ABSTRACT
Plutarch's Lives of Noble Grecians and Romanes 97 their frendes, but all those also whome they thought stowt enough to attempt any desperate matter, and that were not affrayed to loase their lives. For this cause they durst not acquaint Cicero with their conspiracie, although he was a man whome they loved dearelie, and trusted bestl : for they were affrayed that he being a coward by nature, and age also having increased his feare, he woulde quite turne and alter all their purpose, and quenche the heate of their enterprise, the which speciallie required hotte and earnest execucion, seeking by perswasion to bring all thinges to suche safetie, as there should be no perill. 2 Brutus also did let other of his frencles alone, as Statilius Epicurian, and Faonius, that made profession to followe Marcus Cato. Bicause that having cast out wordes a farre of, disputing together in Philosophie to feele their mindes: Faonius aunswered, that civill warre was worse then tyrannicall government usurped against the lawe. 3 And Statilius tolde him also, that it were an unwise parte of him, to put his life in daunger, for a sight of ignoraunt fooles and asses. Labeo was present at this talke, and maintayned the contrarie against them both. But Brutus helde his peace, as though it had bene a doubtfull matter, and a harde thing to have decided. But afterwardes, being out of their companie, he made Labeo privie to his intent: who verie readilie offered him selfe to make one. And they thought good also to bring in an other Brutus to joyne with him, surnamed Albinus: who was no man of his handes him selfe, but bicause he was able to bring good force of a great number of slaves, and fensers at the sharpe, whome he kept to shewe the people pastime with their fighting, besides also that Ca:sar had some trust in him. Cassius and Labeo tolde Brutus Albinus of it at the first, but he made them no aunswere. But when he had spoken with Brutus him selie alone, and that Brutus had tolde him he was the chiefe ringleader of all this conspiracie: then he willinglie promised him the best aide he coulde. Furthermore, the onlie name and great calling of Brutus, did bring on the most of them to geve consent to this conspiracie. Who having never taken othes together, nor taken or geven any caution or assuraunce, nor binding them selves one to an other by any religious othes 4: they all kept the matter so secret to them selves, and coulde so cunninglie handle it, that notwithstanding the goddes did reveale it by manifest signes and tokens li'om above, and by predictions of sacrifices: yet all this woulde not be beleved. Nowe Brutus, who knewe verie well
9 that for his sake all the noblest, valliantest, and most couragious men of Rome did venter their lives, waying with him selfe the greatnesse of the daunger: when he was out of his house, he did so frame and facion his countenaunce and lookes, that no man coulde discerne he had any thing to trouble his minde. But when night came that he was in his owne house, then he was deane chaunged. For, either care did wake him against his will when he woulde have slept, or else oftentimes of him selfe he fell into suche deepe thoughtes of this enterprise, casting in his minde all the daungers that might happen: that his wife lying by him, founde that there was some marvelous great matter that troubled his minde, not beinge wont to be in that taking, and that he coulde not well determine with him selfe.l His wife POl'cia (as we have tolde you before) was the daughter of Cato,2 whome Brutus maried being his cos in, not a maiden, but a younge widowe after the death of her first husbande Bibulus, by whome she had also a younge sonne called Bibulus, who afterwardes wrote a booke of the actes and jeastes3 of Brutus, extant at this present day. This young Ladie being excellentlie well seene in Philosophie,4 loving her husbande well, and being of a noble courage, as she was also wise: bicause she woulde not aske her husbande what he ayled before she had made some proofe by her selfe, she tooke a litle rasor suche as barbers occupie to pare mens nayles, and causinge all her maydes and women to goe out of her chamber, gave her seHe a greate gashe withall in her thigh, that she was straight all of a gore bloode, and incontinentlie after, a vehement fever tooke her, by reason of the payne of her wounde.5 Then perceiving her husbande was marvelouslie out of quiet, and that he coulde take no rest6 : even in her greatest payne of all, she spake in this sorte unto him7 : 'I being, 0 Brutus, (sayed she) the daughter 'of Cato, was maried unto thee, not to be thy beddefdlowe and 'companion in bedde and at borde onelie, like a harlot8 : but to 'be partaker also with thee, of thy good and evill fortune. Nowe for 'thy selfe, I can finde no cause of faulte in thee touchinge our 'matche: but for my parte, howe may I showe my duetie towardes 'thee, and howe muche I woulde doe for thy sake, if 1 can not 'constantlie beare a secret mischaunce or griefe with thee, which 'requireth secrecy and fidelity? I confesse, that a womans wit com-'monly is too weake to keepe a secret safdy: but yet, Brutus, good
