrought.

And some writers add that in the last battle which he fought at

Philippi the word that he gave to his soldiers was Apollo, and

from thence conclude that this sudden unaccountable exclamation

of his was a presage of the overthrow that he suffered there.

Antistius, the commander of these ships, at his parting gave him

fifty thousand myriads of the money that he was conveying to

Italy; and all the soldiers yet remaining of Pompey's army, who

after their general's defeat wandered about Thessaly, readily

and joyfully flocked together to join him. Besides this, he

took from Cinna five hundred horse that he was carrying to

Dolabella into Asia. After that, he sailed to Demetrias, and

there seized a great quantity of arms, that had been provided by

the command of the deceased Caesar for the Parthian war, and

were now to be sent to Antony. Then Macedonia was put into his

hands and delivered up by Hortensius the praetor, and all the

kings and potentates round about came and offered their

services. So when news was brought that Caius, the brother of

Antony, having passed over from Italy, was marching on directly

to join the forces that Vatinius commanded in Dyrrhachium and

Apollonia, Brutus resolved to anticipate him, and to seize them

first, and in all haste moved forwards with those that he had

about him. His march was very difficult, through rugged places

and in a great snow, but so swift that he left those that were

to bring his provisions for the morning meal a great way behind.

And now, being very near to Dyrrhachium, with fatigue and cold

he fell into the distemper called Bulimia. This is a disease

that seizes both men and cattle after much labor, and especially

in a great snow; whether it is caused by the natural heat, when

the body is seized with cold, being forced all inwards, and

consuming at once all the nourishment laid in, or whether the

sharp and subtle vapor which comes from the snow as it

dissolves, cuts the body, as it were, and destroys the heat

which issues through the pores; for the sweatings seem to arise

from the heat meeting with the cold, and being quenched by it on

the surface of the body. But this I have in another place

discussed more at large.

Brutus growing very faint, and there being none in the whole

army that had anything for him to eat, his servants were forced

to have recourse to the enemy, and, going as far as to the gates

of the city, begged bread of the sentinels that were upon duty.

As soon as they heard of the condition of Brutus, they came

themselves, and brought both meat and drink along with them; in

return for which, Brutus, when he took the city, showed the

greatest kindness, not to them only, but to all the inhabitants,

for their sakes. Caius Antonius, in the meantime, coming to

Apollonia, summoned all the soldiers that were near that city to

join him there; but finding that they nevertheless went all to

Brutus, and suspecting that even those of Apollonia were

inclined to the same party, he quitted that city, and came to

Buthrotum, having first lost three cohorts of his men, that in

their march thither were cut to pieces by Brutus. After this,

attempting to make himself master of some strong places about

Byllis which the enemy had first seized, he was overcome in a

set battle by young Cicero, to whom Brutus gave the command, and

whose conduct he made use of often and with much success. Caius

himself was surprised in a marshy place, at a distance from his

supports; and Brutus, having him in his power, would not suffer

his soldiers to attack, but maneuvering about the enemy with his

horse, gave command that none of them should be killed, for that

in a little time they would all be of his side; which

accordingly came to pass, for they surrendered both themselves

and their general. So that Brutus had by this time a very great

and considerable army. He showed all marks of honor and esteem

to Caius for a long time, and left him the use of the ensigns of

his office, though, as some report, he had several letters from

Rome, and particularly from Cicero, advising him to put him to

death. But at last, perceiving that he began to corrupt his

officers, and was trying to raise a mutiny amongst the soldiers,

he put him aboard a ship and kept him close prisoner. In the

meantime the soldiers that had been corrupted by Caius retired

to Apollonia, and sent word to Brutus, desiring him to come to

them thither. He answered that this was not the custom of the

Romans, but that it became those who had offended to come

themselves to their general and beg forgiveness of their

offences; which they did, and accordingly received their pardon.

As he was preparing to pass into Asia, tidings reached him of

the alteration that had happened at Rome; where the young

Caesar, assisted by the senate, in opposition to Antony, and

having driven his competitor out of Italy, had begun himself to

be very formidable, suing for the consulship contrary to law,

and maintaining large bodies of troops of which the commonwealth

had no manner of need. And then, perceiving that the senate,

dissatisfied with his proceedings, began to cast their eyes

abroad upon Brutus, and decreed and confirmed the government of

several provinces to him, he had taken the alarm. Therefore

dispatching messengers to Antony, he desired that there might be

a reconciliation, and a friendship between them. Then, drawing

all his forces about the city, he made himself be chosen consul,

though he was but a boy, being scarce twenty years old, as he

himself writes in his memoirs. At his first entry upon the

consulship he immediately ordered a judicial process to be

issued out against Brutus and his accomplices for having

murdered a principal man of the city, holding the highest

magistracies of Rome, without being heard or condemned; and

appointed Lucius Cornificius to accuse Brutus, and Marcus

Agrippa to accuse Cassius. None appearing to the accusation,

the judges were forced to pass sentence and condemn them both.

It is reported, that when the crier from the tribunal, as the

custom was, with a loud voice cited Brutus to appear, the people

groaned audibly, and the noble citizens hung down their heads

for grief. Publius Silicius was seen to burst out into tears,

which was the cause that not long after he was put down in the

list of those that were proscribed. After this, the three men,

Caesar, Antony, and Lepidus, being perfectly reconciled, shared

the provinces among themselves, and made up the catalogue of

proscription, wherein were set those that were designed for

slaughter, amounting to two hundred men, in which number Cicero

was slain.

This news being brought to Brutus in Macedonia, he was under a

compulsion, and sent orders to Hortensius that he should kill

Caius Antonius in revenge of the death of Cicero his friend, and

Brutus his kinsman, who also was proscribed and slain. Upon

this account it was that Antony, having afterwards taken

Hortensius in the battle of Philippi, slew him upon his

brother's tomb. But Brutus expresses himself as more ashamed

for the cause of Cicero's death than grieved for the misfortune

of it, and says he cannot help accusing his friends at Rome,

that they were slaves more through their own doing than that of

those who now were their tyrants; they could be present and see

and yet suffer those things which even to hear related ought to

them to have been insufferable.

Having made his army, that was already very considerable, pass

into Asia, he ordered a fleet to be prepared in Bithynia and

about Cyzicus. But going himself through the country by land,

he made it his business to settle and confirm all the cities,

and gave audience to the princes of the parts through which he

passed. And he sent orders into Syria to Cassius to come to

him, and leave his intended journey into Egypt; letting him

understand, that it was not to gain an empire for themselves,

but to free their country, that they went thus wandering about

and had got an army together whose business it was to destroy

the tyrants; that therefore, if they remembered and resolved to

persevere in their first purpose, they ought not to be too far

from Italy, but make what haste they could thither, and endeavor

to relieve their fellow-citizens from oppression.

Cassius obeyed his summons, and returned, and Brutus went to

meet him; and at Smyrna they met, which was the first time they

had seen one another since they parted at the Piraeus in Athens,

one for Syria, and the other for Macedonia. They were both

extremely joyful and had great confidence of their success at

the sight of the forces that each of them had got together,

since they who had fled from Italy, like the most despicable

exiles, without money, without arms, without a ship or a soldier

or a city to rely on, in a little time after had met together so

well furnished with shipping and money, and an army both of

horse and foot, that they were in a condition to contend for the

empire of Rome.

Cassius was desirous to show no less respect and honor to Brutus

than Brutus did to him; but Brutus was still beforehand with

him, coming for the most part to him, both because he was the

elder man, and of a weaker constitution than himself. Men

generally reckoned Cassius a very expert soldier, but of a harsh

and angry nature, and one that desired to command rather by fear

than love; though, on the other side, among his familiar

acquaintance he would easily give way to jesting, and play the

buffoon. But Brutus, for his virtue, was esteemed by the

people, beloved by his friends, admired by the best men, and

hated not by his enemies themselves. For he was a man of a

singularly gentle nature, of a great spirit, insensible of the

passions of anger or pleasure or covetousness; steady and

inflexible to maintain his purpose for what he thought right and

honest. And that which gained him the greatest affection and

reputation was the entire faith in his intentions. For it had

not ever been supposed that Pompey the Great himself, if he had

overcome Caesar, would have submitted his power to the laws,

instead of taking the management of the state upon himself,

soothing the people with the specious name of consul or

dictator, or some other milder title than king. And they were

well persuaded that Cassius, being a man governed by anger and

passion and carried often, for his interest's sake, beyond the

bounce of justice, endured all these hardships of war and travel

and danger most assuredly to obtain dominion to himself, and not

liberty to the people. And as for the former disturbers of the

peace of Rome, whether a Cinna, a Marius, or a Carbo, it is

manifest that they, having set their country as a stake for him

that should win, did almost own in express terms that they

fought for empire. But even the enemies of Brutus did not, they

tell us, lay this accusation to his charge; nay, many heard

Antony himself say that Brutus was the only man that conspired

against Caesar out of a sense of the glory and the apparent

justice of the action, but that all the rest rose up against the

man himself, from private envy and malice of their own. And it

is plain by what he writes himself, that Brutus did not so

much rely upon his forces, as upon his own virtue. For thus he

speaks in a letter to Atticus, shortly before he was to engage

with the enemy: that his affairs were in the best state of

fortune that he could wish; for that either he should overcome,

and restore liberty to the people of Rome, or die, and be

himself out of the reach of slavery; that other things being

certain and beyond all hazard, one thing was yet in doubt,

whether they should live or die free men. He adds further, that

Mark Antony had received a just punishment for his folly, who,

when he might have been numbered with Brutus and Cassius and

Cato, would join himself to Octavius; that though they should

not now be both overcome, they soon would fight between them

selves. And in this he seems to have been no ill prophet.

Now when they were at Smyrna, Brutus desired of Cassius that he

might have part of the great treasure that he had heaped up,

because all his own was expended in furnishing out such a fleet

of ships as was sufficient to keep the whole interior sea in

their power. But Cassius's friends dissuaded him from this;

"for," said they, "it is not just that the money which you with

so much parsimony keep and with so much envy have got, should be

given to him to be disposed of in making himself popular, and

gaining the favor of the soldiers." Notwithstanding this,

Cassius gave him a third part of all that he had; and then they

parted each to their several commands. Cassius, having taken

Rhodes, behaved himself there with no clemency; though at his

first entry, when some had called him lord and king, he

answered, that he was neither king nor lord, but the destroyer

and punisher of a king and lord. Brutus, on the other part,

sent to the Lycians to demand from them a supply of money and

men; but Naucrates, their popular leader, persuaded the cities

to resist, and they occupied several little mountains and hills,

with a design to hinder Brutus's passage. Brutus at first sent

out a party of horse, which, surprising them as they were

eating, killed six hundred of them; and afterwards, having taken

all their small towns and villages round about, he set all his

prisoners free without ransom, hoping to win the whole nation by

good-will. But they continued obstinate, taking in anger what

they had suffered, and despising his goodness and humanity;

until, having forced the most warlike of them into the city of

Xanthus, he besieged them there. They endeavored to make their

escape by swimming and diving through the river that flows by

the town, but were taken by nets let down for that purpose in

the channel, which had little bells at the top, which gave

present notice of any that were taken in them. After that, they

made a sally in the night, and seizing several of the battering

engines, set them on fire; but being perceived by the Romans,

were beaten back to their walls, and, there being a strong wind,

it carried the flames to the battlements of the city with such

fierceness, that several of the adjoining houses took fire.

Brutus, fearing lest the whole city should be destroyed,

commanded his own soldiers to assist, and quench the fire.

But the Lycians were on a sudden possessed with a strange and

incredible desperation; such a frenzy as cannot be better

expressed than by calling it a violent appetite to die, for both

women and children, the bondmen and the free, those of all ages

and of all conditions strove to force away the soldiers that

came in to their assistance, from the walls; and themselves

gathering together reeds and wood, and whatever combustible

matter they found, spread the fire over the whole city, feeding

it with whatever fuel they could, and by all possible means

exciting its fury, so that the flame, having dispersed itself

and encircled the whole city, blazed out in so terrible a

manner, that Brutus, being extremely afflicted at their

calamity, got on horseback and rode round the walls, earnestly

desirous to preserve the city, and, stretching forth his hands

to the Xanthians, begged of them that they would spare

themselves and save their town. Yet none regarded his

entreaties, but by all manner of ways strove to destroy

themselves; not only men and women, but even boys and little

children, with a hideous outcry, leaped, some into the fire,

others from the walls, others fell upon their parents' swords,

baring their throats and desiring to be struck. After the

destruction of the city, there was found a woman who had hanged

herself with her young child hanging from her neck, and the

torch in her hand, with which she had fired her own house. It

was so tragical a sight, that Brutus could not endure to see it,

but wept at the very relation of it, and proclaimed a reward to

any soldier that could save a Xanthian. And it is said that one

hundred and fifty only were found, to have their lives saved

against their wills. Thus the Xanthians, after a long space of

years, the fated period of their destruction having, as it were,

run its course, repeated by their desperate deed the former

calamity of their forefathers, who after the very same manner in

the Persian war had fired their city and destroyed themselves.

Brutus, after this, finding the Patareans resolved to make

resistance and hold out their city against him, was very

unwilling to besiege it, and was in great perplexity lest the

same frenzy might seize them too. But having in his power some

of their women, who were his prisoners, he dismissed them all

without any ransom; who, returning and giving an account to

their husbands and fathers, who were of the greatest rank, what

an excellent man Brutus was how temperate and how just,

persuaded them to yield themselves and put their city into his

hands. From this time all the cities round about came into his

power, submitting themselves to him, and found him good and

merciful even beyond their hopes. For though Cassius at the

same time had compelled the Rhodians to bring in all the silver

and gold that each of them privately was possessed of, by which

he raised a sum of eight thousand talents, and besides this had

condemned the public to pay the sum of five hundred talents

more, Brutus, not having taken above a hundred and fifty talents

from the Lycians, and having done them no other manner of

injury, parted from thence with his army to go into Ionia.

Through the whole course of this expedition, Brutus did many

memorable acts of justice in dispensing rewards and punishments

to such as had deserved either; but one in particular I will

relate, because he himself, and all the noblest Romans, were

gratified with it above all the rest. When Pompey the Great,

being overthrown from his great power by Caesar, had fled to

Egypt, and landed near Pelusium, the protectors of the young

king consulted among themselves what was fit to be done on that

occasion, nor could they all agree in the same opinion, some

being for receiving him, others for driving him from Egypt. But

Theodotus, a Chian by birth, and then attending upon the king as

a paid teacher of rhetoric, and for want of better men admitted

into the council, undertook to prove to them, that both parties

were in the wrong, those that counseled to receive Pompey, and

those that advised to send him away; that in their present case

one thing only was truly expedient, to seize him and to kill

him; and ended his argument with the proverb, that "dead men

don't bite." The council agreed to his opinion, and Pompey the

Great (an example of incredible and unforeseen events) was

slain, as the sophister himself had the impudence to boast,

through the rhetoric and cleverness of Theodotus. Not long

after, when Caesar came to Egypt, some of the murderers received

their just reward and suffered the evil death they deserved.

But Theodotus, though he had borrowed on from fortune a little

further time for a poor despicable and wandering life, yet did

not lie hid from Brutus as he passed through Asia; but being

seized by him and executed, had his death made more memorable

than was his life.

About this time, Brutus sent to Cassius to come to him at the

city of Sardis, and, when he was on his journey, went forth with

his friends to meet him; and the whole army in array saluted

each of them with the name of Imperator. Now (as it usually

happens in business of great concern and where many friends and

many commanders are engaged), several jealousies of each other

and matters of private accusation having passed between Brutus

and Cassius, they resolved, before they entered upon any other

business, immediately to withdraw into some apartment; where,

the door being shut and they two alone, they began first to

expostulate, then to dispute hotly, and accuse each other; and

finally were so transported into passion as to fall to hard

words, and at last burst out into tears. Their friends who

stood without were amazed, hearing them loud and angry, and

feared lest some mischief might follow, but yet durst not

interrupt them, being commanded not to enter the room. However,

Marcus Favonius, who had been an ardent admirer of Cato, and,

not so much by his learning or wisdom as by his wild, vehement

manner, maintained the character of a philosopher, was rushing

in upon them, but was hindered by the attendants. But it was a

hard matter to stop Favonius, wherever his wildness hurried him;

for he was fierce in all his behavior, and ready to do anything

to get his will. And though he was a senator, yet, thinking

that one of the least of his excellences, he valued himself more

upon a sort of cynical liberty of speaking what he pleased,

which sometimes, indeed, did away with the rudeness and

unseasonableness of his addresses with those that would

interpret it in jest. This Favonius, breaking by force through

those that kept the doors, entered into the chamber, and with a

set voice declaimed the verses that Homer makes Nestor use, --

Be ruled, for I am older than ye both.

At this Cassius laughed; but Brutus thrust him our, calling him

impudent dog and counterfeit Cynic; but yet for the present they

let it put an end to their dispute, and parted. Cassius made a

supper that night, and Brutus invited the guests; and when they

were set down, Favonius, having bathed, came in among them.

Brutus called out aloud and told him he was not invited, and

bade him go to the upper couch; but he violently thrust himself

in, and lay down on the middle one; and the entertainment

passed in sportive talk, not wanting either wit or philosophy.

The next day after, upon the accusation of the Sardians, Brutus

publicly disgraced and condemned Lucius Pella, one that had been

censor of Rome, and employed in offices of trust by himself, for

having embezzled the public money. This action did not a little

vex Cassius; for but a few days before, two of his own friends

being accused of the same crime, he only admonished them in

private, but in public absolved them, and continued them in his

service; and upon this occasion he accused Brutus of too much

rigor and severity of justice in a time which required them to

use more policy and favor. But Brutus bade him remember the

Ides of March, the day when they killed Caesar, who himself

neither plundered nor pillaged mankind, but was only the support

and strength of those that did; and bade him consider, that if

there was any color for justice to be neglected, it had been

better to suffer the injustice of Caesar's friends than to give

impunity to their own; "for then," said he, "we could have been

accused of cowardice only; whereas now we are liable to the

accusation of injustice, after all our pain and dangers which we

endure." By which we may perceive what was Brutus's purpose,

and the rule of his actions.

About the time that they were going to pass out of Asia into

Europe, it is said that a wonderful sign was seen by Brutus. He

was naturally given to much watching, and by practice and

moderation in his diet had reduced his allowance of sleep to a

very small amount of time. He never slept in the daytime, and

in the night then only when all his business was finished, and

when, everyone else being gone to rest, he had nobody to

discourse with him. But at this time, the war being begun,

having the whole state of it to consider and being solicitous of

the event, after his first sleep, which he let himself take

after his supper, he spent all the rest of the night in settling

his most urgent affairs; which if he could dispatch early and so

make a saving of any leisure, he employed himself in reading

until the third watch, at which time the centurions and tribunes

were used to come to him for orders. Thus one night before he

passed out of Asia, he was very late all alone in his tent, with

a dim light burning by him, all the rest of the camp being

hushed and silent; and reasoning about something with himself

and very thoughtful, he fancied someone came in, and, looking

up towards the door, he saw a terrible and strange appearance of

an unnatural and frightful body standing by him without

speaking. Brutus boldly asked it, "What are you, of men or

gods, and upon what business come to me?" The figure answered,

"I am your evil genius, Brutus; you shall see me at Philippi."

To which Brutus, not at all disturbed, replied, "Then I shall

see you."

As soon as the apparition vanished, he called his servants to

him, who all told him that they had neither heard any voice nor

seen any vision. So then he continued watching till the

morning, when he went to Cassius, and told him of what he had

seen. He, who followed the principles of Epicurus's philosophy,

and often used to dispute with Brutus concerning matters of this

nature, spoke to him thus upon this occasion: "It is the opinion

of our sect, Brutus, that not all that we feel or see is real

and true; but that the sense is a most slippery and deceitful

thing, and the mind yet more quick and subtle to put the sense

in motion and affect it with every kind of change upon no real

occasion of fact; just as an impression is made upon wax; and

the soul of man, which has in itself both what imprints and what

is imprinted on, may most easily, by its own operations, produce

and assume every variety of shape and figure. This is evident

from the sudden changes of our dreams; in which the imaginative

principle, once started by anything matter, goes through a

whole series of most diverse emotions and appearances. It is

its nature to be ever in motion, and its motion is fantasy or

conception. But besides all this, in your case, the body, being

tired and distressed with continual toil, naturally works upon

the mind, and keeps it in an excited and unusual condition. But

that there should be any such thing as supernatural beings, or,

if there were, that they should have human shape or voice or

power that can reach to us, there is no reason for believing;

though I confess I could wish that there were such beings, that

we might not rely upon our arms only, and our horses and our

navy, all which are so numerous and powerful, but might be

confident of the assistance of gods also, in this our most

sacred and honorable attempt." With such discourses as these

Cassius soothed the mind of Brutus. But just as the troops were

going on board, two eagles flew and lighted on the first two

ensigns, and crossed over the water with them, and never ceased

following the soldiers and being fed by them till they came to

Philippi, and there, but one day before the fight, they both

flew away.

Brutus had already reduced most of the places and people of

these parts; but they now marched on as far as to the coast

opposite Thasos, and, if there were any city or man of power

that yet stood out, brought them all to subjection. At this

point Norbanus was encamped, in a place called the Straits, near

Symbolum. Him they surrounded in such sort that they forced him

to dislodge and quit the place; and Norbanus narrowly escaped

losing his whole army, Caesar by reason of sickness being too

far behind; only Antony came to his relief with such wonderful

swiftness that Brutus and those with him did not believe when

they heard he was come. Caesar came up ten days after, and

encamped over against Brutus, and Antony over against Cassius.

The space between the two armies is called by the Romans the

Campi Philippi. Never had two such large Roman armies come

together to engage each other. That of Brutus was somewhat less

in number than that of Caesar, but in the splendidness of the

men's arms and richness of their equipage it wonderfully

exceeded; for most of their arms were of gold and silver, which

Brutus had lavishly bestowed among them. For though in other

things he had accustomed his commanders to use all frugality and

self-control, yet he thought that the riches which soldiers

carried about them in their hands and on their bodies would add

something of spirit to those that were desirous of glory, and

would make those that were covetous and lovers of gain fight the

more valiantly to preserve the arms which were their estate.

Caesar made a view and lustration of his army within his

trenches, and distributed only a little corn and but five

drachmas to each soldier for the sacrifice they were to make.

But Brutus, either pitying this poverty, or disdaining this

meanness of spirit in Caesar, first, as the custom was, made a

general muster and lustration of the army in the open field, and

then distributed a great number of beasts for sacrifice to every

regiment, and fifty drachmas to every soldier; so that in the

love of his soldiers and their readiness to fight for him Brutus

had much the advantage. But at the time of lustration it is

reported that an unlucky omen happened to Cassius; for his

lictor, presenting him with a garland that he was to wear at

sacrifice, gave it him the wrong way up. Further, it is said

that some time before, at a certain solemn procession, a golden

image of Victory, which was carried before Cassius, fell down by

a slip of him that carried it. Besides this there appeared many

birds of prey daily about the camp, and swarms of bees were seen

in a place within the trenches, which place the soothsayers

ordered to be shut out from the camp, to remove the superstition

which insensibly began to infect even Cassius himself and shake

him in his Epicurean philosophy, and had wholly seized and

subdued the soldiers; from whence it was that Cassius was

reluctant to put all to the hazard of a present battle, but

advised rather to draw out the war until further time,

considering that they were stronger in money and provisions, but

in numbers of men and arms inferior. But Brutus, on the

contrary, was still, as formerly, desirous to come with all

speed to the decision of a battle; that so he might either

restore his country to her liberty, or else deliver from their

misery all those numbers of people whom they harassed with the

expenses and the service and exactions of the war. And finding

also his light-horse in several skirmishes still to have had the

better, he was the more encouraged and resolved; and some of the

soldiers having deserted and gone to the enemy, and others

beginning to accuse and suspect one another, many of Cassius's

friends in the council changed their opinions to that of Brutus.

But there was one of Brutus's party, named Atellius, who opposed

his resolution, advising rather that they should tarry over the

winter. And when Brutus asked him in how much better a

condition he hoped to be a year after, his answer was, "If I

gain nothing else, yet I shall live so much the longer."

Cassius was much displeased at this answer; and among the rest,

Atellius was had in much disesteem for it. And so it was

presently resolved to give battle the next day.

Brutus that night at supper showed himself very cheerful and

full of hope, and reasoned on subjects of philosophy with his

friends, and afterwards went to his rest. But Messala says that

Cassius supped privately with a few of his nearest acquaintance,

and appeared thoughtful and silent, contrary to his temper and

custom; that after supper he took him earnestly by the hand, and

speaking to him, as his manner was when he wished to show

affection, in Greek, said, "Bear witness for me, Messala, that I

am brought into the same necessity as Pompey the Great was

before me, of hazarding the liberty of my country upon one

battle; yet ought we to be of courage, relying on our good

fortune, which it were unfair to mistrust, though we take evil

counsels." These, Messala says, were the last words that

Cassius spoke before he bade him farewell; and that he was

invited to sup with him the next night, being his birthday.

As soon as it was morning, the signal of battle, the scarlet

coat, was set out in Brutus's and Cassius's camps, and they

themselves met in the middle space between their two armies.

There Cassius spoke thus to Brutus: "Be it as we hope, O Brutus,

that this day we may overcome, and all the rest of our time may

live a happy life together; but since the greatest of human

concerns are the most uncertain, and since it may be difficult

for us ever to see one another again, if the battle should go

against us, tell me, what is your resolution concerning flight

and death?" Brutus answered, "When I was young, Cassius, and

unskillful in affairs, I was led, I know not how, into uttering

a bold sentence in philosophy, and blamed Cato for killing

himself, as thinking it an irreligious act, and not a valiant

one among men, to try to evade the divine course of things, and

not fearlessly to receive and undergo the evil that shall

happen, but run away from it. But now in my own fortunes I am

of another mind; for if Providence shall not dispose what we now

undertake according to our wishes, I resolve to put no further

hopes or warlike preparations to the proof, but will die

contented with my fortune. For I already have given up my life

to my country on the Ides of March; and have lived since then a

second life for her sake, with liberty and honor." Cassius at

these words smiled, and, embracing Brutus said, "With these

resolutions let us go on upon the enemy; for either we ourselves

shall conquer, or have no cause to fear those that do." After

this they discoursed among their friends about the ordering of

the battle; and Brutus desired of Cassius that he might command

the right wing, though it was thought that this was more fit for

Cassius, in regard both of his age and his experience. Yet even

in this Cassius complied with Brutus, and placed Messala with

the valiantest of all his legions in the same wing, so Brutus

immediately drew out his horse, excellently well equipped, and

was not long in bringing up his foot after them.

Antony's soldiers were casting trenches from the marsh by which

they were encamped, across the plain, to cut off Cassius's

communications with the sea. Caesar was to be at hand with his

troops to support them, but he was not able to be present

himself, by reason of his sickness; and his soldiers, not much

expecting that the enemy would come to a set battle, but only

make some excursions with their darts and light arms to disturb

the men at work in the trenches, and not taking notice of the

boons drawn up against them ready to give battle, were amazed

when they heard the confused and great outcry that came from the

trenches. In the meanwhile Brutus had sent his tickets, in

which was the word of battle, to the officers; and himself

riding about to all the troops, encouraged the soldiers; but

there were but few of them that understood the word before they

engaged; the most of them, not staying to have it delivered to

them, with one impulse and cry ran upon the enemy. This

disorder caused an unevenness in the line, and the legions got

severed and divided one from another; that of Messala first, and

afterwards the other adjoining, went beyond the left wing of

Caesar; and having just touched the extremity, without

slaughtering any great number, passing round that wing, fell

directly into Caesar's camp. Caesar himself, as his own memoirs

tell us, had but just before been conveyed away, Marcus

Artorius, one of his friends, having had a dream bidding Caesar

be carried out of the camp. And it was believed that he was

slain; for the soldiers had pierced his litter, which was left

empty, in many places with their darts and pikes. There was a

great slaughter in the camp that was taken, and two thousand

Lacedaemonians that were newly come to the assistance of Caesar

were all cut off together.

The rest of the army, that had not gone round but had engaged

the front, easily overthrew them, finding them in great

disorder, and slew upon the place three legions; and being

carried on with the stream of victory, pursuing those that fled,

fell into the camp with them, Brutus himself being there. But

they that were conquered took the advantage in their extremity

of what the conquerors did not consider. For they fell upon

that part of the main body which had been left exposed and

separated, where the right wing had broke off from them and

hurried away in the pursuit; yet they could not break into the

midst of their battle, but were received with strong resistance

and obstinacy. Yet they put to flight the left wing, where

Cassius commanded, being in great disorder, and ignorant of what

had passed on the other wing; and, pursuing them to their camp,

they pillaged and destroyed it, neither of their generals being

present; for Antony, they say, to avoid the fury of the first

onset, had retired into the marsh that was hard by; and Caesar

was nowhere to be found after his being conveyed out of the

tents; though some of the soldiers showed Brutus their swords

bloody, and declared that they had killed him, describing his

person and his age. By this time also the center of Brutus's

battle had driven back their opponents with great slaughter; and

Brutus was everywhere plainly conqueror, as on the other side

Cassius was conquered. And this one mistake was the ruin of

their affairs, that Brutus did not come to the relief of

Cassius, thinking that he, as well as himself, was conqueror;

and that Cassius did not expect the relief of Brutus, thinking

that he too was overcome. For as a proof that the victory was

on Brutus's side, Messala urges his taking three eagles and many

ensigns of the enemy without losing any of his own. But now,

returning from the pursuit after having plundered Caesar's camp,

Brutus wondered that he could not see Cassius's tent standing

high, as it was wont, and appearing above the rest, nor other

things appearing as they had been; for they had been immediately

pulled down and pillaged by the enemy upon their first falling

into the camp. But some that had a quicker and longer sight

than the rest acquainted Brutus that they saw a great deal of

shining armor and silver targets moving to and fro in Cassius's

camp, and that they thought, by their number and the fashion of

their armor, they could not be those that they left to guard the

camp; but yet that there did not appear so great a number of

dead bodies thereabouts as it was probable there would have been

after the actual defeat of so many legions. This first made

Brutus suspect Cassius's misfortune, and, leaving a guard in the

enemy's camp, he called back those that were in the pursuit, and

rallied them together to lead them to the relief of Cassius,

whose fortune had been as follows.

First, he had been angry at the onset that Brutus's soldiers

made, without the word of battle or command to charge. Then,

after they had overcome, he was as much displeased to see them

rush on to the plunder and spoil, and neglect to surround and

encompass the rest of the enemy. Besides this, letting himself

act by delay and expectation, rather than command boldly and

with a clear purpose, he got hemmed in by the right wing of the

enemy, and, his horse making with all haste their escape and

flying towards the sea, the foot also began to give way, which

he perceiving labored as much as ever he could to hinder their

flight and bring them back; and, snatching an ensign out of the

hand of one that fled, he stuck it at his feet, though he could

hardly keep even his own personal guard together. So that at

last he was forced to fly with a few about him to a little hill

that overlooked the plain. But he himself, being weak-sighted,

discovered nothing, only the destruction of his camp, and that

with difficulty. But they that were with him saw a great body

of horse moving towards him, the same whom Brutus had sent.

Cassius believed these were enemies, and in pursuit of him;

however, he sent away Titinius, one of those that were with him,

to learn what they were. As soon as Brutus's horse saw him

coming, and knew him to be a friend and a faithful servant of

Cassius, those of them that were his more familiar acquaintance,

shouting out for joy and alighting from their horses, shook

hands and embraced him, and the rest rode round about him

singing and shouting, through their excess of gladness at the

sight of him. But this was the occasion of the greatest

mischief that could be. For Cassius really thought that

Titinius had been taken by the enemy, and cried out, "Through

too much fondness of life, I have lived to endure the sight of

my friend taken by the enemy before my face." After which words

he retired into an empty tent, taking along with him only

Pindarus, one of his freedmen, whom he had reserved for such an

occasion ever since the disasters in the expedition against the

Parthians, when Crassus was slain. From the Parthians he came

away in safety; but now, pulling up his mantle over his head, he

made his neck bare, and held it forth to Pindarus, commanding

him to strike. The head was certainly found lying severed from

the body. But no man ever saw Pindarus after, from which some

suspected that he had killed his master without his command.

Soon after they perceived who the horsemen were, and saw

Titinius, crowned with garlands, making what haste he could

towards Cassius. But as soon as he understood by the cries and

lamentations of his afflicted friends the unfortunate error and

death of his general, he drew his sword, and having very much

accused and upbraided his own long stay, that had caused it, he

slew himself.

Brutus, as soon as he was assured of the defeat of Cassius, made

haste to him; but heard nothing of his death till he came near

his camp. Then having lamented over his body, calling him "the

last of the Romans," it being impossible that the city should

ever produce another man of so great a spirit, he sent away the

body to be buried at Thasos, lest celebrating his funeral within

the camp might breed some disorder. He then gathered the

soldiers together and comforted them; and, seeing them destitute

of all things necessary, he promised to every man two thousand

drachmas in recompense of what he had lost. They at these words

took courage, and were astonished at the magnificence of the

gift; and waited upon him at his parting with shouts and

praises, magnifying him for the only general of all the four who

was not overcome in the battle. And indeed the action itself

testified that it was not without reason he believed he should

conquer; for with a few legions he overthrew all that resisted

him; and if all his soldiers had fought, and the most of them

had not passed beyond the enemy in pursuit of the plunder, it is

very likely that he had utterly defeated every part of them.

There fell of his side eight thousand men, reckoning the

servants of the army, whom Brutus calls Briges; and on the other

side, Messala says his opinion is that there were slain above

twice that number. For which reason they were more out of heart

than Brutus, until a servant of Cassius, named Demetrius, came

in the evening to Antony, and brought to him the garment which

he had taken from the dead body, and his sword; at the sight of

which they were so encouraged, that, as soon as it was morning,

they drew out their whole force into the field, and stood in

battle array. But Brutus found both his camps wavering and in

disorder; for his own, being filled with prisoners, required a

guard more strict than ordinary over them; and that of Cassius

was uneasy at the change of general, besides some envy and

rancor, which those that were conquered bore to that part of the

army which had been conquerors. Wherefore he thought it

convenient to put his army in array, but to abstain from

fighting. All the slaves that were taken prisoners, of whom

there was a great number that were mixed up, not without

suspicion, among the soldiers, he commanded to be slain; but of

the freemen and citizens, some he dismissed, saying that among

the enemy they were rather prisoners than with him, for with

them they were captives and slaves, but with him freemen and

citizens of Rome. But he was forced to hide and help them to

escape privately, perceiving that his friends and officers were

bent upon revenge against them. Among the captives there was

one Volumnius, a player, and Sacculio, a buffoon; of these

Brutus took no manner of notice, but his friends brought them

before him, and accused them that even then in that condition

they did not refrain from their jests and scurrilous language.

Brutus, having his mind taken up with other affairs, said

nothing to their accusation; but the judgment of Messala

Corvinus was, that they should be whipped publicly upon a stage,

and so sent naked to the captains of the enemy, to show them

what sort of fellow drinkers and companions they took with them

on their campaigns. At this some that were present laughed; and

Publius Casca, he that gave the first wound to Caesar, said, "We

do ill to jest and make merry at the funeral of Cassius. But

you, O Brutus," he added, "will show what esteem you have for

the memory of that general, according as you punish or preserve

alive those who will scoff and speak shamefully of him." To

this Brutus, in great discomposure replied, "Why then, Casca, do

you ask me about it, and not do yourselves what you think

fitting?" This answer of Brutus was taken for his consent to

the death of these wretched men; so they were carried away and

slain.

After this he gave the soldiers the reward that he had promised

them; and having slightly reproved them for having fallen upon

the enemy in disorder without the word of battle or command, he

promised them, that if they behaved themselves bravely in the

next engagement, he would give them up two cities to spoil and

plunder, Thessalonica and Lacedaemon. This is the one

indefensible thing of all that is found fault with in the life

of Brutus; though true it may be that Antony and Caesar were

much more cruel in the rewards that they gave their soldiers

after victory; for they drove out, one might almost say, all the

old inhabitants of Italy, to put their soldiers in possession of

other men's lands and cities. But indeed their only design and

end in undertaking the war was to obtain dominion and empire,

whereas Brutus, for the reputation of his virtue, could not be

permitted either to overcome or save himself but with justice

and honor, especially after the death of Cassius, who was

generally accused of having been his adviser to some things that

he had done with less clemency. But now, as in a ship, when the

rudder is broken by a storm, the mariners fit and nail on some

other piece of wood instead of it, striving against the danger

not well, but as well as in that necessity they can, so Brutus,

being at the head of so great an army, in a time of such

uncertainty, having no commander equal to his need, was forced

to make use of those that he had, and to do and to say many

things according to their advice; which was, in effect, whatever

might conduce to the bringing of Cassius's soldiers into better

order. For they were very headstrong and intractable, bold and

insolent in the camp for want of their general, but in the field

cowardly and fearful, remembering that they had been beaten.

Neither were the affairs of Caesar and Antony in any better

posture; for they were straitened for provision, and, the camp

being in a low ground, they expected to pass a very hard winter.

For being driven close upon the marshes, and a great quantity of

rain, as is usual in autumn, having fallen after the battle,

their tents were all filled with mire and water, which through

the coldness of the weather immediately froze. And while they

were in this condition, there was news brought to them of their

loss at sea. For Brutus's fleet fell upon their ships, which

were bringing a great supply of soldiers out of Italy, and so

entirely defeated them, that but very few of the men escaped

being slain, and they too were forced by famine to feed upon the

sails and tackle of the ship. As soon as they heard this, they

made what haste they could to come to the decision of a battle,

before Brutus should have notice of his good success. For it

had so happened that the fight both by sea and land was on the

same day, but by some misfortune, rather than the fault of his

commanders, Brutus knew not of his victory twenty days after.

For had he been informed of this, he would not have been brought

to a second battle, since he had sufficient provisions for his

army for a long time, and was very advantageously posted, his

camp being well sheltered from the cold weather, and almost

inaccessible to the enemy, and his being absolute master of the

sea, and having at land overcome on that side wherein he himself

was engaged, would have made him full of hope and confidence.

But it seems, the state of Rome not enduring any longer to be

governed by many, but necessarily requiring a monarchy, the

divine power, that it might remove out of the way the only man

that was able to resist him that could control the empire, cut

off his good fortune from coming to the ears of Brutus; though

it came but a very little too late, for the very evening before

the fight, Clodius, a deserter from the enemy, came and

announced that Caesar had received advice of the loss of his

fleet, and for that reason was in such haste to come to a

battle. But his story met with no credit, nor was he so much as

seen by Brutus, being simply set down as one that had had no

good information, or invented lies to bring himself into favor.

The same night, they say, the vision appeared again to Brutus,

in the same shape that it did before, but vanished without

speaking. But Publius Volumnius, a philosopher, and one that

had from the beginning borne arms with Brutus, makes no mention

of this apparition, but says that the first eagle was covered

with a swarm of bees, and that there was one of the captains

whose arm of itself sweated oil of roses, and, though they often

dried and wiped it, yet it would not cease; and that immediately

before the battle, two eagles falling upon each other fought in

the space between the two armies, that the whole field kept

incredible silence and all were intent upon the spectacle, until

at last that which was on Brutus's side yielded and fled. But

the story of the Ethiopian is very famous, who meeting the

standard-bearer at the opening the gate of the camp, was cut to

pieces by the soldiers, that took it for an ill omen.

Brutus, having brought his army into the field and set them in

array against the enemy, paused a long while before he would

fight; for, as he was reviewing the troops, suspicions were

excited, and informations laid against some of them. Besides,

he saw his horse not very eager to begin the action, and waiting

to see what the foot would do. Then suddenly Camulatus, a very

good soldier, and one whom for his valor he highly esteemed,

riding hard by Brutus himself, went over to the enemy, the sight

of which grieved Brutus exceedingly. So that partly out of

anger, and partly out of fear of some greater treason and

desertion, he immediately drew on his forces upon the enemy, the

sun now declining, about three of the clock in the afternoon.

Brutus on his side had the better, and pressed hard on the left

wing, which gave way and retreated; and the horse too fell in

together with the foot, when they saw the enemy in disorder.

But the other wing, when the officers extended the line to avoid

its being encompassed, the numbers being inferior, got drawn out

too thin in the center, and was so weak here that they could not

withstand the charge, but at the first onset fled. After

defeating these, the enemy at once took Brutus in the rear, who

all the while performed all that was possible for an expert

general and valiant soldier, doing everything in the peril, by

counsel and by hand, that might recover the victory. But that

which had been his superiority in the former fight was to his

prejudice in this second. For in the first fight, that part of

the enemy which was beaten was killed on the spot; but of

Cassius's soldiers that fled few had been slain, and those that

escaped, daunted with their defeat, infected the other and

larger part of the army with their want of spirit and their

disorder. Here Marcus, the son of Cato, was slain, fighting and

behaving himself with great bravery in the midst of the youth of

the highest rank and greatest valor. He would neither fly nor

give the least ground, but, still fighting and declaring who he

was and naming his father's name, he fell upon a heap of dead

bodies of the enemy. And of the rest, the bravest were slain in

defending Brutus.

There was in the field one Lucilius, an excellent man and a

friend of Brutus, who, seeing some barbarian horse taking no

notice of any other in the pursuit, but galloping at full speed

after Brutus, resolved to stop them, though with the hazard of

his life; and, letting himself fall a little behind, he told

them that he was Brutus. They believed him the rather, because

he prayed to be carried to Antony, as if he feared Caesar, but

durst trust him. They, overjoyed with their prey, and thinking

themselves wonderfully fortunate, carried him along with them in

the night, having first sent messengers to Antony of their

coming. He was much pleased, and came to meet them; and all the

rest that heard that Brutus was taken and brought alive, flocked

together to see him, some pitying his fortune, others accusing;

him of a meanness unbecoming his former glory, that out of too

much love of life he would be a prey to barbarians. When they

came near together, Antony stood still, considering with himself

in what manner he should receive Brutus. But Lucilius, being

brought up to him, with great confidence said: "Be assured,

Antony, that no enemy either has taken or ever shall take Marcus

Brutus alive (forbid it, heaven, that fortune should ever so

much prevail above virtue), but he shall be found, alive or

dead, as becomes himself. As for me, I am come hither by a

cheat that I put upon your soldiers, and am ready, upon this

occasion, to suffer any severities you will inflict." All were

amazed to hear Lucilius speak these words. But Antony, turning

himself to those that brought him, said: "I perceive, my

fellow-soldiers, that you are concerned and take it ill that you

have been thus deceived, and think yourselves abused and injured

by it; but know that you have met with a booty better than that

you sought. For you were in search of an enemy, but you have

brought me here a friend. For indeed I am uncertain how I

should have used Brutus, if you had brought him alive; but of

this I am sure, that it is better to have such men as Lucilius

our friends than our enemies." Having said this, he embraced

Lucilius, and for the present commended him to the care of one

of his friends, and ever after found him a steady and a faithful

friend.

Brutus had now passed a little brook, running among trees and

under steep rocks, and, it being night, would go no further, but

sat down in a hollow place with a great rock projecting before

it, with a few of his officers and friends about him. At first,

looking up to heaven, that was then full of stars, he repeated

two verses, one of which, Volumnius writes, was this: --

Punish, great Jove, the author of these ills.

The other he says he has forgot. Soon after, naming severally

all his friends that had been slain before his face in the

battle, he groaned heavily, especially at the mentioning of

Flavius and Labeo, the latter his lieutenant, and the other

chief officer of his engineers. In the meantime, one of his

companions, that was very thirsty and saw Brutus in the same

condition, took his helmet and ran to the brook for water, when,

a noise being heard from the other side of the river, Volumnius,

taking Dardanus, Brutus's armor-bearer, with him, went out to

see what it was. They returned in a short space, and inquired

about the water. Brutus, smiling with much meaning, said to

Volumnius, "It is all drunk; but you shall have some more

fetched." But he that had brought the first water, being sent

again, was in great danger of being taken by the enemy, and,

having received a wound, with much difficulty escaped.

Now Brutus guessing that not many of his men were slain in the

fight, Statyllius undertook to dash through the enemy (for there

was no other way), and to see what was become of their camp; and

promised, if he found all things there safe, to hold up a torch

for a signal, and then return. The torch was held up, for

Statyllius got safe to the camp; but when after a long time he

did not return, Brutus said, "If Statyllius be alive, he will

come back." But it happened that in his return he fell into the

enemy's hands, and was slain.

The night now being far spent, Brutus, as he was sitting, leaned

his head towards his servant Clitus and spoke to him; he

answered him not, but fell a weeping. After that, he drew

aside his armor-bearer, Dardanus, and had some discourse with

him in private. At last, speaking to Volumnius in Greek, he

reminded him of their common studies and former discipline, and

begged that he would take hold of his sword with him, and help

him to thrust it through him. Volumnius put away his request,

and several others did the like; and someone saying, that there

was no staying there, but they needs must fly, Brutus, rising

up, said, "Yes, indeed, we must fly, but not with our feet, but

with our hands." Then giving each of them his right hand, with

a countenance full of pleasure, he said, that he found an

infinite satisfaction in this, that none of his friends had been

false to him; that as for fortune, he was angry with that only

for his country's sake; as for himself, he thought himself much

more happy than they who had overcome, not only as he had been a

little time ago, but even now in his present condition; since he

was leaving behind him such a reputation of his virtue as none

of the conquerors with all their arms and riches should ever be

able to acquire, no more than they could hinder posterity from

believing and saying, that, being unjust and wicked men, they

had destroyed the just and the good, and usurped a power to

which they had no right. After this, having exhorted and

entreated all about him to provide for their own safety, he

withdrew from them with two or three only of his peculiar

friends; Strato was one of these, with whom he had contracted an

acquaintance when they studied rhetoric together. Him he placed

next to himself, and, taking hold of the hilt of his sword and

directing it with both his hands, he fell upon it, and killed

himself. But others say, that not he himself, but Strato, at

the earnest entreaty of Brutus, turning aside his head, held the

sword, upon which he violently throwing himself, it pierced his

breast, and he immediately died. This same Strato, Messala, a

friend of Brutus, being, after reconciled to Caesar, brought to

him once at his leisure, and with tears in his eyes said, "This,

O Caesar, is the man that did the last friendly office to my

beloved Brutus." Upon which Caesar received him kindly; and had

good use of him in his labors and his battles at Actium, being

one of the Greeks that proved their bravery in his service. It

is reported of Messala himself, that, when Caesar once gave him

this commendation, that though he was his fiercest enemy at

Philippi in the cause of Brutus, yet he had shown himself his

most entire friend in the fight of Actium, he answered, "You

have always found me, Caesar, on the best and justest side."

Brutus's dead body was found by Antony, who commanded the

richest purple mantle that he had to be thrown over it, and

afterwards the mantle being stolen, he found the thief, and had

him put to death. He sent the ashes of Brutus to his mother

Servilia. As for Porcia his wife, Nicolaus the philosopher and

Valerius Maximus write, that, being desirous to die, but being

hindered by her friends, who continually watched her, she

snatched some burning charcoal out of the fire, and, shutting it

close in her mouth, stifled herself, and died. Though there is

a letter current from Brutus to his friends, in which he laments

the death of Porcia, and accuses them for neglecting her so that

she desired to die rather than languish with her disease. So

that it seems Nicolaus was mistaken in the time; for this

epistle (if it indeed is authentic, and truly Brutus's) gives us

to understand the malady and love of Porcia, and the way in

which her death occurred.