ABSTRACT
102 Julius Ctesar all the Senate rose to honor him at his comming in. So when he was set, the conspirators flocked about him, and amongst them they presented one TulJius Cimber,! who made humble sute for the calling home againe of his brother that was banished. They all made as though they were intercessors for him, and tooke him by the handes, and kissed his head and brest. Cresar at the first, simplie refused their kindnesse and intreaties: but afterwardes, perceiving they still pressed on him, he violently thrust them from him.2 Then Cimber with both his hands plucked Cresars gowne over his shoulders, and Casca that stoode behinde him, drew his dagger first, and strake Cresar upon the shoulder, but gave him no great wound.3 Cresar feeling him selfe hurt, tooke him straight by the hande he held his dagger in, and cried out in Latin: 0 traitor, Casca, what doest thou? Casca on thother side cried in Grreke,4 and called his brother to helpe him. So divers running on a heape together to £lie uppon Cresar, he looking about him to have f1edde, sawe Brutus with a sworde drawen in his hande readie to strike at him: then he let Cascaes hande goe, and casting his gowne over his face, suffered everie man to strike at him that woulde.5 Then the conspirators thronging one upon an other bicause everie man was desirous to have a cut at him, so many swords and daggers lighting upon one bodie, one of them hmte an other, and among them Brutus caught a blowe on his hande, bicause he would make one in murdering of him, and all the rest also were every man of them bloudied.6 Cresar being slaine in this maner, Brutus standing in the middest of the house, would have spoken, and stayed the other Senators that were not of the conspiracie, to have tolde them the reason why they had done this facte.7 But they as men both affrayd and amazed, fled one upon anothers necke in haste to get out at the dore, and no man followed them. For it was set downe, and agreed betwene them, that they should kill no man but Cresar onely,S and should intreate all the rest to looke to defend their libertie. All the conspirators, but Brutus, determining upon this matter, thought it good also to kill Antonius, bicause he was a wicked man, and that in nature favored tyranny: besides also, for that he was in great estimation with souldiers, having bene conversant of long time amongest them: and specially, having a mind bent to great enterprises, he was also of great authoritie at that time, being Consul with
