ABSTRACT
134 Julius Ctesar of complaint or grudge against Cresar,l he ventred to kill him, onely to set his contrie againe at libertie. Where if Dion had not received private cause of quarrell against Dionysius: he woulde never have made warre with him. The which Plato proveth in his Epistells, where is plainlie seene: that Dion being driven out of the tyrans Court against his will, and not putting him selfe to voluntarie banishment, he drave out Dionysius. Furthermore, the respect of the common wealth caused Brutus, that before was Pompeys enemie, to become his frende, and enemie unto Cresar, that before was his frend: only referring his frendshippe and enmitie, unto the consideraeion of justice and equitie. And Dion did many things for Dionysius sake and benefit, all the while he trusted him: and when he beganne to mistrust him, then for anger he made warre with him. Wherefore all his frendes did not beleve, but after he had driven out Dionysius, he would stablish the government to him selfe, flattering the people with a more curteous and gentle title then the name of a tyranne. But for Brutus, his verie enemies them selves confessed, that of all those that conspired Cresars death, he only had no other en de and intent to attempt his enterprise, but to restore the Empire of Rome againe, to her former state and government.2 And furthermore, it was not all one thing to deale with Dionysius, as it was to have to doe with Julius Cresar. For no man that knew Dionysius, but would have despised him, considering that he spent the most parte of his time in drinking, dyeing, and in haunting lewde womens company. But to have undertaken to destroy Julius Cresar, and not to have shroncke backe for feare of his great wisedom, power, and fortune, considering that his name only was dreadfull unto everie man, and also not to suffer the kings of Parthia and India to be in rest for him: this could not come but of a marvelous noble minde of him, that for feare never fainted, nor let fall any part of his corage. And therfore, so sone as Dion came into Sicilia, many thowsands of men came and joy ned with him, against Dionysius. But the fame of Julius Cresar did set up his frends againe after his death, and was of suche force, that it raised a young stripling, Octavius Cresar, (that had no meanes nor power of him selfe) to be one of the greatest men of Rome: and they used him as a remedie to encounter Antonius malice and power. And if men will say, that Dion drave out the tyran Dionysius with force of armes, and sundrie battells: and that in contrarie maner Brutus slue Cresar, being a naked man, and without gard: then doe I aunswere againe, that it was a noble parte, and of a wise Captaine, to choose so apt a time and place, to come uppon a man of so great power, and to finde him
