THE SHAKESPEARE

I.

LIBRARY.

GENERAL EDITOR PROFESSOR

GOLLANCZ,
LiTT.D.

SHAKESPEARE'S
PLUTARCH EDITED BY C. F. TUCKER BROOKE
:

B.LiTT.

Vol.

I.

containing

THE MAIN SOURCES OF

JULIUS CAESAR

CHATTO & WINDUS, PUBLISHERS LONDON MCMIX

<^

O9Q J
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rights reur-ved

SHAKESPEARE'S PLUTARCH

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THE

LIFE OF JULIUS CAESAR

time Sylla was made Lord of
all,

At what

he would

have had Caesar put away his wife Cornelia, the daughter
of Cinna Dictator
:

but,

when he saw he

could neither
it,

with any promise nor threat bring him to

jointure

he took her

away from him. The cause of Caesar's ill-will unto Sylla was by means of marriage for Marius th' elder married his father's own sister, by whom he had Marius the younger, whereby Caesar and he were cousin
:

germans.

Sylla being troubled in

weighty matters,

joined

putting to death so

many

of his enemies,

when

he came to be conqueror, he made no reckoning

of Caesar
safety,
:

cinna and ^""^

but he was not contented to be hidden in

but came and

made

suit

unto the people for the

scant

Priesthoodship that was void,

when he had

any hair
means,

on

his face.

Howbeit he was repulsed by

was against him.

Sylla's

that secretly

Who when
a

he was deter-

mined
that
it

to have killed

him, some of

his friends told

him
he to

was to no purpose to put so young

boy

as

death.
sider

But
that

Sylla

told

them

again, that they did not conin

there were

many Marians

that

Caesar, understanding that, stale out

of

young boy. Rome, and hid

JULIUS CAESAR
a

himself
ing
still

long time in the country of the Sabines, wander-

from place to
to house,
all

place.
fell

But one day, being carried

from house

he

into the hands of Sylla's soldiers,

who
Caesar

searched

those places, and took

_

them

whom

they

found hidden.

Caesar bribed the captain, whose ' ^

^

took sea

and went
unto Nico-

name was
gave him.

Cornelius, with

two

talents

After he had escaped

seaside

which he them thus, he

and
sailed

king of

went unto the

and took

ship,

into Bithynia to go unto

taken of
pirates.

King Nicomedes.
he took

When
Pharmaat

he had been with him

a while,

sea again,

^^^ ^^^ taken by

for

pirates about the Isle of

all

cusa

those pirates

kept

upon

that sea-coast, with

a great fleet
first

of ships and boats.

talents for his

They

asking

him

the

twenty

ransom, Caesar laughed them

a

to scorn, as

though they knew not what

man

they had

taken, and of himself promised

them
to get

fifty talents.

Then

he sent

his

men up and down

that he was left in

manner alone

him this money, so among these thieves of

his slaves only
that,
:

the Cilicians (which are the cruellest butchers in the world),

with one of
yet

his

friends,

and two of

and

he made
to

so little reckoning of

them,

was desirous to

sleep, he sent unto them to make no noise. Thus was he eight-and-thirty days among them, not kept as prisoner, but rather waited upon by them as a prince. All this time he would boldly exercise himself in any sport or pastime they would go to. And other while also he v\iould write verses, and make

when he command

them

JULIUS CAESAR
orations,

and

call

them together
as

to say

them before them

and

if

any of them seemed

though they had not underthreatened

as

stood him, or passed not for them, he called

heads and brute beasts, and, laughing,

that

them blockthem
merry
part,

he would hang them up.

as

But they were

all

with the matter

could be, and took

in

good

thinking that this his bold speech came through the simplicity of his youth.

So,

when

his

ransom was come from

the city of Miletus, they being paid their

money, and he

again set at liberty, he then presently armed, and

manned

out certain ships out of the haven of Miletus, to follow

those thieves,

whom

he found yet riding

at

anchor in the

same

island.

So he took the most of them, and had the

but for their bodies, he brought them Pergamum, and there committed them to he himself went to speak with Junius,
as

spoil of their goods,

into the city of

prison, whilst

who had

the government of Asia,

unto

whom

praetor of

the execution of these pirates did belong, for that

he was Praetor of that country.

a great

But- this Praetor, having

fancy to be fingering of the money, because there

it,

was good store of

answered, that he would consider of

Caesar, leaving

these prisoners at better leisure.

there, returned again
all

Junius

unto Pergamum, and there hung up

these thieves openly

upon

a cross, as

he had oftentimes

promised them in the

isle

he would do, when they thought

he did but

jest.

Afterwards,

when

Sylla's

power began

to

decay, Caesar's friends wrote unto him, to pray

him

to

come

JULIUS CAESAR
again.

home

But he

sailed

first

unto Rhodes, to study

there a time under Apollonius

the son of

scholar also Cicero was, for he was a very honest

Caesar's eloquence.

Molon, whose man, and

reported that
to speak well
gift,

^^ excellent good rhetorician.

Qaesar had an excellent natural
and,
besides

It

is

gift

before the people,

that rare

he was

excellently well studied, so

that doubtless he was counted

the second
the
first

man

for

because he would be the

eloquence in his time, and gave place to first and chiefest man of

war and authority, being not yet come to the degree of perfection to speak well, which his nature could have performed
in

him, because he was given rather to follow wars

and

manage great matters, which in th' end brought him And therefore, in a book he to be Lord of all Rome. wrote against that which Cicero made in the praise of Cato, he prayeth the readers not to compare the style of a soldier with the eloquence of an excellent orator, that had followed
to
it

the most part of his

life.

When

he was returned again

ill-behaviour in
cities

unto Rome, he accused Dolabella

for his

the government of his province, and he had divers

of

Greece that gave

in evidence against

him.

Notwithstanding,
Caesar, to requite

Dolabella at the length was dismissed.

the goodwill of the Grecians, which they had shewed

in his accusation

him

of Dolabella, took their cause in hand,

Publius Antonius
:

when
against

they

did accuse

before
it

Marcus
so

LucuUus, Praetor of Macedon

and followed

hard

him

in

their

behalf, that

Antonius was driven to

JULIUS CAESAR
appeal before the Tribunes at appeal withal,
that

Rome,

alleging, to colour his

justice

he could have no

in

Greece

against the Grecians.

Now

Caesar immediately
his

wan many-

men's goodwills at Rome, through

ing of their causes
:

eloquence in plead-

and the people loved him marvellously also, because of the courteous manner he had to speak to every man, and to use them gently, being more ceremonious therein than was looked for in one of his
years.

Furthermore, he ever kept a good board,

at his table,

and fared well

besides
:

and was very

did

liberal

loved hos-

the which

indeed

advance

him
the
follower of

forward, and brought

him

in estimation
this

with the people.

of

His enemies, judging that

favour

common
suffered

people would soon quail,

that
till

when he could
and expense,

no longer hold out

charge

him

to run on,

by

little

to be of great strength

and power.
to

had thus given him the bridle

that they could not then pull
sight
state
it

and little he was grown But in fine, when they grow to this greatness, and

him back, though indeed in would turn one day to the destruction of the whole and commonwealth of Rome too late they found,
:

that there

is

not so

little

beginning of anything, but

it

continuance of time will soon make

strong,

when through

contempt there
calmness of the

is

no impediment
like a

to hinder the greatness.

Thereupon Cicero,
sea,

wise shipmaster that feareth the

first

was the
in

man

that, mistrusting his

manner of dealing

the commonwealth, found out his

6
craft

JULIUS CAESAR
and malice, which he cunningly cloked under the habit * And yet/ of outward courtesy and familiarity.
said he,
his fair
*

judgement

when

consider

ofCa ^aesar.

bush of hair, and

how finely he combeth ^ how smooth it lieth, and

one finger only
:

that I see

him

scratch his head with

my

mind
state

gives

me

then that such

kind of

man
to

should not

have so wicked a thought in

his head, as

overthrow the
after

of the commonwealth/
that.

But

this

was long time

The

love

The

first

show and proof of the love and

soldiers

plopfe in

8*^^ w^^^

which the people did bear unto Caesar

Rome
Caesar.

^^g ^hen he sued to be Tribune of the

({-q vvit,

Colonel of a thousand footmen), standing

against Caius Pompilius, at

Caesar

chosen before him.

nianifest
j^js

what time he was preferred and But the second, and more
first,

Tribunus
miiitum.

proof than the

was

at

the death of

aunt Julia, the wife of Marius the elder.

For,

being her nephew, he made a solemn oration in the marketCaesar

place in ^

commendation of *
:

her, '

and

at her burial

made

the

^i^ boldly Venture to show forth the images of

oration at the death of his aunt

Marius

the which was the

first

time that they

i

were seen

* /r r o n , i after Sylla s victory, because that Marius

and
and enemies

all his

confederates had been proclaimed traitors

to the

commonwealth.

For,

when
it,
it,

there were

some that
on
th'

cried out

upon Caesar
stir,

for

doing of
at

the people

other side kept a

and rejoiced
for

clapping of
as

their hands,
it

and thanked him

hell

that

he had brought

were out of

the remembrance of Marius' honour

'

JULIUS CAESAR
again unto

Rome, which had

so long time

been obscured
caesar the
praLed^'
'"

and buried.

And where

it

had been an ancient

custom of long time that the Romans used to make funeral orations in praise of old ladies and matrons

tyne^af
oration,

when they
was the

died, but not of that praised his

young women, Caesar

first

own

wife with funeral oration

when
good

she was dead, the which also did increase the people's
wills

the

more, seeing him of so kind and gentle

nature.

After the burial of his wife he was

made
he made

Treasurer under Antistius Vetus Praetor,

whom

honoured

ever after

so that
his

when

himself came

to be Praetor,

he made

son to be chosen Treasurer.

of that
office,

Afterwards,

when he was come out

third

he

married his

wife

Pompeia,

having

Caesar's

daughter

by

his first wife

Cornelia, which was

married unto

Pompey

the Great.
(as

Now

for that

he was
a

very liberal in expenses, buying

some thought) but

vain and short glory of the favour of the people (where

indeed he bought good cheap the greatest things that could

be),

some

say that, before he bare

any

office

in the

com-

monwealth, he was grown in debt to the sum of thirteen

hundred

talents.

Furthermore, because he was made overfor the

seer of the

work

highway going unto Appius, he

disbursed a great

sum of his own money towards the charges of the same. And on the other side, when he was made Aedilis, for that he did show the people the pastime of
three hundred

and twenty couple of sword

players,

and did

8
besides exceed
all

JULIUS CAESAR
other in sumptuousness in the
feasts

sports

and common
prodi-

which he made to delight them

were drown
like, that
all

withal, (and did

as it

the stately

^^
'

^*

shows of others in the

had gone before

therefor to

him), he so pleased the people, and

with, that they devised daily to give
requite
in

wan their love him new offices

were

him.

At

that

time

there

two

factions

Rome,

to wit, the faction of Sylla,

which was very strong

But Caesar,

and of great power, and the other of Marius, which then

was under foot and durst not shew
because he would renew
it

itself.

again, even at that time

when,

he being Aedilis,

all

the feasts and

common

sports

were in

their greatest ruff,

he

secretly caused images of

Marius to

be made, and of victories that carried triumphs, and those

he

set

when

every

up one night within the Capitol. The next morning, man saw the glistering of these golden images
by the inscriptions that

excellently well wrought, shewing

they were the victories which Marius had

Cimbrians, every one marvelled

won upon

the

much

at

the boldness of

them up there, knowing well enough who Hereupon it ran straight through all the city, and every man came thither to see them. Then some cried out upon Caesar, and said it was a tyranny which he Caesar Sra * meant to set up, by renewing of such honours

him
it

that durst set

was.

inS"
state.

^^ before

had been trodden under

foot,

and

for-

gotten, by
it

common

decree and open proclamation

a bait to

and that

was no more but

gauge the people's

JULIUS CAESAR
good
his
wills,

which he had

set

out in the stately shews of

to his

common

plays, to see if

he had brought them

be made.

lure, that

they would abide such parts to

be played, and

new

alteration of things to

They

of Marius'

faction

on

th'

other side, encouraging one another, shewed

themselves straight a great

number gathered
as

together,

and

made the mount of

the Capitol ring again with their cries

:

and clapping of hands

insomuch

many of

their cheeks for very joy,

the tears ran down when they saw the

skies,

images of Marius, and they extolled Caesar to the

judging him the worthiest

man

of

all

the kindred of Marius,

The

Senate being assembled thereupon, Catulus Luctatius,

at that time in Rome, rose, and vehemently inveighed against Caesar, and spake that then

one of the greatest authority

which ever
not

since hath been noted

much

that Caesar did

now

covertly go to work, but by plain force sought to

alter the state

at that

of the commonwealth.

Nevertheless, Caesar
satisfied.

time answered him so that the Senate was

that

Thereupon they
better

had him

in estimation did

grow

in

hope than

before,

and persuaded him, that hardily

all they, and At that The death and two of Metellus

he should give place to no man, and that through the good

will of the people

he should be better than

come
the

to be the chiefest

man

of the

city.

time the chief Bishop Metellus died,

notablest

men

of the

city,

and of

greatest
for

^^
Rome,

authority, (Isauricus
his

and Catulus), contended

room

Caesar, notwithstanding their contention,

would

lo
give neither of

JULIUS CAESAR
them both made suit
place, but presented himself to

the people, and

for

it

as

they did.

The

suit

being equal betwixt either of them, Catulus, because he was

a

man

of greater calling and dignity than the other,

doubting the uncertainty of the election, sent unto Caesar

a

good sum of money,

to

make him

leave off his suit.

But

Caesar sent

him word
that, to

again, that

he would lend a greater

suit against

sum than
door of
^'
*

maintain the

him.

When
to the
:

the day of th' election came, his mother bringing

his

him

house, Caesar, weeping, kissed her, and said

Mother, this day thou

shalt see thy son chief Bishop of Rome,

or banished from Rome.'

In

fine,

when

the voices of the

strife

people were gathered together, and the

made
Bishop

well

debated, Caesar

wan

the victory, and

all

made

the

Senate and noblemen

afraid of

him, for that

they thought that thenceforth he would make the

people do what he thought good.

fell flatly

Then

Catulus and Piso

out with Cicero, and condemned

him

for that

he

did not
Caesar
to be con-

bewray Caesar, when he knew that he was of

Conspiracy
to have

with
it.

Catiline,

and had opportunity

state

done

For when Catiline was bent and

of

itth^^^

determined, not only to overthrow the

the

h5'con-'
spiracy.

commonwealth, but utterly to destroy the empire of Rome, he scaped out of the hands of
proof, before his full treason

justice for lack of sufficient

and determination was known.

Lentulus and

Notwithstanding he
city,

left

Cethegus in

the

companions of

his

JULIUS CAESAR
conspiracy
:

ii
secret

unto

whom

whether Caesar did give any

Yet
this
is

help or comfort,
that

it is

not well known.

in

manifest,

when

they were convinced

open Senate, Cicero,

being at that time Consul, asking every man's opinion in

the Senate, what punishment they should have, and every

one of them
should die
;

till

it

came

to Caesar,

gave

sentence

they

Caesar then rising up to speak

made
v,inT^

an oration (penned and premeditated before), and

said

that

it

was
it,

neither lawful,
to put

nor yet

their

deiivM
sp^ators.

custom did bear

men

of such nobility to

death (but in an extremity) without lawful indict-

ment and condemnation.

best, until that Catiline

And

therefore, that if they

were

put in prison in some city of

Italy,

where Cicero thought

were overthrown, the Senate then

This opinion was

might

at their pleasure quietly take such order therein, as

might best appear unto their wisdoms.

passing

thought more gentle, and withal was uttered with such a

good grace and eloquence, that not only they which

after

were to speak
spoken to

him did approve

it

it,

but such also

as

had

the contrary before revoked their opinion and

stuck to his, until

came

to

Cato and Catulus to speak.

They both did sharply inveigh against him, but Cato chiefly who in his oration made Caesar suspected Cato's
:

to be of the conspiracy,

and stoutly spake against aSbst

Caesar,

him, insomuch that the offenders were put into the

hands of the

officers to

be put to death.

Caesar coming out

of the Senate, a company of young men, which

guarded

12

JULIUS CAESAR
set

Cicero for the safety of his person, did

their

upon him with

swords drawn.

But some say that Curio covered

the young

Caesar with his gown, and took him out of their hands.

And

Cicero

self,

when

men

looked upon him,

kill

beckoned with

his

head that they should not

But,
it

him, either
it

fearing the fury of the people, or else that he thought

too
I

shameful and wicked a part.

if

that

were

true,

marvel

why

Cicero did not put

into his book he wrote of

his Consulship.

for that

But certainly they blamed him afterwards, he took not the opportunity offered him against

Caesar, only for

overmuch

fear of the people, that loved

after,

him
false

very dearly.
Senate,
to

For shortly

when Caesar went

and being

into the

clear himself of certain

presumptions and

accusations objected against him,

bitterly taunted

among them,
wont
:

him lenger than they were came about the council house, and called Cato then, out aloud for him, bidding them let him out. fearing the insurrection of the poor needy persons, which
the Senate keeping
the people

were they that put

all

their

hope

in Caesar,

and did

also a

move

the people to

stir,

did persuade the Senate to

make

frank distribution of corn unto

distribution
five

them for a month. This did put the commonwealth to a new charge of
fifty

hundred and

myriads.

This counsel quenched a

present great fear, and did in happy time scatter and disperse

abroad the best part of Caesar's force and power,

at

such

time
office

as

he was made
to

Praetor,

and that
Yet

for respect of his

he was most

be feared.

all

the time he was

JULIUS CAESAR
officer

13

he never sought any alteration in the commonwealth,

fell

but contrarily he himself had a great misfortune

in his

own

house,

which was
of the

this.

There was
called

young nobleman
Publius
^j^gi^^g
g^^^-j^^

of the
Clodius,

order

Patricians,

who

lacked neither wealth nor eloquence,

as insolent

but otherwise
as

and impudent

a person

any was

else in

Rome.

He became
who
so
straitly

unto Pompeia,
_

in love with
:

Caesar's

Pompeia, Caesar's wife,

Aurelia (Caesar's

misliked not withal

notwithstanding she was

looked

to,

and that

mother), an

honest

gentlewoman,

had

such an eye of her, that these two lovers could not meet
as

they would, without great

use to

peril

and

difficulty.

The

Romans do
call

honour
as

goddess which they The good

the good goddess,

whom
of

they

call

Gynaeceia,
the

the Grecians have her what she ^"'^ to wit, the goddess ^Jr
'

women.

Her

Phrygians

do claim

to

sacrifices,

be

mother.
a

them, saying that she is King Midas' Howbeit the Romans hold opinion, that it is nymph of wood married unto god Faunus. The
peculiar unto

Grecians, they say also that

she was one of the mothers

of the god Bacchus,

whom
least

they dare not name.

day, the

And

for

proof hereof, on her

women make

certain

tabernacles of vine twigs

also

and

leaves of vine branches,

and

they make, as the tale goeth, a holy dragon for this

goddess,

and do

set it

by her

besides,

it

is

not lawful for

any

man

to be present at their sacrifices,

no not within the

house

itself

where they are made.

Furthermore, they say

14
that the

JULIUS CAESAR
women
the
in these sacrifices
like

do many things amongst

came,
all

themselves,

much

unto

the ceremonies of Orpheus.

feast

Now when

time

of this

the
his

husband

(whether he were Praetor or Consul) and

the boys in the house do

men and
it

come out of it, and

leave

wholly

to his wife, to order the house at her pleasure,

and there and

the sacrifices and ceremonies are done the most part of the
night,

and they do besides

Clodius,

pass the night

away
on

in songs

music.

Pompeia, Caesar's wife, being that year to celebrate

this feast,

who had
should

yet

no

hair

his face,

and

thereby thought
himself in
a

he

not

be

bewrayed, disguised

singing wench's apparel, because his face was

very like unto a young wench.

He

finding the gates open,

being

secretly

brought in by her chambermaid that was

it,

made

privy unto

she

left

him, and ran to Pompeia her

mistress, to tell her that

he was come.

The chambermaid
insomuch
left

tarried long

before she

came

again,

as

Clodius

being weary waiting for her where she

pleasure,

him, he took his

and went from one place

large

to another in the house,

still

which had very

rooms

in

it,

shunning the

light,

and was by chance met withal by one of Aurelia's maids, who, taking him for a woman, prayed her to play. Clodius
refusing to play, the

maid pulled him forward, and asked

Clodius then

him what he was

tarried for

answered her, that he

Abra one of Pompeia's women. So Aurelia's maid, knowing him by his voice, ran straight where the
lights

and

ladies were,

and cried out, that there was a man

JULIUS CAESAR
disguised
in

15

woman's

apparel.

The women
and

therewith

were so amazed, that Aurelia caused them presently to leave

ofF the ceremonies of the sacrifice,

to hide their secret

things, and, having seen

the gates

fast

locked,

went imin

mediately up and
out
this

man

down the house with torch who at the last was found

light to seek

out

the

chamber of Pompeia's maid, with whom he hid himself. Thus Clodius being found out, and known of the women,
they thrust

him out of
as

the doors by the shoulders,

ciodius

The same
this

night the

women
as

told their husbands of Se^icH-

chance

soon

they came home.

The

good/od'-^
^^^^

next morning, there ran a great rumour through

the city,

how

Clodius had attempted a great villany and

that he deserved, not only to be punished of

he had slandered, but also of the

them whom commonwealth q^^j^j,

accused for profaning
the sacri.

and the gods.

^
^

the people that did indict him, and accuse '

There was one of the Tribunes of him of

the
gods.

....

ficesofthe

high

treason

to

Furthermore, there

good god-

were
with
incest

also of the chiefest of the nobility

and the

Senate, that

came

to depose against

him, and burdened him

facts,

many

horrible

and detestable
his

and

specially

with

committed with
Lucullus.

own

sister,

which was married

people
:

unto

Notwithstanding,

the

stoutly
this

defended Clodius against their accusations

help

and

did

him much
to
stir

against the judges,

which were amazed, and

afraid

the people.

This notwithstanding, Caesar

presently put his wife away, and thereupon, being brought

i6

JULIUS CAESAR
to

by Clodius' accuser
Caesar
putteth
wife

be

witness

against

him,

he

answered, he knew nothing of that they objected

against Clodius.

This answer being clean contrary

It,

Pom-

to their expectation that heard

the accuser asked

Caesar,

why

then he had 'put

away

his

wife

" Because
thought.
Clodius

will not," said he,

" that

my

wife be so

much

as suspected."

And some
people,

say that Caesar spake truly as he

that he did
it

But others think

to please the

common
Clodius.

who were
was

very desirous to save

discharged

judgeJfo/
the^acd?
goodgod-^
^^^^'

So

Clodius

of this

accusatlon,

because the most part of the judges

^v^ ^ confused judgement, for the fear they stood

one way of the danger of the

ill

common

people

If

they condemned him, and for the

side of the nobility if they did quit

opinion of th' other

him.

The government
came and
them,
richest

of the province of Spain being fallen unto Caesar

Praetor of

for that

he was Praetor,
Caesar, being

his creditors

cried

out upon him, and were importunate of

him

to

be paid.

unable to

satisfy

was compelled to go unto Crassus, who was the

man
_

of

all

Rome, and

that

stood In

need of Caesar's
In

boldness and courage to withstand Pompey's greatness

Crassus
surety for
his credi-

the commonwealth.

unto

hls greediest creditors for the

...
thirty
to

Crassus

became

his

surety
.

hundred and
suffered

talents

sum of eight whereupon they

the

Caesar

depart

to
It

government
that.

of his

province.

In

his

journey

Is

reported

JULIUS CAESAR
passing over the mountains of the Alps, they
a
little

17

came through
households,

poor

village

that

had

not

many

and yet poor

pany him

cottages.

There,

his friends that did

accom-

aslced

him

merrily, if there v^ere any contending

strife

for offices in that

town, and w^hether there w^ere any

there amongst the

noblemen
:

for

honour.

Caesar, speaking in
said he,
*

good
for

earnest,
part, I

answered

cannot

tell that,'

but

my

had rather be the

chiefest

man
also

here, than the

second person in Rome.'

Another time
a

in Spain, reading the history of Alexander's acts,

when he was when he

and then

had read

it,

he was sorrowful

good while

after,

burst out in weeping.

His friends seeing

his sorrow.
*

that, marvelled

what should be the cause of

*

He answered them,
good cause
to be
i

Do

ye not

thinlc,' said

he,

that I have

heavy,
is

when King Alexander, being no older than myself now, had in old time won so many nations and countries
:

'^
i

and that
self
?
'

hitherunto have done nothing worthy of

my
new

Therefore,

when he was come

and had
in

into Spain, he was very

careful of his business,

few days joined ten

more of footmen unto the other twenty which he had before. Then, marching forward against the
ensigns

CalaTcans and Lusitanians, he conquered

all,

and
all

acts in

went

as far as the great sea

Oceanus, subduing

the people

Lords.

which before knew not the Romans for their There he took order for pacifying of the war, and
For
cities together,

did as wisely take order for the establishing of peace.

he did reconcile the

VOL.
I.

and made them friends

C

JULIUS CAESAR
specially

one with another, but

he pacified

all

suits

of law

and
order
the

strife

betwixt the debtors and creditors, which grew by

reason of usury. '

For he ordained that the credi-

Caesars

tors should take yearly

two

parts of the revenue of

as

their debtors, until such

time

they had paid

and

themselves

and that the debtors should have the

third part to themselves to live withal.

He, having

won great estimation by

this

this

good order taken, returned from

his soldiers also full of rich

government very
spoils,

rich,

and

who
as

soldiers

captain.

him imperator.

such

^gj^ain a
th' other side
sity

him Imperator, to say, sovereign Now the Romans having a custom, that demanded honour of triumph should while without the city, and that they on
called
for the

which sued
:

Consulship should of neces-

be there in person

Caesar coming unhappily at that

very time

when

the Consuls were chosen, he sent to pray the

that favour, that, being absent, he

Senate to do

him

might
did

by

his friends sue for the Consulship.

it,

Cato

at the first

vehemently inveigh against

bidding the contrary.

vouching an express law for-

But afterwards perceiving that not-

withstanding the reasons he alleged,

(being

many

of the Senators

won by

Caesar)

favoured his request, yet he cun-

ningly sought

all

he could to prevent them, prolonging time,

Caesar thereupon deter-

dilating his oration until night.

mined rather to give over the suit of his triumph, and to make suit for the Consulship and so came into the city, and had such a device with him, as went beyond them all
:

JULIUS CAESAR
but Cato only.

19
Crassus,
caesar
po^"*;''^'^
gj.^^^

His device was

this.

Pompey and
friends,

two of the

greatest personages of the city of Rome,

being at jar together, Caesar

made them

and by that means got unto himself the power of

them both
friendship

for

by colour of that gentle

act

and

together.

of his

greatly alter

he subtly (unwares to them all) did and change the state of the commonwealth.
thought, that caused the
civil

For

it

was not the private discord between Pompey and

Caesar, as

many men
it

war

but rather
their

was their agreement together,

first

who

joined

all

powers

to

overthrow the
fell

state
at jar

of the Senate and

nobility,

and afterwards they But

Cato,
that

one with

c^to's
foresight and pro-

another.

then

foresaw

and

prophesied

many

times what would follow, was

phecy.

taken but for a vain

a wiser

man

but afterwards they found him

man, than happy

in his counsel.

Thus Caesar

be-

ing brought unto the assembly of the election in the midst

of these two noble persons

reconciled together
:

whom

he had before

caesar's

he was there chosen Consul,

with Calphurnius Bibulus, without gainsaying or

contradiction of any man.

fufsh^"' ^^*^ ?^''

oibuius.

Now, when he was

entered into his oiRce, he began to put forth laws meeter

for a seditious

because by

Tribune of the people than for a Consul them he preferred the division of lands, caesar's

and distributing of corn to every citizen, gratis, to '^^'^' please them withal. But when the noblemen of the Senate
were against
his

device,

he desiring no better occasion

20
began to
jr^^
agraria.

JULIUS CAESAR
cry out and to protest, that by the overhardness

and

austerity of the Senate they drave

;

him

against his will to lean unto the people

upon having Crassus on th* one side th' other, he asked them openly in th' assembly, if they did give their consent unto the laws which he had put forth. They both answered, they did. Then he prayed them to stand by

and thereof him, and Pompey on

him
let

against those that threatened

him with

force of

sword to

him.

Crassus gave

him

his

word, he would.

did the
/
>

his

like, and added thereunto, that sword and target both against them that would with-

Pompey also he would come with

stand

him with

their swords.

These words offended much

for his gravity,

the Senate, being far

for the majesty

unmeet

and undecent
all

and honour he

carried,

and most of

un-

comely

for the presence of the Senate

:

whom

he should have

reverenced

and were speeches

for his person.
th'

fitter for a

rash light-headed

youth than
Caesar
jjjs"'^

Howbeit the common people

o^

Other side, they rejoiced.

Then

Caesar,

because he would be

more

assured of

Pompey's

jSufunto Pompey.
Servilius
Caesar
Caiphur-

power and

friendship, he gave

him

his daughter

which was made sure before unto Caepio, and promised him in exchange Pompey's daughter, the which was sure also unto Faustus
Julia in marriage,

t^e son of Sylla.

^^'^

And

shortly after also, Caesar

dLughfer
ofPiso.

^^^ marry Calphurnia, the daughter of Piso, whom he caused to be made Consul to succeed

him

the next year following.

Cato then cried out with

JULIUS CAESAR
open mouth, and
called

21
it

the gods to witness, that

was

shameful matter, and not to be suffered, that they should in

that sort make havoc of the Empire of Rome, by such horrible bawdy matches, distributing among themselves through those wicked marriages the governments of the provinces and of

great

armies.

Calphurnius

Bibulus, fellow

Consul with

Caesar, perceiving that he did contend in vain,

making

all

the resistance

he could to withstand
he kept

this

law,

and that
house

oftentimes he was in danger to be slain with Cato in the

market-place and assembly

close in his

all

the rest of his Consulship.

When Pompey

had Pompey

married Julia, he
soldiers,

filled

all

the market-place with

arm^^^
^^^^'

and by open force authorised the laws CaSr'^

in

which Caesar made

the behalf of the people.

Furthermore, he procured that Caesar had Gaul on

this side

and beyond the Alps, and

granted

all

Illyria,

with four legions,

him

for five years.

it,

Then Cato

standing up

to speak against

Caesar bade his

officers lay

hold

sent Cato

of him, and carry him to prison, thinking he would

have appealed unto the Tribunes.

But Cato

said never a

word, when he went

his

way.

Caesar perceiving then, that

not only the Senators and nobility were offended, but that
the

common

people

also, for

the reverence they bare unto

Cato's virtues, were ashamed,

and went away with

officers.

silence

he himself secretly did pray one of the Tribunes that he

would take Cato from the

But

after

he had

played this part, there were few Senators that would be

22

JULIUS CAESAR
left

President of the Senate under him, but

the city, because

they could not away with his doings.

And
on

of them there

was an old

man

called Considius, that

a time boldly told

him

the rest durst not

come

to council, because they

:

were
*

afraid of his soldiers.

Caesar answered him again

And
same

why
fear
?

then dost not thou keep thee at

'

home

for the

Considius replied,

Because

my

age taketh away

live, I

fear

from

me

for,
it

having so short a time to

further.'

have no
that
this
:

care to prolong

The

shamefullest part

Caesar

played while

he was Consul seemeth to be

profaned the

when he

chose P. Clodius Tribune of the people, that had

wife such dishonour, and

offered his

holy

ancient mysteries of the

his
Caesar by Clodius
Cicero out

women, which were

to

celebrated in
/^

own

house.

Clodius sued to be Tribune to no

destroy Cicero
:

Other

end but

and Caesar
to his

Self also

departed not from

Rome

army
and

^ ^'

before he had set

them together by the

ears,

driven Cicero out of Italy.

All these things they say he did,

before the wars with the Gauls.

But the time of the great

armies and conquests he

the which he subdued
course of
Caesar
life far

made

afterwards,

and of the war

in

all

the Gauls (entering into another

first),

contrary unto the

made him
as

to

be

known

for as valiant a soldier

and
,.

excellent a

a valiant
soldierand

captain to lead

skilful

^ counted been
i

men,
,

as those that afore

i

him had
,

the wisest and most valiantest generals

captain.

that ever were,

and that by

their valiant deeds

had

achieved great honour.

For whosoever would compare the

JULIUS CAESAR

23

house of the Fabians, of the Scipios, of the Metellians, yea

those also of his

own

time, or long before him, as Sylla,

Marius, the two Lucullians, and

Pompey

self,

Whose fame
it

ascendeth up unto the heavens

and deeds of arms did them all together. The one, in the hard countries where he made wars another, in enlarging the realms and countries which he joined unto the Empire of Rome another, in the multitude and power of his enemies whom he overcame another, in the rudeness and austere nature of men with whom he had to do, whose manners afterwards he softened and made civil another, in courtesy and clemency which he used unto them whom he had conanother, in great bounty and liberality bestowed quered upon them that served under him in those wars and in fine, he excelled them all in the number of battles he had
will appear that Caesar's prowess

excel

fought, and in the multitude of his enemies he

had

slain

in battle.

For in

less

than ten years'

assault

conquests

war

in

Gaul he took by
:

force

and

above

eight

hundred towns
:

he conquered three hundred several

in battle thirty

nations

and having before him

soldiers,

hundred
love

thousand

at

sundry times

he slew ten The

as

hundred thousand of them, and took

prisoners.

many more
(where
in

respect of

Furthermore, he was so entirely be-

^^^^^5^
""'

loved of his soldiers, that to do

him

servdce

^-

otherwise they were no more than other

men

any private

24
quarrel) if Caesar's

JULIUS CAESAR
honour were touched, they were
to abide

invincible,

and would
fury, that

so desperately venture themselves,

and with such

no man was able

^^ ^ battle

them.

And

this
:

ap-

The
vaHantness

peareth plainly by the example of Acilius

who,

by

sea

before the city of Marseilles,

CasSur^'
aS^dfvers
others of v^^6s^r s
soldiers.

'hoarding
^'^^^^
j^Js

one of

his
a

enemies ships, one cut off his

hand with

sword, but yet he forsook not

his left

target

which he had in
from them.

hand, but thrust

fly, so

it

in his enemies faces,

and made them

that

he won

their ship

And

Cassius Scaeva also, in a

his

conflict before the city of

Dyrrachium, having one of

eyes put out with an arrow, his shoulder stricken through

with a

dart,

and

his thigh

with another, and having rehis

ceived thirty

arrows

upon

shield

he

called to his

enemies, and

made

as

though he would yield unto them.

But when two of them came running to him, he clave one

of their shoulders from his body with his sword, and hurt
the other in the face
:

so that

he made him turn

his back,

and at the length saved himself, by means of his companions that came to help him. And in Britain also, when the captains of the bands were driven into a marish or bog full
of mire and
dirt,

and that the enemies did

fiercely assail

them there
saw

Caesar then standing to view the battle, he

a private soldier of his thrust in

among
his

the captains,

and fought
captains,

so valiantly in their defence that at the length

fly

he

drave the barbarous people to

and by

means saved the

which otherwise were

in great

danger to have been

JULIUS CAESAR
cast

25

away.

Then

this soldier,

being the hindmost

man

of all

the captains, marching with great pain through the mire

and

dirt, half

swimming and
left

half afoot, in the

shield

end got to
Caesar,

the other side, but

his

behind him.

wondering

at

his

noble courage, ran to him with joy to

his head,

embrace him.

But the poor soldier hanging down

fell

the water standing in his eyes,

down

at Caesar's feet,

and besought him to pardon him,

target

for that

he had

left his

behind him.

And

in

Africk also, Scipio having

Granius Petromus.

taken one of Caesar's ships, and Granius Petronius

aboard on

her amongst other, not long before

:

chosen treasurer

he put

all

the rest to the sword but him,

his
life.

and

said

he would give him

:

But Petronius anand

swered him again

their lives given

that Caesar's soldiers did not use to have

lives
:

them, but to give others their

his

with those words he drew

through.

sword, and thrust himself

Now
in them.

Caesar's self did breed this noble courage

First, for that
also,

and

life

he gave them bountifully,

his life afterwards in
it

and did honour them

shewing thereby, that he did not

heap up riches in the wars to maintain

wantonness and pleasure, but that he did keep

in store, so

honourably to reward their valiant service

in rewarding of

and that by

much he thought himself rich, by how much he was

them
that

liberal

had deserved

it.

Furthermore,

they did not wonder so

much

at his valiantness in putting

himself at every instant in such manifest danger, and in

taking so extreme pains as he did,

knowing

that

it

was

his

26

JULIUS CAESAR
set

greedy desire of honour that

him

afire,

and pricked him

all

forward to do

it

but that he always continued

his

labour

and hardness, more than

all

body could
soft

bear, that filled

them
his

with admiration.
to headache,

For concerning the constitution of

body, he was lean, white, and

Caesarhad
the falling

skinned, and often subject

to the falling sickness,

(the
in

which took him the

,.,,,

and otherwhile
,

r
first

time, as
:

it is

reported,

Corduba,

a city of Spain)

but yet therefore

yielded not to the disease of his body, to

to cherish
as a

make

it

a cloak

him

withal, but contrarily took the pains of

his sick

war

medicine to cure

body, fighting always with his

disease, travelling continually, living soberly,

and commonly
slept in

lying abroad in the

his coach or litter,

field.

For the most nights he

and thereby bestowed do something

:

his rest, to

make
he

him always
would
and strong
his coach,

able to

and

in the daytime,

travel

up and down the country

to see towns, castles,

places.

He
still

had always

a secretary

with him in

who did
first

write as he went by the way, and a

his sword.

soldier

behind him that carried

that in eight days

speed the
ofiice,

time he came from Rome,

He made such when he had his

river of
his

he came to the from

Rhone.
that,

He

was so excellent

a rider of horse

youth

holding his hands behind him, he would gallop his horse

upon the

spur.

In his wars in Gaul, he did further exercise

as

himself to indite letters

he rode by the way, and did

as

occupy two
write
:

secretaries at

once with

much

as

they could
at a

and, as Oppius writeth,

more than two

time.

JULIUS CAESAR
And
it
is

27
first

reported, that Caesar was the

talk

that devised

friends

might
and

together by writing ciphers in letters,

when he had no
business,

leisure to speak

with them

for his

urgent

for the

great distance besides from

his diet, this

Rome.
The temili

How

little

accompt Caesar made of

it.

Caesar supping one night clTsa" ^'^ '^'*^' in Milan with his friend Valerius Leo, there was

example doth prove

served
it

sperage to his board, and

oil.

oil

of perfume put into

it,

instead of salad
fault,

He

simply ate

and found
:

Caesar's
to''biame

no

blaming

his friends that

it

were offended
for

and

told

them, that

had been enough

them
and not to

to have abstained to eat of that they misliked,

shame
that

their friend,
fault

found

and how that he lacked good manner with his friend. Another time as he
the

travelled

through

country,

he

was driven

by

foul

weather on the sudden to take a poor man's cottage, that

had but one

one

little

cabin in

it,

and that was

in
*

so

narrow, that
said to his

man

could but scarce

lie
:

it.

Then he

friends that
for greatest

were about him

Greatest rooms are meetest

persons.'

And

men, and the most necessary rooms for the sickest thereupon he caused Oppius that was sick
:

to lie there all night

friends, lay

and he himself, with the

rest

of his

without doors, under the easing of the house.

The
their

first

war that Caesar made with the Gauls was with

the Helvetians and Tigurinians,

who, having

set fire

of

all

good

cities, to

the

number of

twelve, and four

hundred

villages besides,

came

to invade that part of

Gaul which was

28
subject to the

JULIUS CAESAR
Romans,
as

the Cimbri and Teutons had

done and

before

unto

whom

for valiantness they gave

no

place,

they were also a great

number of them

(for

they were three

four-score

hundred thousand souls in all) whereof there were a hundred and ten thousand fighting men. Of those, it was not Caesar himself that overcame the Tigurinians,
but Labienus his Lieutenant, that overthrew them

rinfans'^"

Labienus.

by the
selves

river of Arar.

But the Helvetians themtheir

^^^
him,

'

came suddenly with

army

to set

upon

as

he was going towards a city of his confederates.

Caesar, perceiving that,

strength,

made

haste to get

him some

place ot

and there did

he used in
t
i

set his

men

in battle ray.

When

one brought him

fused his horse when he fought

his

horse to get

battle,

he said

up on which * When unto them

:

have overcome mine enemies,

t 1

will then get

let

-n

give

up on him to follow the chase, but now them charge.' Therewith he marched forward
:

us

afoot,

and gave charge

before he could

and there fought

fly

it

out a long time,

make them

that were in battle.

But
their

the greatest trouble he had was to distress their camp, and

to break their strength
carts.

which they had made with

For there they that before had fled from the battle did not only put themselves in force, and valiantly fought it ^^^ ^^^ their wives and children also fighting for The Hei

sUn'b
Caesar.

their lives to the death were

battle

all

slain,

and the
if

was scant ended

at

midnight.

Now

the

act of this

victory was famous, unto

that he also

added

JULIUS CAESAR
another as notable, or exceeding
it.

29

For of

all

the bar-

barous people that had escaped from this battle he gathered

together again above a hundred thousand of them, and
pelled

com-

them

to return

home

into their country which they

also

had forsaken, and unto their towns

burnt
:

which they had

because he feared the

Germans would come over

Rhenus
Caesar
fl,

the river of Rhine, and occupy that country lying

void.

The

second war he made was in defence of

the Gauls against the

Germans

although before JJuhYi^g

Anovistus

he himself had caused Ariovistus their king to be

received for a confederate of the

Romans. Notwithstanding,
it

they were grown very unquiet neighbours, and

plainly that, having

appeared

any occasion offered them to enlarge

their territories, they

would not content them with

possess the
rest

their

own, but meant to invade and

of Gaul.

Caesar perceiving that some of his captains trembled for

fear,

but specially the young gentlemen of noble houses of

to have

Rome, who thought

gone to the wars with him

:

as

only for their pleasure and gain

he called them to council,

afraid, that

and commanded them that were

wills, sith

they should

depart home, and not put themselves in danger against their

they had such womanish faint hearts to shrink

when he had need of them.

would
set

And

for himself,

he

said,

he
left

upon the barbarous people, though he had

him but the tenth legion only, saying that the enemies were no valianter than the Cimbri had been, nor that he was a
captain inferior unto Marius.

This oration being made,

30

JULIUS CAESAR

the soldiers of the tenth legion sent their lieutenants unto

him, to thank him for the good opinion he had of them

and the other legions

all

also fell

out with their captains, and

of them together followed him

will to serve

many

days' journey with

good

him, until they came within two hundred

the enemies.
Ariovistus' courage

furlongs of the

camp of

was well cooled, when he saw Caesar was come, and that

Romans came to seek out the Germans, where they made accompt that they durst not have abidden them and therefore, nothing mistrusting it would have come so to pass, he wondered much at Caesar's courage, and the more when he saw his own army in a maze withal. But much more did their courages fall by reason of the foolish women prophesiers they had among them. The wise ,.,,., ^ i, women of which did toretell things to come who, considerthe

thought and

how

they'

ing the waves and trouble of the rivers, and the

terrible noise they

thingrto^

made running down

the stream,

come.

j-^ forewarn them not to fight until the

new
it

moon.

Caesar having intelligence thereof, and perceiving

that the barbarous people thereupon stirred not, thought

best then to set

upon them, being discouraged with

this

superstitious fear, rather than, losing time, he should tarry

their leisure.
forts

So he did skirmish with them even to their

and little hills where they lay, and by this means provoked them so, that with great fury they came down to There he overcame them in battle, and followed fight.

them

in chase, with great slaughter, three

hundred furlong,

JULIUS CAESAR
even unto the river of Rhine
thitherto w^ith dead bodies
:

31
filled all

and he
spoils.

the

fields

and

Hovv^beit

Ariovistus, flying with speed, got over the river of Ariovistus

Rhine, and escaped with a few of his men.

said

It

is

thrown by

that

there

were

slain

four-score

thousand
left

persons at this battle.

After this exploit, Caesar

:

his

army amongst the Sequanes to winter there self in the meantime, thinking of th' affairs
part of his province

and he him-

at

Rome, went
For there

over the mountains into Gaul about the river of Po, being

which he had

in charge.

the river called Rubico divideth the rest of Italy from

Gaul

on

this side

the Alps.

Caesar lying there did practise to

make friends in Rome, because many came thither to see him unto whom he granted their suits they demanded, and sent them home also, partly with liberal rewards, and Now, during all this partly with large promises and hope.
:

conquest of the Gauls,

Pompey

did not consider

how

Caesar

interchangeably did conquer the Gauls with the weapons of

the

Romans, and won the Romans again with the money of

Caesar being advertised that the Belgae (which

the Gauls.

were the warlikest

men

of

all

the Gauls, and that occupied

all
:

the third part of Gaul) were

a great

up

in arms,

and had

raised

power of men together

he straight made towards

them with all possible speed, and found them xhe Belspoiling and over-running the country of the Gauls, fome by' Caesar. their neighbours, and confederates of the Romans.
So he gave them
battle,

and, they fighting cowardly, he

32

JULIUS CAESAR
a

overthrew the most part of them which were in

together,

troop

and slew such

number of them,
full

that the

Romans
dead

passed over deep rivers and lakes afoot

bodies, the rivers

upon

their

were so

of them.

After this over-

throw, they that dwelt nearest unto the seaside, and were
next neighbours unto the ocean, did yield themselves with-

out any compulsion or fight

whereupon, he led
in the

his

army
all

against the Nervians, the stoutest warriors of

stoutest

the Belgae.

They, dwelling

wood

country,

^f^lHhe
^^^^'

had conveyed their wives, children, and goods

into a marvellous great forest, as far from their
as

enemies
six-score

they could

and being about the number of

thousand fighting
set

men and more,

his
little

day and

upon Caesar, when

camp,

they came one army was out of order,

and
day.

fortifying of his

looking to have fought that

At the first charge they brake the horsemen of the Romans, and compassing in the twelfth and seventh legion,
they slew
all

the centurions and

captains of the

bands.

And had
flying in

not Caesar self taken his shield on his arm, and,

amongst the barbarous people, made

a lane

through
also,

them
seeing
hill

that fought before

him

and the tenth legion

him

in danger,

run unto him from the top of the

their enemies

where they stood in battle, and broken the ranks of there had not a Roman escaped alive that
:

day.

But,

taking

example of Caesar's valiantness,

but they fought

they

fought desperately beyond their power, and yet could not

make the Nervians

fly,

it

out to the death,

JULIUS CAESAR
till

33
It
is

they were

all

in

manner

slain in the field.

written

that

of three-score thousand fighting

:

men

there
Nervii

escaped only but five hundred

and of four hundred

gentlemen and counsellors of the Romans but three caJsi^ The Senate understanding it at Rome saved.
ordained that they should do
feasts

sacrifice

unto the gods, and keep

without

and solemn processions

fifteen days together

intermission, having never

for

made

the like ordinance at

Rome

any victory that ever was obtained.

Because they saw the

danger had been marvellous great, so

they did in arms together against
of the people unto

many
:

nations rising as
further, the love

him

and

him made

his victory

much more
lie

famous.
r
1

For when Caesar had

set his affairs at a stay in

Gaul on the

other side of the Alps, he always used to

about the river of

Po

in the winter-time, to give direction for the establish-

ing of things at
that

Rome

at his pleasure.

For not only they

chosen magistrates
with/^

made

suit for offices at

Rome were

by means of Caesar's
the

money which he gave them,

their

which bribing the people they bought

voicesJ

and when they were

increase Caesar's
greatest

in office did all that they could td

power and greatness:

but the The

great

and

chiefest

men

also of the nobility

went

Rome

unto Luca unto him.

Praetor
Spain.

of Sardinia,

As Pompey, Crassus, Appius, '^^^ J and Nepos, Proconsul in Caesar.

were
axes
at

Insomuch

that there

one time six-score

the magistrates
:

sergeants carrying rods

and

before

and above two hundred

VOL.
I.

Senators

besides.

There they
D

34
fell

JULIUS CAESAR
in

consultation,

and determined

that

Pompey and

Crassus should again be chosen Consuls the next year fol-

lowing.

Furthermore, they did appoint that Caesar should

again delivered

have

money
did

him

to

pay
his

his

army and
five

beside

prorogue

the

time

of
a

government

years further.

This was thought

very strange and an

unreasonable matter unto wise men.

that

For they themselves

had taken
let

Senate to

much money of Caesar persuaded the him have money of the common treasure, as
so
:

though he had had none before

they compelled the Senate unto
see the decrees they passed.

yea, to speak
it,

more

plainly,

sighing and lamenting to

Cato was not there then, for

before into Cyprus.

they had purposely sent

him

Favonius, that followed Cato's steps,

Howbeit when he saw that he

:

could not prevail, nor withstand them

he went out of the

it

Senate in choler, and cried out amongst the people that

was

a horrible

shame.

But no man did hearken to him,

unto Pompey and Crassus,
all

some
and
and

for the reverence they bare

others, favouring Caesar's proceedings, did put

trust in

their

hope and

him

and therefore did quiet themselves,

Caesar, returning into

stirred not.

Then

Gaul beyond
the

the Alps unto his army, found there a great war in

country.
Tentenaes, people of

not long before passed over the river of Rhine, to ^

conquer new lands

or

For two great nations of Germany had

and the one of these people

were

called Ipes,

and the other Tenterides.

Now

touching the battle which Caesar fought with them, he

JULIUS CAESAR
himself doth describe
it

35
in this sort.

in his

commentaries

That the barbarous people having

him, to require peace for
ing, against
as

sent ambassadors unto

a certain time,

they notwithstandCaesar's
p^t^^J"*^" ^'sht.

law of arms, came and

he travelled

upon him by the way, insomuch as eight

set

hundred of
coming.

their

men

of arms

overthrew

five

thousand of his horsemen,

their

who

nothing

at all mistrusted

Again, that they sent him other ambassadors

:

to

mock him once more

it

but that he kept them, and there-

with caused his whole army to march against them, thinking

a folly

and madness to keep

faith

with such traitorous

barbarous breakers of leagues.

Senate appointing again to do
feasts, to

Canutius writeth that the

new

sacrifice, processions,

and

give thanks to the gods for this victory, Cato was

of contrary opinion, that Caesar should be delivered into

the hands of the barbarous people, for to purge their city

and commonwealth of
curse

this

breach of

faith,

and
^

to turn the

upon him ^
^

that was the

^

author of

it.

Of

^,

The

Ipes

these barbarous people

.

which came over the Rhine,

(being about the

persons), they
\
1

were

number of four hundred thousand 11 all m manner slam, saving a

1

^nd Tentendes slain by

Caesar.

very few of them, that flying from the battle got over the
river of

Rhine again, who were received by the Sicambrlans,

Caesar taking
sicambri,
of'the^'^

another people of the Germans.

this occasion against

them, lacking no good will of

himself besides, to have the honour to be counted

the
first

Germans,

Roman

that ever passed over the river of

Rhine

36
with an army
Caesar
:

JULIUS CAESAR
he built a bridge over
it.

This

river

is

marvellous broad, and runneth with great fury.

hSdge
rWer^ii^

^^^

^^

that

place specially
it is

where he

built his

bridge, for there

side to th' other,

of a great breadth from one

it

Rhine.

and

hath so strong and swift a

stream besides, that men, casting

down

great bodies of trees

into the river (which the stream bringeth

down with
But

it),

did with the great blows and force thereof marvellously

shake the posts of the bridge he had
set up.

to prevent

the blows of those trees, and also to break the fury of the
stream, he

made

a pile of great

wood above

the bridge a

good way, and did

forcibly

ram them

into the

bottom of
and

the river, so that in ten days' space he had set up and

finished his bridge of the goodliest carpenter's work,

most excellent invention to

thought or devised.

see to, that could be possibly

his

Then, passing over

army upon

it,

he found none that durst any more

the

fight

with him.

For

Suevians, which were the warlikest people of all Germany, had gotten themselves with their goods into wonderful great valleys and bogs, full of woods and forests.

Now when

he had burnt

all

the country of his enemies, and

confirmed the league with the confederates of the Romans,

he returned back again into Gaul

he had tarried eighGermany, on th' other Caesar's The journey he made also mtoEng- ^^^^ ^ t^^ Rhine. land. ijj^Q England was a noble enterprise, and very comFor he was the first that sailed the west Ocean mendable.
after

^^^^ ^^7^ at the most in

JULIUS CAESAR
with an army by
sea,

37
sea

and that passed through the

Atlanticum with his army, to make war in that so great and famous Island (which many ancient writers would not
:

believe that
it,

was so indeed, and did make them vary about saying that it was but a fable and a lie) and was the
it
:

first

that enlarged the

Roman Empire beyond

over
the

the earth
sea

inhabitable.
against

For twice he passed

narrow

the firm land of Gaul, and fighting

there, did hurt his

enemies more than enrich

many battles his own men

:

because of

men

hardly brought up and poor there was

nothing to be gotten.
success as

Whereupon
:

his

war had not such

he looked for

and therefore, taking pledges only

of the king, and imposing a yearly tribute upon him, to be

paid unto the people of Rome, he returned again into Gaul. There he was no sooner landed, but he found letters ready
to be sent over the sea

unto him

in the

which he was

advertised from

of the death of his daughter, ^he death that she was dead with child by Pompey. For CaSs
the

Rome

which

Pompey
sorrowful
:

and
and

Caesar
their

both
friends

were

<iaugbter.

marvellous

mourned

also,

thinking that this alliance, which maintained the

common-

wealth (that otherwise was very tickle) in good peace and concord, was now severed and broken asunder, and the
rather likely, because

the child lived not long after the

mother.

So the

common

people at

Rome

took the corpse

it

of Julia, in despite of the Tribunes, and buried

field

in the

of Mars.

Now

Caesar being driven to divide his army

92802

38
(that

JULIUS CAESAR
was very great) into sundry garrisons for the wintertime, and returning again into Italy as he was

beiiion of

wont

all
,

Gaul rebelled

again,

and had
set

raised
,

the Gauls.

great armies

m
.

every quarter to

Romans, and
like

to assay if they could distress their

upon the forts where

they lay in garrison.

The

greatest

number and most warand

first

men

of these Gauls that entered into action of rebellion

Cotta and
with"hlir armysiain.

Were led by one Ambiorix

gj^^ ^^d

did set upon

^^^ garrisons of Cotta and Titurius,

all

whom

they

the soldiers they had about them.

Then

they went with three-score thousand fighting

men

to

besiege the garrison

which Quintus Cicero had

in his charge,

and had almost taken them by

were every

force, because all the soldiers

man

of them hurt

but they were so valiant and

courageous, that they did

defending of themselves.

more than men (as they say) in These news being come to Caesar,
he returned with
soldiers
all

who was

far

from thence

at that time,

possible speed,

and levying seven thousand

was

made

haste to help Cicero that

in such distress.

The Gauls
:

that did besiege Cicero, understanding of Caesar's coming,

raised

their

siege

incontinently, to go
a

and meet him

making accompt that he was but

they were so few.

handful in their hands,

still

Caesar, to deceive them,

fled

drew

back,

and made

as

though he

from them, lodging

a

in places

meet

for a captain that

had but

few to

fight

with a great
in nowise

number of his enemies, and commanded

his

men

to stir out to skirmish with them, but compelled

them

to

JULIUS CAESAR
raise

39

up the rampers of
that

his

camp and

to fortify the gates, as

less

men

were

afraid, because the

:

enemies should the

esteem of them
their disorderly

until that at length

he took opportunity by

coming
a

to assail the trenches of his camp, (they

were grown to such

bravery),

presumptuous boldness and

and then

sallying out

them

all

to flight with slaughter of a great

upon them he put number

the rebellions of

slew the

by

of them.

This did suppress

all

the Gauls in those parts,

and furthermore, he himself

was come

in

person went in the midst of winter thither, where he heard they did rebel
:

for that there

of Italy of three whole legions in their

lost
:

a new supply out room which he^had

of the which, two of them

Pompey

lent him,

and the
river

other legion he himself had levied in

Gaul about the

of Po.

During these

stirs

brake forth the beginrebeifion"

ning of the greatest and most dangerous war that he had in

all

Gaul, the which had been secretly

Q^^fs

practised of long time

by the
For

chiefest

warlike people of that country,

who

and most ^^^^ had levied a

they
levied

wonderful

great

power.

everywhere

multitudes of men, and great riches besides, to fortify their

strongholds.

Furthermore, the country where they rose

to

was very
winter,

ill

come unto, and

specially at that time being

x^

when

the rivers were frozen, the

oods and forests

covered with snow, the

the fields so

meadows drowned with floods, and deep of snow, that no ways were to be found,
all

neither the marishes nor rivers to be discerned,

was

so

40

JULIUS CAESAR
with water
:

overflown and drowned

together were enough

all

which troubles

(as

they thought) to keep Caesar

from setting upon the were of

VerdnSptlin of
the rebels against Caesar.

rebels.

Many
:

nations of the Gauls

this conspiracy,

but two of the chiefest were the

Arvcrnians and Carnutes

cingetorix
for

who had

chosen Ver-

their

Lieutenant
-"^

general,

whose

father the Gauls before

^^^^y

had put to death, because '

thought he aspired to make himself king.

his

This Vercingetorix, dividing

army

into divers

parts,

and appointing
take his part
o

divers captains over them,

had gotten
"

to

all

the people and countries thereabout, even

Some

say

^s far as

they that dwell towards the sea

Adriatic,
that
all

that in this place IS to

leaving further determined o

(understanding v o

be read in
Trpbs

Rome
Gaul
but

did conspire against Caesar) to make

rise in

Tov
is

arms against him.

a
little

So that
until

if

he had

which
Saone.

tarried

lenger

Caesar
all

had

entered into his

civil

wars, he had put

Italy in

as

great fear

come and invade

all

assays

and danger, as it was when the Cimbri did But Caesar, that was very valiant in it. and dangers of war, and that was very skilful
and
opportunity
:

to

take

time

so soon as

he under-

stood the news

of the rebellion,

he departed with speed,

and returned back the

self same way which he had gone, making the barbarous people know that they should deal with an army unvincible, and which they could not possibly withstand, considering the great speed he had made with

the same in so sharp and hard a winter.

For where they

JULIUS CAESAR
would not possibly have believed that
have come in so short
a
a

41
post or currer could

time from the place where he was

unto them, they wondered when they saw him burning and
destroying the country, the towns, and strong forts where

he came with
unto him
:

his

army, taking

all

to

mercy

that yielded
Aedui

until such time as the

Aedui took arms The

to be called the

against him,

who

before were

wont
and

agatLtthe
Ro"ians.

brethren

of

the

Romans,

were

greatly

Wherefore Caesar's men when they understood that they had joined with the rebels, they were
honoured of them.
marvellous sorry and half discouraged.

Thereupon

Caesar,

departing from those parties, went through the country of

the Lingones, to enter the country of the Burgonians,!

who were

confederates of the Romans,

Italy

'^'^"^"'"

and the nearest unto

rest

on that

side, in respect
set

of

all

the

of Gaul.

Thither the enemies came to

all

upon him,

and to environ him of

thousands of fighting
tarried their

sides

with an
Caesar,

infinite
th' a

number of
other
side,

men.
afraid of

on

coming, and fighting with them

time he

made them so

him

long Verdngethat at length Jh?ow?rT

he overcame the barbarous people.

first it

But

at the Caesar,

seemeth notwithstanding that he had received some

:

overthrow
in

for the Arvernians shewed a sword hanged up one of their temples, which they said they had won from

Caesar.

Insomuch
it,

as

Caesar

self,

coming
it.

that

way by
his
sufi*er

occasion, saw
friends

and

fell

a-laughing at
it

But some of

going about to take

away, he would not

42

JULIUS CAESAR
let
it

them, but bade them

it

alone and touch

it

not, for
as

was
first

holy

thing.

Notwithstanding,
flying, the

such

at

the

had saved themselves by Were gotten with

^^iq

most of them

The siege of Alexia,

their king into the city of Alexia,

vvhich Caesar

went and besieged, although

it

seemed inexpugnable, both

also
for the

for the height of the walls, as

it.

multitude of soldiers they had to defend

this siege,

But now, during

Caesar's

he

fell

into a marvellous great

danger without, almost incredible.

of three hundred thousand fighting
best

For an army

w^^*^^"^
policy.

men

of the

men

that

were among

all

the nations of the

Gauls came against him,

besides

being at the siege of Alexia,

them that were within the city, which amounted to the number of three-score and ten thousand fighting men so that, perceiving he was shut in betwixt two at the least so great armies, he was driven to fortify himself with two walls, the one against them of the city, and the other against them without. For if those two armies had joined
:

together, Caesar
Caesar's

had been utterly undone. and the

battle

this siege of Alexia,

i^,

he

And therefore won before

and

JiSory at
Alexia.

did deservedly win

him more honour and fame

there, in that instant

^-^^^

^^^

other.

For

extreme danger, he shewed more

wonderful thing was

valiantness

and wisdom
But what a

than he did in any battle he fought before.

this
!

that they of the city never heard

anything of them that came to aid them, until Caesar had

overcome them

and furthermore,

that the

Romans them-

JULIUS CAESAR
selves

43
that

which kept watch upon

the

wall
it

was built

against the city

knew

also

no more of

than they, but

when
on

it

was done, and that they heard the

cries

and lamentaperceived
glistering

tions of
th'

men and women

and
silver,

in Alexia,

other side of the city such a

when they number of

shields of gold

such store of bloody corselets and

armours, such a deal of plate and movables, and such a

number of

tents

and pavilions after the fashion of the Gauls,

spoils in their

which the Romans had gotten of their

camp.

Thus suddenly was

vision
battle.
:

this great

where the most part

Furthermore,
after

army vanished, as of them were slain

that they

dream or

that day in

within the city of

:

Alexia had done great hurt to Caesar and themselves also

in

the end

they

all

yielded

themselves.

And
yielded

Vercingetorix (he that was their king and captain

in all this war)

up

went out of the

his horse

gates excellently

well armed,

and

furnished with rich caparison

accordingly, and rode round about Caesar,

chair of estate.
his caparison
all

who

sate in

his

Then

lighting from his horse, he took off

\
I

and

furniture,

and unarmed himself, and

sate

laid

on the ground, and went and

and
as a

down

at Caesar's

feet,

said never a

word.

So Caesar at length committed"^

him

prisoner taken in the wars, to lead

at

in;his

triumph

determined to

him afterwards Rome. Now Caesar had of long time destroy Pompey, and Pompey him also.
killed

[
'
'

For Crassus being

amongst the Parthians, who only

fall,

did see that one of them two must needs

nothing kept

44

JULIUS CAESAR
Pompey that was the greater neither ^[^ anything let Pompey to withstand that it should not comc to pass, but bccausc he did not
stroyed not
:

Caesar from being the greatest person, but because he de-

discord

Caesar and

and the'
the civil

first

overcome Caesar,
till

whom

only

he

feared,

For

then

Pompey had not

set light

long feared him, but

it

^^^*

always before

by him, thinking

an easy
sith

matter for him to put him

down when he would,

he

had brought him

Caesar's
craftiness,

to that greatness he was

come unto.

But

Caesar contrarily, having had that drift in his head

from the beginning,

to

like a wrestler that studieth

:

for

tricks

overthrow

his

adversary

he went

far

from

Rome

to exercise himself in the wars of Gaul, where he

did train his army, and presently by his valiant deeds did
increase
his

fame and honour.

By

these

means became
and lacked no

Caesar as famous as

Pompey

in his doings,

more

to put his enterprise in execution but

some occasions
and partly
at

of colour, which

Pompey

partly gave him,

also

the time delivered him, but chiefly the hard fortune and
ill

government

at that

time of the commonwealth

suit for

Rome.

The
?o?c^is'^

For they that made

Rome*for money.

bought the voices which they gave out openly to usury without shame or fear. Thereupon the common people that had sold their voices for money came to the marketplace at the day of election, to fight for him that had hired

honour and offices of the people with ready money,

them

not with their voices, but with their bows,

slings,

JULIUS CAESAR
and swords.

45

So that the assembly seldom time brake up

but that the pulpit for orations was defiled and sprinkled

with the blood of them that were slain in the market-place,

the city remaining
magistrate,
all

that
left

time without government of

a
pilot.

like a ship

without

Insomuch

as

men

of deep judgement and discretion, seeing such fury and

happy if the commonwealth were no worse troubled, than with the absolute state of a monarchy and sovereign lord to govern them.
madness of the people, thought themselves
Furthermore, there were
speak
it

many

that

were not

afraid

to

openly, that there was no other help to remedy the

troubles of the

man only

that should

commonwealth, but by the authority of one command them all and that this
:

medicine must be ministered by the hands of him that was

the gentlest physician,

meaning covertly Pompey.

speeches,
it,

Now
as

Pompey used many

did lay
that he
all

fine

making semblance

though he would none of

the irons in the

and yet cunningly underhand

he could, to bring
it

fire

to pass,

might be chosen Dictator.

at,

Cato finding the mark he persuaded the Senate

he shot

and fearing

lest in

the end the people should be

:

compelled to make him Dictator

rather to

with that

make him sole Consul, that, contenting himself more just and lawful government, he should not

covet the other unlawful.

counsel, did not only

The

Senate, following his further

Pompey
|patn"and
^^^ick.

make him Consul, but

all

did prorogue his government of the provinces he

had.

For he had two provinces,

Spain and Africk, the

46

JULIUS CAESAR
his Lieutenants
:

which he governed by
received
yearly

and further he
to

of

the

common
talents.

treasure

pay

his

soldiers a
sueth the

thousand

occasion also to send his

Hereupon Caesar took men to make suit in his

time"tobe
and^to''

^ame
at the

for

the Consulship, and also to have the

government of his provinces prorogued.

first

Pompey

govern-^ "^^"*

held his peace.

otherv^rise

But Marcellus and

prorogued.

Lentulus (that ^

hated Caesar) withstood '

them, and to shame and dishonour him, had much

needless speech in matters of weight.

Furthermore, they

took away the freedom from the Colonies which Caesar

had

lately

brought unto the city of

Italy,

Novum Comum

in

Gaul towards
lodged them.

where Caesar not long before had

moreover,

And

when Marcellus was Consul,

about those matters
:

he made one of the Senators in that city to be whipped

with rods,
said,

who came
Citizen,

to

Rome

and

he gave him those marks that he should know he was

no Roman
Caesar of

and bade him go

his

way, and

tell

it.

After Marcellus* Consulship, Caesar, setting

open

his coffers

of the treasure he had gotten

it

among
he

the

Gauls, did frankly give

out amongst the Magistrates at

restraint

Rome, without
bribeth
trates at

or spare.

First,
:

set

Curio the Tribune

also

clear out of debt

a

and gave
hundred
the

unto Paul the Consul

thousand

five

talents,

with which money he built that notable

palace by the market-place, called Paul's Basilick, in

place of Fulvius' Basilick.

Then Pompey,

being afraid of

JULIUS CAESAR
this practice,

47

began openly to procure, both by himself and

they should send Caesar a successor
:

his friends, that

and

moreover, he sent unto Caesar for his two legions of

of war which he had lent Caesar sent

men

him

for

the conquest of Gaul.

soldier

him them

again,

and gave every private

drachmas.

two hundred and

fifty

silver

Now

they that
ill

brought these two legions back from Caesar gave out

and seditious words against him among the people, and did
also

abuse

Pompey with
camp
and
:

false

persuasions and vain hopes,

informing him that he was marvellously desired and wished

for in Caesar's for the malice

and that though

in

Rome,
abused by

secret spite

which the governors

hardly obtain that

there did bear him, he could

he desired, yet in Gaul he might assure himself, that

the
also

all

army was

at his

commandment.
Italy,

They added
all

further

that, if the

soldiers there

did once return over the

straight

mountains again into

with too

they would
:

come

to him, they did so hate Caesar

because he wearied them

much

labour and continual fight, and withal, for

that they suspected he aspired to be king.

These words

breeding security in Pompey, and

vain conceit of himself,

made him negligent

in his doings, so that

he made no prev<-<i^^-*-^'

paration for war, as though he had no occasion to be afraid,

but only studied to thwart Caesar in speech, and to cross

the suits he made.

Howbeit Caesar passed not of all this. For the report went that one of Caesar's Captains which
was sent to

Rome

to prosecute his suit, being at the Senate

48

JULIUS CAESAR

door, and hearing that they denied to prorogue Caesar's time

of government which he sued for

his sword,

clapping his hand upon

it

he

said,

Sith

you

will not grant

him,

this shall

give

it

him.'

Notwithstanding, the requests that Caesar

propounded carried great semblance of reason with them.

Caesar's

^o^ he
q

Said that

he was contented to lay down

did the like
:

umo?he
Senate.

^^"^s, so that
^-j^^jyi

Pompey

and that both

as private

persons should

come and make

:

suit

of their Citizens to obtain honourable recompense

declaring

unto

them,

that

taking

arms from

him, and

granting them unto

Pompey, they did wrongfully accuse

a

him

in going

about to make himself

tyrant,

and

in the

meantime
in the

to grant the other

offers

means

to be a tyrant.

Curio

making these

and persuasions openly before the people,

cast

name of

Caesar, he was heard with great rejoicing

and clapping of hands, and there were some that

flowers and

him when he went his way, as they commonly use to do unto any man, when he hath Then Antonius, obtained victory, and won any games.
nosegays upon

one of the Tribunes, brought

a letter sent

from Caesar, and

made

it

openly to be read in despite of the Consuls.

Senate, Pompey's
father-in-law,

But
this

Scipio in the

made

motion
tain

that if Caesar did not dismiss his

army by

a cer-

day appointed him, the Romans should proclaim him

an enemy unto Rome.

Then

the Consuls openly asked in

if

the presence of the Senators,

they thought
:

it

good that

Pompey

should dismiss his

army

but few agreed to that

JULIUS CAESAR
demand.
After that again they asked,
if

49
they liked that
all

Caesar should dismiss his

army
lay

thereto they

in

manner

answered, yea, yea.

that both of
all

But when Antonius requested again

them should

down arms

then they were

because
also,

indifferently of his

mind.

Notwithstanding,

Scipio did insolently behave himself,

cried

and Marcellus
straight

who
it

that

they

must use force of arms, and not men's

opinions, against a thief, the Senate rose

upon

without further determination, and

men changed
as

apparel

through the city because of this dissension,

they use to

do

in a

common

calamity.

After that, there came other

:

letters

from Caesar, which seemed much more reasonable

between the mountains of the Alps and
Italy,

in the

which he requested that they would grant him Gaul, and

with two legions only, and then that he would re-

that lieth
Illyria,

quest nothing else, until he

ship.

made suit

for the second Consul-

Cicero the Orator, that was newly

Cilicia, travailed to reconcile
:

government of

come from his them together,

told him, he
so

and pacified Pompey the best he could

who

would yield

to anything
his

he would have him,

he did

let

him alone with

thousand
together.

army.

So Cicero persuaded Caesar's

friends to be contented to take those

two provinces, and

friends

six

men only, Pompey

that they

might be

and
unto

at peace
it

very

willingly

yielded

and

granted them.
to
it,

But Lentulus the Consul would not agree

a

but shamefully drave Curio and Antonius out of the

:

Senate
VOL.

whereby they themselves gave Caesar

happy

I.

50

JULIUS CAESAR
up his soldiers the more against them, when he shewed them these two notable men and Tribunes of the people that
'

occasion and colour as could be, stirring

Antonius

and Curio,
Tribunes
of the

were driven to
cart.

fly,

ni--idisguised
all

like slaves, in a carrier's

..

from

Rome

For they were driven

for fear to steal out

of Rome, disguised in that manner.

time, Caesar had not in

Now
five

at that

about him above

:

thousand

footmen, and three thousand horsemen

for the rest of his

army he laft on th' other side of the Mountains, to be brought after him by his Lieutenants. So, considering that for th'
execution of his enterprise he should not need so

many men

of war at the
to

first,

but rather, suddenly stealing upon them,

make them

afraid

with his valiantness, taking benefit ot

the opportunity of time, because he should

his

more

easily

make

enemies afraid of him, coming so suddenly

when they
leisure

looked not for him, then he should otherwise distress them,

assailing

them with

his

whole army,

in giving

them
his

to provide further for

him

he commanded

Captains

and Lieutenants to go before, without any other armour than their swords, to take the city of Ariminum, (a great
city of

Gaul, being the

first

city

men come

to,

when they
as

come out of Gaul), with

they could possible.

as

little

bloodshed and tumult

that force

Then committing

and army
he

he had with him unto Hortensius, one of

his friends,

remained a whole day together, openly in the sight of every

man,
him.

to see the sword-players handle their

weapons before

At night he went

into his lodging,

and bathing

his

JULIUS CAESAR
body
a little,

51

came afterwards
a
it

into the hall amongst them,

and made merry with them

supper.

Then when
from the

whom he had bidden to was well forward night and very

while

dark, he rose

table,
stir,

and prayed
for

his

company

to

be

merry, and no

man

to

he would straight come to

follow him, not altogether,

them again
a

howbeit he had secretly before commanded

few of his

trustiest friends to

but some one way, and some another way.

the

He

himself in
as

meantime took

coach he had hired, and made

though he would have gone some other way

but suddenly he turned back again

at the first,

towards the city of

little
Caesar's

Ariminum.
river of

When

he was come unto the

Rubicon, which divideth Gaul on

Italy,

this side

f^oughts

the Alps from

he stayed upon a sudden, ^^^of

his purpose,
Rubicon,

For the nearer he came to execute

the

more remorse he had

in his conscience, to think

:

what an

enterprise he took in

hand

and

his thoughts also fell out

desperateness of his attempt.

more doubtful, when he entered into consideration of the So he fell into many thoughts

with himself, and spake never a word, waving sometime one way, sometime another way, and oftentimes changed his
determination, contrary to himself.
also

So did he

talk

much
was

with his friends he had with him, amongst

whom

them what mischiefs the beginning of this passage over that river would breed in the world, and how much their posterity and them that lived after them would speak of it in time to come. But at length, casting
Asinius PoUio, telling

'

5^
from him with
to come,

JULIUS CAESAR
a noble courage all those perilous

thoughts

and speaking these words, which

*

valiant

men comenterprises,
!

monly

say that attempt dangerous

and desperate

desperate

man

feareth
river,

no danger, come on
and never stayed,

The Greek
useth this phrase of speech Cast the
:

he passed over the

and when he was come

so

over, he ran with his coach

'

that before

daylight he was within the city of

it.

die.'

Caesar took the city of

Ariminum, and took

It

is

said that the night

before he passed over

this

river

he dreamed
his

Ariminum.
Caesar's

damnable dream, that he carnally knew

mother.

dream.

city of Ariminum being taken, and the rumour thereof dispersed through all Italy, even if it had been open war both by sea and land, and as if all the Laws of Rome together with th' extreme bounds and confines of the same had been broken up a man would have said, that not only the men and women for
:

damnable

The

fear,

as

experience proved at other times, but whole

cities

themselves, leaving their habitations, fled from one place to

another
Rome
uproar with
Caesar's
in

through

all

Italy.
filled

And Rome

itself

also

was
all

immediately
the

with the flowing repair of

of

people their neighbours

thither from
all

thereabouts, which
cattle,

came

parties like droves

coming.

that there was neither officer nor Magistrate that

could any more

command them by
of
reason
:

authority, neither by

any persuasion
disorderly

bridle
that

such

confused
in

and
in

multitude
itself

so

Rome had
and

manner,

destroyed

for

lack

of

rule

order.

For

JULIUS CAESAR
all

53

places

men

were dangerous
that

stirs

were of contrary opinions, and there and tumults everywhere because they
:

were glad of

this trouble

could keep in no certain place,

but running up and

down
(as

the city,

when they met with

to be afraid or
it
is

others in divers places, that

seemed either

angry with this tumult

otherwise
fell

impossible in so

great a city), they flatly

out with them, and boldly

to come.

threatened
himself,

them with
at that

that that was

a

Pompey

who

time was not

little

amazed, was yet

ill words some gave him on some on the other. For some of them reproved him and said that he had done wisely, and had paid for his folly, because he had made Caesar so great and strong against him and the commonwealth. And other

much more

troubled with the

the one side, and

again did blame him, because he had refused the honest

offers

and reasonable conditions of peace which Caesar had

Consul to abuse him too

offered him, suffering Lentulus the

much.

On

th* other side,

Favonius spake unto him, and

:

bade him stamp on the ground with his foot

for

Pompey,
:

being one day in a bravery in the Senate, said openly

let

no man take thought

listed,
fill all

for preparation of war, for

his foot

when he

with one stamp of

Italy

on the ground, he would

with

soldiers.

This notwithstanding, Pompey

:

at that

time had greater number of soldiers than Caesar

let

but they would never

him
so

follow his
lies,

own

determination.
so

For they brought him

many
as if

and put

many

examples of fear before him,

Caesar had been already

54
at their heels,

JULIUS CAESAR
and had won
all
:

so that in to

the end he

yielded

unto them,

and gave place

all

their fury

and and
to

madness, determining (seeing

things in such tumult

garboil) that there was

flieth

no way but

to forsake the

from

city,

and thereupon commanded the Senate

follow him, and not a

he loved tyranny

commonwealth.
had done their
out of the

more than Thus the Consuls

sacrifices

man to tarry there, unless his own liberty and the

themselves, before they
at their

common

accustomed

going

city, fled

every

man

of them.

So did likewise

the most part of the Senators, taking their

haste, such as

own

things in

came

first

to hand, as if

by

stealth

they had
also

taken them from another.

that always loved Caesar,

And

there were

some of them

whose wits were then

so troubled

and

besides themselves with the fear they

had conceived,
this
all

that they also fled

and followed the stream of

But above
itself,

tumult
things,

without manifest cause or necessity.

it

was a lamentable sight to see the city

that in this

fear

and trouble was

sea,

left at all

adventure, as a ship tossed in

storm of
safety.

forsaken of her Pilots, and despairing of her

This their departure being thus miserable, yet

(for the

men
unto

esteemed their banishment

love they bare

^
and

forsook Caesar,
fled to

Pompey) to be their natural country, and reckoned Rome no better than Caesar's camp. At that time ^
.

also,

Labienus,

who was one

of Caesar's greatest
as his

friends,

and had been always used

Lieutenant

in the wars of Gaul,

and had valiantly fought

in his cause,

he

JULIUS CAESAR
likewise forsook
sent his

55

him then, and money and carriage

fled

unto Pompey.

But Caesar

after

him, and then went and

encamped before the

city of Corfinium, the

which Domitius
Domitius saw
of

kept with thirty cohorts or ensigns.

When

he was besieged, he straight thought himself but undone,

and despairing of
his,

his success

he bade

a Physician, a slave

give

him

poison.

The

Physician gave

him

drink
after,

which he drank, thinking to have died.

courtesy Caesar used unto

But shortly

Domitius, hearing them report what clemency and wonderful

them he

took, repented

him

then that he had drunk his drink, and began to lament and
bewail his desperate resolution taken to die.

The

Physician

him again, and told him that he had taken a drink only to make him sleep, but not to destroy him. Then Domitius rejoiced, and went straight and Domitius yielded himself unto Caesar, who gave him his life ^om^^
did comfort
:

but he notwithstanding stale

and

fled

unto Pompey.

away immediately, and^ed to When these news were PP^yand moreover there were
thither

brought to Rome, they did marvellously rejoice and comfort

them
again.

that

still

remained there

of them that had forsaken

Rome, which returned

all

In the meantime, Caesar did put

Domitius'
cities,

men

in pay,

and he did the

having

like

through

all

the
for

where he

had taken any Captains that levied men

Caesar,
together,

Pompey.
dreadful
to find

Now
power

assembled
straight

great

and

went

where he thought
his

Pompey
fled into

himself

But Pompey tarried not

coming, but

56

JULIUS CAESAR
Consuls before with that army he had unto Dyrra-

the city of Brunduslum, from whence he had sent the two

flieth into
^''^"^'

chium

when he understood
more amply

and he himself also went thither afterwards, that Caesar was come, as you
hereafter in his
life.

shall

hear

Caesar lacked no
seas,

good

will to follow

him, but wanting ships to take the

to Rome
:

he

returned forthwith

so that in less

than threescore

n^ days he was Lord of

j'

all Italy,

without any bloodshed.

it

Who

when he was come

than he looked
for,

to

Rome, and found

much

quieter

and many Senators there

also,

he courte-

them to send unto Pompey, to pacify all matters between them upon reasonable condiBut no man did attempt it, either because they tions.
ously entreated them, and prayed
feared

Pompey

for that they

had forsaken him, or

as

else for

that they thought Caesar

meant not

he spake, but that

they were words of course to colour his purpose withal.

And when
suffer

Metellus
to take

also,

one of the Tribunes, would not

him
*

any of the

common
it

treasure out of the

:

temple of Saturn, but told him that

Silent ie^es

was against the law

Tush,' said he, *time of war and law are two

If this that I do,'

interarma.
^

things.

quoth he,
:

thee, then get

thee hence for this time

for

< do offend war cannot

abide this frank and bold speech.

But when wars are done,

and that we are

pulpit

all

quiet again, then thou shalt speak in the

:

what thou wilt

and yet

do

tell

thee this of favour,

impairing so

much my

right, for

thou

art

mine, both thou

and

all

them

that have risen against

me, and

whom

have

JULIUS CAESAR
in

57

my
:

hands.'

When

he had spoken thus unto Metellus,

Caesar

he went to the temple door where the treasure

lay

and finding no keys

thereupon

there, he caused smiths

locks.

money out
1^^\q of
Saturn.

to be sent for,

and made them break open the

began
that

Metellus

again

to

withstand

him, and certain

doing
:

men
kill

stood by praised

him

in his

but Caesar at length speaking bigly to him threat-

ened him he would

any more
he,
to
*
:

him

presently, if he troubled
*

and told him furthermore,

it
is

him Young man,' quoth

it

thou knowest
it.'

harder for

me

to tell

thee than

That word made Metellus quake for fear, that he got him away roundly and ever after that Caesar had all
do
:

at his

commandment

for the wars.

From
first

thence
.

he went into Spain, to make war with Petreius ^

.

Caesar s journey
into

Spam

and Varro, Pompey's Lieutenants:

1
.
.

armies and provinces into his hands which they

1-11

to get their

against

1-11

Pompey's
Lieu-

governed, that afterwards he might follow

the better, leaving never an

Pompey enemy behind him.

In this

journey he was oftentimes himself in danger, through the

ambushes that were

places,

laid for
also

him

in divers strange sorts

all

and
lack

and

likely

to have lost

his

army

for

of victuals.

All this notwithstanding, he never

left

follow-

ing of Pompey's Lieutenants, provoking

them

to battle

and

intrenching them in

until

he had gotten their camp and

Caesar returned again to

armies into his hands, albeit that the Lieutenants themselves fled

unto Pompey.
his

When

Rome, Piso

father-in-law gave

him

counsel

to

send

58

JULIUS CAESAR
But
Isauricus,

ambassadors unto Pompey, to treat of peace.

Caesar
Dictator,

^ flatter Caesar,

was against

it.

Caesar, being then

created Dictator by the Senate, called

home
time

again

all

the banished men, and restored their children to honour,

fathers before

whose

had been

slain

in

Sylla's

and

did somewhat cut off the usuries that did oppress them,

and besides did make some such other ordinances

but very few.
then did yield
Isauricus

as

those,

For he was Dictator but eleven days only, and

it

up of

himself,

and made himself

Consul, with ServiUus Isauricus, and after that de-

termined to follow the wars.

All the rest of his

army he

left

coming on the way behind him, and went

five legions

himself before with six hundred horse and

only of

footmen, in the winter quarter, about the month of January,

which

after the

Athenians

is

called Posideon.

Then having
his

passed over the sea

goeth into the king-

Ionium and landed

i

men,

he wan the

cities
i

of Oricum and ApoUonia.

i

Then

dom

of

he sent

his ships back again

unto Brundusium, to
they came by the

transport the rest of his soldiers that could not

come with
way,
(like

that speed he did.

They

as

men whose

strength of body and lusty youth was

decayed), being wearied with so

Comthe^old

many sundry
*

battles as

they had fought with their enemies, complained

of Caesar in this sort

P^^^
^^^^^
^^^^

To what

end and pur^^"^

agains? Caesar,

^^^
but

^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^

^P ^"^
?

^own
not

the world, using us like slaves and drudges

It

is

our armour,

our

bodies

that

bear

the

JULIUS CAESAR
blows away
harness
:

59
be without
our
?

and what,
our
backs,

shall

we

never
shields

on

and our

on our arms

Should not Caesar think, at the least

blood and wounds, that

when he

seeth our

we

are

all

mortal men, and that

we

feel

the misery and pains that other

in

men do

feel

And

now, even

the dead of winter, he putteth us unto the

sea

mercy of the

and tempest,
:

yea,

which the gods themselves

this talk, the
at

cannot withstand
sued them not.'
soldiers,
still

as if he fled

before his enemies, and pur-

Thus spending time with

marching on, by small journeys came

length

unto the city of Brundusium.

But when they were come,

and found that Caesar had already passed over the sea, then For they straight changed their complaints and minds.
they blamed themselves, and took on also with their captains,
because they had not
ing
:

made them make more

cliffs

haste in march-

and

sitting

upon the rocks and

of the sea, they

looked over the main sea towards the Realm of Epirus, to

see if they

could discern the ships returning back to trans-

port

them

over.

Caesar in the meantime being in the city of

Apollonia, having but a small

grieved

him for

that the rest of his

not knowing what

^

way

to

army to fight with Pompey, it army was so long a-coming, In the end he followed a take.

'./

dangerous determination, to embark '

a
little

unknown
1-

in

^ A great

pinnace of twelve oars only, to pass over

T.
1

adventure
of Caesar.

the sea again unto Brundusium

the which he
all

L-

1-

1.

could not do without great danger, considering that

sea

that

was

full

of Pompey's ships and armies.

So he took ship

6o

JULIUS CAESAR
and went aboard upon
word,
as if

in the night apparelled like a slave,

this little pinnace,

and

said never a

he had been

some poor man of mean condition.

Aniusfl.

The

pinnace lay in the

mouth of

the river of Anius, the which

commonly
a little

was wont to be very calm and quiet, by reason of

which every morning drave But that night, by back the waves far into the main sea. ill fortune, there came a great wind from the sea that overcame the land wind, insomuch as, the force and strength of the river fighting against the violence of the rage and waves

wind

that

came from the

shore,

of the

sea,

the encounter was marvellous dangerous, the

water of the river being driven back and rebounding up-

ward, with great noise and danger in turning of the water.

Thereupon the Master of the pinnace, seeing he could not possibly get out of the mouth of this river, bade the
Mariners to
stream.
cast

about again, and to return against the

himself

Caesar, hearing that, straight discovered

unto the Master of the pinnace,

who

at the first

was amazed

when he saw him

said

but Caesar then taking him by the hand

fellow, be of

unto him,

Good

good cheer, and

for-

wards hardily, fear not, for thou hast Caesar and his fortune

with

thee.'

Then

the Mariners, forgetting the danger of

the storm they were in, laid on load with oars and laboured
for life

what they could

this
river.

against the wind, to get out of the

mouth of

But

at

length,

perceiving

they

laboured in vain, and that the pinnace took in abundance of water and was ready to sink
:

Caesar then to his great

JULIUS CAESAR
grief was driven to return back again.

6i

Who when

he was

returned unto

his

camp,

his soldiers

came

in great companies

unto him, and were very sorry that he mistrusted he was

not able with them alone'to overcome his enemies, but would

put his person in danger, to go fetch them that were absent,

putting no trust in

them

that

were present.

In the meanthe rest of his

time Antonius arrived, and brought with

him

army from Brundusium. Then Caesar, finding himself strong enough, went and offered Pompey battle, who was passingly well lodged for victualling of his camp both by sea and land. Caesar on th' other side, who had no dangers
great plenty of victuals at the

first,

was in

case: insomuch

as

his

men

gathered roots and Realm

^^^^^'

,1
also,

very hard
"^

troubles
in the

of

mingled them with milk, and ate them.

more, they did make bread of
it

Further-

and sometime when

they skirmished with the enemies, and came alongst by

that

them

watched and warded, they

cast

of their bread into

their trenches

and

said that as long as the earth

brought forth

such

fruits,

they would never leave besieging of Pompey.

But Pompey straightly commanded them that they should

neither carry those words nor bread into their camp, fearing
lest his

men's hearts would

fail

them, and that they would

be afraid,
ness,

when they should

think of their enemies' hard-

with

whom

they had to fight, sith they were weary

beasts.

with no pains, no more than brute

Caesar's

men

did daily skirmish hard to the trenches of army '

from

Qs^esar' fled

Pompey's camp,

in the

which Caesar had ever the

Pompey.

62
better, saving

JULIUS CAESAR
once only, at what time his

men

fted

with

such

fear, that all his

camp

that day was in great hazard to

his battle

have been

cast

away.

For Pompey came on with

upon them, and they were not able to abide it, but were fought with and driven into their camp, and their trenches were filled with dead bodies, which were slain within the
very gate and bulwarks of their camp, they were so valiantly
pursued.

Caesar stood before them that

:

fled, to

make them

to turn head again

but he could not prevail.

For when he

would have taken the ensigns to have stayed them, the so that ensign-bearers threw them down on the ground the enemies took two-and-thirty of them, and Caesar's self
:

also

scaped

hardly with

life.

For

striking

great big

soldier that fled

his face to his

by him, commanding him

soldier being

to stay

and turn

enemy, the

afraid

lift

up

his

sword to

strike at Caesar.

But one of Caesar's pages, prea

venting him, gave

him such

blow with

his

sword, that he

strake off his shoulder.

Caesar that day was brought unto so

great extremity, that (if

Pompey had

not either for fear or

spiteful fortune left off to follow his victory,

and

retired in-

to his
their

camp, being contented to have driven

to his

his

enemies into

camp) returning
:

camp with

his friends,

he said

unto them
Caesar's

The

victory this day had been our enemies',

^^

^^^7 ^^*^ ^^'^ ^ captain that could have told

So,

how

Pompey's
victory.

^ ^^^^ overcome.'

when he was come

to his

lodging, he went to bed, and that night troubled For still his him more than any night that ever he had.

JULIUS CAESAR
mind ran with
great sorrow of the foul
fault

63
he had comCaesar
troubled
after his

mitted in leading of his army, of self-will to remain

there so long by the seaside, his enemies being the
stronger by sea
:

II*

considering that he had before

all

him

goodly country, rich and plentiful of

things,

and goodly

cities

of Macedon and Thessaly, and had

not the wit to bring the war from thence, but to lose his
time in a place, where he was rather besieged of his enemies
for lack

of victuals, than that he did besiege them by force of

arms.

Thus

fretting

and chafing
set

to see himself so straightill

ed with victuals, and to think of his

luck,

he raised

his

camp, intending to go
that either

upon

Scipio,

making accompt,

he should draw Pompey to battle against his will,

the sea at his back to furnish

when he had not

Scipio, finding

him with

plenty of victuals, or else that he should easily overcome

move of
and
after

Caesar's

him alone, unless he were aided. This recamp did much encourage Pompey's army

his captains,

him,
fled.

as

who would needs in any case have followed though he had been overcome, and Pompey's
for

had

But

Pompey

no

respect hazard battle,

himself, he would in tionfthe ^^" which was a matter of

so great importance.
all

For finding himself well provided of

to
tarry

things

necessary

time, he thought

it

better

to

draw

this

war out

in length

by

tract

of time the rather

to consume this little strength that remained in Caesar's army of the which the best men were marvellous well trained and good soldiers, and for valiantness at one day's
:

64.

JULIUS CAESAR
were incomparable.

battle

But on
so oft,

th'

other side again,

fortify their

to

remove here and there

and to

camp

where they came, and to besiege any wall, or to keep watch the most part of them could not all night in their armour
:

do

it

by reason of

their

age, being then unable

to

away
also

with that pains, so that the weakness of their bodies did

take

away the

life

and courage of

their hearts.

Furtherthat

more, there

fell

a pestilent disease

among them,
:

came

by
tell

ill

meats hunger drave them to eat

yet was not this the

worst.

For, besides, he had no store of money, neither could

to

how

come by

victuals

so that

it

seemed

in all like-

lihood, that in very short time he

would come

to nothing.

For these respects Pompey would in no case fight, and yet had he but Cato only of his mind in that, who stuck in it the
rather, because

he would avoid shedding of

his

countrymen's
slain.in

blood.

For when Cato had viewed the dead bodies

his enemies, at the last skirmish that
less

the

camp of

was be-

tween them, the which were no

he covered
his face
fell

than a thousand persons,

he contrarily
Pompey

and went away weeping. All other but out with him, and blamed him, because he
:

SO long refrained from battle

^^"^ forward,

and some pricked

Ag^emkin
'

and

called

him Agamemnon, and king

of^

Icings?

saying that he delayed this war in this sort,

kings.

because he would not leave his authority to comall,

mand them
captains

and that he was glad always to

see so

many
also^ a

round about him, which came

to his lodging to

honour him, and wait upon him.

And

Favonius

JULIUS CAESAR
made
figs,
'

65

harebrained fellow, franticly counterfeiting the round and

plain speech of Cato,
as

though he was marvellous

angry, and said

this year

Is it

not great pity that

we

shall

not eat

of Tusculum
?

and

all

for

Pompey's ambitious

mind

to reign alone

And

Afranius,

who

not long before

was but lately come out of Spain, (where, because he had but ill success, he was accused of treason, that for money he had sold
his

army unto

Caesar,) he

went

busily asking,

why
said

they fought not with that merchant, unto

whom

they

he had sold the province of Spain

So that

Pompey

with these kind of speeches, against his will, was driven to

follow Caesar, to fight with him.
first

Then was

Caesar at the
:

by the way because he found none that would give him any victuals,
being despised of every

marvellously perplexed

and troubled

man

for the late loss

and overthrow
GomphlCi

he had received.
city

But
in

after that

he had taken the

of

Gomphi

Thessaly, he did not only

victuals to relieve his

meet with plenty of

army

"^y-

with, but he strangely also did rid

them of

their disease.

For the

soldiers,

meeting with plenty of wine, drinking

hard, and
pestilence.

making merry, drave away the infection of the For they disposed themselves unto dancing,

masking, and playing the Baccherians by the

way

inso-

much
made
other

that drinking
their bodies

drunk they overcame

again.

their disease,

and
th'

new

When

they both came into

lay before

the country of Pharsalia,

and both camps

Pompey

returned again to his former determination,

ee
and the
dream

JULIUS CAESAR
rather, because he

had

ill

signs

and tokens of mishis sleep

all

fortune in his sleep.

in

For he thought in

that

when he

entered into the theatre,

the

arsaia.

j^Qj^^j^g
'^^^ . security of the
peians.

hands.

him with great clapping of Whereupon, they that were about him J ^
received
'

grew
selves

to such boldness

and

security, assuring

them-

of victory, that Domitius, Spinther, and

Scipio in a bravery contended between themselves for the

chief Bishopric which

Caesar

had.

Furthermore, there

were divers that sent unto

unto the market-place,
as

Rome

to hire the nearest houses

fittest places for

being the

Praetors

and Consuls
officers

making

their

accompt already, that those

could not scape them incontinently after the wars.

But besides those, the young gentlemen and Roman knights

were marvellous desirous to fight, that were bravely mounted, and armed with glistering gilt armours, their horses fat and
very finely kept, and themselves goodly young men, to the

number of seven thousand, where

side

the gentlemen of Caesar's

were but one thousand only.

The number

of his foot-

men
army
as

also

were much

after

the same reckoning,

For he had five-and-forty 'thousand against twoand-twcnty thousand.

his soldiers together,

again as

Wherefore Caesar
legions,

called

and told them how Cornifi-

cius

was

at

hand,

who brought two whole

and that

he had

fifteen ensigns led

by Calenus, the which he made

to stay about Megara and Athens.

if

Then he

asked

them

they would tarry for that aid or not, or whether they

JULIUS CAESAR
would rather themselves alone venture
cried out to him,
battle.

6^

The

soldiers

and prayed him not

fetch to
as

to defer battle, but

fight as

rather to devise
as

some

make the enemy

beast

soon

he could.

Then,

he

sacrificed

unto the gods for the

purifying of his army, the

first

was no sooner

sacrificed,

but his soothsayer assured

three days.
sacrifices

him that he should fight within Caesar asked him again if he saw in the
or

any lucky sign

*

token

of good
shalt

luck.

The

soothsayer answered,
better

For that thou

:

answer thyself
promise us a

than

can

do

for

the gods do

marvellous great change and alteration of things that are

now, unto another clean contrary.

For

if

thou beest well

?

now, dost thou think to have worse fortune hereafter

And The

if

thou be

ill,

assure thyself thou shalt have better.'

battle,
as

night before the

to
visit

he went about a
a great
fire,

wonder

midnight

the watch,
all

men saw
fell

elemint*^'^
tattfe of^

firebrand in the element,

of a light

that in

came over
Pompey's.

Caesar's

camp, and
alarm
:

In the morning also,

false

down when they

in

Pharsaiia.

relieved the

watch, they heard a

the enemies'

camp,
call

without any apparent cause

which they commonly

beside themselves.

sudden

fear, that

makes

men

This notthence, and

his tents in

withstanding, Caesar thought not to fight that day, but

was determined to have raised

to have
his

his

camp from
:

gone towards the

city of Scotusa

and
his

camp were

already overthrown

when

scouts

came

in with great speed, to bring

him news

that his enemies were

68

JULIUS CAESAR
fight.

preparing themselves to
after

Then he was

very glad, and,

he had made his prayers unto the gods to help him that

day, he set his

Caesar'

men

in battle ray,
:

and divided them into

three squadrons
,

giving the middle battle unto

left
,

army and
hisorderof
battle in

Domitius Calvinus, and the

, .

win unto An.

i

tonius,

and placed himself in the right wing, choos,

thefields

ofPharsa-

mg

his place to

nght

1,

m
.

1.

the tenth legion,

all

t.

iiut

seeing that against that his enemies had set

their

horsemen, he was half afraid when he saw the great number

Wherefore he closely made come from the rearward of his battle, whom he had laid as an ambush behind his right wing, having first appointed his soldiers what they should do, when the horsemen of the enemies came to give them charge, Pompey's O" th' other side, Pompey placed himself in the hifo^rde? of battle. right wing of his battle, gave the left wing unto
of them and so brave besides.
six ensigns to

Domitius, and the middle battle unto Scipio

law.

his father-in-

Now

all

the

Roman

knights (as

we have

told

you

before) were placed in the left

wing of purpose
their

to environ

Caesar's right
there,

wing behind, and

to give their hottest charge

where the general of

enemies was

making

their accompt, that there

was no squadron of footmen,

how

thick soever they were, that could receive the charge of so great a troop of horsemen,

and that

at

the

first

onset they
bellies.

should overthrow them

all

and march upon their

his

When

the trumpets on either side did sound the alarum to

the battle,

Pompey commanded

footmen that they should

JULIUS CAESAR
stand
still

69

without
until

stirring, to

receive

the charge of their

enemies,

they

came
fault,

to

throwing

of

their

darts.

Wherefore Caesar afterwards said that Pompey

had committed a foul
the

not to consider that

counsel
fault of

charge which
it

is

given running with fury,

besides that
their

giveth the

more strength

also

unto
:

^^^'^'

blows,

doth

set
all

men's hearts

also

a-fire

for

the
is

common
Caesar,

hurling of
as a

the soldiers that run

sets

together

unto them

box on the ear that

his l3attle

men

a-fire.

Then

making

saw one of
war, in

his captains (a valiant

march forward to give the onset, man and very skilful in

his charge,

whom
men

he had also great confidence) speaking to his

encouraging them to
his

soldiers that
fight like

he had under
that day.

So he called him aloud by

:

name and
hope
fight
shall
it

said

unto him "

Well, Caius Crassinius, what

we have

to-day
?

How
*

are

we determined,
up

to
his

out manfully

Then
:

Crassinius, casting

hand, answered

him aloud

This day,

Caesar,

we

shall

have a noble victory, and

shalt praise

promise thee ere night thou

me

alive or dead.'

When

he had told him

so,

he was himself the foremost

man

that gave charge

upon

his

enemies, with his band following of him, being about sixscore

men, and making

until

a lane

through the foremost ranks,

far into the

with great slaughter he entered

enemies
:

battle of his

that, valiantly fighting in this sort,

he was

thrust in at length in the

mouth with

sword, that the

the footmen

point of

it

came out again

at his neck.

Now,

JO

JULIUS CAESAR
Pompey

of both battles being come to sword, the horsemen of the

The
battle

^^^ Wing of

did march as fiercely

also,

field's^ of

spreading out their troops, to compass in the right

Pharsaha.

^{ng of Caesar's

battle.

But before they began

to

to give charge, the six ensigns of

laid in

footmen which Caesar had

run
as
full

ambush behind him, they began

far

upon

them, not throwing away their darts

ofi^"

they were

wont

to do, neither striking their enemies

legs,

on the thighs nor

the eyes,

on the

but to seek to hit_thern_full

and

to

Caesar's stratagem,

^urt them in the face, as Caesar had taught them,

p^^, j^^

hoped that these

lusty

young gentlemen

that had not been often in the wars, nor were used to see

themselves hurt, and the which being in the prime of their

youth and beauty, would be afraid of those hurts,

for the fear of the present

as well

danger to be

slain, as also

for

that their faces should not for ever be deformed.

As indeed

it came to pass, for they could never abide that they should come so near their faces with the points of their darts, but hung down their heads for fear to be hit with them in their

eyes,

and turned

their

backs, covering their face, because

Then, breaking of themselves, fly, and were occasion also of the loss of all the rest of Pompey's army. For they that had broken them ran immediately to set upon Caesar
they should not be hurt. they began at length cowardly to
Cometh Pompey.

^^^ squadron of the footmen behind, and

slew

them.

Then Pompey,

seeing his horsemen from

the other wing of his battle so scattered and dispersed flying

JULIUS CAESAR
away, forgat that he was any more

71
the great which

Pompey

he had

been before, but rather was

like a

man whose
and amazed
end
of]

wits the gods

had taken from him, being

:

afraid

with the slaughter sent from above

tent speaking never a word,
this battle.

and

so retired into his

and
all

sat there to see the

Until at length,
flight,

his

army being overthrown

and put to

the enemies came, and got up upon the

rampers and defence of his camp, and fought hand to hand

Then, as a man with them that stood to defend the same. come to himself again, he spake but this only word " What, even into our camp r " So in haste, pompey's casting off his coat armour and apparel of a general, ^^s^^he shifted him, and put on such as became his miserable fortune, and so stale out of his camp. Furthermore, what
:

he did after

this

overthrow, and

how he had

put himself

into the hands of the Egyptians,

slain,

by

whom

he was miserably

we have

set it forth at large in his life.

Then
also

Caesar,

entering into Pompey's camp, and seeing the bodies laid on

the

ground that
said,

w^ere slain,

and others
:

that

were

a-killing,

fetching a great sigh

It

was their

own
he

doing, and against

my

will.'

For Caius Caesar,

after

had won

so

many famous

conquests, and overcome so

many

great battles,
if

had been utterly condemned notwithstanding,

his

he had departed from

army.

Asinius Pollio writeth

after-

that

he spake these words then in Latin, which he

in

wards wrote

Greek, and saith

furthermore that
to

the

most part of them which were put

the sword in the

72

JULIUS CAESAR
slaves

camp were
slain

and bondmen, and that there were not

for

As them that were taken prisoners, Caesar did put many of them amongst his legions, and did pardon also many men
in all at this battle above six thousand soldiers.
Brutus,

of estimation,

among whom Brutus was

it is

one, that

Caesar^

afterwards slew Caesar himself: and

^^^^ Caesar was very sorry for him,

reported

mboner
batti^ f Pharsalia.

when he

could

^^^ immediately be found after the battle, and

that he rejoiced again,

when he knew he was

this battle
:

alive,

and

that he
signs

came

to yield himself unto him.

Caesar had

many

and tokens of victory before

all

but the

notablest of
Signs and
Caesa?'s^
victory.

other that happened to

him was

in the city

^^ Tralles.

For

in the temple of victory within

the Same city there was an image of Caesar, and

|-}^g

earth

all

about

it
:

very hard of

itself,

and was
In

paved besides with hard stone

and yet some

say that there

sprang up a palm hard by the base of the same image.

stran'-e

^^^ ^^^7 ^^ Padua, Caius Cornelius, an excellent

soothsayer,
(a

cirndlus an excellent prognosticator.

countryman and friend of Titus

Livius the historiographer) was by chance at that /

or/
'

^ime

sct

to

behold the flying of birds.

He

(as

Livy reporteth) knew the very time when the

battle began,

and told them that were present,

onset

Even now they

to

give the
at this

on

both

sides,

and both armies do meet

instant.'

Then

sitting

down

again

consider

of the

birds, after

he had bethought him of the signs he suddenly

his feet,

rose

up on

and cried out

as a

man

possessed with

JULIUS CAESAR
some
spirit,
'

73
is

Oh

Caesar,

the

victory

thine.'

Every

man wondering to see him, he took the crown he had on his head, and made an oath that he would never put it on
again,
true.
till

the event of his prediction had proved his art

testifieth that it so

Livy

came
their

to pass.

Caesar after-

wards giving freedom unto the Thessalians, in respect of

the victory
after

which he won

in

country, he followed

Pompey.

When

he came into Asia, he gave freedom

also

unto the Gnidians for Theopompus' sake,

who had

gathered the fables together.

third part of the tribute

He
came

did release Asia also the

which the inhabitants paid unto

into

the

Romans.

Then
slain
:

he

Alexandria,

after

and detested Theodotus that presented him Pompey's head, and turned his head at o' side Notwithstanding, he took his because he would not see it.
seal

Pompey was

and beholding
all

it

wept.
-^

Furthermore, he
familiars,

q^^^^^.^

courteously used '

Pompey's friends and

'

clemency
in victory.

who wandering up and down

taken of the king of Egypt, and

the country were

won them
these

all

to be at his

commandment.
unto
his friends at

Continuing

courtesies,

he wrote

Rome,

that the greatest pleasure he took

^, The
cause

of his victory was, that he daily saved the lives of ' ^

,

some of
him.

his

countrymen that bare arms against

for the

of Caesar's

And,
say he

war he made

in Alexandria,
it,

Aiexan-

some

needed not have done

it

but that he
:

*willingly did
1

for the love of Cleopatra

I.

wherein he

won

Cf.

Antony and Cleopatra,

v. 29, 30, 66-74.

74
little

JULIUS CAESAR
honour, and besides did put his person in great danger.
fault

Others do lay the

/_
,

upon the king of Egypt's

on
Pothinus
all

ministers,

but

specially

the

eunuch,

who,
and

/lithe eunuch
/ I

bearing the greatest sway of

after

the king's servants,

to

Pompeyto
e s ain.

he had

caused

Pompey

be

slain

driven Cleopatra from the court, secretly laid wait

all

the ways he could

Caesar,

how he might
an
all

likewise

kill
it,

Caesar.

Wherefore

hearing
the

inkling

of

began

thenceforth to spend

night long in feasting and

banqueting, that his person might be in the better safety.

But besides

all this,

Pothinus the eunuch spake

many

things
stir

openly not to be borne, only to shame Caesar and to

the people to envy him.

up

For he made

his soldiers
:

have the
if

worst and oldest wheat that could be gotten

did complain of
it,

then,

they

he told them they must be contented,

seeing they eat at another man's cost.

And
and

he would serve
dishes, saying

them

also at the table in

treen

and earthen

that Caesar

had away

all

their gold

silver, for

debt
:

that the king's father (that then reigned) did

owe unto him

fifty

which was

a thousand

seven hundred and

myriads,
fifty

whereof Caesar had before forgiven seven hundred and

thousand unto
to
his children.

Howbeit then he asked

do better

a million

pay

his soldiers withal.

Thereto Pothinus answered him

to follow his other

that at that time he should

causes of greater importance,

at

and afterwards that he should

with the king's good will
said,

more

leisure recover his debt,

and favour.

Caesar replied unto him and

that he

JULIUS CAESAR
would not
which was
friends,

75

ask counsel of the Egyptians for his affairs, but

:

would be paid
in

and thereupon
the country
to

secretly sent for Cleopatra

come unto him.

_..-.
f.

She, only taking Apolloaorus Sicilian ot

all

nr her

Cleopatra

came

to

took a
it

little

boat and went away with

him

and came and landed hard by the Then, having no other mean ^^^^^^^^^^ *foot of the castle. *to come in to the court without being known, she trussed mauress *laid herself down upon a mattress or flock-bed, ' and so *which Apollodorus her friend tied and bound up brought to
in

in the night,

j^

Caesar

*toeether like a bundle with a great leather thong,

*and
*the

so took her

up on

,.,,1111 and
his back,

upon
Apollodorus'

brougat her

*thus hampered in this fardel unto Caesar,

castle

at
it
is

gate.^

This was

the

first

occasion (as
:

reported) that

made

Caesar to love her

but afterwards,

when he saw
ment, he

her sweet conversation and pleasant entertain-

fell then in further liking with her, and did reconcile her again unto her brother the king, with condition that

they two jointly should reign together.

reconciliation
a

Upon
a

this

new
of

great
his

feast

being
the

prepared,
fearfullest

slave

Caesar's that was

lived,
still

barber,

wretch that

busily prying

and listening abroad

nature,
to

in every corner,

being

mistrustful

by

found

that

Pothinus
Caesar.

and
This

Achillas did lie in wait

kill

his master
set

being proved unto Caesar, he did

such sure watch about

the hall where the feast was made, that, in fine, he slew
1

Cf.

Antony and Cleopatra^

II. vi.

68-70.

76

JULIUS CAESAR
Achillas,

the eunuch Pothinus himselt.

on

th'

other side,

saved himself and fled unto the king's camp, where he raised
a marvellous dangerous and difficult
cause,

war

for Caesar
as

be-

he having then but

few

men

about him
city.

he had,
first
:

he was to
danger he

fight against a great

fell

and strong

The

into was for the lack of water he had

for

that his enemies

had stopped the mouth of the

pipes, the

which conveyed the v.'ater unto the castle. The second danger he had was that seeing his enemies came to take his
ships
fire,

from him, he was driven to repulse that danger with

the which burnt the arsenal where the ships lay and
^^^^

The

-^reat

notable library of Alexandria withal.

The
was

Akxandria third
burnt.

danger was in the battle by

:

sea, that

fought by the tower of Phar

where, meaning to

help his
a boat.
oars

men that fought by sea, he leapt from the pier into Then the Egyptians made towards him with their
side
:

on every

but he, leaping into the

sea,

with great
It
is

hazard saved himself by swimming.

swimming
with books
in his
,
,

said,

that then holding divers books in his hand, he did

never

let

them

go, but kept

1111
In
fine,

them always upon

his

head above water, and swam with the other hand,

notwithstanding that they shot marvellously at him, and

was driven sometime to duck into the water

boat was drowned presently.
his

howbeit the
against

the king coming to

men

that

made war with

battle,

Caesar, he
it

went

him

and gave him

and won

with great slaughter and

effusion of blood.

But, for the king, no

man

could ever

JULIUS CAESAR
tell

77

what became of him

his sister

* Cleopatra

after. Thereupon Caesar made Queen of Egypt, who, being

*great with child by him, was shortly brought to bed

made
Queen of
cS'sarion,
son^^'^^

*of a son

whom the

Alexandrians

named

Caesarion.^
so going

From thence he went

into Asia, there
it

into Syria,

and

was told him that Domitius

was overthrown in battle by Pharnaces the son of Qfo"^" King Mithridates, and was fled out of the realm ^^^^^'
of Ponte, with a few

men with him

and that

this

King

Pharnaces, greedily following his victory, was not contented

with the winning of Bithynia and Cappadocia, but further

would needs attempt to win Armenia the

those kings. Princes,

less,

procuring

all

abouts to

and Governors of the provinces thererebel against the Romans. Thereupon Caesar's
KSPhar"^<^^s-

Caesar went thither straight with three legions,

and fought
out of

a great battle

with King Pharnaces by

his

the city of Zela,

all

where he slew
of Ponte.

the realm

army and drave him And because he would

advertise

one of

his friends

of the suddenness of this victory,

he only wrote three words unto Aniclus at

Ficiij

Rome

Feni,

Vict

to wit,

'

came,
all

saw,

overcame.'

Caesar
'Y^^i^^^^

These three words, ending ' ^

letters

with

like

sound and

three

in

more
into

pleasant to

the Latin, have a certain short grace the ear, than can be well ex-

words to
certify his victory,

pressed in any other tongue.

Italy

After

this,

he returned again
his year

and came

to

Rome, ending

for

the

78

JULIUS CAESAR
office

which he was made Dictator the second time, which

before was never granted for one whole year, but

unto

him.

Then he was

chosen Consul for the year following.

ill

Afterwards he was very

in
a

spoken

of, for

that his soldiers

mutiny having

slain

two Praetors,

Cosconius and
for
it,

Galba, he gave them no other punishment

instead of calling

but,

them

soldiers,

he named them
a

citizens, a

and gave unto every one of them

thousand drachmas

man, and great

possessions in Italy.

He was much

misliked
for

also for the desperate parts

and madness of Dolabella,

the covetousness of Anicius, for the drunkenness of Antonius

and Cornificius, which made

Pompey's house be pulled

down and
Caesar

builded up again, as a thing not big enough for

him, wherewith the Romans were marvellously offended.

knew
to

all

this

well enough, and

redressed

would have been

to

contented

have

them

but,

bring

his

matters to pass, he pretended he was driven to serve his

turn by such instruments.

i.

After the battle of Pharsalia,

into Africk,

Cato and Scipio being

with them, and levied
Caesar s journey
Africk against

fled

a great puissant

army.

King Juba joined Wherefore

Caesar determined to make war with them, and in '

the midst of winter he took his journey into Sicily.

There, because he would take

Captains

all

hope from

his

Cato and

make any long abode there, he went and lodged upon the very sands by the seaside, and with the next gale of wind that came
and
soldiers

to

he took the sea with three thousand footmen and

few

'

JULIUS CAESAR
horsemen.

79
unwares to

Then, having put them

sail

a-land,

them he hoised
being afraid

again, to go fetch the rest of his army,

lest

they should meet with some danger in

passing over, and meeting

all

into his camp.

Where, when

them midway he brought them it was told him that his

enemies trusted in an ancient oracle, which said that it was predestined unto the family of the Scipios to be conquerors in Africk
:

either of purpose to

mock

Scipio the

General of his enemies, or otherwise in good earnest to take

the benefit of this

name
and

(given by the Oracle) unto himself,

battles

in all the skirmishes

he fought he gave the charge

man of mean quality and accompt, called Scipio Sallution, who came of the race of Scipio African, and made him always his General when he fought. For
of his army unto a

he was eftsoons compelled to weary and harry his

troubles in

enemies

for that

neither his

men

in

his

camp

A^^a and
tooth

had corn enough, nor

soldiers

his beasts forage,

but his

were driven to take seaweeds,

a little

called a/ga^

thrhorse

and (washing away the brackishness thereof with

fresh water, putting to
cast
it

it

herb called dog's-tooth) to

so to their horse to eat.

For the Numidians (which

service), being a

are

light

horsemen, and very ready of

together,
all

great
place,

number

would be on

sudden in every

and spread
the

the fields over thereabout, so that no

man
day

durst peep out of the

as

camp to go for forage. And one men of arms were staying to behold an African
flute
:

doing notable things in dancing and playing with the

8o
they being
set

JULIUS CAESAR
down
quietly to take their pleasure of the
in

view thereof, having

the

meantime given
in

their slaves

their horses to hold, the enemies stealing suddenly

dangers in

upon them compassed them

slew a

round about, and

number of them

in the field,

and chasing
in

the other also that fled followed

them

pell-mell into their

camp.

Furthermore, had not Caesar himself

person,

and Asinius Pollio with him, gone out of the camp to the
rescue and

stayed

them

that
also

fled,

the war that day had

been ended.

There was

another skirmish where his

it is

enemies had the upper hand, in the which

Caesar, taking the ensigh-bearer

reported that

by the

collar that carried

force, and,

the eagle in his hand, stayed

his
face,

him by

turning

told

him
lift

See, there be thy enemies.'

Scipio's heart aloft,
:

These

advantages did

up

and gave him

courage to hazard battle

and, leaving Afranius on the one

hand of him, and King Juba on the other hand, both their camps lying near to other, he did fortify himself by the city of
Thapsacus, above the lake, to be
this battle.
a safe refuge for

them

all

in

But whilst he was busy intrenching of himself,

of wood, by by-paths which
stale
,

Caesar having marvellous speedily passed through a great

country
Caesar's great Victory and small

full

men would

never

have mistrusted, he

upon some behind, and

fly.

suddcn

assailed
all,

the other before, so that he over-

threw them
ing this
first

and made them

Then

follow-

good hap he had, he went forthwith

at

to set

upon the camp of Afranius, the which he took

JULIUS CAESAR
the
first

8i
also,

onset,

and the camp of the Numidians

King/
/

Juba being

fled.

Thus

in a little piece of the

fifty

day only, he

took three camps and slew

thousand of his enemies,

In this sort
is

and
th'

lost

but

fifty

of his soldiers.

set

down

effect

of this battle by some writers.

Yet others do

write also, that Caesar self was not there in person at th'

execution of this battle.

For

as

he did

set his

men

in

battle ray, the falling sickness took

him, whereunto
it

he was given, and therefore, feeling

1

coming,

troubled
'""''^

before he was overcome withal, he was carried into

a castle

-Lit.
his

'^^

felling

not

far

from thence where the battle was

rest
till

fought,
disease

and there took

had
left

th'

extremity of his

him.
this

Now,
battle,

for

the Praetors and Consuls

that scaped

from
kill

many

of them being taken

prisoners did
to

themselves, and others also Caesar did put

death

but, he

being specially desirous of

all all

men

else

to have

Cato

alive in his hands,

he went with

possible

speed unto the city of Utica, whereof Cato was Governor,

by means whereof he was not

ing,

at the battle.

Notwithstandslain himself

being certified by the

way

that Cato

had

with his

own
is

hands, he then
it,

made open shew

that he was
tell.
:

very sorry for

but

why

or wherefore

no man could
time

But

this
I

true, that Caesar said at that present

Cato,

my

envy thy death, because thou didst envy Caesarwas glory to save thy life.' This notwithstanding, th^d/ath
that

the book

he wrote afterwards against Cato

G

of Cato.

being dead did shew no very great affection nor pitiful heart
VOL.
I.

82
towards him.
living
Caesar wrote

JULIUS CAESAR
For how could he have pardoned him,
he had had him
in
his hands, that
r

if

being

dead did speak so vehemently against him

withstanding,

Not-

Cato being

men

suppose he would have pardoned

alive,

him,

if

he had taken him

by the clemency

he shewed unto Cicero, Brutus, and divers others that had Some report that he wrote that borne arms against him.
book, not so

much

for

any private malice he had to

his

death, as for a civil ambition,

Cicero

upon

this occasion

Cicero

^^^ written
in

book

in praise of Cato,

which he

Thook
dead.

entitled Cato.

This book in likelihood was very

'

praise of

Cato being

^rgH liked
orator that

of,

by reason of the eloquence of the ^

-^ _

made

it,

and of the excellent subject

was
marvellously
offended,

thereof

Caesar

therewith

thinking that to praise

him of whose death he was author

:

was even
wrote
a

as

much

as

to accuse himself

and therefore he
a

letter

against him,

and heaped up

number of
some de-

accusations against Cato, and entitled the book Ajiticaton.

Both these books have favourers unto

allowing the other for Cato's sake.

this day,

fending the one for the love they bare to Caesar, and others
Caesar,

being

now

returned out of Africk,

first

of

all

people, wherein he greatly praised

last victory,

made an oration to the and commended this his

them that he had conquered so Empire of Rome, that he could furnish the commonwealth yearly with two hundred thousand bushels of wheat, and twenty hundred thousand pound
declaring unto

many

countries unto the

JULIUS CAESAR
weight of
oil.

85

Then he made

three triumphs, the one for

Egypt, the other for the kingdom of Ponte, and the third for Africk not because he had overcome Scipio there, but
:

King Juba. Whose son being likewise called Juba, being then a young boy, was led captive in the show of this
triumph.
happily for

But

this
:

his

imprisonment

fell

out

j^^^ ^^^

him

for,

where he was but

fell

a barbarous

^^^
^^^^^^
historio-

Numidian, by the study he

prisoner he

unto when he was

of the

wisest

...
:

came afterwards

to be reckoned
^^
.

one

grapher.

historiographers

of the Grecians.

After these three triumphs ended, he very liberally rewarded

his soldiers

and

to curry favour
sports.

with the people, he made

great feasts
all

and common
at

For he feasted
two-and-twenty
to see

q^^^^^.'^
^^f^^^/'"^

the

Romans
tables,

one time

at

thousand

and gave them the pleasure

Romans,

divers sword-players to fight at the sharp,

and

battles also

by

sea, for

the remembrance of his daughter Julia, which

was dead long before.

Then,
the
there
-

after

all

these sports, he
to

made the people

mustered
:

(as

manner
were
,

was)
at

be
last

and, where
,
.

the

muster taken of
the

musters before three hundred and twenty thousand

citizens,

at

this
fifty

muster only there were but a

thousand.

Romans.

hundred and
had
this

Such misery and destruction

civil

war brought unto the commonwealth of

a

Rome, and had consumed such

speaking at
all

number of Romans, not

it

of the mischiefs and calamities

had brought

unto

all

the rest of Italy,

and

to the other provinces per-

'

84
taining to
Caesar

JULIUS CAESAR
Rome.
to

After

all

these things

were ended, he

^^^ chosen Consul the fourth time, and went into

*^^

Sunh
time.

^Ipa'in

make war with the

marvellous
great

sons of

Pompey

^}^Q were yet but very young, but had notwithraised

a

standing

army

together,
to

shewed to have had manhood and courage worthy

and com-

mand
Battle

such an army, insomuch as they put Caesar himself

in

great danger of his

life.

The

greatest battle

bSwixt

that

was fought between them in

city of

all this

war was
his
full

Se^ng'^ by the
bvThe dty of Munda.
his

Munda.
:

For then Caesar seeing

"^^" sorely distressed, and having their hands

^f their enemies
that fought,

he ran into the press among

:

men

and cried out unto them

What

are

ye not ashamed to be beaten and taken prisoners, yielding

yourselves with your
Caesar's

own hands
all

to these

young boys
flight,

And
^"^'i^^

SO,

with

the force he could make, having

his

the'sonsof

much ado put

enemies to

he slew

Pompey.
lost

ji^Qve thirty

thousand of them in the

field,

and

of his

own men

a thousand of the best he had.

After

this battle he went into his tent, and told his friends that he had often before tought for victory, but this last time

now won

that he

had fought

for the safety of his

feast

own

life.

He

this battle

on the Very

day of the Bacchanalians,

in the

which men say that Pompey the Great went out of

about four years before, to begin
this civil

Rome

war.

For
This

his sons, the

younger scaped from the

battle

but within

few days

after

Didius brought the head of the elder.

JULIUS CAESAR
was the
last

85

war that Caesar made.

for the

But the triumph he

made
the

into

Rome

same did

as

much

offend

Caesar's

Romans, and more, than anything that ever he *had done before because he had not overcome
:

Po'^g^-^^
^"^-

*Captains that were strangers, nor barbarous kings, but had

^destroyed the sons of the noblest
*fortune had overthrown.
*his race

man

in

Rome, whom
for

And

because he had plucked up

it

Hv

by the

roots,

men

did not think

meet

him

to

*triumph

so for the calamities of his country, rejoicing at a

* thing for the

which he had but one excuse to

allege In his

*defence unto the gods and men, that he was compelled to

*do that he

did.^

And

the rather they thought

it

not meet,

because he had never before sent letters nor messengers

unto the commonwealth

at

Rome
:

for

any victory that he

had ever

won

in all the civil

it.

wars

but did always for shame

refuse the glory of

This notwithstanding, the Romans

inclining to Caesar's prosperity

and taking the

by one

bit in the

mouth, supposing

that, to be ruled
for

man

alone,

it

would be
after so

good mean
troubles
:

them

to take breath a
as

little,

many

and miseries

they had abidden in

these civil wars

they chose him perpetual Dictator.

:

This

was

a plain

tyranny

for to this absolute

this,

power

ot
Dictator, ^^^^

Dictator they added

never to be afraid to be

deposed. / Cicero propounded before the Senate,

that they should give

man

him such honours as were meet for a howbeit others afterwards added-to honours beyond
^

Cf. Ju/iu! Caesar^

I.

i.

36-55.

86
all

JULIUS CAESAR
reason.

For,

men

striving

who should most honour him,

made him hateful and troublesome to themselves that most favoured him by reason of the unmeasurable greatness
they

and honours which

favourers
flattered

they

gave

him.

Thereupon,

it

is

reported that even they that most hated

him were no

less

and furtherers of

his

honours than they that most

just cause

him

because they might have greater occasions

it

to rise,

and that

might appear they had

his civil wars,

and
for

colour to attempt that they did against him.

himself, after he

And now

had ended

he did so honour-

ably behave himself, that there was no f;mlt to be found in

him
The

and therefore methinks, amongst other honours they

gave him, he rightly deserved
build
j^-^

this, that

they should

d^ency,
^e^^cated

him

temple of clemency, to thank him for

courtesy he had used unto

them

in his victory.

S^fs"^
courtesy.

For he pardoned many of them that had borne

j^j.j^g

against
to

him, and furthermore, did

office in

prefer
:

some of them
as,

honour and

the

commonwealth

amongst others, Cassius and Brutus, both the which

were made Praetors.

And where Pompey's

images
set

and Brutus
Praetors.

j^^d

been thrown down, he caused them to be '

:

whereupon Cicero said then, that Caesar setting up Pompey's images again he made his own stand the surer. And when some of his friends Caesar s saying of did couuscl him to have a guard for the safety of his person, and some also did offer themselves to serve him, he would never consent to it, but said, it was*
up again

JULIUS CAESAR
*better to die once, than always to be afraid of death, ^
to

87

But

''1^

win himself the love and good

will of the people, as the

honourablest guard and best safety he could have,

q^^j

^^j]!

O
I

he made

common

feasts again,

and general
_

dis_

f^/^-'f^'^^
s"?'"'^

tributions of corn.
s oldiers

also,

he replenished

Furthermore, to gratify the ' ' P

^^^

many

cities

again

safety for Princes,

with

inhabitants,

which

before

had

been

destroyed,
:

and placed them there that had no place to repair unto

of the which
the noblest and
chiefest
it

cities

were these

two, Carthage and Corinth, and

chanced

also that, like as

aforetime they had been both taken and destroyed together,

even so were they both

set afoot

again and replenished with

as for great

people at one self time.

And

personages, he

wan them
Praetors

also,

promising some of them to make them

in

and Consuls

time to come, and unto others

all

honours and preferments, but to

hope, seeking
all

men

generally good

the ways he could to

make every man conone of the Consuls

his

tented with hi? reign.

called

Insomuch
to die a

as

Maximus chancing

day before

Consulship
Caninlus

ended, he declared Caninius Rebilius Consul only

for the

day that remained.

the

So, divers going to his

consuTfor

manner was) to salute him, and to ^^ ^^ycongratulate with him of his calling and preferment, being newly chosen officer, Cicero pleasantly said, ' Come, let us make haste, and be gone thither before his Consulship come out.' Furthermore, Caesar being born to attempt all
house
(as
^

Cf. Julius Caesar, II.

ii.

32, 33.

88
great enterprises,

JULIUS CAESAR
and having an ambitious
desire besides to

covet great honours, the prosperous good success he had of

his

former conquests bred no desire in him quietly to enjoy

the fruits of his labours, but rather gave

to

come,

still

kindling

more and more

stale

in

him hope of things him thoughts of

which
This

greater enterprises,

and

desire of nev^ glory, as if that

he had

present
his

were

and

nothing worth.

humour of
as

was no other but an emulation with himself

a certain

with another man, and

contention to overcome

For he was determined, and made preparation also, to make war with the Persians. Then, when he had overcome them, to pass through Hyrcania (compassing in the sea Caspium and Mount
the things he prepared to attempt.

Caucasus)
Scythia
:

into

the realm

of Pontus, and
all

so

to invade

and over-running by Gaul into

sea

the countries and people

adjoining unto high

to return

Germany, and Germany itself, at length Italy, and so to enlarge the Roman Empire round, that it might be every way compassed in
Oceanus.

with the great

for this voyage,

But whilst he was preparing

strait

he attempted to cut the bar of the

in

of

Peloponnesus,
Anien
Tiber,
flu.

the

place

where the

city

of Corinth
bring
the

standeth.
j-ivers

Then he was minded

to

of Anien and Tiber straight from

Rome

unto

the city of Circeii with a deep channel and high banks cast

up on either

side,

and

so to fall into the sea at Terracina,

for the better safety

and commodity of the merchants that

Furthermore, he determined

came

to

Rome to

traffic there.

JULIUS CAESAR
to drain
cities

89

and seaw

all

the water of the marlshes betwixt the

of

Nomentum and
many
unto
the

Setium, to make
:

it

firm land for

sea-

the benefit of
coast next

thousands of people
to cast

and on the

Rome
the

great high banks,

and to
other

cleanse

all

haven about
water,

Ostia of rocks
to

and stones
all

hidden

under

and

take

away

impediments
ships,

and

to

made the harbourough dangerous for make new havens and arsenals meet to harbour
that

such

ships

as

did

continually

traffic

thither.

All
effect.

these

things were purposed to be done, but took

no

But

the ordinance of the calendar and reformation of

q^^^^^.

the year, to take

exactly
'

away
by '

all

confusion of time, being

reformed
inequality of the year.

calculated

the

Mathematicians
great

and

was a For the Romans, using then the ancient computation of the year, had not only such incertalnty and alteration of the month and times, that the sacrifices and
brought to perfection,
unto
all

commodity

men.

yearly feasts

came by
Is

little

and

little
:

to seasons contrary for

the purpose they

were ordained
called
In

but also in the revolution

Solaris)
:

of the sun (which

Jtmus

no other nation
of the

agreed

with

them
listed,

account

and,
it.

Romans
therefore,

themselves, only the priests understood

And
their

when they

they suddenly (no

man

being able to
a]yjgr(,edo.

control them) did thrust In a

month above

ordinary number, which they called in old

Mercedonius.
first

time,""

Some say

that

Numa Pompllius was the

month between

lUt^rca-"^'^ '^"^

that devised this way, to put a

but

it

90
was
a

JULIUS CAESAR
weak remedy, and did
were made
to perfection.
little

help the correction of the

errors that

in the account of the year, to frame

this

them

But Caesar, committing

best expert

matter unto
at

the Philosophers and

Mathematicians
that was
this

that

time, did set forth an excellent and perfect calendar,

exactly
calculated

more
:

than any other

until

before

the

which the Romans do use

present

day, and

do nothing
his

err as others in

the difference of time.

But

enemies notwithstanding that envied his greatness did

not stick to find fault withal.

one

said,
*

said he,

As Cicero the Orator, when Yea,' To-morrow the star Lyra will rise at the commandment of Caesar,' as if men were
*
:

'

compelled so to say and think by Caesar's

chiefest cause that
Caesar

edict.

But the

made him mortally hated was

:
.

was hated.

the covetous dcsire he had to be called king

first

which

gave the people jusc cause and next his secret

ill

enemies honest colour, to bear him

standing, they that procured

will.

This notwith-

him

this
it

honour and dignity

was written in the

gave

it

out

among

the people, that

Sibylline prophecies,

Parthians, if

Romans might overcome the they made war with them and were led by a
the

how

king, but otherwise that they

were unconquerable.

And

furthermore they were so bold besides, that, Caesar returning

to

Rome from

the city of Alba,

when they came

to salute

him, they called him king.

But the people being offended

and Caesar also angry, he said he was not called king, but Then, every man keeping silence, he went his way Caesir.

JULIUS CAESAR
heavy and sorrowful.
ours for

91

When

they had decreed divers hon-

the Consuls and Praetors accompanied with the whole assembly of the Senate went
in

him

the

Senate,

unto him in the market place, where he was

for orations, to tell

set

by the pulpit
for

him what honours they had decreed

But he,
sitting
still

him

in his absence.

in his majesty, disin, as if

daining to rise up unto

them when they came

:

they

had been private men, answered them

only offend the Senate, but the

that

his

honours

had more need to be cut off than enlarged.

This did not

also, to see

common

people

that he should so lightly esteem of the Magistrates of the

commonwealth insomuch as every man that might lawfully go his way departed thence very sorrowfully. Thereupon also Caesar rising departed home to his house, and
:

* tearing

open

his doublet collar,

making

his

neck bare, he

*cried out aloud to his friends, that his throat was ready to
*offer to

any man that would come and cut

it is
it

it.^

Notwithfolly,

standing,

reported that afterwards, to excuse this

he imputed
* perfect

to his disease, saying, that their wits are not

his disease of the falling evil,

which have

when

* standing

of their feet they speak to the

common

people, but

*are soon troubled with a trembling of their body, and a

*sudden dimness and giddiness.^

one of
^

But that was not

true.

For
him,

he would have ris^n up to the Senate, but Cornelius Balbus

his friends (but rather a flatterer)
ii.

would not

let

Cf. Julius Caesar^ I.

Ibid. I.
ii,

268, 9

Life of AntoniuSy Vol. II. p. 19.

248-58

and

ante, pp. 26, 81.

92
saying
:

JULIUS CAESAR
*

and
^,

will
^

The

feast

What, do you not remember that you are Caesar, you not let them reverence you, and do their duties ? ' Besides these occasions and offences. '
^

Lupercaha.

there followed also his shame and reproach, abus.

. .

ing the Tribunes of the people in this sort.

that time the feast Lupercalia
^

At

was celebrated, the which in*

of shepherds, or herdmen, of the Lycaeans in Arcadia.

old time

and
sons,

is

men say was the feast much like unto the feast
it
is,

But howsoever

that day there are divers noblemen's*

young men, (and some of them Magistrates themselves* that govern then) which run naked through the city,* striking in sport them they meet in their way with leather* thongs, hair and all on, to make them give place. And* many noblewomen and gentlewomen also go of purpose to* stand in their way, and do put forth their hands to be* striken, as scholars hold them out to their schoolmaster to be*
striken with the ferula
:

persuading themselves that, being*

also,

with child, they

barren, that
Anton'us
being
it

shall

have good delivery, and

being*

will

make them
in a

to conceive

with child.*

^^^sar

sat to

behold that sport upon the pulpit*

chair of gold, apparelled

for orations,

in*

was one
of the

triumphing manner.
at that time,

Antonius,

who was Consul*

this

Luperca-

was one of them that ran

holy*

course.-

So,

when he came
him

into the marketplace,*

the people
1

made
3-9

a lane for
I. i.

to run at liberty,

and he*

Cf. Julius Caesar y

ii.
i

71.

2 Ibid. I.

Life of Antonius^ Vol. II. pp. 18, 19.

JULIUS CAESAR
*came
to Caesar,
laurel.

93

and presented him

Diadem wreathed
a

*about with

Whereupon

there rose a certain cry of

*rejoicing, not very great,

done only by
Caesar

few appointed for

the
.

*the

^ * Diadem, then all

purpose. ^
.

But when

refused

* cry of joy.
* there

made an out- presented .the DiaThen, Antonius offering it him again, demto
the people together
it

....
like

Antonius

was a second shout of joy, but yet of a

*few.

But when Caesar refused

all

again the second time,

*then

the whole people shouted.^

Caesar having

made this
be carried

proof found that the people did not

rose out of his chair,

of

it,

and thereupon
to

and commanded the crown

*unto Jupiter in the Capitol.

After that, there were set up

*image of Caesar in the city with Diadems upon their heads,

*like kings.

*went and pulled

them
called

that

to prison.

Those the two Tribunes, Flavius and MaruUus, down ^ and furthermore, meeting with first saluted Caesar as king, they committed them The people followed them rejoicing at it, and
:

them

Brutes, because of Brutus,

who had

in old time

driven the kings out of

Rome, and

that brought the

kingdom

of one
*people.

person unto the government of the Senate and

Caesar was so offended withal, that he deprived *Marullus and Flavius of their Tribuneships,^ and, accusing

them, he spake

also

against the people,

and

Bruti and Cumani, to wit, beasts

1

and

fools.

called them Hereupon the

Cf. Juliui CaesarjI.

Ibid. I.
Ibid. I.
i.

ii.

219-246

Life of Antoniusy Vol. II. p. 19.

2
3

68-73

L\f^ of Brutus^ p. 121.

;

ii.

289-91

Life of Antonius^ Vol. II. p. 20.

94

JULIUS CAESAR
who from
in
his

people went straight unto Marcus Brutus,

father

came
also

of the

first

Brutus and by his mother of the

as

house of the Servilians, a noble house

any was

Rome,
Not-;

and was

nephew and son-in-law of Marcus Cato.

withstanding, the great honours and favour Caesar shewed

unto him kept him back, that of himself alone he did not
conspire nor consent to depose
Caesar

him of

his

kingdom.

For

Cacsar did not only save his

Pharsalia

life after

the battle of

Marcus
Brutus'

request also save

when Pompey fled, and did at his many more of his friends besides
:

the battle
Pharsalia.

but, furthermore, he put a marvellous confidence

Jn

him.

For he had already preferred him

after that,

to

the Praetorship for that year, and furthermore was appointed

to be

Consul the fourth year

it

having through

Caesar's friendship obtained

before Cassius,

who
is

likewise

made

suit for the

same

and Caesar
*

also, as it

reported,

said in this contention,

Indeed Cassius hath alleged best

before
Brutus.'

reason, but yet

Brutus

shall

he not be chosen

Some one day

accusing Brutus while he practised

a^aiulr*^
Caesar.

this conspiracy,

Caesar would not hear of

*

it,

but

clapping his hand on his body, told them,

:

Brutus
for

will look for this skin

his

'

meaning thereby that Brutus

rule after him, but yet

virtue

deserved

to

that for

ambition's sake he would

not

shew himself unthankful

nor dishonourable.

Now

they that desired change and*

wished Brutus only their

all

Prince and
to

Governor above*
to tell*

other, they durst not

come

him themselves

JULIUS CAESAR
*him what they would have him
to do, but in

95
the night

*did cast sundry papers into the Praetor's seat where he

*gave audience, and the most of them to this

-*sleepest,

effect
^

Thou
.

Brutus, and art not Brutus

.

indeed.'

Cassius,

finding Brutus' ambition stirred

these seditious
J.
.

bills,

did prick
r

...
:

up the more by ^ CassiU5 him forward and stirreth up

egg

nim on

the

more

tor a private quarrel

1,11 he had

^''"'^^

against

conceived against Caesar

the circumstance whereat large in Brutus' life.

*of

we have

set

down more
said
?

Caesar
:

*also

had Cassius

in great jealousy

and suspected him much

his friends,

*whereupon he
*time,

on

time to

*Wljat

will

*Cassius do, think ye

I like

not his pale looks.'

Another

when

Caesar's

friends

complained

unto

him of
fat

*Antonius and Dolabella, that they pretended some mischief

*towards him
*of them
*fear
:

he answered them again,

heads,'

As for those
*

*men and smooth-combed

:

quoth he,

never reckon
I

but these pale-visaged and carrion lean people,

:

them most

'

meaning Brutus and

Cassius.^
:

Certainly,

destiny

may

easier

be foreseen than avoided

con-

,.

*sidcring the strange and wonderful signs that were

*said to be seen before Caesar's death.

tions

and

For, touch.

mg

the

fires

m
.

of Caesar's death.

the element and spirits running

*up and down

in the night,

and

also the solitary birds to

:

be

*seen at noon-days sitting in the great market place

^

arc not

Cf. Julius Caesar^

I. iii.

140-44,

II.

i.

46

Life of Brutus, pp. 120, 121.

Cf. Julius Caesar, I.

Vi.

191-200;

Life of Brutus, p.

119;

Life of

Antonius, Vol. II. p. 18.

96
all

JULIUS CAESAR
these signs perhaps
as

worth the noting

seen going

in such a

wonderful*
^*
:

chance

happened

? ^

But Strabo the Philosopher writeth*

that divers

men were

up and down

in fire

and furthermore, that there was

a slave of the soldiers, that*

did cast a marvellous burning flame out of his hand, inso-*

much when
Caesar

as

they that saw

fire

it

thought he had been burnt, but*

it

the

was out,
doing

was found he had no hurt.^*

self also,

sacrifice

unto the gods, found that*

one of the

beasts

which was
a heart.

sacrificed

had no heart
a beast

"*

and*

that was a strange thing in nature,

how

could live
a certain*
^

^ Caesar s
,

without

Furthermore, there was '

day of his
prognosti-

Soothsayer that had given Caesar warning long*

time afore, to take heed of the day of the Ides of*

a Sooth^^^
"

March (which

is

the fifteenth of the month), for*

in great danger.

on that day he should be

That*
Ides off

day being come, Caesar going unto the Senate-house, and*

speaking merrily to the Soothsayer, told him,
*

The

March be come
sayer,
*

'

So be they,'

softly

answered the Sooth-f

but yet are they not

past.' ^

And
:

the very dayf

sealed certain

before, Caesar, supping with

letters, as

Marcus Lepidus,
at the

he was wont to do,

board

so, talk falling

out

amongst them, reasoning what death was

*

best,

he

preventing their opinions cried out aloud,

for.'
^

Death unlocked

Then
2 Ibid. I.
4

goiTig to

bed the same night

iii.

as his

manner was,
15-18.
I, 2.

Cf. Julius Caesar^ I.

iii.
ii.

lo, 19.

25-32.
'^

25

II.

ii.

Ibid. I.

iii.
i.

Ibid. II.

37-40.

Ibid. III.

JULIUS CAESAR
*and lying with
his wife Calpurnia, all

97
the

windows and

*doors of his chamber flying open, the noise awoke him, and

*made him
*sigh,

afraid

when he saw

such light
fast

but more,
asleep,

when

*he heard his wife Calpurnia, being

weep and
^,

and put forth many fumbling lamentable speeches.

slain,^

*For she dreamed that Caesar was

she

and that
do deny

had him

in her arms.

Others
as

/->

The dream
ofCalCaesar's

also

that she

had any such dream,

it

amongst other
this sort.

Titus Livius writeth, that

Senate having set

was in

The
for

upon the top of Caesar's house,

it

an

ornament and setting forth of the same,

Calpurnia dreamed that she saw
*she thought she lamented

a certain pinnacle,

broken down, and that

for
it.

and wept

Insomuch

that,

*Caesar rising in the morning, she prayed

*possible not to

him

if it

were

go out of the doors that day,- but to adjourn

the session of the Senate until another day.

And

if

that

*he made no reckoning of her dream, yet that he would

*search further of the Soothsayers by their sacrifices, to

know

*what should happen him that day.^

Thereby

it

seemed that

Caesar likewise did fear and suspect somewhat, because his

*wife Calpurnia until that time was never given to any fear
*or superstition
in
:

and then,

for that

he saw her so troubled

mind with this dream she had. But much more afterwards, when the Soothsayers, having sacrificed many beasts *one after another, told him that none did like them then
:

Cf. Julius Caeiar, II.

ii.

ii.

1-3.

2 4

/^y^^

jj^
ii.

76-82.
13, 14.

3 Ibid. II.

5, 6.

Ibid. II.

VOL.

I.

98

JULIUS CAESAR

he determined to sendAntonius to adjourn the session of the*

Deems
Brutus Albinus
persuasion
.

Senate. 1
,

But
.

in the
_

meantime came Decius Brutus,* '

in
,

surnamed Albinus,
,
.

whom
.

Caesar put such con-

fidence, that in his last will

appointed him to be his

and testament he had next heir, and yet was of

:

the conspiracy with Cassius and Brutus

he, fearing that if

Caesar did adjourn the session that day the conspiracy would
out, laughed the Soothsayers to scorn,

and reproved Caesar,

saying

that he gave the Senate occasion to mislike with

him, and that they might think he mocked them, considering that by his commandment they were assembled, and*
that they were ready willingly to grant
to proclaim

him

all

things,

and*

him king of all

the provinces of the

Rome
all

out of Italy, and that he should wear his

Empire oP Diadem in*

other places both by sea and land.

And

furthermore,*

that if any

man
that

should
present

tell

them from him they should*

and return again when*
:

depart for

time,

Calpurnia should

have better dreams

what would
like

his*

enemies and
friends'
.

illwallers say,
?

and how could they

of his*

words

And who could

persuade them otherwise,*

but that they would think his dominion a slavery

Brutus brought Caesar

into the senate-

unto them, and

yet, if it
^
*,

tyrannical
he,
*
i

in

himself?

*And
ir

be

SO,' Said

that

you

utterly mislike
in

of this day,

it

IS

better that

you go yourself

person, and saluting the Senate to dismiss

till

them

another time.'
^

Therewithal he took Caesar by the

ii.

Cf. Julius Caesary II.

52-6.

Ibid. II.

ii.

93-9.

JULIUS CAESAR
hand, and brought him out of his house.

99
Caesar was not

gone

far

from

his house,

but a bondman, a stranger, did

:

what he could to speak with him

that followed

and,

when he saw he
his house,
till

was put back by the great press and multitude of people

him, he went straight unto

and
to

put himself into Calpurnia's hands to be kept

Caesar

came back
*Isle

again, telling her that he

had great matters

also,

*impart unto him.

,
,

And

one Artemidorus
,
.

born in the
The tokens
of the

of Gnidos, a Doctor of Rhetoric in the Greek

*tongue,

who by means

of his profession was very

*familiar with certain of Brutus' confederates,

* therefore

and

against

knew the most part of all their practices *against Caesar, came and brought him a little bill written *with his own hand, of all that he meant to tell him. He,
*marking how Caesar received
*ofFered him,
all

the supplications that were

straight to his
said
:

and that he gave them

men
*

that

*were about him, pressed nearer to him, and

Caesar

*read this memorial to yourself, and that quickly, for they

*be matters of great weight, and touch you nearly.'

*took
it

Caesar,

of him, but could never read

it,

it,

though he many
that did salute
it

*times attempted

for the
it still

number of people

*him

but holding

in his hand, keeping

to himself,

Howbeit other are of opinion that it was some man else that gave him that memorial, and not Artemidorus, who did what he could all the way as he went to give it Caesar, but he was always
^

*went on withal into the Senate-house.^

Cf. Julius Caesar, II.

iii

III.

i.

3,

6-12.

loo

JULIUS CAESAR
For these things they may seem to
:

repulsed by the people.

The
was
place

come by chance
^^^^

but the place where the murther

Caesar
slain.

^^^ prepared, and where the Senate were assembled,

where

also there stood

up an image of Pompey

dedicated by himself amongst other ornaments which he

gave unto the Theatre

it

all

these

were manifest proofs that

this treason to

was the ordinance of some god, that made

It
is

be executed specially in that very place.

also reported,

that Cassius (though otherwise he did favour the doctrine of*

Epicurus)

beholding the image of Pompey, before they*

entered into the action of their traitorous enterprise, he

did softly

call

upon

it

to aid him.

But the instant danger

passion,

of the present time, taking away his former reason, did

suddenly
Antonlus
Caesar's
faithful friend.

put
^^"^

him
^^^^

into
^

furious

and

made

^^^ man

^^^^ beside
_

himself.

Now*
Caesar,* '

Antonius, that was '

a faithful friend to
^

and

a valiant

besides of his

hands,

him*

Decius Brutus Albinus entertained out of the Senate house,*

having begun a long
tale

of

set

purpose. ^

So,

Caesar*

coming into the house, all the Senate stood up on their feet Then part of Brutus' company and"*^ to do him honour. confederates stood round about Caesar's chair, and part of* them also came towards him, as though they made suit with*
Metellus Cimber, to
1

call

home

his brother

again from*

Cf. Julius Caesar^

V.

i.

77, 8.
i.

2 Cf.i Julius

Caesar, III.

25, 6

Life of Brutus^ p. 164

Life of

Antoniusj Vol. II. pp. 20, 21,

JULIUS CAESAR
*banishment
:

loi
their suit, they

and

thus,

prosecuting

still

*followed Caesar,
*their petitions,

till

he was

set in his chair.

Who

denying
after

and being offended with them one

*another, because the

*pressed

more they were denied, the more they upon him, and were the earnester with him ^
:

Metellus at length, taking his

pulled
it

gown with both

his hands,

over his neck, which was the sign given the con-

*federates to set

*him

strake

upon him. Then Casca behind him in the neck with his sword ^
:

fir^That

howbeit
because,

the
it

wound was not

great nor

mortal,

caesan*^

seemed,

the fear of such a devilish

attempt did amaze him, and take his strength from him, that
he killed him not at the
straight
first

blow.

But Caesar, turning

his

unto him, caught hold of

sword, and held

in Latin
:

it

hard

and they both cried out, Caesar

vile

traitor Casca,
his brother,
stir,
*

what doest thou

? '

And

Casca in Greek to
this

Brother, help me.'

At the beginning of

they that were present, not knowing of the conspiracy,

were so amazed with the horrible sight they saw, that they

had no power to

fly,

neither to help him, not so

much
side

as

once to make any outcry.

They on
him

th'

other side that had

conspired his death compassed

their swords

in

on every
still

with

drawn

in their hands, that Caesar

turned him

nowhere but he was

stricken at

by some, and

had naked

*swords in his face, and was hacked and mangled

^

among

Cf. Julius Caesar^ III.

i.

i.

27-75.

2 Ibid. III.

76

V.

i.

43, 4.

I02
them,
as a

JULIUS CAESAR
wild beast taken of hunters.^
that every

For

it

was agreed*
a
:

among them
because
all

man

should give

him

wound,
and then

their parts should be in this

murther

Brutus himself gave him

one wound about

still

his privities.

Men
the

report also that Caesar did

defend himself against

rest,

running every way with

his

his

body
his

but

when he*

saw Brutus with

pulled his

sword drawn in

hand, then he*

resistance,^*

gown

over his head, and made no

more

and was driven either casually or purposedly by the counsel*

of the conspirators against the base whereupon Pompey's*

image stood, which ran

slain.^

all

of a gore-blood

till

he was*

Thus

it

seemed that the image took

his ghost

just revenge of*

at his

Pompey's enemy, being thrown down on the ground

feet,

and yielding up

there for the

it is

number of
^

wounds he had upon him.

slain

For

reported that he had*

:

three-and-twenty wounds upon his body

and

and*

had 23 wounds upon him.

divers
_
^

of the
1

conspirators
^
,

did
/

hurt themselves,
blows.
1

Striking

one body with

1

so

many
1

When
j*

Caesar was slam, the Senate (though Brutus stood*

in the midst

r-

-n

amongst them,
this

as

though he would have said*

presently ran

somewhat touching
house, and flying

fact,-^)

out of the*

filled all

the city with marvellous fear and

their doors, others

tumult.

Insomuch

as

some did shut-to

I

forsook their shops and warehouses, and others ran to the

1

Cf. Julius Caesar, III.

i.

204.-10.
"^

2 Ibid. III. ^

i.>7
53.

ii.

189-92.

Ibid. III.

i. i.

115^;
82,
3.

ii.

193, 4.

Ibid.

V.

i.

Ibid. III.

JULIUS CAESAR
place to see

103
also that

what the matter was

and others

had

seen

it

ran

home

to their houses again.

But Antonius and

chiefest
friends,

Lepidus,
secretly

which

were

two of

Caesar's
fled

conveying themselves away,

into other men's

houses,

and forsook their own.

Brutus and his conftderates

on

th' other side,

being yet hot with this murther they had

their
^^^^
"{-"r^^g^^^/^

committed, having their swords drawn in

hands, came
Senate, and '
all

in

troop together out of the

as
,

went into the market-place, not ^

'

do go
the
place.

to

men
and

that

made countenance

to fly, but otherwise

market.

boldly holding up their heads like

called to the people to

men

of courage,

defend their liberty, and stayed

personage

to speak
their

with every great

whom

they met in

way.

Of them some
as if

followed this troop and went

amongst them
falsely

they had been of the conspiracy, and

:

challenged part of the honour with them

among
But

them was Caius Octavius, and Lentulus Spinther.

both of them were afterwards put to death, for their vain

covetousness of honour, by Antonius and Octavius Caesar
the younger
:

and yet had no part of that honour

for the

which they were put to death, neither did any man believe
that they

were any of the confederates, or of counsel with

them.

For they that did put them to death took revenge

rather of the will they

had to

off*end,

than of any

fact

they

had committed.
federates!

The

next morning Brutus and his conto

came into the market-place

speak unto the

it

people,

who

gave them such audience, that

seemed they

I04

JULIUS CAESAR
:

neither greatly reproved nor allowed the fact

great silence they

for

by their

showed

that they were sorry for Caesar's

death, and also that'they did reverence Brutus.

Now

the

Senate granted general pardon for

Caesar's
funerals.

all

that

was

past,

and to

pacify

every man, ordained besides that Caesar's

funerals should be

honoured
:

as a

god, and established

all

things that he had done

and gave

certain provinces also

whereby every man thought

peace and quietness again.
Caesar's testament,

and convenient honours unto Brutus and his confederates, all things were brought to good
But when they had opened*
a liberal legacy of

and found

money*

bequeathed unto every citizen of Rome,i and that they saw*

his

body (which was brought into the market

:

place) all

bemangled with gashes of swords

to keep the multitude

then there was no order*

people quiet, but they*

and

common
stools,
afire

plucked up forms,

tables,

and

and

laid

them

all

about*

the body, and setting

them

burnt the corse.

Then,*

when
them

the

fire

was well kindled, they took the firebrands,*

their houses that
also ran

and went unto

afire.2

had slain Caesar, to set* up and down the city to see* if they could meet with any of them, to cut them in pieces howbeit they could meet with never a man of them, because they had locked themselves up safely in their houses. There*

Other

Cf. Julim Caesar, III.

;

Ji.

134-164, 242-256; Life of BrutuSf

Life of Brutus, p. 137, 8

Tp-

137

Lfe of Antomus, Vol.

p.

II. pp. 23, 24.

;
;

2 Cf.

Julim Caesar, III. it 258-64

22.

Lfe

of Antoniusy Vol. II.

JULIUS CAESAR
*wa5 one of Caesar's
friends
called

105
that

Cinna,

had

*marvellous strange and terrible dream the night

*before.

He

dreamed

that Caesar bade

him

to
:

drermof

*supper, and that he refused,

*then that
*his will.

and would not go Caesar took him by the hand, and led him

against

Now
body

Cinna hearing
in

at that

time that they burnt

*Caesar's

the market place, notwithstanding that

*he feared his dream and had an ague on him besides, he

*went into the market place

*he came thither, one of

to

honour
his

his funerals.

When
name man
it

mean

sort asked

him what

his
first

*was
*told

He
it

was straight called by

name.

The

to another,

and that other unto another,

so that

*ran straight through

them

all,

that he was one of

them

that

*murdered Caesar
*was also
*taking
called
for

(for

indeed one of the

as

traitors to

Caesar

Cinna

himself)

wherefore,
murther of

him

Cinna the murderer, they fell upon

fury, that they presently dispatched
place.^

*him with such

*him
in the

market

This

stir

and fury made Brutus

that was
past,

and Cassius more afraid than of

therefore,

all

and

within

few days

after,

they

departed out of

Rome

and touching
the

their doings
till

afterwards,

and what
written
^.^^^^^
l^^-^^^'^
it

calamity they suffered

at large in
life

their deaths,

we have
six-

of Brutus.
:

Caesar died at
also lived

^g

and-fifty years of age

and Pompey

not

passing four years

more than
his reign
iii.

no other
1

fruit of

all

So he reaped ^=^^^he. and dominion, which he had

;

Cf. Julius Caesar, III.

Life of Brutus, pp. 138, 9.

io6
so

JULIUS CAESAR
all

vehemently desired

his life^

and pursued with such

only, and a superficial

extreme danger, but

glory that procured

a vain

name

him

the envy and hatred of his country.

But
The

his great

prosperity and good fortune, that favoured

all his

him
^

lifetime, did continue afterwards in the

CaSaf^s
death.

revenge of his death, pursuing the murtherers both

\^y g^^

^^^
all

j,^^^^^

^j||

^^^^ ^^^ ^^^

^cft a

man more
all

to be executed, of in

them

that

were actors or counsellors

Furthermore, of
the

the conspiracy of his death.

chances that happen unto

men upon
other
is

the earth, that which

at.

came

to Cassius

above

all

most to be wondered

Cassius being oyer-

^^^ ^^' being overcome

.

in battle at the

journey of*

thrown at
the battle

Philippi, slew himself with the

same sword with*

sif?ns

the which he strake Caesar.

"^

ofPhihppi
slew himself with the
self-same

A?ain, of J o

in*

the element, the great comet, which seven nights

together was seen very bright after Caesar's death,

the eight night alter was never seen more.
the
brightness
all

sword
he strake

,.,.._

Also
the

of the

sun

was darkened,
pale,
:

which

that year
it

through rose very

and

shined not out, whereby

Wonders
etemeSt*'^^

gave but small heat

there-

fore the air

being very cloudy and dark, by the

wcakncss of the heat that could not come forth, did

causc the earth to bring forth but
fruit, '

Caesar's death. great

raw and unripe

which rotted before

all,

Comet.

above

But, ripe. ' r the ghost that appeared unto Brutus

it

could

shewed plainly that the gods were offended with the murther
^

Cf. Julius Caesar,

V.

iii.

41-6.

JULIUS CAESAR
*of Caesar.

107

The

vision

was thus.

Brutus, being ready to pass

*over his army from the city of

*lying directly against
it,

Abydos

to the other coast

slept every night (as his

manner was)
affairs, (for

*in his tent, and being yet awake thinking of his

*by report he was

*little sleep, as

as careful

a Captain,

and

lived with as

ever

man

did,)

he thought he heard a noise of

^^^05'
vision.

*at his tent doar, and, looking towards the light

*the lamp that waxed very dim, he saw a horrible

*vision of a

man, of
at

wonderful greatness, and dreadful

*look,
*

which

But when he saw that

*bedside
the was.
till

made him marvellously afraid. him no hurt, but stood by his and said nothing, at length he asked him what The image answered him I am thy a spirit
the
first
it

did

angel,

Brutus, and thou shalt see

me by

the

unto^^
^^"*"^-

tcity of Philippi.'

Then
I

Brutus replied again,

see thee then.'

fand

said

Well,

shall

Therewithal

*the spirit presently vanished from him.^

After that time

Brutus being in battle near unto the city of Philippi against

Antonius and Octavius Caesar,

the victory, and, overthrowing stood him,

at

the

first

battle

he
The

won

all

them

that with-

he drave them into young Caesar's

appearing
spirit^nto
'^"^"^'

*camp, which he took.

*hand, this
* never a
1
'^

The

second battle being

at

spirit

appeared again unto him, but spake

word.

Thereupon Brutus, knov/ing he should

IV.
iii.

die,^

Cf. Julius Caesar^ Cf. Julius

Caesar^

V.

v.

274-84 ; Life of Brutusy 19, 20 ; Ltfe of Brutus,

p.
p.

163.

183; Antony

and Cleopatra,

II. vi. 12, 13.

io8
did put himself to

JULIUS CAESAR
all

hazard in battle, but yet fighting

could not be

slain.

So, seeing his

little

men
fell

put to
off,

flight

and

overthrown, he ran unto a

rock not far

and there

setting his sword's point to his breast

upon

it,

and slew

himself, but yet,

as

it

is

reported, with

the help of his

friend that dispatched him.

THE LIFE OF MARCUS BRUTUS

*

*ancient

Marcus Brutus came of that Junius Brutus, for whom Romans made his statue of brass to be set
The
in the Capitol
a

the

*up

with the images of the kings,

his

parentage

*holding

naked sword in

hand, because he

*had valiantly put

*of Rome.i
nature,

down

the Tarquins from their kingdom

a

But that Junius Brutus, being of

sour stern

not softened

by reason, being was

like

unto sword

blades of too hard a temper,

so subject to his choler

and malice he bare unto the tyrants, that for their sakes he
caused his

own

sons to

be executed.

But
life

this

Brutus'
"^""^"^s.

Marcus Brutus
rules of virtue

in contrary

manner, whose

we

presently write, having framed his

manners of

life

by the

and study of Philosophy, and having emmethinks he was rightly made and framed
his very

ployed his wit, which was gentle and constant, in attempting

of great things
:

unto virtue.

So that

enemies which wish him

Caesar,

most hurt, because of

if

his conspiracy against Julius

all

there were any noble attempt done in

it

this conspiracy,

they refer

wholly unto Brutus, and

all

the cruel

and

violent acts unto Cassius,

1

who was
ii.

Brutus' familiar friend,

158-162.

Cf. Julius Caesar, I.

109

no
.

MARCUS BRUTUS
as

but not so well given and conditioned

Servilia, it
is

he.

His mother

thought, came of the blood of Ser.

M. Brutus' vilius Ahala, who, when Spurius Maelius went about

mother.
.

to

make himself
under
his

king,

and

to

bring

it

to

pass

had enticed the common people

hid
it

to rebel, took a dagger

and

close

arm, and went into the market place.

as
as

When
could
:

he was come thither, he made

to say

though he had
near

somewhat

unto him, and pressed

him
his

as

he

wherefore, Maelius stooping

down with
all

head to

hear what he would say, Servilius stabbed him in with his

dagger and slew him.

Thus much

writers agree for his

evil will

mother.

Now

touching his father, some for the

and malice they bare unto Brutus, because of the death of Julius Caesar, do maintain that he came not of Junius
Brutus that drave out the Tarquins
left
:

for there

were none

of his race, considering that his two sons were executed

:

for conspiracy with the Tarquins and that Marcus Brutus came of a mean house, the which was raised to honour and office in the commonwealth but of late time. Posidonius

the Philosopher writeth the contrary, that Junius Brutus

indeed slew two of

histories

his sons

which were men grown,

a

as

the

do

declare,
little

howbeit that there was

third son,

being but a

child at that time, from

:

whom

the house

and family afterwards was derived

and futhermore, that

there were in his time certain famous

men

of that family,

whose

stature

and countenance resembled much the image

of Junius Brutus.

And

thus

much

for this matter.

Marcus

MARCUS BRUTUS
Cato the Philosopher was brother unto
Servilia,

lit

M.

Brutus'

mother
all

whom

Brutus studied most to follow of

his uncle,
Cato's

the other

Romans, because he was

his

and afterwards he married

daughter.

Now
:

touching the Grecian Philosophers, there was no sect nor Philosopher of them, but he heard and liked it but above
all

the rest he loved Plato's sect best, and did not

give himself to the
call it,

Brutus'
studies,

much
as

new nor mean Academy

they

but altogether to the old Academy.

There-

fore

he did ever greatly esteem the Philosopher

:

Antiochus, of the city of Ascalon

but he was

followed

more

familiar with his brother Ariston,

learning and

knowledge was inferior

who for to many

kcade^^^^'

other Philosophers, but for

the best and chiefest.

wisdom and courtesy equal with Touching Empylus, whom

in his Epistles,
Empylus,
^^"o'rator, wrote a book of Caesar's death, and
entitled
it

Marcus Brutus himself doth mention

and
his

friends also
left

in

many

places,

he was an

Orator, and '

an excellent book he wrote of the

it

death of lulius Caesar, and titled

was properly learned in the Latin tongue, and

was able to make long discourse in
also plead
it,

11

Brutus.

He

Brutus.

beside that he could

very well in Latin.

But, for the Greek tongue,

they do note in some of his Epistles, that he

counterfeited that brief compendious

speech of the Lacedaemonians.

As,

when

manner of the war

manner

of

EpisTifs in
^^^
'

was begun, he wrote unto the Pergamenians in

this sort:

*I

understand you have given Dolabella

money

112
if

MARCUS BRUTUS
it

you have done

:

willingly,
wills,

you

confess
it

you have offended

me
A

if

against

your

shew

then by giving

me
:

brief

willingly.'
*

Another time again unto the Samians

to"the

Your

counsels be long, your doings be slow, congnd.'

:

Samians.

^[^qj. jj^g

unto the Patareians

will,

And in another Epistle he wrote The Xanthians, despising my good

:

have made their country a grave of despair

and the

Patareians, that put themselves into

my

protection, have lost

no

jot of their liberty.

And

therefore, whilst

you have

liberty, either choose the

judgement of the Patareians or the fortune of the Xanthians.' These were Brutus' manner So of letters, which were honoured for their briefness.
Brutus

Brutus being but

young

stripling

went into
sent against

Catolni
Cj'prus.

Cyprus with

his uncle Cato,

who was

Ptolemy king of Egypt, who having

slain himself,

Cato, staying for certain necessary business he had in the

Isle

of Rhodes, had already sent Canidius, one of his friends,

before to keep his treasure and goods.

But Cato, fearing he

Brutus forthwith to

would be

lightfingered, wrote

unto

come out of Pamphylia (where he was but newly recovered

of a sickness) into Cyprus, the which he did. The which journey he was sorry to take upon him, both for respect of
Canidius' shame,

whom

Cato

as

he thought wrongfully

slandered, as also because he thought this office too

mean
to
so

and unmeet
his

for

him, being

young man, and given

book.

This notwithstanding he behaved himself

honestly and carefully that Cato did greatly

commend him:

MARCUS BRUTUS
and
after all the

113

goods were sold and converted into ready

money, he took the most part of

Rome.

Afterwards

when

the

it, and returned withal to Empire of Rome was divided

into factions,

and that Caesar and Pompey both were

all

in

arms one against the other, and that

the

Empire of

Rome

was in garboil and uproar

it

was thought then that

Brutus would take part with Caesar, because

long before had put his father unto death.
preferring the
respect of his country

Pompey not
But Brutus

and commonwealth

before private affection,

and persuading himself that Pompey_

:

had juster cause to enter, jnto.^Di&..t^ri--CaeAax.

t'ooTTpart

he then
Brutus

with Pompey, though oftentimes meetbefore he thought scorn to speak to him,

it

ing

him

parftith
^onipey-

thinking
to the

a great sin

and offence

in

him

to speak

murtherer of

his father.

But then submitting himself

unto

Pompey,

as

unto the head of the commonwealth,

Lieutenant under Sestius that was

he sailed into

Sicilia,

Governor of that province.

was no way to
that
rise,

But when he saw that there

nor to do any noble exploits, and

together,
for

Caesar

and

Pompey were both camped

:

and fought for victory

into

he went of himself unsent

Macedon to be partaker of the danger. It is reported that Pompey being glad, and wondering at his coming, when he saw him come to him, he rose out of his chair, and went and embraced him before them all, and used him as honourably as he could have done the noblest man that took his part. Brutus, being in Pompey's
VOL.
I.

114

MARCUS BRUTUS
all

camp, did nothing but study

Brutus*
v^'ii^

day long, except he were

before, but

Pompey, and not only the days

fields

Pom^e^'s" camp.

^^^ ^^^^ same day also before the great battle was

fought in the
It

of Pharsalia, where

Pompey

was overthrown.

was

in the midst of

sun was very hot, besides that

summer, and the the camp was lodged near

unto marishes, and they that carried his tent tarried long
Brutus

before they came, whereupon, being very weary

Pompey's camp.

^^^^
^^

travel, scant

any meat came into

his

mouth
slept,
fell

dinner time.

Furthermore, when others

after,

or thought what
his book,

would happen the morrow

all

he

to

and wrote

day long
It
is

till

night, writing a breviary

of Polybius.
Caesar
Brutus'

reported that Caesar did not

forget him,

and

that he gave his Captains charge

before
killed

the battle, that they should beware they

not Brutus in

fight,

and

if

he yielded will-

ingly

unto them, that then they should bring him unto

but
if

him

he
let

they should

he did
Julius

this for

resisted and would not be taken, then that him go and do him no hurt. Some say Servilia's sake, Brutus' mother. For, when
a

he was

young man, he had been acquainted with

love?^

Servilia,

who was
was

extremely in love with him.

Bmul?'
mother.

^^^

because Brutus was born in that time

hottest,

when

their love

he persuaded himself that he

begat him.

For proof hereof the report goeth, that when

the weightiest matters were in hand in the Senate, about the

conspiracy of Catiline, which was likely to have undone the

MARCUS BRUTUS
city of

115

Rome, Caesar and Cato

sate near together,

:

both of contrary minds to each other

and were and then, that in the

Caesar took
it

meantime one delivered Caesar

and read
it

a letter.

softly

to

himself

but Cato cried out upon

Caesar, and said he did not well to receive advertisements

from enemies.

Whereupon

the whole

Senate began to
as it

murmur
sent

at

it.

Then
read

Caesar gave Cato the letter

was

sent him,

who

it,

and found that

:

it

was a love
cast
it

letter

from

his sister Servilia

thereupon he
*

again to

Caesar, and said unto him,

Hold, drunken
his tale,

sop.'

When

be had done
his

so,

he went on with
:

and maintained
the love of
So, after

opinion

as

he did before
she

so

commonly was

Servilia

known which
the sea,

bare unto Caesar.

Pompey's overthrow
fled to

at the battle

of Pharsalia, and that he

Brutus went out of the

leapt into a

when night
Caesar,

when Caesar came to besiege his camp, camp gates unseen of any man, and Then fj^^^^\^ marish full of water and reeds. was come he crept out, and went unto Julius
:

the city of Larissa ^

from whence he wrote unto

after the battle of

who was
for

very glad that he had scaped,

to

Pharsalia.

and sent

him

come unto him.

as

When
also

Brutus was
kept

come, he did not

any

only pardon

him, but

him

always about him, and did

as

much honour and

esteem him

tell

whither

sirous

man he had in his company. Now no man could Pompey was fled, and all were marvellous deto know it wherefore Caesar walking a good way
:

alone with Brutus, he did ask

him which way he thought

ii6

MARCUS BRUTUS
took.

Pompey

Caesar perceiving by his

talk

that

Brutus
left all

guessed certainly whither

Pompey

should be

fled,

he

other ways, and took his journey directly towards Egypt.

Pompey,

as

Brutus conjectured, was indeed fled into Egypt,

slain.
:

but there he was villainously

Furthermore, Brutus
and, defending also

obtained pardon of Caesar for Cassius

This king

the king a of Libya's cause, he was overlaid with a

was Juba
howbeit
true also that
it is

world of accusations against him, howbeit, entreating for him, he saved

him the
plead

best part of his realm

Brutus

and kingdom.
he,

They

say also
:

that Caesar said,

*

made

in-

tercession
tarus, king of Galatia,

when he heard Brutus

*

know
but,

not,' said

what

this

young man would,

it

what he
all

who was
deprived notwithstanding of the most
part of his

would, he willeth
gravity

vehemently.'

For, as Brutus'

and constant mind would not grant

men

their requests that sued unto

him, but being

country by
Caesar,

moved with
cline to that

reason and discretion did always in-

and

therefore this

when

it

which was good and honest, even so, was moved to follow any matter, he used
and vehement persuasion, that
For,

place were best to be under-

a kind of forcible

standed by Deiotarus.

calmed not
by

till

he had obtained his desire.

flattering of

him, a

man

could never obtain

anything
unjust.

at his hands,

nor make him to do that which was

it

Further, he thought

not meet for a

man

of calling

and estimation to yield unto the requests and

a shameless

entreaties of

and importunate

suitor, requesting

things unfor

meet

the which notwithstanding, some

men do

shame,

because they dare deny nothing.

And

therefore

he was

MARCUS BRUTUS
wont
to say, that

117

he thought them

evil

brought up in their
Caesar Caesar
Emtus
?f

youth, that could deny nothing.

Now when
Italy,

took sea to go into Africk against Cato and Scipio,

he

left

Brutus Governor of Gaul in

side of the Alps,

which was

on this great good hap for

oauTon

[{jg^^oun.
*'^'"^'

that province.

For where others were spoiled and

polled by the insolency and covetousness of the Governors,

as if it

had been

country conquered, Brutus was a comfort

sus-

and

rest

unto their former troubles and miseries they

tained.

But he referred

it

wholly unto Caesar's grace and

goodness.

For when Caesar returned out of Africk, and

progressed up and
best to see

down
cities
:

Italy, the things that pleased

him

were the

under Brutus' charge and govern-

ment, and Brutus himself

who honoured

Caesar in person,

and whose company

also Caesar greatly esteemed.

Now

Rome, and it was looked for, that Brutus or Cassius would make suit for the chiefest Praetorship, which they
there were divers sorts of Praetorships at
called the Praetorship

prutus

caiius
fg^the'^

of the city

because he that

Praetorthe city,

had that
unto the
other,

office

was

as a

Judge to minister justice

citizens.

Therefore they strove one against the

little

though some say that there was some

did

grudge
Cassius
Junia,
sister,

betwixt them for other matters before, and that this contention
set

them further
Others

out,

though they
that this conhimself,

were

allied

together.
sister.

For Cassius had married

say,

Junia, Brutus'
tention betwixt

them came by Caesar

who

secretly

ii8

MARCUS BRUTUS
So their
suit

gave either of them both hope of his favour.

for the Praetorship

was so followed and laboured of either

in suit of law.

party, that one of

them put another

Brutus

with

his virtue

and good

name contended

against

many

noble exploits in arms, which Cassius had done against the

Parthians.
tions,

So Caesar,

after

he had heard both their objec-

he told
:

his friends

with
is

whom

he consulted about
^

this

matter
The
first

Cassius' cause
first

the juster,' said he,

but Brutus
ha'3rtlie*^t

"^^^t be

preferred.'

Thus Brutus
:

cfasstus^
a^a'inst

Praetorship, and Cassius the second

who thanked
he had,
lost.

"^ Caesar so
}^e yy^g

much

for the Praetorship

as

Caesar.

angry with him for that he had

other
in

But
of

Brutus
Caesar's

in

many

things

tasted

of the

benefit

favour

anything

he

requested.

For,

if

he

had

listed,

he might have been one of Caesar's chiefest

of greatest authority and
credit about him.

friends,

and

Howbeit
Cassius
their

Cassius' friends did dissuade

him from

it,

(for

and he were not yet reconciled together sithence first contention and strife for the Praetorship,) and
tyrannical favours

prayed him to beware of Caesar's sweet enticements, and to

fly his
:

the which they said Caesar gave

his constant

him, not to honour his virtue but to weaken

mind, framing
Caesar
Brutu?.^

it

to the bent of his

bow.

Nov/ Caesar on

the Other side did not trust

him overmuch, nor was

:

not without

tales

brought unto him against him

howbeit he feared

his great

mind, authority, and

friends.

Yet, on the other side also, he trusted his good nature and

'

MARCUS BRUTUS
fair

119

conditions.

For, intelligence being brought

day, that Antonius

him one and Dolabella did conspire against him, he

fat

*answered, that these

long-haired

men made him

Caesar's

*not afraid, but the lean and whitely-faced fellows,

Bmtus.

At another time also when one accused Brutus unto him, and bade him beware of What,' said he again, clapping his hand on his breast, him think ye that Brutus will not tarry till this body die ? Meaning that none but Brutus after him was meet to have such power as he had. And surely, in my opinion, I am persuaded that Brutus might indeed have come to have been the chiefest man of Rome, if he could have contented himself for a time to have been next unto Caesar, and to have suffered his glory and authority which he had gotten by his great victories to consume with time. But Cassius being a choleric man, and hating Caesar privately, more than he
*meaning that by Brutus and
Cassius.^
:

did the tyranny openly, he incensed Brutus against

Cassius

him.

It

is

also reported that Brutus could evil

Bmtus

away with the tyranny, and that Cassius hated the Caesar. tyrant, making many complaints for the injuries he had done
him, and, amongst others, for that he had taken away
Lions from him.
his sports,

his

Cassius had provided

Aedilis,

them

for

Cassius'

when he should be
in

and they

Megara.

were found

Megara when it was won by Calenus, and Caesar kept them. The rumour went that these
the city of

Lions did marvellous great hurt to the Megarians.

^

For

Cf. Juliui Caesar^

I. ii.

191-200.

I20

MARCUS BRUTUS
the city was taken, they brake their cages where they
tied up,

when
were

and turned them

loose, thinking they

would

have done great mischief to the enemies, and have kept them

from setting upon them

tion, turned

but the Lions, contrary to expectathat fled

it

upon themselves
some
this

unarmed, and did

so

cruelly tear
see

in pieces, that

pitied their enemies to

as

them.

And
water.

was the cause,

some do
But
this

report, that

made
^ Cassius
.

Cassius conspire against Caesar.

an

holdeth no

For Cassius even from

his cradle could

it

not

enemy of

abide any

manner of
a boy,

tyrants, as

appeared

when

he was but

and went unto the same school

that Faustus the son of Sylla did.

And

Faustus, bragging

among other
Cassius rose

boys, highly boasted of his father's

kingdom

up on

his feet,

and gave him two good whirts

on the

ear.

Faustus' governors
:

would have put

this suffer

matter

in suit against Cassius

but

Pompey would not

to pass.
:

them,

but caused the two boys to be brought before him, and

asked
it is

them how the matter came

Then
*

Cassius, as

written of him, said unto the other

Go

to, Faustus,

speak again, an thou darest before this nobleman here, the

same words that made

me

angry with thee, that

ears.'

my

fists

may walk once

How
Brutus

again about thine

Such was

Cassius'

hot stirring nature.

ai id
^^**-^

But

for Brutus, his friends*

was

in-

countrymen, both by divers procurements,*

Sundry rumours of the
call

censed
against Caesar.

city,

and by many

bills*

^jg^^ ^^^ openly

and procure him to do that he*

did.

For, under the image of his ancestor Junius Brutus,*

MARCUS BRUTUS
*that dravc the kings out of

121
:

Rome, they wrote

Oh

that

it

*pleased the gods thou wert

**

now

alive,

Brutus

'

and again,

*chair),

That thou wert here among us now.' His tribunal (or where he gave audience during the time he was
was
full

* Praetor,

of such

bills
^

Brutus, thou art asleep,

this Caesar's flat-

*and
terers

art

not Brutus indeed.'

:

And of all
beside

were the cause

who

many

other exceeding
for

and unspeakable honours they daily devised

images, supposing thereby to allure the
call

him, in the

night time they did put Diadems upon the heads of his

common

people to

him

king, instead of Dictator.

as

the contrary,
Caesar's
stir
life.

Howbeit it turned to we have written more at large in Julius

Cassius felt his friends,
all

Now when

and did

them up

against Caesar, they

agreed and promised to

their con-

take part with him, so Brutus

*spiracy.

were the chief of

require
it

For they
as that

told him, that so high an enterprise

and

*attempt

did not so

much

men

of

manhood

*and courage
*have
a

to

draw

their swords, as

stood them upon to

man

of such estimation as Brutus, to

make every man

*boldly think that by his only presence the fact were holy and
*just.

If he took not this course, then that they should go

*to

it

with fainter hearts, and when they had done

be more fearful
:

it

they
think

* should

because every

man would

*that Brutus

would not have refused

to have

made one with

Therefore

*them,
^

if

the cause had been good and honest.^

I. iii.
iii.

Cf. Julius Caesar^

142-6

Life of Caesar, pp. 94, 95.

Cf. Julius Caesar, I.

157-60.

122

MARCUS BRUTUS
first

Casslus, considering this matter with himself, did

Cassius
all

of* So*

speak to Brutus since they grew strange together*

Bnftus

for the suit they

had

for the

Praetorship.^
again,

hdpSm
down\he
tyrant.

when he was
[ j^g

reconciled to

him

and that

^^^7 ^^'^ embraced one. another, Cassius asked him

wcrc determined to be

in the Senate-house,

the

first

day of the month of March, because he heard say

that Caesar's friends should

move
king

the council that day, that

Caesar

should

be

called

by

the
*

Senate.

Brutus
sent

answered him, he would not be there.

for,'

But

if

we be

said
*

Cassius,
I

how

then

'

'

For

myself then,' said

it,

Brutus,

mean not

to hold

my

peace, but to withstand

Cassius being
he,
*

and rather

die than lose

this

my

liberty.'
*

bold,

and taking hold of

word,

Why,' quoth

what
?

Roman

is

he

alive that will suffer thee to die for the liberty

What, knowest thou not

ical

that thou art Brutus

Thinkest

thou that they be cobblers,

people, that write these

tapsters, or suchlike base

bills

mechan-

and

scrolls

which are found

daily in thy Praetor's chair,

best citizens that

do

it ?

and not the noblest men and No, be thou well assured, that of
gifts,

other Praetors they look for

common
plays,

distributions
to see fen:

amongst the people, and

for

common

and

cers fight at the sharp, to

shew the people pastime

but at

-thy handsjhej^sj^ecjaljy req uire (as a

due debt unto them)

the taking away of the tyranny, being fully bent to suffer

any extremity

for thy sake, so that

^

thou wilt shew thyself

32-36.

Cf. Julius Caesar,

I.

ii.

MARCUS BRUTUS
to be the
art.'

123

man thou

art taken for,

and that they hope thou

Thereupon he
so,

kissed

Brutus and embraced

him

and

each taking leave of other, they went both to speak

it.

*with their friends about

Now

amongst Pompey's friends

*there was one called Caius"" Ligarius,

who had

ajn another

*been accused unto Caesar for taking part with Sf^iS^^ *Pompey, and Caesar discharged him. But Ligarius Q^in^^s.

*thanked not Caesar so

*offen^Qd_with

much

for his discharge^ as he

was
his

him

for that

he was brought in danger by

*tyrannical_power.^
his

And

therefore in his heart he was alway

mortal enemy, and was besides very familiar with Brutus,

to see

who went
thim
fsick
:

him being
in

sick in his bed,

a

and
thou

said

unto

Ligarius,

what

time

art

Brutus
LfcS^j^g

'

Ligarius rising up in his bed, and taking

right hand, said unto

thim by the
fsaid he,
*

him
^

'

Brutus,'

"^.^^^^
spiracy.

if

thou hast any great enterprise in hand

thyself,
all

fworthy of
began to

am

whole.'

After that time they

feel

their acquaintance

whom
all

they trusted,
it,

and

laid

their heads together consulting

upon

and did
hide the conspiracy against
from^"^
'"'^'

not only pick out their friends, but

those also

whom
1

they thought stout enough to attempt any

desperate matter, and that were not afraid to lose

*their lives.

11

,-

For

this cause

they durst not acquaint

*Cicero with their conspiracy, although he was a

"man whom they loved

^

dearly,

and trusted
i.

best

for they

Cf. Julius
Ibid. II.
i.

Caesar^ II.

215-16.

314-17.

124
were
also

MARCUS BRUTUS
afraid that

he being

coward by nature, and age*

he would quite turn and*
their enter-*

having increased his

fear,

alter all their purpose,

prise, the

and quench the heat of

which

specially required

hot and earnest execution,*

all

seeking by persuasion to bring

as

things to such safety,*

let

there should be

no
to

peril. ^

Brutus also did

other of*

his friends alone as Statilius

Epicurean, and Favonius that

made
having

profession
cast

follow

Marcus Cato.
off,

Because

that
in

out

words
their

afar

disputing

together

Philosophy to
civil
Civil

feel

minds, Favonius

answered

that

war
1

worse than
tyrannical

usurped agamst the law.

1

war was worse than tyrannical government 111. io-i.

.

And

Statilius told
r
1

him
*
1

govern-

'ilso

that
in

it

wcrc an unwise part of him, to put

fools

his

^^^
.

'

life

danger for a sight of ignorant

this talk,

and

Labeo was present at contrary against them both.

asses.

and maintained the

his

But Brutus held

peace,

as

though

it

had been

a doubtful

matter, and a hard thing

to have decided.

But afterwards, being out of their com:

pany, he made. Labj^o privy to his intent

offered himself to

who very

readily

make one.
,,

And

they thought good also

to bring in another
AlbiiillVll?.
:

.^Brutus

to join with him,

surnamed

who was no man

at the sharp,

of his hands himself, but because

a great

he was able to bring good force of

number of slaves,
shew the people
had

and fencers

whom

he kept

to

pastime with their fighting, besides also that Caesar

some

trust in

him.
^

Cassius and

Labeo
i.

told Brutus Albinus

Cf. Julius Caesar, II.

141-52.

MARCUS BRUTUS
of
It

125
But when
con-

at the

first,

but he made them no answer.

he had spoken with Brutus himself alone, and that Brutus

had told him he was the chief ringleader of

spiracy, then

all

this

he willingly promised him the best aid he

could.

Furthermore, the only name and great calling of

Brutus did bring on the most of them to give consent to

j*this conspiracy.

Who
taken

having never taken oaths The

given

*together, nor

or

any caution or
kept the matter

flthand

*assurance, nor binding themselves one to another

th?Si^
q? caSr's
death.
it

*by any religious oaths

so secret to

they

all

themselves, and could so cunningly

handle

it,

that notwithstanding the gods did reveal

by

manifest signs and tokens from above, and by predictions of

sacrifices,

yet

all this

would not be

believed.
all

Now

Brutus,

who knew very

est,

well that for his sake

the noblest, valiant-

and most courageous men of

his house,

Rome

did venture their

:

lives,

weighing with himself the greatness of the danger

when he was out of

his

he did so frame and fashion

countenance and looks, that no

his

man

could discern he

*had anything to trouble

*that he was in his

mind.

But when night came

his v/ill

own

house, then he was clean changed.

*For either care did wake him against

when he
fell

*would have

slept, or else oftentimes

of himself he

into
all

*such deep thoughts of this enterprise, casting in his

mind

*the dangers that might happen, that his wife, lying by him,

*found that there was some marvellous great matter that

1

Cf. Julius Caesary II.

i.

114-40.

126

MARCUS BRUTUS
that he could not well determine with himself.^
*

troubled his mind, not being wont to be in that taking, and*

Porcia
Cato's

daughter wife unto

Brutus.

His wife Porcia

,
.

(as ^

we
.J

have told ^ you before) was '

Brutus married being
,

the daughter of Cato,

.

whom

nis cousin,

not a maiden, but a young

widow

-,

after

the death of her

Bibulus'
BrSu's'^
acts.

first

husband Bibulus, by
called Bibulus,
acts

whom
who

she had

^^so

a
a

young son
present

afterwards

wrote
g|.

book of the

and

gests

of Brutus, extant

j.]^jg

day.

This young

Lady being
husband
was
well,
;

excellently well seen in Philosophy, loving her

Porcia
'"
Phfio-*^

^^<^

being of a noble courage,

as she

also wise

because she would not ask her husband what he

gj|e(3

sophy.

before she had

made some proof by her

her maids and

self,

she took a
^.

little

razor such as barbers occupy to pare men's

nails,

and, causing

all

women
all

to go

courage of

out of her chamber, gave her

self a

great gash

withal in her thigh, that she was straight

of a gore-

blood, and incontinently after a vehement fever took her, by

reason of the pain of her wound.

difference

Then

perceiving

her husband was marvellously out of quiet, and that

wife and
Porcia's"

he could take no
all
*

rest,

even in her greatest pain of

she spake in this sort unto

'

him

being,

O*

unto her

Brutus,' (said she)

the daughter of Cato, was*

Bruml'^

married unto thee, not to be thy bedfellow and*

companion

in

bed and
\\\\\\

at

board only,

like a harlot,*

but to be partaken also

^

thee of thy good and evil*

i.

Cf. Juliui Caesar, II.

237-55.

MARCUS BRUTUS
*'

127
fault

fortune.

Now
my

for

thyself,

I
:

can find no cause of

but for

** in

thee touching our match

my

part,
I

how may
would do
fidelity

** I

shew

duty towards thee, and

if I

how much

*' for
**

thy sake,

cannot constantly bear a secret mischance

or grief with thee,

confess that a

which requireth secrecy and

is

** I
**
*'

woman's wit commonly

:

too weak to

keep a secret safely

the

but yet, Brutus, good education and

company of
that

virtuous

** **
** *^

the defect of nature.

men have some power to And for myself, I have this

I

reform
benefit

moreover
Brutus.

am
:

the daughter of Cato, and wife of

This notwithstanding,
until

did not trust to any of

I

these things before

that

now

have found

by

*^

experience, that no pain nor grief whatsoever can over-

**come me.' With those words she shewed him her *wound on her thigh, and told him what she had done to
*prove her
self.

Brutus was amazed to hear what she said

lifting

*unto him, and

up

his

hands to heaven, he besought

*the gods to give

him
as

the grace he might bring his enterprise

*to so good pass, that he

might be found
:

husband worthy

*of so noble a wife

*best he could. ^

Porcia

so

he then did comfort her the

Now a day being appointed for the meeting

of the Senate, at what time they hoped Caesar would not

fail

to

come, the conspirators determined then to put their

enterprise in execution, because they

might meet

safely at

that time without suspicion,

and the rather,

for that all the

noblest and chiefest

^

men

of the city would be there.

i.

Who,

Cf. Julius Caesar, II.

280-7, 292-303, 305-8.

128

MARCUS BRUTUS
they should see such a great matter executed, would

when
every

man

then set-to their hands for the defence of their

also that the appoint-

liberty.

Furthermore, they thought

ment of
them.
in the to

the place where the council should be kept, was

all

chosen of purpose by divine providence, and made

for

For

it

was one of the porches about the Theatre,

a certain place full of seats for
set

which there was

men

sit in,

where

also

was

up the image of Pompey, which

the city had

made and

consecrated in honour of him,

city
it.

when

he did beautify that part of the

built,

with the Theatre he

In this place was the

with diverse porches about

assembly of the Senate appointed to be, just on the fifteenth

day of the month of March, which the Romans

Martins
:

call

Idus

so that

it

seemed some god of purpose had brought

slain,

Caesar thither to be
So,

for revenge of

Pompey's death.

when

the day was come, Brutus went out of his house

his side

with a dagger by

under

his long

gown, that nobody

other conspirators

saw nor knew, but

his wife only.

The

were

all

assembled at Cassius' house, to bring his son into

the market place,

who on
Virilis,

that day

did put on the man's

all

gown,
The

called
^

Toga

and from thence they came

in

troop together unto Pompey's porch, looking that

^on"suncy of the
conspira-

^aesar would straight come thither.

^-Q

But here

is

i^e

noted the wonderful assured constancy of '

conspirators, in so dangerous
as

kinin Caesar.

t^^se
f

an

enterprise

they

had undertaken.
reason of their

and weighty For

office,

many

of them being Praetors, by

MARCUS BRUTUS
whose duty
is

129

to minister justice to everybody, they did not

only with great quietness and courtesy hear them that spake

unto them, or that pleaded matters before them, and gave

them
their

attentive ear, as if they

had had no other matter

them.

in

heads: but moreover, they,^ave^ju.^t, sentence, and

carefully despatched the causes before

So there was

one among them,

of

who

being condemned in a certain

it,

sum

money

refused to pay

and cried out that he did appeal

casting
his

unto Caesar.

Then
*

Brutus,

eyes

upon the

conspirators, said,

Caesar shall not

this,

let

me

to see the law

executed.'
fell

Notwithstanding

by chance there
misforto

out

many

misfortunes unto them, which was

enterprise.

enough to have marred the

and
chiefest

was Caesar's long tarrying,

:

The first who came

have

very late to the Senate

,the sacrifices

for,

because the signs^pf

the enter.^"^^'

appeared

unlucky, his wife Calpurnia kept

,

home, and the Soothsayers bade him beware he went not abroad. The second cause was when one came unto Casca being a conspirator, and, taking him by the * O Casca, thou keptest it close from hand, said unto him
at
:

him

me, but Brutus hath told

it,

me all.' Casca being amazed at went on with his tale, and said Why, how now, how Cometh it to pass thou art thus rich, that thou
the other
:

dost sue to be Aedilis

'

the other's doubtful words, he told *to one, he blabbed not out
* Senator called Popillius
all

Thus Casca being deceived by them it was a thousand

the conspiracy.

Another

VOL.

I.

Laena, after he had saluted Brutus K

I30

MARCUS BRUTUS
to do,
I

and Cassius more friendly than he was wont

rounded
gods you
softly

he*

in their ears,

and told them,

that

<

pray the*
in

may go through with

I

you have taken

hand,*
is*

but withal dispatch,

bewrayed.'

read

you, for your enterprise

When
left

he had

said,

he presently departed from*

them, and
out.i

them both

afraid that their conspiracy

would*

Now

in the

meantime, there came one of Brutus'*

men

post-haste unto him,

^'^^ Porcia

and told him

his wife

was a-dying.

The weaknessof
Porcia not with-

being very careful and pensive for that*

to

which was
^

come, and being too weak to away* '

_

'

with SO great and inward grief of mind

she could*

her former

hardly keep within, but was frighted with every*

little

noise

and cry she heard,

as

those that are*

taken and possessed with the fury of the Bacchantes, asking* every
did,

man
At

that

came from the market

place,

what Brutus*

and

still

sent messenger after messenger, to

know what*
as

news.2

length, Caesar's

coming being prolonged

you*

have heard, Porcia's weakness was not able to hold out any
lenger,

and thereupon she suddenly swooned, that she had

go to her chamber, but was taken in the midst
house,

no

leisure to

of her

where her speech and

senses

failed

her.
laid

Howbeit she soon came

in

to her self again,

and

so

was

her bed, and tended by her

it

women.
it is

When

Brutus
:

heard these news,

yet he
left

grieved him, as

to be presupposed

not off the care of his country and commonwealth,

neither went
^

home

to his house for

i.

any news he heard.

i

Cf. Ju/ius Caesar^ III.

2 /^/^_

j^^

13-17.

MARCUS BRUTUS
Now,
for
it

31
his litter,

was reported that Caesar was coming in

all

he determined not to stay in the Senate

tlTaFday

(because he was afraid of the unlucky signs of the sacrifices)

but to adjourn matters of importance unto the next session

and council holden, feigning himself not

to be well at ease.

*When Caesar came out of his

litter,

Popillius Laena, that had

*talked before with Brutus and Cassius, and had prayed the

*gods they might bring this enterprise to pass, went unto

*Caesar, and kept

him

long time with a

talk.

Caesar gave
(if so

*gd6d ear unto him.

Wherefore the conspirators

they

*should be called) not hearing what he said to Caesar, but

*conjecturing by that he had told them a
*hls talk
little

before, that

was none other but the very discovery of their

:

*conspiracy

they were afraid every

it

man

of them, and one

see that they all
till

*looking in another's face,

was easy to

*were of

mind

that

it

was no tarrying for them

hands.

they

*were apprehended, but rather that they should

*selves

kill

themand

with their ow^n

And when

Cassius

*certain other clapped their hands

on their swords under

*their

gowns

to

draw them, Brutus marking the countenance

an humble and earnest suitor than

*and gesture of Laena, and considering that he did use him*self rather like

companion */i L (because there were many amongst them that were # r M not
*like an accuser,
his
1
,

he said nothing to

Brutus with his counten. ance en-

of the conspiracy)but with a pleasant counten-

couraged
his
fearful

*ance encouraged Cassius.

* Laena

And immediately
kissed
his

after

went from Caesar, and

hand

which

132

MARCUS BRUTUS
it

shewed plainly that

self,

was

for

some matter concerning him-*

talk.^

that he

had held him

first

so long in

Now

all

the*

Senators being entered

into this place or chapter-house

kept,
all

where the council should be

thing to have said unto him.
casting his eyes
j^
Caesar's
life

the other conspirators

straight stood about Caesar's chair, as if they

had had some-

And some

say that Cassius.

it,

as if it

upon Pompey's image, made his prayer unto had been alive. Trebonius,*" on th' other*
at o' side as
sat,

IS

side, '

drcw Antonius

he came into the*

said

it

was

Deems
Brutus
that kept

house where the Senate

long talk without.^
the house,
all
r>

and held him with a*

Caesar was

When
i

the house rose to honour

bo,

come him

into*
at his

Antonius with a talk

commg

in.

when he was

set,

the conspirators_

flocked about him,

^l"
,

and amongst them they pre-

Caesars life he is
called

sented one Tullius,

,

suit for the calling

Meteilus

was banished.
intercessors for

Cimber, who made humble / home again of his brother that They all made as though they were him, and took him by the hands
^'

and

kissed his

head and
kindness

breast.

Caesar at the
entreaties
:

first

simply

refused

their

and
still

but

afterwards,

perceiving they
murther of

pressed on him, he violently

thrust
his

them from him.

Then Cimber with both

his shoulders,
first,

hands plucked Caesar's gown over

and, <Casca that stood behind him drew his dagger

1

and

Cf. Julius Caesar^ III.

i.

18-24.
;

2 Julius

Caesar^ III.

i.

25, 6

Life of Caesar^ p.

100

Life of Antony^

Vol.

II. pp.

20, 21.

MARCUS BRUTUS
strake

133

Caesar upon the shoulder, but gave

Caesar, feeling himself hurt, took

wound.
straight

him no great him ^asca the

^youn^ed
? '

by the hand he held

: '

his

dagger

in,

and cried

out in Latin

O traitor

Casca,

what doest thou

^*

Casca on th' other side cried in Greek, and called his brother
to help

him. So divers running on a heap together to

fled,

fly

upon Caesar, he looking about him to have

with
a

saw Brutus
:

sword drawn in

his

hand ready

to strike at

him then he

let Casca's

hand go, and, casting his gown over his face, suffered every man to strike at him that would. Then the conspirators
thronging one upon another because every
to

man was

desirous

have a cut at him, so

many swords and

daggers lighting

upon one body, one of them hurt another, and among them
Brutus caught a blow on his hand, because he would make

one in murdering of him, and

all

the rest also were every

man

of them bloodied-

Caesar being slain in this manner,

Brutus, standing in

the midst of the house,

would have

spoken and stayed the other Senators that were not of the
conspiracy, to have told
this fact.

them the reason why they had done

But they,

as

men
For

both afraid and amazed,

fled

one upon another's neck in haste to get out at the door, and

no

man

followed them.

it

was
kill

set

down and

agreed

between them that they should

only,

no man but Caesar upon

and should entreat

thought

all

the rest to look to defend their

*liberty.

All the conspirators but Brutus, determining

it

*this matter,

good

also to kill

Antonius, because
:

*he was a wicked man, and that in nature favoured tyranny

134

MARCUS BRUTUS
:

besides also, for that he was in great estimation with soldiers,*

having been conversant of long time amongst them

specially having a
also
^yj^

and*

mind bent
But

to great enterprises,

he was*

of great authority at that time, being Consul with*

Caesar.

Brutus would

not

agree
:

to

it.^*

Antonius

was not
slain with

First, foi that '

he
.

said

it

was not honest

.

secondly, '
^
.

because he told them there was hope of change in

.

Caesar.

him.
being
a

For he did not mistrust, but that Antonius,

dead)

noble-minded and courageous man, (when he should

that

know

Caesar was

would willingly help

his

country to recover her liberty, having them an example

unto him, to follow their courage and virtue.

So Brutus
that present

by

this

means saved Antonius'

life,

who

at

Br^^tus

time disguised himself and

stale

away.

But Brutus

consols went unto

Capitol.

^^^
j-j^^jj.

^^^ consorts,

having their swords bloody in

Straight
as

J^jm^s,

went

to

the Capitol, per-

suading the

Romans

they went to take their

liberty again.

Now,

at the first time

when

the murther

was newly done, there were sudden outcries of people that

ran up and

down

the city, the which indeed did the

more

increase the fear and tumult.

But when they saw they slew

no man, neither did

themselves,

spoil or

make havoc of anything, then

unto them.

certain of the Senators

and many of the people, emboldening

went

to the Capitol

There

a great

number of men being assembled

^

together one after another,

;

Cf. Julius Caesar, II.

i.

155-66, 181-5

Li^e of Antonius, Vol. II.

p.

20.

MARCUS BRUTUS
Brutus
people,

135

made an
and

oration unto

them

to

win the favour of the

All those that

to justify that they

had done.

were by said they had done well, and cried unto them that
they should boldly come

down from

the Capitol.

Whereupon,
into the

Brutus and his companions came boldly

down

*market place.

The

rest

followed in troop, but Brutus went

*foremost, very honourably compassed in round about with

*the noblest

men

of the city, which brought him from the

*Capitol, through the market place, to the pulpit for ora*tions.

When
will to

the people saw

him

in the pulpit, although

all sorts,

*they were a multitude of rakehells of

and had
it

*good

make some

stir

yet being ashamed to do

for

*the reverence they bare unto Brutus, they kept silence, to

*hear what he would

say.

When
^
:

Brutus began to speak,

after,

*they gave him quiet audience

howbeit immediately
all

they shewed that they were not

contented with the

murther.

For when another called Cinna would have

fell

spoken, and began to accuse Caesar, they

into

a great

uproar

among them, and

marvellously reviled him.

Inso-

much

that the conspirators returned again into the Capitol.

There Brutus, being afraid to be besieged, sent back again *the noblemen that came thither with him, thinking it no * reason that they, which were no partakers of the murther, *should be partakers of the danger.^ Then the next morning
the Senate being assembled, and holden within the temple

of the goddess Tellus, to wit, the earth, and Antonius,

1

Cf. Julius Caesar, III.

ii.

i-i

i.

Ibid. Ill,

i.

94, 5.

136

MARCUS BRUTUS
made
and
a

Plancus, and Cicero having

motion

to

the Senate

in that assembly, that they should take an order to

pardon

and forget

all
:

that was past,

it

to stablish friendship

and

peace again

was decreed, that they should not only be

Consuls should refer
it

pardoned, but

also that the

to the

^ Honours
decreed
murtherers of Caesar.

Senate what honours should be appointed unto ^^ them. This being agreed upon, the Senate brake
_ _

up, and Antonius the

heart that were

for a pledge.

,^

Consul, to put them in

a

the Capitol, sent

i.

them

y.

his son

Upon

this

assufance, Brutus and his

com-

panions came
saluted

down from
embraced

the Capitol, where every

other,

man
:

and

each

among
to

the

which
and
they
as

Antonius himself did bid Cassius to supper

Lepidus
also

him

bade Brutus, and so one bade another,

had friendship and acquaintance together.

of

The

next day
first

following, the Senate being called again to council did

all

commend

Antonius, for that he had wisely stayed and

a civil

quenched the beginning of

war

then they also gave

lastly

Brutus and his consorts great praises, and

they appointed

them

several

governments of provinces.
:

For unto Brutus,

:

they appointed Creta

Africk,

unto Cassius
:

Asia,

unto

Trebonius

Bithynia, unto

Cimber

and unto the other

Decius Brutus Albinus, Gaul on

this side the Alps.

When

^ Caesar s will &

,

this

was done, they came to

' _

talk

of Caesar's will

and testament, and of

his

funerals

and tomb.

funerals.

Then Antonius

thinking good his testament should

be read openly, and also that his body should be honourably

MARCUS BRUTUS
buried,

137
the people might
if

and not

in

hugger mugger,

lest

thereby take occasion to be worse

otherwise
:

offended
it.
:

they did

Cassius stoutly spake

against

But

Brutus
it

went with the motion, and agreed unto it wherein For the Brutus seemeth he committed a second fault.
first

fault

he did was when he would not consent

that

tJo

grea^t

to

his
slain

fellow-conspirators,
:

Antonius should

CaeSr?^*^
^^^'^^

be

and therefore he was

their conspiracy.

justly accused, that

thereby he had saved and strengthened a strong and grievous

enemy of

The

second fault was

when he
of
all,

agreed that Caesar's funerals should be as Antonius would

thave them

the which indeed marred

all.

For

first

twhen
tof

Caesar's testament was openly read

it

among them,

fwhereby

appeared that he bequeathed unto every Citizen

75 Drachmas a man, and that he left his gardens tand arbours unto the people, which he had on this side of tthc river of Tiber, in the place where now the temple
tof Fortune
tmarvellous
* Caesar's
is

Rome

built

the people then loved him, and were

sorry

for

him.^

Afterwards,

when
place,

Antonius'
o^"^f^n for Caesar.

body was brought into the market

*Antonius making his funeral oration in praise of

*the dead, according to the ancient custom of
*perceiving
that his
:

Rome, and
people to

words moved the

common
all

^compassion

he framed his eloquence to make their hearts

*yearn the more, and, taking Caesar's

1
'

gown

bloody in his
;

Cf. Julius Caesar^ III.

ii.

245-56

Life of Caesar^ p. 104

Life of

Antoniusy Vol. II. p. 23, 24.

138
hand, he laid
it

MARCUS BRUTUS
open
cuts to the sight of

them

all,
it.

shewing*

what

number of

and holes

it

had upon

There-*

withal the people

that there was

fell

presently into such a rage and mutiny,*

people.

no more order kept amongst the -common* Forsome of them cried out, Kill the murtherers i*
*
:

'

others plucked
place, as they

up forms,

tables,

and

stalls

about the market*

of Clodius,*
set

had done before

at the funerals

and having

laid

them

all

on

heap together they

them*

on

fire,
it

and thereupon did put the body of Caesar, and*

in the midst of the
fire

burnt

most holy

places.

And

further-*

more, when the

was thoroughly kindled, some here,*

some
afire.2

there, took burning firebrands,

and ran with them to*

danger*
fled.^*

the murtherers' houses that had killed him, to set them*

Howbeit the

conspirators, foreseeing the

for themselves,

before,

had wisely provided

But there was
a

and

Poet called Cinna,

who had*

strange

been no partaker of the conspiracy, but was alway*

Cinna

one of Caesar's

chiefest friends

he dreamed the*
to supper

night before that Caesar bade

him

with*

him, and that he refusing to go, Caesar was very im-*

portunate with him, and compelled him, so that at length*

he led him by the hand into

a great dark place,

where*

being marvellously afraid, he was driven to follow him in*

^

Cf. Julius Caesar^ III.

ii. ii.

* Cf. Julius Caesar^ III.

45-210 258-64
273, 4

Life of Antonius, Vol. II. p. 22.

;

Life of Caesar, p. 104

Life

0,

Antoniusy Vol. II. p. 22.

^

Cf. Julius Caesar, III.

ii.

Life of Antonius, Vol. II. p. 22.

MARCUS BRUTUS
*spite of his heart.
*fever,

139
all

This dream put him

night into a

and yet notwithstanding, the next morning when he

that

*heard

they carried

Caesar's

body
:

to burial, being

*ashamed not to accompany

his funerals

he went out of his

*house, and thrust himself into the press of the

common
murder of
Poe'tf^^^

*people that were in a great uproar.

And

because

*some one

called

him by

his

name, Cinna, the

*people thinking he had been that Cinna,

*in an oration he

who

made had spoken very evil of *Caesar, they falling upon him in their rage slew *him outright in the market place. ^ This made ^ * Brutus and his companions more afraid than any
^
, ^ . ,

^s^fj^en
%^^^.^^^^

5fme. Brutus

and
do

his

consorts
fly

other thing, next unto the change of Antonius.

from

Wherefore they got them out of Rome, and kept

at the first in the city of

Antium, hoping
of the

to return again

to

Rome, when

the

fury

people

were

little

assuaged.

The which
had

they hoped would be quickly, conto deal

sidering that they

with a

fickle

and unconstant

multitude, easy to be carried, and that the Senate stood

for

them who notwithstanding made no inquiry of them that had torn poor Cinna the Poet in pieces, but caused them to be sought for and apprehended that went
:

with firebrands

to

set

fire

of the

conspirators'

houses.

The

people growing weary

now

of Antonius' pride and

insolency,

who

ruled

all

things in

manner with

absolute

power

they desired that Brutus might return again, and

^

Cf. Julius Caesary III.

iii. ;

Life of Caesar^ p. 105.

146
it

MARCUS BRUTUS
also

was

looked

for,

that Brutus

would come himself

in

person to play the plays which were due to the people, by

reason of his office of Praetorship.

But Brutus understand-

ing that

many

of Ceasar's soldiers which served under him

also

in the wars,

and that

had lands and houses given them

did
lie

in the cities

where they

lay,

in wait for

him

to kill

him, and that they daily by small companies came by one

and by one into

plays and
f

Rome

he durst no more return

thither, but yet the people

had the pleasure and

set forth

Kome

fn

pastime in his absence, to see the games and sports

Absence.

^e made them, which were sumptuously

and furnished with

all

things necessary, sparing for

a great

no

cost.

For he had bought

number of

strange

beasts,

of the which he would not give one of them to any

all

friend he had, but that they should

be employed in his

games

and went himself

as far

as

Byzantium, to speak to
there.

some

players of comedies

and Musicians that were

And

further, he wrote unto his friends for

one Canutius an

excellent

player,

that,

whatsoever they did, they should

:

entreat

him
to

to play in these plays

For,' said he,

will

it

is

no reason
his

compel any Grecian, unless he

will.'

come of

own good

Moreover, he wrote
in

also

unto Cicero,

and earnestly prayed him

Octavius

any

case to be

at these plays.

Now
there
j.]^^

the state of
fell

Rome

standing in these terms,

^oming^
to

out another change and alteration,

to

when

Rome,

young man Octavius Caesar came

Rome.
he had

He

was the son of Julius Caesar's niece,

whom

MARCUS BRUTUS
adopted
for his son,

141
his last will

and made

his heir

by

and

testament.
slain,

But when Julius Caesar

his

adopted father was

he was in the city of Apollonia where he studied,

tarrying for him, because he was determined to

make war

with the Parthians

but

death, he returned again

when he heard the news of his to Rome, where to begin to curry

common people, he first of all took upon him his adopted father's name, and made distribution among them of the money which his father had bequeathed unto them. By this means he troubled Antonius sorely, and by force of money got a great number of his father's
favour with the
soldiers

together,

that had served in

the wars with him.

And

Cicero himself, for the great malice he bare Antonius,

did favour his proceedings.

But Brutus marvellously

'

re-

proved him for ^

it,
;

and wrote unto him,

,

that he

Eriitus

seemed by '

his

doings not to be sorry to have a '

his doings in

Master, but only to be afraid to have one that

should hate him and that commonwealth did witness
:

reproved Cicero for taking

all

the

Octavius
^^^^
"

that he chose to

be

subject to a mild

and courteous bondage,

this

and writings he did commend

cessors,' said he,
*

sith by his words young man Octavius

*

Caesar to be a good and gentle Lord.

For our predeto

would never abide to be subject

:

any

Masters,
his

how

gentle or mild soever they were

'

and, for

own

part, that

he had never resolutely determined with

himself to
certainly

make war, or peace, but otherwise, that he was And minded never to be slave nor subject.

142
therefore he
afraid of the

MARCUS BRUTUS
wondered much
danger of
:

at

him,

how

Cicero could be
afraid

civil

wars, and

would not be

of a shameful peace
the usurped
stablish

and that

to thrust

Antonius out of

tyranny, in recompense he
tyrant.

went about
unto

to

young Octavius Caesar

of Brutus'
first

These were the

Cicero.

contents

letters

he wrote

Now,

the city of

Rome

being divided in two factions, some

taking part with Antonius, other also leaning unto Octavius

Caesar, and the soldiers

making
:

portsale of their service to

him that would give most Brutus seeing the state of Rome would be utterly overthrown, he determined to go out of Italy, and went afoot through the country of Luke unto the There Porcia, being ready city of Elea, standing by the sea.
Porcia s sorrowful return to

to depart from her husband Brutus ^

to

Romc, did

w^hat she could

i

to

and T
i :

to return
1

dissemble the

Rome
the

for

grief

and sorrow she

r i felt at

her heart

but

a certain

absence of

painted table bewrayed her in the end, although

Until that time she always

husband
Brutus.

shewed

a constant

and

patient mind.

The

device of the table was taken

o/nSor
dJon^cW
f?a'inted
tables.

out of the Greek

how Andromache accomwhen he went out of ^^^ ^'^^Y ^^ Troy to go to the wars, and how Hector delivered her his little son, and how her
stories,

panied her husband Hector,

eyes were never off him.

Porcia seeing this picture, and

fell

likening herself to be in the same case, she

a-weeping

and coming thither oftentimes in a day to see it, she wept Acilius, one of Brutus' friends, perceiving that. still.

MARCUS BRUTUS
rehearsed the verses
in

143
to this

Andromache speaketh
and
:

purpose

Homer

Thou, Hector,

art

my

father,
all

my
I

mother, and

my

brother,

And husband

eke, and

in all

mind not any

:

other.
'

Then
he)
*

Brutus, smiling,
I

answered again
part say unto

But yet

'

(said

cannot for

my

Porcia, as

Hector
:

answered Andromache in the same place of the poet

Tush, meddle thou with weighing duly out

Thy maids

their task, and pricking

on

a clout.

For indeed the weak constitution of her body doth not

suffer

her to perform in shew the valiant acts that

we

are

able to

do

but, for courage

and constant mind, she shewed

as

her self as stout in the defence of her country,

any of

us.'

Bibulus, the son of Porcia, reporteth this story thus.

Now
directly

Brutus

embarking

at

Elea

in

Luke, he sailed

towards Athens.

When

he arrived there, the people of

Athens received him with

friend of his, with
.

common

joys of rejoicing, and

honourable decrees made for him.

He

lay

with

^^^
Brutus bestowed
his time at

whom
1

he went daily to hear

the lectures of Theomnestus

T*
.

Academic Philosopher,
.

and of Cratippus the Peripatetic, and so would talk with them in Philosophy, that it seemed he
other matters, and gave himself only unto study
secretly,
:

11

Athens.

left

all

howbeit

notwithstanding,

he made preparation for war.

For he sent Herostratus into Macedon, to win the Captains

and

soldiers that

were upon those marches, and he did

also

144
entertain
all

MARCUS BRUTUS
the
In

he found
commendeth
Cicero's

Athens studying Philosophy

young gentlemen of the Romans, whom amongst them he

:

found Cicero's son,

whom
that
a

he highly praised and

v/hether he

commended,
slept

>

saying,
/

&>

waked or

he found him of

noble mind and dis-

position, he did in nature so

much

hate tyrants.
:

Shortly after, he began to enter openly into arms

Brutus
prepareth himself to war.

and

being advertised that there came out of Asia a certain fleet of Roman ships that had good store

of

money

in

them, and that the Captain of those

his familiar friend)
far as

111^

ships

(who was an honest man, and came towards Athens, he went to meet him as Isle of Carystos, and having spoken with him
handled him
in his hands.
so, that

the

there,

he

he was contented to leave his ships

a notable

Whereupon he made him

it

banquet
the

at his house, because

feast

was on

his birthday.

When
lustily

day came, and that they began to drink

one to

another, the guests drank to the victory of Brutus, and the

liberty of the

Romans.

Brutus

therefore,

to

encourage
it

them

further, called for a bigger cup,

and holding
:

in his

hand, before he drank spake this aloud

My
To

destiny and Phcebus are agreed,

bring

me
it

to

my

final

end with speed.

And

for

proof hereof
last

is

reported, that the same day he

city

fought his

battle

by the

of Philippi,

as

he came
signal of

out of his tent he gave his

battle, Phoebus
:

men

for the

word and

so that

it

was thought ever

since, that this

MARCUS BRUTUS
his

145
of

sudden crying out

at the feast

was

a prognostication

his misfortune

that should happen.

After

this,

Antistius

gave

him of

the
all

money he
Pompey's

carried into Italy

soldiers

Furthermore,

that straggled

50 Myriads. up and

down

Thessaly came with very good will unto him.

He

took from Cinna also five hundred horsemen, which he

carried into Asia, unto Dolabella.
sea

After that, he went by

a great deal

unto the

city of

Demetriad, and there took

of

armour and munition which v/as going to Antonius, and the which had been made and forged there by Julius
Caesar's

commandment,

for the wars against the Parthians.

Furthermore, Hortensius, governor of Macedon, did resign

the

government

thereof

unto

him.

Besides,

all

the

Princes, kings,

and noblemen thereabouts came and joined

it

with him, when

brother)

was told him that Caius (Antonius'

Italy,

coming out of
speed

had passed the

city

sea,

and came

with

great

towards

the

of Dyrrachium

and

Apollonia, to get the soldiers into his hands which Gabinius

had

there.

Brutus therefore, to prevent him, went pre-

sently with a few of his

it

men

srievv

hard, and took his

the midst of winter when way through hard and foul

in

countries,

and made such speed indeed, that he was there

long before Antonius' sumpters that carried the

victuals.

strange

So

that,

rachium, a disease
call jSovXLfxiaf to

when he came near unto Dyrtook him which the physicians

cormorant and unsatiabie
of the cold

fooiT^
^^'^"J. rachium.

say, a
:

appetite
VOL.
I.

to

eat

by reason

and pains he
L

146 had taken.

This

MARCUS BRUTUS
sickness

chanceth
it

often
:

both

to

men

and

beasts that travel

when

hath snowen

either because

Why

by

the natural heat being retired

parts of the body,

into

the inward
air

hungry'^

by the coldness of the

hard-

fakSr men that

wfth"^^
travel.

ening the skin, doth straight disgest and consume

j-j^^

meat

or else because a sharp subtle wind,

coming by reason of the snow when it is molten, doth picrcc into the body, and driveth out the
which was
cast

natural heat

outward.

For

it

seemeth that the

it

heat being quenched with the cold, which

meeteth withal

coming out of the

follow the disease.

skin of the body, causeth the sweats that

But hereof we have spoken

faint,

at large in

other places.
in his

Brutus being very

to eat, his soldiers

and having nothing

to their

camp

were compelled to go

enemies, and, coming to the gates of the city they prayed

the warders to help

them

to bread.

When

they heard in

what
Brutus'

case

Brutus was, they brought him both meat and

:

drink

in requital

whereof afterwards, when he

the inhabitants

nessanV
clemency.

wan

the city, he did not only entreat and: use the

all

QitJ^ens thereof courteously, but

sakes.

of the city also for their

Now, when

Caius Antonius

was arrived in
soldiers

the city of Apollonia, he sent

to

unto the

come unto him. But, when he understood that they went all to Brutus, and furthermore, that the Citizens of Apollonia did favour him much, he
thereabouts

then forsook that

but yet he

city,

and went unto the

city

of Buthrotum,

lost three

of his ensigns by the way, that were

MARCUS BRUTUS
slain

147

every

man

of them.

Then he
it

sought by force to win

certain places of strength about Byllis,

and

to drive Brutus'
:

men from
son of

thence, that had taken

before

and therefore,

to obtain his purpose,

he fought a battle with Cicero, the

Marcus Tullius Cicero, by

whom

he was overcome.

For Brutus made the younger Cicero

a Captain,

and did
having

many
stolen

notable exploits by his service.

Shortly

after,

place
fury,

upon Caius Antonius in certain marishes far from the from whence he fled, he would not set on him with but only rode round about him, commanding his

soldiers to spare

him and

his

men,
:

as

reckoning them
it

all

his

own without

stroke striking

and

so indeed

happened.

Antonius, unto Brutus '

a great

For they yielded themselves, and their Captain ^ Antonso that Brutus had now ius yielded unto
:

army about him.

Now

Brutus kept this

office,

Brutus.

Caius Antonius long time in his

and never took from

him the marks and signs of his Consulship, although many of his friends, and Cicero among others, wrote unto him to But when he saw Antonius secretly put him to death.
practised with his Captains to

make some

alteration, then

he sent him into a ship, and made him to be kept there.

When

the soldiers

whom

C. Antonius had corrupted were

gotten into the city of Apollonia, and sent from thence

unto Brutus to come unto them

that
it

he made them answer,

Captains to come to
to the Captain,

was not the manner of

Roman
come

the soldiers, but the soldiers to

and to

crave pardon for their offences committed.

Thereupon they

148

MARCUS BRUTUS
to

came

him, and he pardoned them.

So, Brutus preparing

at

to go into Asia,

news came unto him of the great change

in arms,

Rome.
But

Fox Octavius Caesar was

that he

by commandment
Italy, the

and authority from the Senate, against Marcus Antonius.

after

had driven Antonius out of

Senate then began to be afraid of

him

because he sued to

be Consul, which was contrary to the law, and kept a great army about him, when the Empire of Rome had no need of

them.

On

the other side, Octavius Caesar perceiving the

Senate stayed not there, but turned unto Brutus that was

out of Italy, and that they appointed him the government

^.

of certain provinces
for his part,

then he begun to be afraid

to offer
his

Caesar
joineth with

his friendship.

...

and sent unto Antonius

Then coming on with

him army

near to

Consul, whether the Senate would or not,

Rome, he made himself to be chosen when he was yet

as

but a stripling or springal of twenty year old,

Brutus

himself

reporteth in his

own

commentaries.

So,

when he
to accuse

and con-

was Consul, he presently appointed Judges

Brutus

OctaSus^
Strns'^for

and
law

his

companions, for

killing

of the

noblest person in

Rome, and
judgement
Brutus,

chiefest Magistrate,
:

of juHu? Caesar.

without

or

and

made

L.

Comificius

accuse

and

M.

Agrippa,

Cassius.

So the parties accused were condemned, because

the Judges were compelled to give such sentence.

voice went, that
after

The

when

the Herald (according to the custom

sentence given) went up to the chair or pulpit for

MARCUS BRUTUS
orations,

149

and proclaimed Brutus with

loud voice,

summon-

ing

him

to appear in person before the Judges, the people

that stood

by sighed openly, and the noblemen that were

their heads,
fell

present

hung down

and durst not speak

word.
eyes
:

*Among them,
*who, shortly

the tears
after,

from Publius

Silicius*

was one of the prescripts or outlaws

After that, these three,

*appointed to be

slain. ^

*Octavius Caesar, Antonius, and Lepidus,

made an

Trium-

*agreement
*articles,

between

themselves,

aud by those

divided the provinces belonging to the Empire of

themselves, and did set

*Rome among
*of

up

bills

of proscription

*and outlawry-, condemning two hundred of the noblest

men

Rome

to suffer death,^

and among that number Cicero

to

*was one.^

News

being brought thereof into Macedon,

it,

Brutus being then enforced

wrote unto
C. Antonius

Hortensius that he should put Caius Antonius to

death, to be revenged of the death of Cicero, and

of the other Brutus, of the which the one was his friend,

and the other

his

kinsman.

For

this cause therefore,

Antonius
he

afterwards taking Hortensius at the

battle of Philippi,

made him

to be slain

upon

his brother's

tomb.

But then

Brutus said, that he was more ashamed of the cause for the

which Cicero was

death
:

slain,

than he was otherwise sorry for his

and
at

that he could not but greatly reprove his friends

slaves

he had
1

Rome, who were

i.

more through
2

their
i.

own

Cf. Julius Caesar^ IV.

^

4, 5.
ill.

^^^

jy.

1-9.

Ihid.lY.

177-9.

I50
fault,

MARCUS BRUTUS
than tlirough their valiantness or
the

manhood which
they

usurped

tyranny

considering
as

that

were so

cowardly and faint-hearted,

things

to suffer the sight of those

before their eyes, the report whereof should only

have grieved them to the heart.

passed over his

Now when

Brutus had

army

(that

was very great) into Asia, he

gave order for the gathering of a great

number of

ships

together, as well in the coast of Bithynia, as also in the city

of Cyzicus, because he would have an army by sea himself in the meantime went unto the
for all things,
cities,

and

taking order

and giving audience unto Princes and nobleAfterwards

his

men

of the country that had to do with him.

he sent unto Cassius in Syria, to turn him from

into Egypt, telling

journey

him

that

it

was not

for

the conquest of

any kingdom for themselves that they wandered up and

down

in that sort, but contrarily, that

:

country again to their liberty

it was to restore their and that the multitude of

soldiers they gathered together

was to subdue the tyrants

that
fore,

would keep them

far

in slavery

and subjection.

Where-

regarding their chief purpose and intent, they should

not be

from

Italy, as
all

near as they could possible, but

should rather make

Brutus

the haste they could to help their

Cassius believed him,
.

countrymen. ^
city of

and returned.
at the

and

Brutus went to meet him, and they both met

join armies

Smyrna, which was the

first

time that they

at

saw together since they took leave each of other

the haven of Piraeus in Athens
:

the one going into Syria,

MARCUS BRUTUS
and the other into Macedon.
joyful,

151

So they were marvellous

and no

less

courageous,

when they saw

:

the great

armies together which they had both levied

that

considering

they

departing

out

of Italy

like

naked and

poor

banished men, without armour and money, nor having any

ship ready, nor soldier about them, nor any one
their
after
:

town

at

commandment yet notwithstanding, in a short time they were now met together, having ships, money,
enow, both footmen and horsemen,
to fight for

and
the

soldiers

Empire of Rome.
as

Now

Cassius

would have done

:

Brutus

Brutus most

much honour, as Brutus did unto him but commonly prevented him, and went first unto
as also for that

*him, both because he was the elder man,^

*was
sickly of

he

body.

And men reputed him comin w^ars,

The sharp
condkJons of Cassms.

*monly

to be very skilful

but otherwise sought to rule

:

*marvellous choleric and cruel,^

who

men by
side

fear,

rather than

with lenity

and on the other

he was too familiar with

for his virtue

his friends,

and would

jest

too broadly with them.

But Brutus and

in contrary

Brutus'

manner,

valiantness,

was well-

fjjfair
conditions,

beloved of the people and his own, esteemed of

noble men, and hated of no man, not so

much

as

of his

enemies

because he was a marvellous lowly and gentle

*person, noble-minded, and

*carried

would never be in any rage, nor away with pleasure and covetousness, but had ever an *upright mind with him, and would never yield to any wrong
Cf. Julius Caesar,

IV.

iii.

30,

i.

//,/^_

jy^

ijj^

^,^ ^^

152

MARCUS BRUTUS
and of the good
will that every
.

or injustice, the which was the chiefest cause of his fame, of*
his rising,
Brutus'
intent

man

bare

him

for*

persuaded they were allv-i. -,-. ,^.^.^that his intent was good.^* ./"...-.-,

,1-

had over^o"^^-

For they did not certainly believe, that if rompey himself had overcome Caesar he would have resigned his authority to the law
still
:

/-

but rather they

were of opinion that he would

people, the
civil office.

keep the sovereignty and

absolute government in his hands, taking only, to please the

title

of Consul or Dictator, or of some other more

as for Cassius, a

And

hot, choleric,

and cruel
justice for

man,
gain
:

that
it

would oftentimes be

carried

away from

was certainly thought that he made war, and put

to defend the liberty of his

himself into sundry dangers, more to have absolute power

and authority, than

For they that
than they,
that the
as

country.

will also consider others, that

were elder men

is

Cinna, Marius, and Carbo,

their victory

it

out of doubt

end and hope of

:

was to be Lords of
all

their country

and

in

manner they did

confess that they

fought for the tyranny, and to be Lords of the Empire ot

Rome.
Antonius' testimony

And
For

in contrary, manner, his

enemies themselves did

1

never reprove Brutus for any such change or desire.

.

it

was

said

-11* Antonius
that

spake
all

it

openly*
that*

divers times, that he thought that of

them

had
self;

slain

Caesar there was none but Brutus only, that*

it as

was moved to do
but that
all

thinking the act commendable of

it-*

the other conspirators did conspire hist

Cf. Julius Caesar,

V.

v.

73-5.

MARCUS BRUTUS
fdid bear unto him.^
not trust so

153

fdeath for some private malice or envy, that they otherwise

much
:

to the

Hereby it appeareth that Brutus did power of his army, as he did to his
by
his writings.

own

virtue

as

is

to be seen

For approach-

ing near to the instant danger, he wrote unto

Atticus, that
*

Pomponius
be.

his affairs
^

had the best hap that could

I

For,' said he,

either

will

set

my

country at
rid

Brutus'

liberty

by

battle, or

by honourable death

me

of this bondage.'

And

furthermore, that they

all

^^hh"''"'^ country,

being certain and assured of

things else, this one thing

live

only was doubtful to them

die with liberty.

whether they should

also

or
his

He

wrote

that Antonius

had

due payment

for his folly.

For where he might have been

a partner equally of the glory of Brutus, Cassius

and Cato,

and have made one with them, he liked better to choose to

be joined with Octavius Caesar alone
:

with w^hom, though

now he
also

be not overcome by

us, yet

shall

he shortly

after

have war with him.'

And
it

truly he proved

Brutus

true

Prophet, for so came

indeed to

pass.

PropLtof
^nt^oni^^-

*Now,

whilst Brutus and Cassius were together in

*the city of Smyrna, Brutus prayed Cassius to let

him have

*some part of
*all

his

money, whereof he had great

and rend of his
side

store, because

that he could rap

he had bestowed by means of

*it in

making

so great a

number of
all

ships, that

*them they should keep

1

the sea at their

commandment.
dis-

*Cassius' friends hindered this request,

Cf. Julius Caesar,

and earnestly

V.

v.

68-72

154
suaded him from
that

MARCUS BRUTUS
it
:

persuading him, that

it

was no reason*
Cassius

Brutus should have the

money which
to

had*

gotten together by sparing, and levied with great evil will of*
the people their subjects, for
his soldiers,

him
to

bestow liberally upon*

their

and by

this

means

win

good

wills

by*

Cassius' charge.

This notwithstanding, Cassius gave him*

So Cassius and Brutus*
he too dishonestly and
although

the third part of his total sum.^

Cassius

then departing from each other, Cassius took the

city

ciryof^ Rhodes.

of Rhodes, where

cruelly used

himself:

when he came

into the city, he answered

called

some of the inhabitants, who him Lord and King, that he was neither Lord nor
slain

King, but he only that had

him, that would have been

Lord and King.

was
a certain

Brutus, departing from thence, sent unto

the Lycians to require money, and

men

of war.

But there
cities

Orator called Naucrates, that made the

to rebel against him,

insomuch that the countrymen of that

country kept the

that
Brutus' gestsin

straits

and
,

little

mountains, thinking by

means

to stop
,
.

Brutus' passage.
,

Wherefore

Brutus sent his horsemen against them,

who
,

stale
six

upon them
hundred of them
villages,
:

as

they were at dinner, and slew

all

and taking
all

the small towns and

he did

let

the prisoners he took go without

payment of ransom, hoping, by this his great courtesy to win them, to draw all the rest of the country unto him. But they were so fierce and obstinate, that they would
1

Cf. Julius Caesar^

IV.

iii.

69-84.

MARCUS BRUTUS
mutiny
nature
for every small

155
as

hurt they received

they passed

and good went to besiege the city of the Xanthians, within the which were shut up the cruellest and most warlikest men of Lycia. There was a river that ran by the walls of the city, in the which many men saved themselves, swimming between two waters, and fled howbeit
by their country, and did despise
:

his courtesy

until that at length he

they laid nets overthwart the river, and tied

the top of them, to sound
nets.

little bells

on

to fire

when any man was taken in the The Xanthians made a sally out by night, and came certain engines of battery that beat down their walls
:

but they were presently driven in again by the Romans, so

soon
as

they

were discovered.
11
,

The wind by
1

chance

was marvellous
it

big,

and increased the

it

Thecityof Xanthus

flame so sore, that

violently carried
city, so that

into the

cranews of the wall of the

the next houses unto

them were
presently
save the

straight set a fire thereby.

Wherefore Brutus

being afraid

that

all

the
his

commanded
town
if it

would take of a fire, he men to quench the fire, and to

city

might

be.

But the Lycians

at that

instant

fell

into such a frenzy

and strange and horrible

it
:

despair, that

no man can well express

compare or liken
it,

and

man

can not

more

rightly

than to a frantic

and most desperate desire to

die.

For

all

of them

desperate end of the

together, with their wives and children. Masters

servants,

and

Xanthians.

and of

all sorts

of age whatsoever, fought

upon the ramper of

their walls,

and did

cast

down

stones

156

MARCUS BRUTUS
in
in
fire

and fireworks on the Romans, which were very busy

quenching the flame of the
contrary manner
also,

to save the city.

And
much

they brought faggots, dry wood, and

as

reeds, to bring the fire further into the city as

might be, increasing

it

by such things
all

as

they brought.

Now when
city,

the

fire

had gotten into

got

the parts of the

:

and that the flame burnt bright

it,

in every place

Brutus,

being sorry to see

upon

his

horse,
it

and rode round

were possible to

about the walls of the

save
it,

city,

to see if

and held up

his

hands to the inhabitants, praying

them

to

pardon their

city,

and

to save themselves.
all

How-

beit they

would not be persuaded, but did

also little children.

that they

could possible to cast themselves away, not only

men and
:

women, but

For some of them weepfire

ing and crying out did cast themselves into the

others

headlong throwing themselves

their

down from

the walls brake

bare to

necks

others

also

made

their necks

the

naked swords of their

ing them to
kill

fathers,

and undid

their clothes, pray-

them with
a

was burnt, they found

their own hands. After the city woman hanged up by her neck,

holding one of her children in her hand dead by her, hanged

up also and on her house.

:

in the other

hand

burning torch setting

fire

Some would have had Brutus

see so horrible

to have seen
:

her, but he

would not

and

tragical a sight

but

when he heard it he fell a weeping, and caused a Herald to make proclamation by sound of trumpet, that he would give a certain sum of money to every soldier that could save

MARCUS BRUTUS
a Xanthian.
fifty

157
is

So there were not

(as

it

reported) above

of them saved, and yet they were saved against their

wills.

Thus

the Xanthians having ended the revolution of

their fatal destiny, after a long continuance of time they did

through their desperation renew the

able calamities of their Ancestors.

memory

of the lament-

Who

in like

manner,

in

the wars of the Persians, did burn their city, and destroyed
themselves.

Therefore Brutus likewise besieging the city of

of that, and could not well
it

the Patareans, perceiving that they stoutly resisted him, he

v/as also afraid
tell

whether he
fall

should give assault to

despair
beit,

or not, lest they

would

into the

and desperation of the Xanthians.

How-

xhe
Jo ySd"^
^^^^0^^'^^^

having taken certain of their

women

prisoners,

he sent

them back again without payment of ransom. Now they that were the wives and

Brutus.

Daughters of the noblest

their

men

of the

city,

reporting unto

parents that they had found Brutus a merciful, just,

:

and courteous man

selves

they persuaded them to yield them-

and their

city

unto him, the which they did.

So,
cities

after they

had thus yielded themselves, divers other

:

also followed them, and did the like and found Brutus more merciful and courteous than they thought The ex-

they should
Cassius.
after

have done, but specially

Cassius, about

far

above

cov'Tfous-

For

the self same time,

"S" of
f^ffiJ"^

he had compelled the Rhodians every man

all

to deliver

the ready

money

they had in gold

Rhodians.

and

silver in their houses, the

which being brought together

158

MARCUS BRUTUS
to the

amounted
talents

sum of

eight thousand

talents
five

yet he

condemned

the city besides to pay the

sum of

hundred
after

more.

Where Brutus
all

in contrary

manner,

he

had levied of
fifty talents

the country of Lycia but a hundred and

only, he departed thence into the country of

Brutub'
unto^th?' Lycians.

Ionia,
^"
^^^

and did them no more hurt.

^^^^

Now

Brutus

journey did

many
it
:

notable acts and

worthy of memory, both

for rewarding, as also in

punishing those that had deserved

rest I will
tell

wherefore

among

the

and

all

you of one thing, of the which he himself the noblemen of the Romans were marvellous glad.
the great

When Pompey

(having

lost

the battle against

fell

Julius Caesar in the fields of Pharsalia)

came and

upon

the coast of Egypt, hard by the city of Pelusium, those

that

were protectors

to the

young king Ptolemy, being

then

but a child, sate in council with his servants and

friends,

were not
thought
^,

what they should determine in that case. They for some all of one mind in this consultation
:

it

good

to receive

Pompey, others

also, that

they

Theodotus
born
in

should drive
certain

him out of Egypt. ^' ^

But there was a

the tt
king's
i

Rhetorician called
the Isle of Chio,
i i

Theodotus, that was

Chio, a Rhetorician

born

School-

Schoolmaster to teach him Rhetoric.

011

in

who was
t.i

Ptolemy
king^oT"^
^^^^'

He, being Called to this council for lack of sufficienter men, said, that both the one and the other side went
awry,
as

as

well those that were of opinion to receive

Pompey,

the other that

would have had him driven

MARCUS BRUTUS
away
:

59

and that the

best

way was
'

(considering the present

kill

time) that they should lay hold on him, and

him, adding
,

withal this sentence, that

dead

man
.

biteth not.' So, for

Iheodotus
saying

'A dead a notable example of incredible misfortune, and man

The whole
unlooked

council stuck to this opinion.

for

unto

Pompey, Pompey the

as

great

was

slain,

by the motion and council of

torician

Theodotus,
it.

wicked RheTheodotus afterwards did himself

this

boast of

But when Julius Caesar came afterwards into

Egypt, the wdcked

their

men

that consented to this counsel

:

had

payment according to their deserts every man of them a wicked death, saving

for they died

this

Theodotus,

whom
in

fortune respited a

little

while lenger, and yet in that

life,

time he lived a poor and miserable

never tarrying long

Chian the Rhetorician

any one

Asia,

up and down Theodotus could hide himself no lenger, but

place.

So, Brutus going

was brought unto Brutus, where he suffered pains

of death
:

so

that he

wan more fame by

life.

his

counsel to
kill

*death, than ever he did in his

*time, Brutus sent to pray Cassius to

*city ofSardis,

About that come to the

all his

Pompey,

dSth"by
^^^^^'

andso hedid.

Brutus, understand-

*ing of his coming, went to meet him with

* friends.^

Brutus
cLssius do
JJle^chy of

There, both their armies being armed,

*they called them both Emperors.

Now,

as

it

*commonly happeneth in great affairs between two *persons, both of them having many friends and
1

s^^'^-

so

many

Cf. Julius Caesar,

IV.

ii.

i6o

MARCUS BRUTUS
tales

Captains under them, there ran

twixt them.

Therefore, before they

little

fell

and complaints be-* in hand with any*

other matter, they went into a

chamber together, and*

the doors to them.*
their complaints one*

bade every
Brutus
Cassius'

man avoid, and did shut Then they began to pour out
to the other,

and grew hot and loud, earnestly*

at

one unto''
the other,

^ccusing One another, and

a-weeping.-^

length

fell

both*

Their friends that were without the*

chamber hearing them loud within, and angry between themselves, they were both amazed, and afraid also lest it
would grow
manded,
^i

to further matter

but yet they were com-t

to them.^

that

no man should come

Notwith-t

standing, one

Marcus Favonius,

that had been a*

f foibwer
ofCato.

friend and follower of Cato while he lived, and*

j-qqJ^

upon him

to counterfeit a Philosopher, not*

a certain

with wisdom and discretion, but with

frantic

bedlam and*
was no*

motion

he would needs come into the chamber,* But

it

though the men offered to keep him out.

boot to
in the
let

Favonius,
:

when

mad mood

or toy took him*

head
all

for

he was a hot hasty man, and sudden in*

^.^

his doings,
all.

and cared
.

for never a Senator

of*

Phiio-

sophers

them

Now, though he

used this bold manner*

counted

of spccch after the profession of the Cynic Philo-*

sophers
(as

who would

say, dogs), yet this boldness*

did no hurt

many
so

times, because they did but laugh at*

him
^

to see

him

mad.
IV.
iii.

This Favonius
1-122.
^

at that time, in*

Cf. Julius Caesar^

UU.

IV.

ii.

50,

i.

MARCUS BRUTUS
*despite of the doorkeepers,

i6i

*with a certain scoffing and

came into the chamber, and mocking gesture which he

*counterfeited of purpose, he rehearsed the verses which old

*Nestor said in

Homer
have seen

'"^My lords, I pray

you hearken both

to

me,

fFor

moe

years than suchie three.

*Cassius

fell

a-laughing at

him

but Brutus thrust

him out

*of the chamber, and called him dog, and counterfeit Cynic.^

Howbeit
his

his

coming

in

brake their

strife at that

time, and

so they left each other.

The self same night Cassius

prepared

supper in his chamber, and Brutus brought his friends

So, when they were set at supper, Favonius down after he had washed. Brutus told him no man sent for him, and bade them set him at the
sit

with him.

came

to

aloud,

upper end, meaning indeed

of them, and

at the

lower end of the bed.

Favonius made no ceremony, but thrust in amongst the midst

made
all

all

the

company laugh
full

at

him

so they

were merry

suppertime, and
Brutus,

of their Philosophy.

*The next day

that

after,

tdid condemn and noted Lucius Pella

upon complaint of the Sardians, for a defamed person,-

had been

Praetor of the Romans, and

:

whom

Brutus

*had given charge unto

for that

he was accused and con-

*victed of robbery and pilfery in his office.

This judgement

*much misliked (not many days

1

Cassius
before)
IV.
iii.

"
:

because he himself had secretly

friends, attainted
^^/i.

warned two of his

12:5-137.
^

Cf. Julius Caesar,

I.

IV.

iii.

2,

VOL.

i62

MARCUS BRUTUS
:

and convicted of the like ofFences, and openly had cleared them but yet he did not therefore leave to employ them
in any

manner of service
and

as

he did before.
for that

And

therefore

he greatly reproved Brutus,

so straight

he w^ould shew himself*

severe, in such a time as

was meeter to bear*

Brutus in contrary*

a
T

little,
,.

than to take things at the worst.

'

Julius

Caesar slam at
the Ides

manner answered, that he should remember the* Jjes of March, at which time they slew Tuliusf '
Caesar
:

who neither pilled nor polled the country,!

all

-^

but only was a favourer and suborner of

that did rob

themf

and

spoil

by

his

countenance and authority.^*

And

if

there were any occasion

whereby they might

honestl}'

set aside justice

and equity, they should have had more reason

to have suffered Caesar's friends to have robbed

and done

what wrong and injury they had would, than to bear with For then, said he, they could but have said their own men. and now they may accuse us of they had been cowards
:

injustice,

beside the pains

ourselves into.

And
But

thus

we take, and the danger we put may we see what Brutus' intent and

purpose was.
The
^on"tancy

as

they both prepared to pass over again

out of Asia into Europe, there went a rumour

^hat there appeared a wonderful sign
^^^^tus

unto him.

fnSSers
ani"^^'*^^

was

careful

man, and

slept very little,

as also

both

for that his diet

was moderate,

because

equity.

^e was continually occupied.

He
7-26.

never slept in

the day time, and in the night no lenger than the time he was
^

Cf. Julius Caesar^

IV.

iii.

MARCUS BRUTUS
driven
rest.
,

163
else

to be alone,

and when everybody

, .

took their
Brutus' care and

But
.,

now

whilst he was in war, and his head

.

ever busily occupied

to
:

think of his

affairs,

and
a

what would happen

little

after

he had slumbered
all

after

supper, he spent

the rest of the night in

despatching of his weightiest causes, and after he had taken

*order for them,
*read some bpok
if
till

he had any

leisure left

him, he would

the third watch of the night,^ at

what

time the Captains, petty Captains, and Colonels did use to come unto him. So, being ready to go into Europe, one
night very late (when
all

the

camp took
light,

quiet rest) as he

twas

in
:

his tent

with a

little

thinking of weighty

tmatters

he thought he heard one come in to him,

his eye '
,

-^

land casting

towards the door of his tent, '

.

tthat he saw a wonderful strange and monstrous

,

appeared unto Brutus

iri the city ofSardis.

tshape of a body coming towards him, and said

fnever

word.

So Brutus boldly asked what he was,

god

tor a man, and what cause brought

him thither. The

Brutus
:

spirit

tanswered him,
tshalt see

am

thy

evil spirit,

me by

the city of Philippi.'

it
:

Brutus, being
*

and thou no
I shall

totherwise afraid, replied again unto

tsee thee again.'

Well, then

tBrutus called his

The spirit presently men unto him, who

vanished away, and

told

fheard no noise, nor saw anything

at

all.^

him that they Thereupon

Brutus returned again to think on his matters as he did

^

Ci.Juliui Caesar^ IV.

iii.
;

251.
Life of Caesar^ p. 107.

2 Ibid.

IV.

iii.

274-303

64
:

MARCUS BRUTUS
and when the day brake, he went unto Cassius, to him what vision had appeared unto him in the night.
being in opinion an Epicurean/ and reasoning*
thereon with Brutus, spake to him touching the
^

before
tell

Cassius
Cassius'
s'^irTts"

vision thus.

'

In our

sect,

Brutus,

we

have an

after the

opinion, that
-we

ans' sect,

we do not always feci or suppose we do both see and feel

and therefore
easily

see that
:

which

but that our

senses being credulous,

abused (when
objects), are

they are idle and unoccupied in their

own

induced to imagine they see and conjecture that which they

do not. work (without

in truth
is

For our mind

either

is

quick and cunning to

cause

or matter)
therefore

anything in the
the imagination
:

imagination whatsoever.

And
than

resembled to clay, and the mind to the potter

other cause
his

who
this
us.

without any
changeth
The cause
o
it

fancy

and pleasure,

into

what fashion and form he

will.

And

doth the diversity of our dreams shew unto

reams,

^qy our imagination doth upon

a small fancy

grow

from conceit to conceit, altering both

of things imagined.

in passions
is

and forms

For the mind of man

ever occupied,

and that continual moving is nothing but an imagination. But yet there is a further cause of this in you. For you
being by nature given to melancholic discoursing, and of late
continually occupied, your
wits

and

senses having

been
For,

overlaboured do

easilier yield

to such imaginations.

to say that there are spirits or angels,

^

and

if

there were, that

Cf. Julius Caesar^

V, L 76, 7

Life of C/jfjar, p. 100.

MARCUS BRUTUS
all

165

they had the shape of men, or such voices, or any power at

to
I

part

come unto us would there

to

it Is

mockery.

And

for

mine own
should not

w^ere such,

because that

we

only have soldiers, horses, and ships, but also the aid of the
gods,

guide and further our honest and

honourable

attempts.'

With' these words Cassius did somewhat comfort

and quiet Brutus.

When

they raised their camp,

Awonder^"J ^^^^

tthere came two Eagles that flying with a marvelflous force lighted upon two of the foremost ensigns,

Eagles.

land always followed the

fand fed them,
until they

soldiers,

which gave them meat,

to the city of Philippi
battle, they
:

came near

tand

there,

one day only before the

both flew
all

taway.^

Now

Brutus had conquered the most part of

:

the people and nations of that country

but

if

there were
all

any other

city or

Captain to overcome, then they made

clear before

them, and so drew towards the coasts of Thassos.

in

There Norbanus lying

straits,

camp
called

in a certain place called the

by another place

of the sea), Cassius and Brutus compassed

sort, that

Symbolon (which is a port him in in such

also in

he was driven to forsake the place which was of

great strength for him,

and he was

danger beside to

have

lost all his

army.

For Octavius Caesar could not follow and therefore stayed behind
:

him because of
been, which
scant believe

his sickness,

whereupon they had taken

his

army, had not Antonius* aid

made such wonderful speed, thut Brutus could So Caesar came not thither of ten days it.
1

Cf. Julius Caesar,

V.

i.

80-4.

66
:

MARCUS BRUTUS
and Antonius camped against
th'

after

Cassius,

and Brutus on
called

other side against Caesar.

The Romans

Brutus'

and
Cassius'

the valley
fields
:

between

both

camps, the

Philippian
so great

camps
before the city of Philippi against

and there were never seen two

In
truth, Brutus'

armies of the Romans, one before the other, ready

to
fight.

Octavius Caesar and

Antonius.

to Octavius Caesar's, in

bravery and rich

celled Caesar's.

army was inferior number of men but for furniture, Brutus' army far ex:

For

the

most part
although in
to live

of

their

Brutus'
soldiers

armours were

silver

and
:

gilt,

which Brutus had

all

bravely armed.

bountifully given
things he taught

them
the

other

his Captains

in order

without

excess.

But

for

bravery

of

armour

and

weapon, which
Brutus' opinion for the bravery of
soldiers in their

soldiers

should carry in their

:

hands, or

otherwise wear upon their backs

it

he thought that

was an encouragement unto them that by nature

are greedy of honour,

also

and that
that love

it

maketh them
and be and

fight

like
:

devils,

to get,

armour and
weapons.

afraid

to lose

because they fight to keep their

as

armour and weapon,

lands.

also

their

goods

Now, when
Caesar

they
the

came
and

to

muster
his

their

armies,

Octavius
the
little

took

muster of
gave

army within

trenches

of his

camp,

his

corn, and five silver

Drachmas

to every

men man
But
all

only

to sacri-

fice to

the gods, and to

pray for victory,

first

Brutus,

scorning this misery and niggardliness,

his

of

mustered

army, and did purify

it

in

the

fields,

according to the

MARCUS BRUTUS
:

167

manner of the Romans and then he gave unto every band number of wethers to sacrifice, and fifty silver Drachmas
So that Brutus' and Cassius'
soldiers

to every soldier.

were

better pleased,

and more courageously bent

to fight at the

day of the

battle,

than their enemies' soldiers were.

Not-

withstanding, being busily occupied about the ceremonies

of this purification,

it is

reported that there chanced certain

unlucky

signs

unto

Cassius.

For

one

ot

his
signs unto

Sergeants that carried the rods before

him brought
head
in

him

the garland of flowers turned backwards, the

his

which he should have worn on

sacrificing.

the time of

Moreover

it is

reported also that at another time

before, in certain sports

and triumph where they carried an

it fell

image of Cassius' victory of clean gold,

by chance, the
there

man stumbling
were seen
a

that carried

it.

And
also

yet further,

marvellous
carcases
:

number of

fowls of prey, that feed

upon dead
bees

and beehives
the which

were found, where

the the

were gathered together

of the

in a certain place within

trenches

camp

place

Soothsayers

thought good to shut out of the precinct of the camp, for to

take

*of it.

away the superstitious fear and mistrust men would have The which began somewhat to alter Cassius' Cassius' *mind from Epicurus' opinions,^ and had put the Bmtus'
in

*soldiers also

marvellous

*Cassius was of opinion not to

*one

battle,

but
^

rather

to

Thereupon a^5JJJ"^ war at ^^"'^ delay time, and to draw it

fear.

try this

Cf. Julius Caesar,

V.

i.

78, 9.

168

MARCUS BRUTUS
'

out in length, considering that they were the stronger in

money, and the weaker in men and armours. But Brutus in* contrary manner did alway before, and at that time also,*
desire nothing more, than to put
as
all

to the hazard of battle*

soon

as

might be possible

to the

end he might either*

quickly restore his country to her former liberty, or rid

him

forthwith of this miserable world, being

still

troubled in

following and maintaining of such great armies together.

But, perceiving that in the daily skirmishes and bickerings

they made, his

the better
:

men were

alway the stronger, and ever had

that yet quickened his spirits again,

and did put

him

in better heart.

^Andju^hermore, because that^some*

already yielded themselves to their*

of their

own men had

it
:

enemies, and that

was suspected moreover divers others*

would do the like ^ that made many of Cassius' friends,* which were of his mind before, (when it came to be debated
in council

whether the

battle should be fought or not), that

they were then of Brutus' mind.

But yet was there one of

it,

Brutus' friends called Atellius, that was against

opinion for

and was of opinion that they should

winter.

tarry the next

Brutus asked him what he should get by

lenger
?
*

tarrying a

year
*

If

get nought

else,'

quoth
Cassius

Atellius again,

yet have
this

lived so
:

much
men.

lenger.'

was very angry with

answer
for
it

and Atellius was maliced

all

and esteemed the worse

of

Thereupon

it

was presently determined they should fight battle the next

^

Cf. Julius Caesar, IV.

iii.

197-223.

MARCUS BRUTUS
day.

169
a

So

Brutus

all

suppertime looked with

that

cheerful

countenance, like a

man

had good hope, and talked

very wisely of Philosophy, and after supper went to bed.

But touching Cassius, Messala reporteth that he supped by

himself in his tent with a few of his friends, and that
all

suppertime he looked very sadly, and was

although
it

full

of thoughts,
after

was against
the

his

nature

and that
holding

supper
fast
.

*he took him by

*

token of kindness as
:

* Greek

'

Messala,

him his manner was) told him in protest unto thee, and make '
hand, and
'
.

(in
,

_ Cassius

words
unto Messala
before the

tthee

my

witness, that I
will (as

fmind and
fa
battle. 1

am Pompey

compelled against

my

the great was) to jco-

tpard the liberty of our country to the hazard of

And

yet

we must be

lively,

and

oi

good

courage, consideriiLg.x)ur good fortune, whom we should jYrong too much to mistrust her, although we follow evil
.counsel.'

Messala

writeth,

that

Cassius

having

spoken

these last

words unto him, he bade him

to supper to

farewell,

and willed

him

to

come

him

the next night following,

* because it

was

his birthday. ^

The

next morning, by break

of day, the signal

Cassius'

of battle was set out in Brutus' and

:

camp, which was an arming scarlet coat and both the Chieftains spake together in the midst There Cassius began to speak of their armies. '^
tfirst,

j,j.^jj^g

J^^^j^^
talk before

and

said

'

The gods grant

V.
i.

us,

the battle.

Brutus, that
all

tthis day
1

we may win

the field, and ever after to live

73-6.
^

the

Cf. Julius Caesar^

/^;V.

V.

i.

72, 3

iii.

23, 4.

JO
of our
life

MARCUS BRUTUS
quietly,

rest

one with another.

it,

But

sith

thef

gQcls

have so^^ordained

that the greatest

and

chiefestt

things amongst
fall

men
:

are

most uncertain, and that

if the battlef

out otherwise to-day than

we wish

or look for,

we
*

shallf

hardly meet again

to
answer to
fly,

what
?
'

art
^

thou then determined to do,t

or die

Brutus answered him,

Beingf

yet but a

young man, and not over

I trust (I

greatly experi-t

enced in the world,

certain rule of Philosophy,

know not how) af

I

by the which

did greatly blamef

and reprove Cato

nor godly
;

for killing of himself, as being

no lawfulf

act,

touching the gods, nor, concerning men,t

valiant not to give place and yield to divine providence,! and not constantly and patiently to take whatsoever itf

pleaseth

him
For

to send us,

but to draw back and

I

fly ^

but,t

being

now

in the midst of the danger,

if it

am

of a contrary
fall

mind.

be not the will of

us, I will

God
more

that this battle

out fortunate for

seek to

look no
for

for hope, neither

will rid

make any new supply

war again, but

me

of

this miserable
I

world, and content

me

with

my

fortune.

For

gave up

my life for my
I shall live in

for the

which
fell

country in the Ides of March,* another more glorious world.' ^*

Cassius

a-laughing to hear what he said, and embracing

then,' said he,
*

him,

Come on
this

let us

go and charge our

shall

enemies with
shall
^

mind.

For either we

conquer, or

we

not need to fear the Conquerors.'

V.
i.

After this
V.
i.

talk,

Cf. Julius Caesar,

93-100.
Ibid.

"
i.

Ibid.

101-8.

V.

113-14.

MARCUS BRUTUS
they
fell

171

to consultation

among

their friends for the ordering

of the battle.

Then
:

Brutus prayed Cassius he might have

the leading of the right wing, the which

men thought was far

But yet Cassius

meeter for Cassius

also for that

both because he was the elder man, and

he had the better experience.

gave

it

him, and willed that Messala (who had charge of one

of the warlikest legions they had) should be also in that wing

with Brutus.

So Brutus presently sent out

his

horsemen,
also

who were
were
Antonius'

excellently well appointed,

and

his

footmen

as willing

and ready
did cast
a

to give charge.

Now
at Phiiippi

men

trench from the marish

off Cassius'

by the which they

lay, to cut

way

to

Octavius

come

to the sea

and Caesar,

at the least his

army,

and

stirred

not.

As

for Octavius Caesar himself,

sick.

he
for his peo-

*was not

in his

camp, because he was

And

*ple, they little thought the

*battle,i

enemies would have given them

but only have made some light skirmishes to hinder

them

that

wrought

in the trench,

and with

their darts
:

and
but
to

slings, to

have kept them from finishing of their work

they, taking
give

no heed

to

them

that

came

full

upon them

them

battle,

marvelled

much

at the great noise they

heard, that came from the place where they were casting
*their trench.

In the meantime Brutus, that led the right

the Colonels and Captains of private
battle
;

*wing, sent

little bills to

* bands, in the

which he wrote the word of the

all

and

he himself, riding a-horseback by

^

the troops, did speak to

Cf. Julius Caesar J

V.

i.

2, 3.

172

MARCUS BRUTUS
stick to it like

them, and encouraged them to

this

men.

So by

means very few of them understood what was the word of the battle, and, besides, the most part of them never tarried to have
it
:

told them, but ran with great fury to assail

the enemies

whereby, through
of

this

disorder, the legions

were marvellously scattered and dispersed one from the

other.

For

first

all,

Messala's legion, and then the next

left

unto them, went beyond the

went, and so going on further
out of the which
(as

wing of the enemies, and

as

did nothing, but glancing by them overthrew some

fell

they

right

upon

Caesar's

camp

himself writeth in his commentaries),

little

he had been conveyed away a

counsel

before, through the

and advice of one of

:

his friends called

Marcus

Artorius

who, dreaming

in the night,

had

a vision

appeared

unto him, that

commanded
litter

Octavius Caesar should be caras

it

ried out of his camp.

slain,

Insomuch

was thought he was

it)

because his

(which had nothing in

darts.

was thrust

through and through with pikes and

slaughter in this
slain

There was great

camp. For amongst others there were two thousand Lacedaemonians, who were arrived but
a little before,

even
that

coming

to aid Caesar.

The

other also

had not glanced by, but had given

a charge full

upon them

Caesar's battle, they easily

greatly

made them

fly,

because they were

troubled for the loss of their camp, and of

there were slain by

hand three

legions.

Then, being very

camp, and Brutus

earnest to follow the chase of

them

that fled, they ran in

their

amongst them hand over head into

MARCUS BRUTUS
among them.
of,

173

But that which the conquerors thought not

it

occasion shewed

unto them that were overcome

their enemies left naked,

and

that was the left

wing of

and unSo they

all

guarded of them of the right wing,

far off, in

who were

strayed too

following of them that were overthrown.

gave a hot charge upon them.

force they their battle,

But notwithstanding
that received

the

made, they could not break into the midst of

where they found men

against them.
left

valiantly

made head

them and Howbeit they brake

also because they

and overthrew the

wing where

Cassius was, by reason

of the great disorder

among them, and

them

had

no intelligence how the right wing had sped.

chased them, beating
spoiled,

So they

into their camp, the

which they
there.
first

none of both the Chieftains being present

as
it is

For Antonius,

reported, to

fly

the fury of the

:

charge, was gotten into the next marish

tell

and no man could

he was carried
certain
Octavius
faisel/

what became of Octavius Caesar,

that

after

out of his camp.

soldiers

Insomuch that there were

their
slain

shewed
had

swords bloodied, and

his

said that they

face,

him, and did describe

of.

fo^bTSain
of

and shewed what age he was

Further- JLuic

more, the voward and the midst of Brutus' battle

p^'I'pp'-

had already put

conquered

all

their enemies to flight that withstood

:

them, with great slaughter

all

so

that Brutus

had

(.^^gj^g.

of his side, and Cassius had

. .

lost all

misfortune,

on the other
that

side.

For nothing undid them, but

to

Brutus went not

help Cassius, thinking he had

174
overcome them,
overthrown,
victory
fell

MARCUS BRUTUS
as

himself had done

and Cassius on the

to

other side tarried not for Brutus, thinking he had been

as

himself

was.

And

prove

that
it,

the
that

on Brutus'

side,

Messala confirmeth

they

wan

three eagles, and divers other ensigns of their

enemies, and their enemies

wan never
the

one of
after

theirs.

Now
slain

had and sacked Caesar's men, he wondered much that

Brutus
returning
chase,
see
Cassius'

from

he

he could not

tent

standing up

high

as

it

was wont, neither the other

they were before, because
spoiled,

tents of his

all

the

camp standing as whole camp had been

at the first

and the

tents

thrown down,

coming

in

of the enemies.
sight served

But they that were about Brutus, whose

better, told

them

glistering of harness,

and

him that they saw a great number of silvered targets, that

camp, and were not
(as

went and came into

took
left
it)

Cassius'

they

the armours nor the

number of men
:

that they

had

there to guard the

camp

and yet that they saw not

and great overthrow,
legions
as

such a

number of dead

bodies,

there should have been if so

Cassius

many

had been

slain.

This made Brutus

at the first mistrust that a

which
taken,

wffh the

^^^ happened.
^ ^^^P ^^^
3jj^ caused his

So he appointed

number of men

moK
Brutus

camp of his enemy which he had

and

his

men

to be sent for that ^ yet followed

men combattle.

the chase, and gathered

lead

them

together, thinking to
in this state as

them

to aid Cassius,

who was

you

shall

hear.

First

of

all

he was marvellous angry to*

MARCUS BRUTUS
*see

175

how

Brutus'

men

ran

*enemies,

and

tarried

not for

*nor

commandment

to give

charge upon their word of the battle charge, and it grieved him
to

give

the

*beside, that after he

*straight to spoil,

had overcome them,

careful to

his

men

fell

and were not

compass in the

rest
also,

*of the enemies behind.

But with tarrying too long

*more than

through

the valiantness

or foresight of the

*Captains his enemies, Cassius found himself compassed in

*with the right wing of his enemies' army.^

his

Whereupon
for life

horsemen brake immediately, and

sea.

fled

towards

*the

Furthermore,

perceiving

his

footmen to give

*ground, he did what he could to keep them from flying,

*and took an ensign from one of the ensign-bearers that

fled,

*and stuck

it fast

at his feet

although with

much
fly

f^^^^-^^^.

ado he could scant keep his ^ *So Cassius himself was

*with a

own
a

guard together,

yaiiantness in wars.

at length

compelled to
little
hill,
all

few about him, unto

from whence
the plain
sight
^:

*they might easily see what was done in

*howbeit Cassius himself saw nothing, for

his

was
ado)

*very bad,^ saving that he saw (and yet with

much
his

*how

the

enemies
a

spoiled

his

camp
that

before

eyes.^

He
sent

saw
to

also

great

troop

of horsemen

whom
they

Brutus
his

aid

him,

and

thought
:

were

*enemies that followed him

but yet he sent Titinius, one

*of them that was with him, to go and

1

know what
2 /^/^,
* Ihid.

they were,
1-4.
21,

Cf. Julius Caesar,

Ibid.

V.

iii.

5-8.

y.

iii.

'

V.

iii.

9-14.

V.

iii.

176

MARCUS BRUTUS
him coming afar
off,

Brutus' horsemen saw

whom when

they*

knew

that

he was one of Cassius' chiefest friends, they*

:

shouted out for joy

and they that were familiarly ac-*

compassed him in round about*

quainted with him lighted from their horses, and went and*

embraced him.

The

rest

a-horseback, with songs of victory and great rushing of their*

harness, so that they

made

all

the field ring again for joy.*

The

im-

But

this

marred

all.

For Cassius thinking indeed*

Desiring too

ofSor
\
*

that Titini^is was taken of the enemies,i he then*

f"]fj

Vn

spake these words

I }i^iye lived to

much

to live,t

wars.

see

one of

my

best friends taken,t

al"

iv

for

my

sake, before

my

face.'^

After that, he got into

where nobody was, and took Pindarus with him, one* his freed bondmen, whom he reserved ever for such* of a pinch, since the cursed battle of the Parthians where*
tent

Crassus was slain, though he notwithstanding scaped from*

that overthrow
Cassius
:

but then casting his cloak over his head,*

his bare

^nd holding out

gave

neck unto Pindarus, he*

off.^
:

hkmaJ
Pindaras.

him

his

head to be stricken
more.

So the*
but after

j^e^jj ^^.^5

found severed from the body

that he

that

time Pindarus was never seen

to

Whereupon,
master

some took occasion

without
his

say

had

slain his

horsemen

commandment. By and by they knew the* that came towards them, and might see*

Titinius crowned with a garland of triumph,

1

who came*

Cf. Julius Caesar^

V.

iii.

14-22, 25-32, 81-4.

Ibid.

2 Ibid.

V.

in. 34, 5.

V.

iii.

36-40, 43-50.

MARCUS BRUTUS
*

177
But,

before with great speed unto Cassius.

when he

per-

*ceived, by the cries

and

tears

of his friends which tormented

*themselves, the misfortune that had chanced to his Captain

*Cassius by mistaking
*self a
:

he drew out

his

sword, cursing himjj^^ ^^^^^i of Tumms.

thousand times that he had tarried so long,

Brutus

*and
in

so slew himself presently in the field. ^

the

meantime came forward

had been overthrown
after

still,
:

and understood

also

that Cassius
his

but he
his

death

till

he came very near to

the

knew nothing of camp. So when he

that

*was come thither,

fcalling

he had lamented the death of Cassius,

all

him

last

of

the

Romans, being unpossible

to be buried,

fRome
tas he^

should ever breed again so noble and valiant a

:

man
camp
saw-

he caused

his

body

and sent

It

to the

*city of Thassos, fearing lest his funerals within the

*should cause great disorder.^

together, and did encourage
that they

Then he
again.

called his soldiers

them

And when he

had

lost all their carriage,

which they could not

brook well, he promised every

man

of them two thousand

Drachmas
dering

in recompense.
all

After his soldiers had heard his

Oration, they were

of

them

prettily cheered again,

won-

much

at his great liberality,

and waited upon him

way, praising him for

with great

cries

when he went

his

that he only of the four Chieftains

battle.

was not overcome

in

And

to speak the truth, his deeds

shewed that he

hoped not
1

in vain to
Caesar^

be conqueror.
iii.

For with few legions

^
I/^id.

Cf. Julius

V.
^

51-90.

V.

iii.

99-101.

Ibid.

V.

iii.

104-6.

VOL.

I.

178
he had
against
slain

MARCUS BRUTUS
and driven
all

them away,

that

made head

him

and yet

if all his

people had fought, and that

their enemies to run to

the most of

them had not outgone

it

spoil their goods, surely

jljg

m"n^slain^
g'

^Y

enough he had slain them all, and had left never a man of them alive. There were slain of Brutus' side about eight thousand men, counting the soldiers' slaves, whom
was
like

Phiiippi.

Brutus called Brigas

and of the enemies'

as

side, as

Messala writeth, there were

than twice
as

slain,

he supposeth, more
dis-

many moe.

Wherefore they were more

late at

couraged than Brutus, until that very

night there

was one of

Cassius'

men

called

Demetrius who went unto

sword

Antonius, and carried his master's clothes, whereof he was

stripped not long
before,

and

his

also.

This en-

couraged Brutus' enemies, and made them so brave, that

the next morning betimes they stood in battle ray again
before Brutus.

But, on Brutus' side, both his camps stood

wavering, and that in great danger.

For

his

own camp,

being

full
:

of prisoners, required a good guard to look unto

side took the death

them
vile

and Cassius' camp on the other

of their Captain very heavily, and beside, there was some

grudge between them that were overcome and those

that did overcome.

set

For

this cause

therefore Brutus did

them

in

battle ray, but yet kept himself for the slaves that

from giving

battle.

Now

were prisoners, which were

a great

number of them, and went and came to and fro amongst the armed men, not without suspicion he com:

MARCUS BRUTUS
sent

179

manded they should kill them. But for the freemen, he them freely home, and said, that they were better
For
:

prisoners with his enemies, than with him.

Brutus'

with them they were

slaves

and servants

and
So,

^nd"^"'^^
courtesy,

with him they were free men and citizens. when he saw that divers Captains and his
cruelly hate some, that they
lives
:

friends did so
save their

would by no means

Brutus himself hid them, and secretly sent them away.

these prisoners, there was one
a
all.

Among
accompt

Volumnius
Brutus

a jester,

and Sacculio
at

common

player, of

whom

Howbeit

his friends

made no brought them unto

him, and did accuse them, that though they were prisoners,
they did not
let to

laugh them to scorn, and to jest broadly

with them.

made no answer to it, because his head Whereupon Messala Corvinus said, that it were good to whip them on a scaffold, and then to send them naked, well whipped, unto the Captains of their enemies, to shew them their shame, to keep such mates as those in their camp, to play the fools, to make them sport. Some that stood by laughed at his device. But Publius Casca, that gave Julius Caesar the first wound when he was slain, said then It doth not become us to
Brutus

was occupied other ways.

be thus merry at Cassius' funerals

and

for thee, Brutus,

thou shalt show what estimation thou madest of such a

Captain thy compeer, by putting to death, or saving the
lives

of these bloods, v/ho

his

hereafter will

mock him, and

:

defame

memory.'

Brutus answered again in choler

i8o
*

MARCUS BRUTUS
then do you come to
tell

Why

me
?

of
'

it,

Casca, and

do

not yourselves what you think good

When
to

they heard

him

say so, they took his answer for a consent against these
suffer

poor unfortunate men, to

thought good
slew them.
:

them

do what they

and therefore they carried them away, and

Afterwards Brutus performed the promise he

had made

to the soldiers,

and gave them the two thousand

Drachmas apiece, but yet he first reproved them, because they went and gave charge upon the enemies at the first and battle, before they had the word of battle given them
:

made them
spoil oi
Brutus
fault

new promise
cities,
all

also, that if in

the second battle

they fought like men, he would give them the sack and

two
In

to wit, Thessalonica
life

and Lacedaemon.
^
,

Brutus'

there
,

is

but this only fault to

.

be found, and that

is

not to be gainsaid

though

excusedby

Antonius and Octavius Caesar did reward their

soldiers
far
all

worse for their victory.

For when

they had driven

the natural Italians out of Italy, they

gave their soldiers their lands and towns, to the which they

had no right
all

and moreover, the only mark they shot

to overcome,
so great

at in

this

war they made was but

in contrary

and reign.

Where

manner they had

an opinion oi

Brutus' virtue, that the

common
him

voice and opinion of the

world would not

suffer

neither to overcome, nor to

save himself otherwi-^e than justly

ally after Cassius'

and honestly, and

But now,

speci-

death

whom men

burdened, that oftenlike as

times he

moved Brutus

to great cruelty.

MARCUS BRUTUS

i8i
is

the mariners on the sea after the rudder of their ship

broken by tempest, do seek to nail on some other piece of wood in lieu thereof, and do help themselves to keep them

from hurt

as

much

as

may be upon

that instant danger

even so Brutus having such a great army to govern, and his

aifairs

standing very tickle, and having no other Captain

:

coequal w^ith
to in

him in dignity and authority he was forced employ them he had, and likewise to be ruled by them
things,

many

and was of mind himself also

For

to grant

them

anything, that he thouglit might make them serve like noble

soldiers at
evil to

time of need.

Cassius' soldiers

were very

be ruled, and did shew themselves very stubborn and

lusty in the

command them

camp, because they had no Chieftain that did but yet rank cowards to their enemies,
:

because they had once overcome them.

On

the other side

Octavius Caesar and Antonius were not in

state
:

much

better

for first of

all,

they lacked victuals.

And

because

they were lodged in low places, they looked to abide a hard

and sharp winter, being camped

side,

as

they were by the marish

and

also for that after the battle there

had

fallen plenty

of rain about the autumn, where through

full

all

their tents

were

of mire and

dirt,

the which by reason of the cold did

freeze incontinently.

there

But beside all these discommodities, came news unto them of the great loss they
sea. For Brutus' ships met and supply of men, which were
victory

had of their men by

with
sent
a great aid

by

them out of

Italy,

and they overthrew them

in such

82

MARCUS BRUTUS
that there scaped

sort,

but few of them

and yet they

eat

Wonderful
SjJone
''^

were

SO famished, that they

sails

were compelled to

^^^ tackle and

of their ships.

Thereupon

s'wier

they were very desirous to fight a battle again,

beforc Brutus should have intelligence of this good
:

by

sea.

news for him by sea on the

ill

for

it

chanced
it

so, that

the battle was fought

self

same day

was fought by land.

But by

fortune, rather than through the malice or negligence ot

ignor-

The

^^^ Captains, this victory came not to Brutus' ear

till

Brutus^

twenty days

after.

For had he known of

it

victory by sea was his utter

tion.

before, '

he would not have been brought to have o

a

fought

second battle, considering that he had

excellent

good provision
greatly hurt
:

for his

army

for a long

time, and, besides, lay in a place of great strength, so as his

camp could not be

tressed

by the winter, nor

he was

also disa quiet

by

his
a

enemies

and further, he had been

sea, as

Lord, being

conqueror by

also

by land.

This
state
pass,

would have marvellously encouraged him.

of

Howbeit the

Rome
it

(in

my

opinion) being

now

brought to that

that

could no more abide to be governed by

many

Lords,

but required one only absolute Governor, God, to prevent

Brutus that
it

should not

come

to his

government, kept
it

this

victory from his knowledge, though indeed

little

came but

too

late.

For the day before the

last battle

was given,

very late in the night, came Clodius, one of his enemies,

into his camp,

who

told that Caesar, hearing of the oversea, desired

throw of his army by

nothing more than to

fight

MARCUS BRUTUS
a battle before

183

Brutus understood

it.

Hovvbelt they gave

so

no

credit to his words, but despised

him

much

that they

would not vouchsafe

thought
*for this
* reported
it

to bring

him unto
self

Brutus, because they

was but

a lie devised, to be the better

welcome
spirit

good news.

The

same night,

it

is

that the monstrous spirit,

which had
self

*appeared before unto Brutus in the city of Sardis,

*did

again unto

now

appear again unto him in the

same
a

*shape and form, and so vanished away, and said never

*word.^

Now Publius Volumnius, a grave

make no mention of

and wise Philosobut

saith, that
stran-^e
f^s^^^

pher, that had been with Brutus from the beginning of this

war, he doth

this spirit,

the greatest Eagle and ensign was covered over

swarm of bees, and that there was one of the Captains whose arm suddenly fell a-sweating,
with
a
'

before Brutus*
battle,

that

it

dropped

oil

of roses from him, and that they

all

oftentimes went about to dry him, but

would do no
were
the
all

good.

And

that before the battle was fought, there

two Eagles fought between both armies, and

valley over, both the armies being

the time
all

they fought there was a marvellous great silence

one before the other,

in the

marking

this

fight

between them
that

and that

end the
But
this

Eagle towards Brutus gave over, and flew away.

is

certain,

and

a true tale
first

when

the gate of the

camp
luck

was open, the

man

the standard-bearer

met

that carried
ill

the Eagle was an Ethiopian,

^

whom
17-19
5

the soldiers for

Cf. Julius CaesoTy

V.

v.

Life of Caesar,\p. 107.

84

MARCUS BRUTUS
their swords.
his

mangled with
second

Now,

after that Brutus

had

brought

army

into the field,

and had

set

them
his

in battle ray, directly against the

voward of

enemy
signal of battle.

he paused a long time, before he gave the

bands and companies,

For Brutus riding up and down to view the it came in his head to mistrust some
tell

of them, besides that some came to

thought.
faintly,

him

so

much
still

as

he

Moreover, he saw

his

horsemen
charge

set
:

forward but
stayed

and did not go

lustily to give

but

what the footmen would do. Then suddenly, one of the chiefest Knights he had in all his army, called Camulatius, and that was alway marvellously esteemed of
to see
for his valiantness until that

time

he came hard by Brutus

a-horseback, and rode before his face to yield himself unto

his enemies.

Brutus was marvellous sorry for

it,

wherefore,

partly for anger,

rebellion,

and partly

for fear of greater treason

his

and

he suddenly caused

army

to march, being past*

in that place

three of the clock in the afternoon. ^

So

where*

he himself fought
into the
left

in person,

he had the better, and brake

wing of
his

his enemies,

which gave him way,

his

through the help of

footmen,

horsemen that gave charge with

when

they saw the enemies in a maze and afraid.

Howbeit the other also on the right wing, when the they were Captains would have had them to have marched
:

afraid to have

been compassed

in behind, because they

were
did

fewer in number than their enemies, and therefore

^

Cf. Julius Caesar.

V.

iii.

io8.

MARCUS BRUTUS
spread
themselves,

185
battle.

and leave the midst of their

Whereby they having weakened

and
fled.

themselves, they could not

tail straight,

withstand the force of their enemies, but turned

And
straight

those that had put

them
all

to flight
vaiiant-

came

upon

it

to compass rirutus behind,

who

in the midst of the conflict did

that was
:

great skill

possible for a skilful Captain

and

valiant soldier

both for his wisdom,

taining of victory.

as also

for his hardiness, for the obat

But that which wan him the victory

the
the

first
first

battle did

now
:

lose

it

him

at the second.

For

at

time, the enemies that were broken and fled were

pieces

straight cut in

but

at

the second battle, of Cassius*

men

that

were put

to flight, there

were few

slain

and

they that saved themselves by speed, being afraid because they had been overcome, did discourage the rest of the army

when they came

*with
fear

to join

with them, and

filled all

the

army

and disorder.
valiantly

*Cato

slain,

There was the son of M. fighting amongst the lusty

'pi^^ ^j^^^j^

y^iknt

*youths. '
* weary,

For, notwithstanding that he was very

.

young

and overharried, yet would he not therefore

*n

fly,

Marcus
Cato.

\}]^

"^3" Cato, ^^ of

but manfully fighting and laying about him,

*telling aloud his

name, and

also his father's

name,

at length

*he was beaten

*his enemies,

down amongst many

slain
all

other dead bodies of

which he had
his

round about him.^

So

there were slain in the field

nobility that were in
^

the chiefest gentlemen and

army,
V.
iv.

who

valiantly
1.

ran

into

Cf. Julius Caesar,

3-6, 9-1

86

MARCUS BRUTUS
life.

any danger to save Brutus'

Amongst them

there was*

one of Brutus' friends called Lucilius,

fidelity of

who

seeing*

troop of barbarous
all

men making no

reckoning*

unto

of
all

men

else

they met in their way, but going*

together right against Brutus, he determined*

his life,
:

to stay

them with the hazard of

believe

and, being left*

behind, told them that he was Brutus should

and, because they*

to

him,

he

prayed them

bring

him

to

Antonius, for he said he was afraid of Caesar, and that he did trust Antonius better.

These barbarous men being*

very glad of this good hap, and thinking themselves happy*

men, they

carried

unto Antonius, to
vellous glad of
it,

tell

him in the night, and sent some before* him of their coming. He was mar-*
understanding
:

and went out to meet them that brought*

of
it,

him.^

Others

also

that
all

they

had

brought Brutus prisoner

they came out of

his

parts of the

camp

to see

him, some pitying

it

hard fortune, and others

so

saying, that

was not done

like himself,

cowardly to

be taken alive of the barbarous people for fear of death.

When

they came near together, Antonius stayed awhile,

bethinking himself

how he
said,
*

should use Brutus.

to him,
I

In the*

meantime Lucilius was brought

a

who

stoutly with*

bold countenance

Antonius,
shall

dare assure theef

that
alive

no enemy hath taken nor

:

take

Marcus Brutusf

and

beseech

God

keep him from that fortune.

alive or

For wheresoever he be found,

1

dead, he will bet

Cf. Julius Caesar,

V.

iv.

12-19.

MARCUS BRUTUS
ffou'ixd-lik.aJliiaadi^^
-^""^ "^^ f^ myself, I

187

am come unto
any

thee, having deceived these

men
to.'

of arms here, bearing them

refuse to suffer

down
all

that

was Brutus

and do not

torment thou wilt put

looking upon

me

Lucilius'

words made them

side,

amazed that heard him.

all

Antonius on the other

them

that
I

had brought him,

this

said

unto
hath

*them

My

companions,

think ye are sorry you have

*failed of

your purpose, and that you think

:

man

*done you great wrong

* taken a better

but

do assure you, you have

For, instead
:

booty than that you followed.^

of an enemy, you have brought

part, if

me

a friend

and

for

my
tell

you had brought me Brutus

I

alive, truly I

cannot

fwhat
tsuch

should have done to him.

friends as this

For

had rather have

^

men my
his

man

here, than enemies.'

Then he embraced
to

Lucilius,

and
to

at that

time delivered him

after

one of

friends in custody,

and Lucilius ever

death.

served

him

faithfully,
little

even
river,

his

Now

Brutus
grutus
^y^^s-

having passed a
side
trees,

walled in on either
Vvdth great

with high rocks, and shadowed

being then dark night, he went no further, but stayed

*at the foot of a rock with certain of his Captains

and friends
of the

*that followed

him

and looking up

to the

firmament that
verses,
:

was

full

of

stars,

sighing, he rehearsed

two

which Volumnius wrote the one,

1

to this effect

Cf. Julius Caesar,

V.

iv.

20-5.

2 jl,jj^
^

y.
V.

iv.

26, 27.

Uid. V.

iv.

28, 9

Ibid.

V. 1.

88

MARCUS BRUTUS
^et not the wight from

meaneth this b^
Antonius.

whom

this mischief

went

(O \

Tove) escape without due r punishment. r /

And

saith that
after,

he had forgotten the other.

his

Within

a little

while

naming

friends that he

had seen

slain in
:

battle before his eyes,

specially

he fetched
to

a greater sigh

than before

when he came

name Labeo and

Flavius, of the

which the one^was

his Lieutenant,

and the other Captain of

he

the pioneers of his camp.

In the meantime, one of the

athirst also
:

company being

athirst,

and seeing Brutus

it

ran to the river for water, and brought

in his sallet.

At

the selfsame time they heard a noise on the other side ot the river.
servant,

Whereupon Volumnius took Dardanus,

it

Brutus'

with him, to see what

was

and, returning
left.

straight again, asked if there

were any water

was drunk,
sent
*

Brutus,
shall

smiling gently, told thern

all

but they

bring you some more.'

Thereupon he

him

again that

went

for

water before,

who was

in great

danger of being

taken by the enemies, and hardly scaped, being sore hurt.

Furthermore, Brutus thought that there was no great number of men slain in battle, and, to

know

the truth of

it,

there*

was one called

mies
(for

Statilius, that
it

promised to go through his ene-*

otherwise

was impossible to go see their camp),*

and from thence

light in the air,

if all

were well, that he would

lift

up

a torch

and then return again with speed to him.*

lift

The
went

torch light was

thither.

up

as

he had promised, for Statilius*

seeing
Statilius

Now

Brutus

tarry long*

MARCUS BRUTUS
*after that,

189
:

and

that he

came not

again, he said

If Statilius

*be

alive,

he will come again.'

as

But

his evil fortune

in his
death ot '^' '
'^

*was such, that

he came back he lighted

slain. ^

*enemies hands, and was

*being
far spent,

Now,

the night

bowed towards Clitus, him somewhat in his ear the *other answered him not, but fell a-weeping. Thereupon *he proved Dardanus, and said somewhat also to him ^ at *length he came to V^olumnius himself, and speaking to him *in Greek, prayed him for the study's sake which brought *them acquainted together, that he would help him to put *his hand to his sword, to thrust it in him to kill him. *Volumnius denied his request,^ and so did many others fand amongst the rest, one of them said, there was no ftarrying for them there, but that they must needs fly.* Then Brutus rising up, * We must fly indeed,' said he,
Brutus as he sate
told

*one of

his

men, and

but

it

must be with our hands, not with our

Brutus'

feet.'

Then
these

taking every

man by

the hand, he
a

fjtiwL
Jjo"^^itf
f^^'-

said

words
*

unto

them with

cheerful

*countenance.

*one of

It rejoiceth. my heart that not my friends hath failed me at my need^and I do not *complain of my fortune, but only for my country's sake
:

*for, as for

me,

think myself happier than they that have

I leave a

*overcome, considering that

perpetual fame of our

*courage and manhood, the which our enemies the conquer1

Cf. Julius Caesary V. v. 2, 3.

^ /^/^^
^

UiJ.

V.

V.

25-29.

Ibid.

V. v. 5-12. V. V. 30.

I90

MARCUS BRUTUS
unto by force nor money, neither can*
to

ors shall never attain

let

their posterity

say

that they, being naughty

to

and*

unjust

men, have

slain

good men,
them.'
^

usurp tyrannical*

power not pertaining

prayed every
a
little

to

man

to shift for themselves,

Having said so, he* and then he went

came
first

aside with

two or three only, among the which

Brutus
himself.

Strato was one, with

whom he

acquainted
as

Strato Brutus'

^7 ^^^ Study of Rhetoric. ^^"^ ^^ ^^ could, and taking

with

He came
his

near to
hilts

sword by the

both
it,

his hands,

and

falling

dow^n upon the

and

friend,

point of

ran himself through.

(at his request)

Others say that,*

not he, but Strato

held the sword in his*

fell

hand, and turned his head aside, and that Brutus

down*

upon

it

and

so ran himself through,

and died presently.-*

So, shortly after, > }

Messala, that had been Brutus' great friend, became after-

wards Octavius Caesar's friend.

Strato received
. .

>

Caesar being at good leisure, he brought Strato

Brutus'
^

Caesar's

friend

unto

him, and weeping,

is

said

nen

ip.

^g^sar, bchold, here

^

he that

did the
at that

lastf

service to

my Brutus.'
^'^

Caesar welcomed

him

time,t

and afterwards he did him

Messala
B^iis"'"'
friend.

as faithful service in all his affairs,

battle of

^^7 Grecian else he had about him, until the Actium. It is reported also, that this

Messala himself answered Caesar one day,

face,

when

he gave him great praise before his

1

that
v.

he had

Cf. Julius Caesar,

V.

v. 33-8.

^ Ibid.

V.

47-51.

3 Ibid,

V.

V. 66, 7.

MARCUS BRUTUS
battle

191

fought valiantly, and with great affection for him, at the

of Actium, (notwithstanding that he had been his

cruel
sake)
:

enemy
*

before, at the battle of Philippi, for Brutus'

said

ever loved,'

he,

to

take

the

best

and

justest

part.'

Now,

Antonius
it

having

found
in

g^utus'
funerals,

Brutus' body, he caused

to be

wrapped up

one of the richest coat armours he had.

Afterwards

also,

Antonius understanding that

ashes of his

this coat

armour was
it,

stolen,

he put the thief to death that had stolen

and sent the

Porcia,
.

body unto

Servilia his

mother.

And for
and p

Brutus'
* Valerius

wife,

Nicolaus

the

Philosopher

Maximus do

write, that she determining

Crutus'
wife, killed

*to

kill

herself (her parents

and friends
it)

carefully

herself

*looking to her to keep her from

took hot burn-

burning

*ing coals, and cast them into her mouth, and kept

*her mouth so close that she choked

letter

herself.^

There was

of Brutus found written to his friends, complaining

sick,

of their negligence, that his wife being

they would

not help her, but suffered her to

die, rather

kill

herself,

choosing to
it

than to languish in pain.

Thus

appeareth
(at

that Nicolaus

knew not
this

well that time, sith the letter

letter)

the least
disease

if it

were Brutus'

doth plainly declare the

also the

and love of
1

Lady, and

manner of her

death.
Cf. Julius CaesarflV.
iii.

151-6.

NOTES
THE
LIFE OF JULIUS CAESAR
P. 3, 11. 9, 1 1. Miletus. The old editions have Miletum, an erroneous expansion of Amyot's Milet. North seems never to have had recourse in case of difficulty to a Latin Practically all his mistranslaor Greek text of Plutarch.
his effort to follow Amyot where the ambiguous or obscure. In almost every instance reference to the Greek version would have set him right at once. It is especially noteworthy that in the names of persons and places he either takes over the Gallicized form directly or else Anglicizes it, as here, purely by

tions are

due to

latter's

language

is

guess.

P. 5, P. 6,

1.

14.
*

quail.

The word
This
is

here retains

its

original

signification,
1.

to die, perish,' as in

5. scratch.

O.E. cwelan. the form found

in the

text

of 1595 and subsequent editions.

icrat.

The 1579
*

folio reads

P. 7,
*

1.

19. bought good cheap.

*

Cheap*

is,

of course,

here a noun, as in
bargain.*

Cheapside,' and has the meaning of

The
*

phrase

word

like

at

'

* good cheap ' is really prepositional, being understood before it, but it occurs

in just the present use at least as early as the

M.E.
O

Ayenbite

of Inwit. VOL. I.

193

194

NOTES
Such
is

1.23. highway going unto Appius.

the
first

the reading ot

two

editions, a stupid mistranslation of

Amyot's
called

*chemin qui s'appelle la uoye d'Appius.' 1603 gives the obvious correction, * the Appius way.'
*

The

edition of

highvv^ay

P. 8, 11. 12, 13. in their greatest ruff. The French has, The word * ruff' in this sense en leur plus grande uogue.' is common in Elizabethan usage ; cf Sir Thomas More, II. iv. 99, * And you in ruff of your opynions clothd.'
1. 14. of victories that carried triumphs : ' des uictoires qui portoient des trophees.' The Greek has NtKas rpoTraio^o-

povs.

P. 9,
*

11.

20, 21. that hardily he should give place

to no

man

hardiment cueur de ne ceder a personne.' 1. 24. chief Bishop. This is a rather startling anachronism in which North persists. Amyot has quite regularly * le souuerain Pontife.' The office is, of course, that of Pontifex Maximus, to which Caesar was elected in the year 63 B.C. P. 10, 1. 7. lend should be * borrow.' Amyot's word is * emprunteroit.' Plutarch wrote 7rpo(r8ai/to-a/x,ci/os. P. II, 1. 16. best appear. So edd. 1579, I595- The editions of 1603 and after read 'appear best.' * dryad,' P. 13, 1. 19. nymph of wood vvfx<f>r]v ApvdSa. P. 15,1. 15. slanaered. The proper meaning of the word appears from Amyot's reading, * a qui il auoit faict cest
qu'il prist
:

oultrage.'

Cf., for another instance, the Life of Brutus, p.

112,
*

1.

24.
1.

P. 17,

22. Cala'icans.

The

old editions of
*

North

spell

Callaecians,'

following

Amyot's

Callaeciens.'

Plutarch

writes KaAAatKoi-s.

NOTES
I.

195
*

23.

Oceanus.

Old

editions,

Ocean um

' ;

again an
*

error

due to the attempt

1.

to Latinize the

French

Oceane.'

P. 20,

9.

let',
:

'hinder.'

is the correction of ed. The first two editions have * Pompey's wife,' a 1603. mistake caused by the ambiguity of Amyot's * celle de Pompeius.'

* betrothed.' 1.21. made sure II. 22,23. Pompey^s daughter. This

P. 2 1,1. 15.

Gaul
reads

on this side
*

Cisalpine Gaul.'

The

edition of

1579

gives
*

Gaul on

his side,' corrected in ed.

1595.
dela
les

Amyot
monts.'
1.

toutesles Gaules, tant de defa que de

P. 22,

I.

that would be President of the Senate under him

a complete mistranslation.

Plutarch wrote
avru)

Twi/ Be dXXcav

avyKXrjTLKwv
translates
:

oXtyoL
il

TravTaTraaiv

(rvvT^eaav.

Amyot
'

y cut peu des Senateurs qui se uoulussent trouuer soubz luy President au Senat,' where * President is, of course, to be construed with * luy.' P. 26, 11. 14, 15. thereby bestowed his rest, to make him always * able to do something employant par ce moien son repos a faire tousiours quelque chose.' Both in the text and in the marginal P. 28, 1. 8. Jrar. note the old editions of North read * Arax,' though Amyot gives the proper form * Arar.' * take their camp.' Cf. N.E.D., 1. 20. distress their camp
*
:

s.v. Distress, v., 2.

rempart in Amyot. : Sequaniens ' in Amyot. The form of the proper name P. 32, 1. 8. the Servians. In the here agrees as usual with the French, * Nerviens.' marginal note, however, we find the Latin form, * Nervii.'
1.21. strength
P. 31,
1.
:

'

7. Sequanes

'

196

NOTES
are

There
dealing

no marginal notes

in

Amyot

except a very few

principally with textual

criticism.

From

various
text,
it

discrepancies between the notes in

North and the

would seem probable that the former were not written by the translator, but were later inserted by the publisher

for

the comfort of readers.

Cf my
and

notes to the
to p. 103,
1.

Life of Coriolanus, Vol. II. pp. 152, 202,

10 of

this

volume.

1. 13. six-score thousand fighting men. Plutarch's number, 60,000, has been exactly doubled ; but cf p. 33, 1. 2, where we have the proper computation, * three-score thousand.' Such irregularities in reckoning are the rule rather than the exception in Amyot and North ; they are really of no consequence, and indicate merely the ease with which mistakes in numerals crept into all ancient texts. P. 33, 1. 23. Luca. Here the old editions have Luke^ corresponding to Amyot's * Lucques,' whereas the marginal

note gives Luca.

P.

34,

1.

14.

Favonius.

^Faonius' old editions and

Amyot, corresponding to the Greek ^atowos. I follow modern editors in using the Latin form. 1. 26. Ipes. The proper form would be * Usipes.' The mistake is due to a corruption in the Greek text of Plutarch by which Ovo-tVas became ors "iTras. P. 37, 11. 2-7. to make war in that so great and famous
Island
.
. .

inhabitable.

North's

national

pride

is

here
for

responsible for the addition of an adjective or

two and
as

the slurring over of the reference to the conquest of Britain.

The
*

corresponding
aller

passage

in

Amyot

runs
si

follows

pour

faire

la

guerre en ceste

isle,

grande, que

plusieurs des anciens n'ont pas uoulu croire qu'elle fust en

NOTES
nature,

197

& qui a mis plusieurs historiens en grande dispute, maintenans que c'estoit chose faulse & controuuee a plaisir, & luy fut le premier qui commencea a la conquerir.'
1.

22.

tickle
11.

insecure.'

Cf. p. 181,

1.

6.

P. 38,

22, 23. making accompt that he was but a hand-

The pronouns are ful in their hands, they were so few. * faisans decidedly mixed ; Amyot's version is much clearer leur compte, qu'ilz I'eporteroient tout du premier coup, a cause qu'il auoit si peu de gens.' The marginal P. 40, 1. 12. towards the sea Adriatic. note to these words is one of Amyot's, where it runs, ' Les autres lisent en ce lieu, Trpos rov "ApapLv, qui seroit a dire The alternative reading is iusqu'a la riuiere de la Sone.' the one which all modern editors of Plutarch have adopted. The editions of 1595, etc., omit 1. 19. z'ery valiant.
:

very.'
1.

25. unvincihle. Edd. 1603, etc., change to

invincible.'

P.

41,
*

1.

6.

Aedui.

Old

editions

have

*Hedui' =

Amyot's
P. 43,
needs fall.

Heduiens.

26, 27. who only did see that one of them two must This is vilely translated from Amyot and fails entirely to convey Plutarch's idea in os y\v c^cSpos a/xcfiOLV. The French is, 'qui seul pouuoit espier que I'un d'eulx deux donnast en terre,' which means that Crassus was the only Roman sufficiently powerful to look on till one of the competitors should be overcome, and then join combat with
11.

the survivor.
that

P. 44, 11. 2-4. neither did anything let Pompey to withstand Clumsily and probably init should not come to pass.

correctly translated.

Amyot

reads,

*ny

Pompeius pour

obuier a ce que cela ne luy aduinst,' where cek refers to

198

NOTES
:

becoming the greatest person at Rome. The Greek is somewhat different dTreXetTrero tw fxkv (Caesar) virep rov yeveaOai yaeyto-ro) tov ovra (Pompey) KaraXvuvy tw 8e
(Pompey),
P. 49,
P. 50,
Xva
1.

fxrj

TrdOr] tovto, irpoavaip^iv

ov eSeSoiKci.

6.
*

Marcellus.

So

Amyot, by mistake, but

Plutarch says
11.

Lentulus.'

20, 21. a great

they come out

come

to,

when
la

rencontre

city of Gaul, being the first city men of Gaul * grande uille, que Ton premiere au sortir de la Gaule.'
:

P. 52, 1. 4. desperate man feareth no danger-, *A tout perdre n'y a qu'un coup perilleux.' The marginal note to
this passage
is

translated from
:

Amyot.
Q{. Life of Brutus,^.

P. 54,1.4. garboil

commotion.'
*

113,1.6.
P.

55,
II.

1.

2.

carriage:
in

tout

son bagage.'

North
177,
1.

uses

the

word repeatedly
p.
11.

this

sense.

Cf

p.

17;

Vol.

59,
later

1.

26.
so

P. 64,

25, 26.

many
all

captains.

So the edition of

captains,' but wrongly, for the French is * tant de Capitaines.' P. 65,1. 17. Gomphi in Thessaly. The old editions of North follow the spelling of Amyot both here and in the margin, reading * Gomphes.'

1579; the

editions

read

many

1.

23. Baccherians.
hands.

Amyot

has

Bacchanales,' Plutarch

P. 66,

1.

5.

This passage

is

obviously incoherent.
:

Amyot
*

gives the

following note, disregarded by North

est

defectueux en cest edroit, & le faut replir de ce qui est cy deuat escrit en la uie de Pompeius, The passage in question feuillet 458 soubs la lettre * Et la nuict ensuiuant il fut aduis a Pompeius en runs
L'original

Grec

NOTES
dormant,
qu'il entroit

199

dedans le Theatre, la ou le peuple le battemens de mains par honneur, & que luy ornoit le temple de Venus uictorieuse de plusleurs despouilles. Ceste uision de songe d'un coste luy donnoit bon courage, & d'un autre coste le luy rompoit aussi, pour autant qu'il auoit peur, qu'estant la race de Caesar descendue de la deesse Venus, son songe ne uoulust signifier qu'elle seroit annoblie & illustree par la uictoire & par les desModern editors of pouilles qu'il gagneroit sur luy.' Plutarch bracket the Greek sentence corresponding to * For he thought hands ' as spurious. *le souuerain Potificat.' 11. 8, 9. the chief Bishopric Cf. note to p. 9, 1. 24. P. 6"]^ 1. 13. dost thou think', a mistaken translation ot
recueilloit auec grands

'.

Amyot's imperative,
1.

attens toy.'
is,

17. the element

that

par excellence, the element of

air.

Cf. N.E.D.,
1.

s.v.

Element^ sb. 10.

P. 69,

9. a
'

word
Greek.

soufflet

has

Quite wrong. Amyot's box on the ear. here the sense of * bellows.' Cf.
s.v.

Littre's

dictionary,

i^.

The

simile

is

not

in

the

. and to hurt. P. 70, 1. 9. hut to seek . the so-called absolute infinitive construction.
.

Instances of
Cf. Kellner,

Historical Outlines of English Sy7itax, 399, 400. So the second and later editions of P. 72, 1. 23. give.

North.
phrase
side,'
is
*

The
se

editio

princeps

reads

*gaue,'

but

Amyot's

commence.'
is

P. 73,1. 14. at

which

in the text.
as in

Edd. 1579, 1595 read *at toe Middle English form of the words The preposition and article have been merged,
0^ side.

merely
*

Chaucer's

atten

ale,'

atte beste,'

and

in redividing

200
the final consonant of
cf.
* *

NOTES
at
'

has remained with the article

o' is

the tother
(an),

'

<

that

other.'

weakened form of

*one'
article

which

originally

or as numeral.

The
*

might serve either as indefinite edition of 1603, not undersubstituted

*

standing

the

idiom
17. treen

at

toe side,'
*

aside

'

modern
P.

editors have printed

1.
*
'.

74,
']()^

one side.' wooden.' O.E. * treowen,' the

at
*

adjective belonging to treo,

tree.' his

P.

1.

19. holding divers books in

hand:
It
is

tenant

plusieurs papiers en I'une de ses mains.'

very likely

that this passage suggested Caesar's

1

to Shakespeare

the episode of
I.
ii.

swimming match with

iv.).

Cassius {Julius Caesar,

00- 1

15).

Cf. also the last speech but one of Achillas in

The False One (V.

P. 79,
1. 1.

1 1,

battles

he fought
;

battles fought,'

1595,

etc.

13. Sallution.
*

So Amyot

the old editions of North

*

give wrongly,

Sallutius.'
:

Praetor and Consuls,' and Consuls Amyot's phrase is * personnages de dignite Praetoriale ou Consulaire.'
P. 81,
1.

13. Praetors

1595,

etc.

P. 82,
1.

1.

9. for a civil
*

for civil,'

1595,
the

etc.

21.

allowing'.

commending,'
i.

common
Amyot

M.E.
have

sense.

P.

Cf. also p. 104, 1. 88, 1. II. Persians.

Plutarch

and

*Parthians,'
1.

which
*

is

right, but cf. note to Vol. II. p. 57,

in old editions

12.
1.

24. Circeii.
1.

Circees
:

'

and Amyot.
*

P. 89,
I'eau.'

I. seazv

drain.'

Amyot writes, de
:

destourner

P. 91,
feet,' ed.

1.

1595,

* standing 21. standing of their feet on their etc. The use of the preposition of or its

NOTES
abbreviation
for notice.
',

20

in such cases
II. p.

is

almost too

common

to call

P. 93,

1.

17, 1. 10. 13. with Diadems upon their heads.

Cf. Vol.

In Shakeoff.

speare

it is

only

scarfs
I.
ii.

which Flavius and Marullus pull

290. We should expect * Bruti ' or * Brutuses,' 1. 18. Brutes. but North keeps the Gallicized form of Amyot. Instead of P. 94, 1. 10. many more of his friends besides. *more' the 1595 edition gives the old adverbial form
Julius Caesar,
*

Cf

moe.*
P. 95,
1.

23.
*

//5^

solitary birds.
*

folio

of

1579
is

gives

these

solitary

So ed. 1595, etc. ; the birds,' but Amyot's

<

rendering

des oyseaux solitaires.'

to

P. 96, 1. 17. read * vnto.' P. 97,

*

the Soothsayer.

For
:

to' ed. 1595, etc.,

1.

25. none did

like

them
v^,

*ne luyen promettoient

Elizabethan sense of
reads

rien de bon.'
please,'

For like in the cf N.E.D., s.v. Like,

1.

common
i

P.

98,
is

2.

Decius Brutus.
them.

Amyot

*Decimus,'
*

which
1.

Plutarch's word.
to dismiss

25.

Another instance of the

p.

absolute

infinitive.'

Cf
*

note to

70,

1.

9.

P. 99,
*

1.

5. unto his house.

The
besides
'

edition of 1595 replaces

unto
1.

'

by

into.'

in the old editions. In the Life of Brutus, p. 132, 1. 8, as in Shakespeare, it is Trebonius who decoys Antony away. Perhaps these lines ought not to be marked with asterisks, as Shakespeare's plain debt is rather to the version of the same incident in the Life ofBrutus. Probably,

P. 100,

1.

15. beside.

18. Decius Brutus Albinus.

though, both accounts were in the poet's mind.

202

NOTES

1. The name should be * Tullius 24. Metellus Cimber. Cimber,' as in Plutarch and in North's version of the Life of Brutus ; cf. p. 132, 1. 15. The mistake is due to Amyot. Here Shakespeare follows the Life of Caesar rather than that of Brutus.

P.
folio

1 01, 11. 19, 20. that they had no pouter of 1595 and its successors omit *that.'

to

fy.

The

P.

102,
;

1.

II.

gore-blood.

A common
11.

intensive with

North
1.
1

Life of Brutus, p. 126, 6. three and twenty wounds.

cf.

17, 18.
*

and

thirty,' possibly a
1.

mere

slip

Shakespeare says of the memory.

three

marginal note, do go to the market-place. the editions of 1579, 159S read ' * Capitoll,' which the later folios altered to make the note agree with the text (1. 9). Cf. note to p. 32, 1. 8.
P. 103, Instead of 10,
*

market-place

I.

16. among.
1.

Folio 1595,

etc.,

read

amongest.'
*

P. 104,

19. iheir houses that

itj

had

slain Caesar.

their' has
in

here retained the genitive ;

P. 105,
1.

original character of personal

pronoun

it is

the antecedent of the relative.

:

10. one of mean sort

one of the mean sort'

ed. 1595, etc.

II. 24, 25. and Pompey also lived not passing four years more than he. This is not by any means the significance of the
* & ne suruescut Pompeius gueres plus de quattre North has taken the object of the verb for its subject, led astray no doubt by the preservation of the Latin nominative termination. The Greek is perfectly clear

French,

ans.'

Ho/XTrrjLco S'

Tn^iiji(Ta<s

ov ttoXv TrXeov iriov

s.v. 7.

Tecrcrdpoiv.

P. 106,11. 12, 1^. at the journey of Philippi.

in sense of
*
*

For journey'
*

battle

'

cf.

N.E.D.
en

North
en

follows Amyot's
la

apres

auoir est^

desfait

battaille

iournee

de

NOTES

203

Phillppes.' It should be added that both here and elsewhere the old editions of North retain the French form of the proper name, Phillppes. * Eight' is here a weakened form 1. 17. the eight night.

of the ordinal
s.v.
1.

eighth,' as often in early English.

Cf. JSI.E.D.
ripe

Eighth.

24. rotted before

illustrates

It

could ripe.

The

use of

'

in this

way

one of the most striking features of the Elizabethan language, the facility with which verbs could be made out of adjectives, nouns or any other part of

speech.

For a more detailed account of the P. 108, 11. 4-6. death of Brutus, cf. pp. 189, 190.

THE
P. 109, P.
1.

LIFE OF
:

MARCUS BRUTUS
*at present.'
is

\^. presently
3.

no, Amyot and

1.

1.

Ahala.
So,

The word

spelled

Hala

'

in

the early editions of North.

10.

1603,

etc.

Amyot
P.

correctly, the editions of 1579, of 1595 gives * Brutus' by mistake. uses the pronoun * il,' referring obviously to Servilius.
Serz'ilius.

The

folio

1 1

1, 11. 2, 3.

zvhom Brutus studied most tofollozu of all the

illogical

other Romans.

An
:

idiom exceedingly popular with

Elizabethan writers.
1.

19.

He

i.

e.

Brutus.
*

P. 112,1. 23. Canidius.

Caninius

'
*

in

Amyot and
Canidius,'

early
*

editions of North, with marginal note,

Ou

Or

Canidius.'
P. 113,
1

8. unto death

'to death' 1595,

etc.

204
I.

NOTES
9.
respect of:

'consideration

for.'

Cf.

N.E.D.y
etc.

s.v.

Respect, sb. 13.

P. 114,
II.

11.

2-4. marginal

note.

Omitted 1595,
literally

2, 3. not only the days before, but the self same day also

before the great battle.

*

Translated over
les

from Amyot's

non seulement tous

la

iours precedets, mais aussi celuy

battaille.'
*

mesme de deuant
P.
1.

grande
:

5,

1.

8. ^ love letter
;

une

lettre

amatoire

&

lascifue.'

10. drunken sop

*yurogne.'

This is one of Amyot's notes, P. 116, marginal note. ' merely translated by North ; the French reads C'estoit luba, mais il est certai que Brutus interceda aussi pour Deiotarus, Roy de Galatie, qui neatmoins fut par C^sar priue'd'une grade partie de son pa'is. Et pource seroit plus a propos entendre ce lieu de luy.' * representations.' P. 118, 11. 6, 7. objections Cf. N.E.D.,
: :

s.v. 4.

P.
die.

19,

1.

8. think

ye that Brutus will not tarry

;

till this

body

This
11.

is

the proper rendering

cf.

21, 22, where the wording is, * The Greek has Tt 8e ; ovk av vfuv SoKet BpovTo<; dvafxeLvai tovtl to crapKLOV ; 94,
this skin.'
I.

Life of Caesar, p. Brutus will look for

1$.

to

have been next unto Caesar.

So

folio

1595,
is

etc.

instead of *to' folio

1579 reads *and', which

possible,

but not so smooth or so near the French, ' s'il eust peu endurer de seconder Caesar quelque espace de temps.' * portoit mal patiemment.' II. 18, 19. could evil azv ay with * mais ilz ne P. 1 20, 11. 8, 9. But this holdeth no water
: :

disent pas la verite.'

11.

14,

15. two good whirts on the ear:

une couple de

soufflets.'

'

NOTES
11.

205

This * walk

21, 22. that my fists may walk once again about thine ears. is a not infrequent Elizabethan use of the word
' ;

cf.

Thomas Lord Cromzuell,

I. ii.

29,

No hammers

walking and
P. 121,
18.
11.

my

worke
'.

to do.'

12, 13. as
life

we have
93.
\

written

more at large in

Julius Caesar's
1. 1.

viz. p.

it

stood
his

them upon
only

it

20. by

presence.

concerned them.' should say,

We
a

by

the

presence of
P. 122,
1. 1.

him
2.

alone.'
strange together
liberty:
:

grew

'became

estranged.'

15.

to

die fi}r

the

Gallicism.

Amyot

has

regularly

enough Ma liberte.' The editor of the folio of 1603 attempted to improve matters by substituting * thy
*

for

the,'

P. 123,
1.

which, however, does not give the sense. 11. 5-8, marginal note. One of Amyot's
*

glosses.

18. acquaintance:

acquitance,'

folio

1595.

mere

misprint.
P. 124,
11.

1-6. Cicero

is

omitted from the conspiracy in

Shakespeare's play, not because of his cowardice, as here, but

*

For he will never follow anything

That other men begin'

I.

(II.

i.

151, 152).

10. Faz'onius.

The word

is

regularly spelled *Faonius'

in

Amyot and
1.

the old editions of North.

Cf
:

note to

p. 34,
II.

14 above.
'

folz

&

14, 15. for a sight of i^orant fools and asses des ignorans.'
:

pour des

P. 125, 1. 5. the ojtly name P. 126,1. 10. zvell seen in :

^
^

the

name

alone.'

well informed about.'

Cf.

Dr. Faustus,
minerals.'

1.

168,

Inricht with tongues, well scene in

2o6

NOTES

P. 129, 1. 27. Laena, The correct Greek form is AacVas, but Shakespeare agrees with Amyot and North in adopting the Latinized spelling. P. 130, 1. 2. rounded: * whispered/ from M.E. *rounen.'

The * d

'

is

parasitic, as in
11.

sound.'

was no tarrying for them till they were apprehended. An Elizabethan equivalent of Amyot's * qu'il ne falloit pas attendre iusques a ce que Ion les saisist au corps.' The Greek has ws ^P"^ /^'^ Trept/xeVeir crvWrjif/LVy which is rendered in Latin, * non esse exspectandum donee
P. 131,
16, 17.
it

caperentur.'

1.23. companion.
misprint, or
alone,
avit.'
*

Amyot

has

copagnons,' which answers

to Plutarch's toi>s Trcpt Kacro-iov.

it
.

North's reading
licebat,

may be

may
.
.

refer like the Latin version to Cassius

nam
*

verbis uti
1.

non

Cassius,' in
'

26, ought strictly to be

Cassium confirm* Cassius and

in

his

companions
P. 132,
1.

(tovs Trcpt Kacrortov iOdppvve).

at
0' side.

9.

Ed. 1579 prints

1.

one word,

atoside.'
*

Cf. note to p. 73,

14.

The

editions of

1595

fF.

have

aside.'
:

P. 133, 1. 6. on a heap English use in adverbial

fishing
I.
'

relic

of the
Cf.
'

common Old
among,*
*

phrases.

a-

(O.E. on gemonge, on fiscunge).

20. fact.

The word
*

is

commonly used by Elizabethan

writers in the sense of

deed,' and generally, as here, with

an unfavourable connotation.
II. 24, 25. to look to defend their liberty *a tascher de recouurer la liberte.' 1. 27. a wicked man, and that in nature favoured tyranny. A Gallicism. Amyot writes, * un homme insolet, & qui de sa nature fauorisoit a la monarchic.'
:

NOTES
* in P. 137, I. I. in hugger mugger careless haste.' phrase is a very common piece of Elizabethan slang.
:

207

The
Cf.

N.E.D.
the

for instances.
1.

P. 138,

10. mUst.

The

folio

of 1579 regularly

spells

word

middest.'

resolutely

P. 141,1. 24-27. and, for his own part, that he had never determined with himself to make war, or peace, hut

otherwise, that he
subject.

was

certainly
is

The

English

minded never to he slave nor not quite clear, but there is no

:

* Et ambiguity about the French reading que de sa part il n'auoit iamais resoluement arreste en soymesme de faire ny la paix, ny la guerre, mais que sa resolution & sa deliberation arrestee estoit de iamais ne seruir.' P. 142, 1. 8. other. The proper pronominal form of the plural, corresponding to O.E. d%re. In North's time usage was fluctuating, and in the second edition (1595) of the Lives the form * others,' after the analogy of plural nouns, has become the usual one. * uendans 1. leur 9. making portsale of their service seruice, ne plus ne moins qu'a un encan.' 1. 12. Luke. Amyot, following the Greek, gives
:

Lucanie.'
P.

1579

So ed. 1595 ff. The folio of 143, 1. 4. all in all. omits the first *all.' North's translations from
are very free.
*

Homer

Amyot

reads in the present case

Hector, tu tiens lieu de pere & de mere En mon endroit, de mary & de frere.*
lines runs

1.

8, 9.

Amyot's translation of these

*

II

ne

te fault d'autre

chose mesler,
a filer.'

Que

d'enseigner tes

fcmmes

2o8
1.
*

NOTES
15.

embarking at Elea

in

Luke.

Amyot
'Ava;(^ets

has simply
8'

An partir de la,' translating the Greek

P. 144,
11.

6 B/oovtos

22, 23.
*

Amyot

reads

Mais toutefois ma triste destinee Et Phoebus ont ma uie terminee.'

P. 145, 1. 10. forged. The folio 1595 has the misprint forced/ retained by one of the modern editors. The
is
*

French word
1.

forgees.'

21. snew.
1.

An

old preterite.
*

P. 146,

26. Buthrotum.

Buthrotus

'

in

Amyot and
ferir.'

North.
P. 147,
1.

12. without stroke striking 12.

tzvo

*sans

coup

hundred of the noblest men of Rome. There is great inconsistency las to the number. Compare the corresponding passages in Julius Caesar (IV. iii. 174-6) and in the Life of Antonius, Vol. II. p. 29.
149,
1.

P.

P. 150,
I.

1.

9.

Cyzicus
'

*Cyzicum
gives
*

'

Amyot and North.

which North
;

27.

Piraeus.

Amyot
Pirasa.'

Piraee,'

wrongly Anglicizes

P. 151, 1. 4. departing. the second folio changes to

*

So the
*

first

edition, rightly

departed.'

Amyot's reading
'.

is,

Greek 'OpfjirjcravTcs. 20,21. well-beloved of the people and his ozvn *bieuoulu du peuple, aime des sies.' P. 155, 1. 18. of afire: on fire' ed. 1595 ff. P. 156, 1. 19. with their own hands. The first edition
estans partiz,' translating the
II.
*

omits

with.'
fF.

P. 158, 1. 24. sufficienter. Ed. 1595 but the comparative is certainly right.

read

sufficient,'

Amyot

has ^plus

'

NOTES
suffisans'

209
is

and

the

Greek phrase

8t'

ifjrjfXLav

dvSpiov

P.

the

Amyot has 159, 1. 24. cal/ed them both Emperors. * Imperatores, c'est a dire souuerains following note
:

Capitaines.'

P. 161, 11. 5, 6. North takes Homer's ^AAAa iriOeaO^ a/x<f30} Se Amyot's rendering is much closer
:

great vecoTepw

liberties

with
cfxeto.

ccttov

Escoutez moy,
I'ay plus uescu,

& mon

conseil suyue^

que tous deux uous n'auez

North's English is here rather 3. * a cause que peu de rendering runs iours au parauat, luy mesme auoit seulement admoneste de paroles en priue deux de ses amis attaincts & conuaincus
1.

24

obscure.

162, Amyot's
p.

1.

laissoit

de mesmes crimes, & en public les auoit absouls, & ne pas de les employer & de s'en seruir comme
P.

deuant.'

163,

1.

9.

Captains,

petty

Captains,

and

Colonels:

Capitaines, Ceteniers
15. that he saw.

&

Chefz de bedes.'
simply
*

The Greek

has

kK(XTOvrapxai Kau ;(tAiap;(Ot.

1.

Amyot has
had

aperceut.'
:

P.

165.

11.

24, 25.

not Jntonius' aid been

had

it

not been for, etc.,' a common construction. * Aid ' is probably used in sense of Latin auxilia, ^ troops.' Amyot's wording is very similar * n'eust este le secours d'Antonius.'
:

and be afraid. So ed. 1579; the second and later editions read wrongly * and to be afraid,' which does not answer to the French ' & craignent.' ' day of battle ' ed. 1 P. 1 6^, 1. 5. day of the battle. 595 ffP. 166,
11.

18,

19.

1.

12. at another time.

*at'

is

omitted in ed. 1595

if.

: '

2IO
P. i68,
*

NOTES
1.

2 2.
*

If 1

get nought

else.

Ed. 1595
.

fF.

replace

nought' by

nothing.'
.
.

which was an P. 169,11. 21, 22. the signal of battle For crv/x/3oXov dycovo? (fiOLVLKov<s xt^wv. arming scarlet coat * arming' in the sense of * that calls to arms,' cf. N.E.D.,
:

s.v.

We

The present of continued action. 170, 1. 8. / trust. North varies from Amyot and should say * I trusted.' Plutarch considerably in this passage. The Greek reads ovk (juXoorofjiia \6yov a(f)rJKa jxiyav, which Amyot otS' OTTCOS renders, rather incorrectly, * ie feis, ne S9ay comment, un
P.

discours de Philosophie.'
* baggage ' ; cf. note to p. 5 5, 1. 2. 1 77, 1. 17. carriage those that did P. 178, 11. 22, 23. them that were overcome The antithesis is better brought out in the first overcome.

P.

edition of North,
after the

where the first * overcome is spelled, manner of strong past participles, ouercomen.'
' ^

P. 181, P. 182,

1.

6.

11.
1.

P. 183,
is

cf. note to p. 37, 1. 22. tickle cf. note to p. 28, 1. 20. 15, 16. distressed * no 12. doth make no fnention of this spirit.
:
:

omitted in the edition of 1579, an obvious printer's

Amyot says, * ne fait point error corrected in ed. 1595. de metion de ce fantasme,' and the Greek also has the
negative, o^ Xeyet.

P. 184,

1.

14. a-horseback
I, 2.

P. 188,

11.

*on horseback' 1595 fF. Amyot's version of the Greek verse

:

is

que celuy, dont naissance O Ont tant de maulx, n'eschappe ta uengeance.'

lupiter,
*

The

marginal note here comes from Amyot,

Appia

I'etend

d'Antonius.'

NOTES
1.

211
in tasks of engineering.

8. pioneers

soldiers
I.

employed

Cf. N.E.D.yS.v.
1.

9, lo. he ran to the river for water,

sallet.

Amyot
19.

says simply,
*

s'en courut auec

and brought it in his un cabasset

rendering
'

uers
1.

la riuiere.'

Sallet

'

is

a species of helmet.
is

Furthermore.
particle,
Se.

This
*

not a good
'

of

Plutarch's

Hence
reste
'

or

however

would

be better.
*

Amyot
1.

has

Au

and the Latin translation

Inde.'

P. 190,
course,

2.

naughty.

employed in a much more present. Cf. N.E.D., s.v. 2.

the
use

In North's time the word was, of serious sense than at

P. 191,1. 21. hnezv not well that time.

for
*

There

is

no reason
says,

of

the

demonstrative

*that.'

Amyot

n'auroit pas bi5 cogneu le temps,' and the Latin version

*

renders rjyvorjKivai tov xpovov correctly by

ignorasse mortis

tempus.'

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