ABSTRACT
Plutarch's Lives of Noble Grecialls and Romanes 87 Lepidus, which were two of Ccesars chiefest frends, secretly conveying them selves away, fled into other mens houses, and forsooke their owne.1 Brutus and his confederats on thother side, being yet hotte with this murther they had committed, having their swordes drawen in their hands, came all in a troupe together out of the Senate, and went into the market place,2 not as men that made countenaunce to flie, but otherwise boldly holding up their heades like men of corage, and called to the people to defende their libertie, and stayed to speake with every great personage whome they met in their way. Of them, some followed this troupe, and went amongest them, as if they had bene of the conspiracie, and falsely chalenged parte of the honor with them: among them was Caius Octavius, and Lentulus Spinther. But both of them were afterwards put to death, for their vaine covetousnes of honor, by Antonius, and Octavius Ccesar the younger: and yet had no parte of that honor for the which they were put to death, neither did any man beleve that they were any of the confederates, or of counsell with them. For they that did put them to death, tooke revenge rather of the will they had to offend, then of any fact they had committed. The next morning, Brutus and his confederates came into the market place to speake unto the people, who gave them such audience, that it seemed they neither greatly reproved, nor allowed the fact: for by their great silence they showed, that they were sory for Ccesal's death, and also that they did reverence Brutus.3 Nowe the Senate graunted generall pardonne for all that was paste, and to pacifie every man, ordained besides, that Ccesars funeralls4 shoulde bee honored as a god, and established all thinges that he had done: and gave certaine provinces also, and convenient honors unto Brutus and his confederates, whereby every man thought all things were brought to good peace and quietnes againe. But when they had opened Ccesars testament,G and found a liberall legacie of money, bequeathed unto every citizen of Rome,6 and that they saw his body (which was brought into the market place) al bemangled with gashes of swordes7 : then there was no order to keepe the multitude and common people quiet, but they plucked up formes, tables, and stooles, and layed them all about the body, and setting them a fire, burnt the corse. Then when the fire was well kindled, they tooke the fire brandes, and went unto their houses that had slaine Ccesar, to
Julius CtJJsar set them a fire.! Other also ranne up and downe the citie to see if they could meete with any of them, to cut them in peeces: howbeit they could meete with never a man of them, bicause they had locked them selves up safely in their houses. There was one of Ca:sars frends called Cinna,2 that had a marvelous straunge and terrible dreame the night before. He dreamed that Ca:sar bad him to supper, and that he refused, and would not goe: then that Ca:sar tooke him by the hand, and led him against his will. Now Cinna hearing at that time, that they burnt Ca:sars body in the market place, notwithstanding that he feared his dreame, and had an agew on him besides: he went into the market place to honor his funeralls. When he came thither, one of meane sorte asked what his name was? He was straight called by his name. The first man told it to an other, and that other unto an other, so that it ranne straight through them all, that he was one of them that murdered Ca:sar: (for in deede one of the traitors to Ca:sar, was also called Cinna as him selfe) wherefore taking him for Cinna the murderer, they fell upon him with such furie, that they presently dispatched him in the market place. 3 This sturre and furie made Brutus and Cassius more affrayed, then of all that was past, and therefore within fewe dayes after, they departed out of Rome4 : and touching their doings afterwards, and what calamity they suffered till their deathes, we have wrytten it at large, in the life of Brutus. Ca:sar dyed at six and fifty yeres of age: and Pompey also lived not passing foure yeares more then he. So he reaped no other frute of all his raigne and dominion, which he had so vehemently desired all his life, and pursued with such extreame daunger: but a vaine name only, and a superficiall glory, that procured him the envy and hatred of his contrie. But his great prosperi tie and good fortune that favored him all his life time, did continue afterwards in the revenge of his death, pursuing the murtherers both by sea and land, till they had not left a man more to be executed, of al them that were actors or counsellers in the conspiracy of his death.5 Furthermore, of all the chaunces that happen unto men upon the earth, that which came to Cassius above all other, is most to be wondered at. For he being overcome in battell at the jorney of Philippes, slue him selfe with the same sworde, with the which he strake Ca:sar. 6 Againe, of signes in the element, the great comet which seven nightes together was seene very bright after
Cresars death, the eight night after was never seene more.l Also the brightncs of the sunne was darkened, the which all that yeare through rose very pale, and shined not out, whereby it gave but small heate: therefore the ayer being very dowdy and darke, by the weakenes of the heate that could not come foorth, did cause the earth to bring foorth but raw and unrype frute, which rotted before it coukl rype. But above all, the ghost that appeared unto Brutus shewed plainly, that the goddes were offended with the murther of Cresar.2 The vision was thus: Brutus being ready to passe over his army from the citie of Abydos, to the other coast lying directly against it, slept every night (as his manner was) in his tent, and being yet awake, thinking of his affaires: (for by reporte he was as carefull a Captaine, and lived with as litle sleepe, as ever man did) he thought he heard a noyse at his tent dore, and looking towards the light of the lampe that waxed very dimme, he saw a horrible vision of a man, of a wonderfull greatnes, and dreadfull looke, which at the first made him marvelously afraid.3 But when he sawe that it did him no hurt, but stoode by his bedde side, and sayd nothing: at length he asked him what he was. The image aunswered him: I am thy ill angell, Brutus, and thou shalt see me by the citie of Philippes. Then Brutus replied againe, and sayd: Well, I shall see thee then.4 Therewithall, the spirit presently vanished from him. After that time Brutus being in battell neere unto the citie of Philip pes, against Antonius and Octavius Cresar, at the first battell he wan the victorie, and overthrowing all them that withstoode him, he drave them into young Cresars campe, which he tooke. The second battell being at hand, this spirit appeared again unto him, but spake never a word.a Thereuppon Brutus knowing he should dye,(\ did put him selfe to all hazard in batteH, but yet fighting could not be slaine. So seeing his men put to flight and overthrowen, he ranne unto a Ii tie rocke not farre of, and there setting his swordes point to his brest, fell upon it, and slue him selfe, but yet as it is reported, with the helpe of his frend, that dispatched him.7
