Plutarch's Lives
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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.
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