ABSTRACT
Plutarch's Lives of Noble Grecians and Romanes 131 but it must be with our hands, not with our feete. Then taking every man by the hand, he sayd these words unto them with a cheerefull countenance: It rejoyceth my hart that not one of my frends hath failed me at my neede, and I do not complaine of my fortune, but only for my contries sake: for, as for me, I thinke my selfe happier than they that have overcome, considering that I leave a perpetuall fame of our corage and manhoode, the which our enemies the conquerors shall never attaine unto by force nor money, neither can let their posteritie to say, that they being naughtie and unjust men, have slaine good men, to USUrpe tyrannical power not pertaining to them. Having sayd so, he prayed everie man to shift for them selves, and then he went a litle aside with two or three only, among the which Strato was one, with whom he came first acquainted by the studie of Rethoricke. He came as neere to him as he coulde, and taking his sword by the hilts with both his hands, and falling downe upon the poynt of it, ran him selfe through.1 Others say, that not he, but Strato 2 (at his request) held the sword in his hand, and turned his head aside, and that Brutus fell downe upon it: and so ranne him selfe through, and dyed presently. Messala, that had bene Brutus great frend, became afterwards Octavius Cresars frend. So, shortly after, Cresar being at good leasure, he brought Strato, Brutus frende unto him, and weeping sayd 3: Cresar, beholde, here is he that did the last service to my Brutus. Cresar welcomed him at that time, and afterwards he did him as faithfull service in all his affaires, as any Grrecian els he had about him, untill the batten of Actium. It is reported also, that this Messala him selfe aunswered Cresar one day, when he gave him great praise before his face, that he had fought valliantlie, and with great affection for him, at the battell of Actium: (notwithstanding that he had bene his cruell enemy before, at the batten of Philippes, for Brutus sake) I ever loved, sayd he, to take the best and justest parte.4 Now, Antonius having found Brutus bodie, he caused it to be wrapped up in one of the richest cote armors he had. 6 Afterwards also, Antonius understanding that this cote armor was stollen, he put the theefe to death that had stollen it, and sent the ashes of his bodie unto Servilia his mother. And for Porcia, Brutus wife: Nicolaus the Philosopher, and Valerius Maximus doe wryte, that she determining to kin her selfe (her parents and frendes carefulIie looking to her to kepe her from it) tooke hotte burning coles,
and cast them into her mouth, and kept her mouth so close, that she choked her selfe.1 There was a letter of Brutus found wrytten to his frendes, complayning of their negligence, that his wife being sicke, they would not helpe her, but suffred her to kill her selfe, choosing to dye, rather then to languish in paine. Thus it appeareth, that Nicolaus knewe not well that time, sith the letter (at the least if it were Brutus letter) doth plainly declare the disease and love of this Lady, and also the maner of her death.
