No More Learning

She has not personal strength, indeed, to sustain the
toils we undergo, but her spirit is not less active in the
cause of her country. ' This anecdote we have from
Bibulus, the son of Porcia.
From Elea, Brutus sailed for Athens, where he was
received with high applause, and invested with public
honors. There he took up his residence with a parti-
cular friend, and attended the lectures of Theomnestus
the academic, and Cratippus the peripatetic, devoting
himself wholly to literary pursuits. Yet in this un-
suspected state he was privately preparing for war.
He despatched Herostratus into Macedonia to gain the
principal officers in that province; and he secured by
his kindness all the young Romans who were then
students at Athens. Amongst these was the son of
Cicero, on whom he bestowed the highest encomiums,
and said, that he could never cease admiring the spirit
of that young man, who bore such a mortal hatred to
tyrants.
At length he began to act more publicly; and being
informed that some of the Roman ships, laden with
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
163
money, were returning from Asia, under the command
of a man of honor, a friend of his, he met him at Ca-
rystus, a city of Euboea. There he had a conference
with him, and requested that he would give up the
ships. By the bye, it happened to be Brutus' birth-
day, on which occasion he gave a splendid entertain-
ment; and while they were drinking ' Victory to Bru-
tus,' and 'Liberty to Rome,' to encourage the cause,
he called for a larger bowl. While he held it in his
hand, without any visible relation to the subject they
were on, he pronounced this verse:
My fall was doom'd by Phoebus and by Fate.
Some historians say that 'Apollo' was the word he
gave his soldiers in the last battle at Philippi; and, of
course, conclude that this exclamation was a presage
of his defeat. Antistius, the commander of the ships,
gave him five hundred thousand drachmas of the mo-
ney he was carrying to Italy. The remains of Pom-
pey's army that were scattered about Thessaly readily
joined his standard; and, besides these, he took five
hundred horse, whom Cinna was conducting to Dola-
bella in Asia. He then sailed to Demetrias, and seized
a large quantity of arms, which Julius Caesar had pro-
vided for the Parthian war, and which were now to be
sent to Antony. Macedonia was delivered up to him
by Hortensius the pretor; and all the neighboring
princes readily offered their assistance. When news
was received that Caius, the brother of Antony, had
marched through Italy, to join the forces under Gabi-
nius in Dyrrachium and Apollonia, Brutus determined
to seize them before he arrived, and made a forced
march with such troops as were at hand. The way
was rugged, and the snows were deep; but he moved
with such expedition, that his suttlers were left a lony
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PLUTARCH.
way behind. When he had almost reached Dyrra-
chium he was seized with the disorder called bulimia,
or violent hunger, occasioned by cold and fatigue.
This disorder affects both men and cattle, after fatigues
in the snow. Whether it is that, perspiration being
prevented by the extreme cold, the vital heat is con-
fined, and more immediately consumes the aliment, or
that a keen and subtle vapor rising from the melted
snow penetrates the body, and destroys the heat by
expelling it through the pores; for the sweatings seem
to arise from the heat contending with the cold, which
being repelled by the latter, the vapory steam is dif-
fused over the surface of the body. But of this I have
treated more largely in another place. Brutus grow-
ing very faint, and no provisions being at hand, his
servants were forced to go to the gates of the enemy,
and beg bread of the sentinels. When they were in-,
formed of the distress of Brutus, they brought him
meat and drink in their own hands; and in return for
their humanity, when he had taken the city, he showed
kindness both to them and to the rest of the inha-
bitants.
When Caius arrived in Apollonia, he summoned the
soldiers that were quartered near the city to join him;
but finding that they were all with Brutus, and sus-
pecting that those in Apollonia favored the same party,
he went to Buthrotus. Brutus however found means
to destroy three of his cohorts in their march. Caius,
after this, attempted to seize some posts near Byllis,
but was routed in a set battle by young Cicero, to
whom Brutus had given the command of the army on
that occasion, and whose conduct he made use of fre-
quently, and with success. Caius was soon after sur-
prised in a marsh, from whence he had no means to
escape; and Brutus finding him in his power, sur-
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
165
rounded him with his cavalry, and gave orders that
none of his men should be killed; for he expected that
they would quickly join him of their own accord. As
he expected, it came to pass. They surrendered both
themselves and their general; so that Brutus had now
a very respectable army. He treated Caius for a long
time with all possible respect; nor did he divest him
of any ensigns of dignity that he bore, though, it is
said, that he received letters from several persons at
Rome, and particularly from Cicero, advising him to
put him to death. At length, however, when he found
that he was secretly practising with his officers, and
exciting seditions amongst the soldiers, he put him on
board a ship, and kept him close prisoner. The sol-
diers that he had corrupted retired into Apollonia,
from whence they sent to Brutus, that if he would
come to them there, they would return to their duty.
Brutus answered, 'that this was not the custom of the
Romans, but that those who had offended should come
in person to their general, and solicit his forgiveness. '
This they did, and were accordingly pardoned.
He was now preparing to go into Asia, when he was
informed of a change in affairs at Rome. Young Ca? sar,
supported by the senate, had got the better of Antony,
and driven him out of Italy; but, at the same time, he
began to be no less formidable himself; for he solicited
the consulship contrary to law, and kept in pay an un-
necessary army. Consequently the senate, though thev
at first supported, were now dissatisfied with his mea-
sures: and as they began to cast their eyes on Brutus,
and decreed or confirmed several provinces to him,
Caesar was under some apprehensions. He therefore
despatched messengers to Antony, and desired that a
reconciliation might take place. After this he drew up
bis army around the city, and carried the consulship,
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PLUTARCH.
though but a boy, in his twentieth year, as he tells us
in his Commentaries. He was no sooner consul than
he ordered a judicial process to issue against Brutus
and his accomplices, for murdering the first magistrate
in Rome without trial, or condemnation. Lucius Cor-
nificius was appointed to accuse Brutus, and Marcus
Agrippa accused Cassius; neither of whom appearing,
the judges were obliged to pass sentence against both.
It Is said that when the crier, as usual, cited Brutus
to appear the people could not suppress their sighs;
and persons of the first distinction heard it in silent
dejection. Publius Silicius was observed to burst into
tears; and this was the cause why he was afterwards
proscribed. The triumviri, Caesar, Antony and Lepi-
dus, being now reconciled, divided the provinces
amongst them, and settled that list of murder, in which
two hundred citizens, and Cicero amongst the rest,
were proscribed.
When the report of these proceedings was brought
into Macedonia, Brutus found himself under a neces-
sity of sending orders to Hortensius to kill Caius, the
brother of Antony, in revenge of the death of Cicero
his friend, and Brutus Albinus his kinsman, who was
slain. This was the reason why Antony, when he had
taken Hortensius at the battle of Philippi, slew him on
his brother's tomb. Brutus says that he was more
ashamed of the cause of Cicero's death than grieved
at the event; while he saw Rome enslaved more by
her own fault, than by the fault of her tyrants, and
continue a tame spectator of such scenes as ought not
to have been heard of without horror.
The army of Brutus was now considerable, and he
ordered its route into Asia, while a fleet was preparing
in Bithynia and at Cyzicum. As he marched by land,
he settled the affairs of the cities, and gave audience to
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
the princes of those countries through which he passed.
He sent orders to Cassius, who was in Syria, to give
up his intended journey into Egypt, and join him. Ou
this occasion he tells him that their collecting forces
to destroy the tyrants was not to secure an empire to
themselves, but to deliver their fellow-citizens; that
they should never forget this great object of their un-
dertaking, hut, adhering to their first intentions, keep
Italy within their eye, and hasten to rescue their coun-
try from oppression.
Cassius, accordingly, set out to join him, and Brutus
at the same time making some progress to meet him,
their interview was at Smyrna. Till this meeting, they
had not seen each other since they parted at the Piraeus
of Athens, when Cassius set out for Syria, and Brutus
for Macedonia. The forces they had respectively col-
lected gave them great joy, and made them confident
of success. From Italy they had fled, like solitary
exiles, without money, without arms, without a ship,
a soldier, or a town to fly to. Yet now, in so short a
time, they found themselves supplied with shipping
and money, with an army of horse and foot, and in a
condition of contending for the empire of Rome.
Cassius was no less respectful to Brutus, than Brutus
was to him; but the latter would generally wait on
him, as he was the older man, and of a feebler consti-
tution. Cassius was esteemed an able soldier, but of
a fiery disposition, and ambitious to command rather
by fear than affection: though, at the same time, with
his familiar acquaintance he was easy in his manners,
and fond of raillery to excess. Brutus, on account of
his virtue, was respected by the people, beloved by his
friends, admired by men of principle, and not hated
even by bis enemies. He was mild in his temper, and
had a greatness of mind that was superior to anger,
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? PLUTARCH.
avarice, and the love of pleasure. He was firm and
inflexible in his opinions, and zealous in every pursuit,
where justice or honor were concerned. The people
had the highest opinion of his integrity and sincerity
in every undertaking, and this naturally inspired them
with confidence and affection. Even Pompey the Great
had hardly ever so much credit with them: for who
ever imagined, that if he had conquered Caesar, he
would have submitted to the laws, and would not have
retained his power under the title of consul or dictator,
or some more specious and popular name? Cassius,
on the contrary, a man of violent passions, and rapa-
cious avarice, was suspected of exposing himself to
toil and danger, rather from a thirst of power than an
attachment to the liberties of his country. The former
disturbers of the commonwealth, Cinna, and Marius,
and Carbo, evidently set their country as a stake for
the winner, and hardly scrupled to own that they
fought for empire. But the very enemies of Brutus
never charge him with this. Even Antony has been
heard to say that Brutus was the only conspirator who
had the sense of honor and justice for his motive, and
that the rest were wholly actuated by malice or envy.
It is clear too, from what Brutus himself says, that he
finally and principally relied on his own virtue. Thus
he writes to Atticus immediately before an engage-
ment 'That his affairs were in the most desirable
situation imaginable; for that either he should con-
quer, and restore liberty to Rome, or die, and be free
from slavery; that every thing else was reduced to
certainty; and that this only remained a question,
whether they should live or die free men? ' He adds,
that 'Mark Antony was properly punished for his folly;
who, when he might have ranked with the Bruti, the
Cassii, and Catos, chose rather to be the underling of
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? MARCUS BRUTUS. ' 169
Octaviua; and that if he did not fall in the approach-
ing battle, they would very soon be at variance with
each otherin which he seems to have been a true
prophet.
? Whilst they were at Smyrna, Brutus desired Cassius
to let him have part of the vast treasure he had col-
lected, because his own was chiefly expended in equip-
ping a fleet, to gain superiority at sea. But the friends
of Cassius advised him against this; alleging that it
would be absurd to give Brutus that money which he
had saved with so much frugality, and acquired with
so much envy, merely that Brutus might increase his
popularity by distributing it amongst the soldiers.
Cassius, however, gave him a third of what he had,
and then they parted for their respective commands.
Cassius behaved with great severity on the taking of
Rhodes: though when he first entered the city, and
was saluted with the title of king and master, he an-
swered, 'That he was neither their king nor their mas-
ter, but the destroyer of him who would have been
both. ' Brutus demanded supplies of men and money
from the Lycians; but Naucrates, an orator, persuaded
the cities to rebel, and some of the inhabitants posted
themselves on the hills with an intent to oppose the
passage of Brutus. Brutus, at first, despatched a party
of horse, which surprised them at dinner, and killed
six hundred of them. But afterwards, when he had
taken the adjacent towns and villages, he gave up the
prisoners without ransom, and hoped to gain them to
his party by clemency. Their former sufferings, how-
ever, made them reject his humanity; and those that
still resisted being driven into the city of Xanthus,
were there besieged. As a river ran close by the
town, several attempted to escape by swimming and
diving; but they were prevented by nets let down for
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PLUTARCH.
that purpose, which had little bells at the top, to give
notice when any one was taken. The Xanthians after-
wards made a sally in the night, and set fire to several
of the battering engines; but they were perceived and
driven back by the Romans: at the same time the vio-
lence of the winds drove the flames on the city, so that
several houses near the battlements took fire. Brutus
being apprehensive that the whole city would be de-
stroyed, sent his own soldiers to assist the inhabitants
in quenching the fire. But the Lycians were seized
with an incredible despair, a kind of frensy, which can
no otherwise be described than by calling it a pas-
sionate desire of death. Women and children, free-
men and slaves, people of all ages and conditions,
strove to repulse the soldiers as they came to their
assistance from the walls. With their own hands they
collected wood and reeds, and all manner of combus-
tibles, to spread the fire over the city, and encouraged
its progress by every means in their power. Thus
assisted, the flames flew over the whole with dreadful
rapidity; whilst Brutus, extremely shocked at this
calamity, rode round the walls, and stretching forth
his hands to the inhabitants, intreated tbem to spare
themselves and their city. Regardless of his intrea-
ties, they sought by every means to put an end to their
lives. Men, women, and even children, with hideous
cries, leaped into the flames. Some threw themselves
headlong from the walls, and others fell on the swords
of their parents, opening their breasts, and begging to
be slain.
When the city was in a great measure reduced to
ashes, a woman was found who had hanged herself,
with her young child fastened to her neck, and the
torch in her hand, with which she had fired her house.
This deplorable object so much affected Brutus, that
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
171
he wept when he was told of it, and proclaimed a re-
ward to any soldier who could save a Xanthian. It is
said that no more than a hundred and fifty were pre-
served, and those against their will. Thus the Xan-
thians, as if fate had appointed certain periods for their
destruction, after a long course of years, sunk into that
deplorable ruin, in. which the same rash despair had in-
volved their ancestors in the Persian war: for they too
burned their city, and destroyed themselves.
After this, when the Patareans likewise made resist-
ance, Brutus was under great anxiety whether he should
besiege them; for he was afraid they would follow the
desperate measures of the Xanthians. However, having
some of their women whom he had taken prisoners, he
dismissed them without ransom; and those returning
to their husbands and parents, who happened to be peo-
ple of the first distinction, so much extolled the justice
and moderation of Brutus, that they prevailed on them
to submit, and put their city in his hands. The adja-
cent cities followed their example, and found that his
humanity exceeded their hopes. Cassius compelled
every Rhodian to give up all the gold and silver in his
possession, by which he amassed eight thousand talents;
and yet he laid the public under a fine of five hundred
talents more ; but Brutus took only a hundred and fifty
talents of the Lycians, and, without doing them any
other injury, led his army into Ionia.
Brutus, in the course of this expedition, did many
acts of justice, and was vigilant in the dispensation of
rewards and punishments. An instance of this I shall
relate, because both he himself, and every honest Ro-
man, was particularly pleased with it. When Pompey
the Great, after his overthrow at Pharsalia, fled into
Egypt, and landed near Pelusium, the tutors and mi-
nisters of young Ptolemy consulted what measures
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PLUTARCH.
they should take on the occasion. But they were of
different opinions. Some were for receiving him, others
for excluding him out of Egypt. Theodotus, a Chian
by birth, and a teacher of rhetoric by profession, who
then attended the king in that capacity, was, for want
of abler ministers, admitted to the council. This man
insisted that both were in the wrong--those who were
for receiving, and those who were for expelling Pom-
pey. The best measure they could take, he said, would
be to put him to death; and concluded his speech with
the proverb that' dead men do not bite. ' The council
entered into his opinion; and Pompey the Great, an
example of the incredible mutability of fortune, fell a
sacrifice to the arguments of a sophist, as that sophist
lived afterwards to boast. Not long after, on Caesar's
arrival in Egypt, some of the murderers received their
proper reward, and were put to death; but Theodotus
made his escape.
Yet, though for a while he gained
from fortune the poor privilege of a wandering and
despicable life, he fell at last into the hands of Brutus,
as he was passing through Asia; and by paying the
forfeit of his baseness, became more memorable from
his death than from any thing in his life.
About this time Brutus sent for Cassius to Sardis,
and went with his friends to meet him. The whole
army being drawn up, saluted both the leaders with
the title of imperator. But, as it usually happens in
great affairs, where many friends and many officers are
engaged, mutual complaints and suspicions arose be-
tween Brutus and Cassius. To settle these more pro-
perly, they retired into an apartment by themselves.
Expostulations, debates, and accusations followed.
And these were so violent, that they burst into tears.
Their friends without were surprised at the loudness
and asperity of the conference; but though they were
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
173
apprehensive of the consequence, they durst not inter-
fere, because they had been expressly forbidden to
enter. Favonius, however, an imitator of Cato, but
rather an enthusiast than rational in his philosophy,
attempted to enter. The servants in waiting endea-
vored to prevent him; but it was not easy to stop the
impetuous Favonius. He was violent in his whole
conduct, and valued himself less on his dignity as a
senator, than on a kind of cynical freedom in saying
every thing he pleased; nor was this unentertaining to
those who could bear with his impertinence. However,
he broke through the door, and entered the apartment,
pronouncing, in a theatrical tone, what Nestor says in
Homer,
Young men, be ruled--I'm older than you both.
Cassius laughed: but Brutus thrust him out, telling
him that he pretended to be a cynic, but was in reality
a dog. This, however, put an end to the dispute; and
for that time they parted. Cassius gave an entertain-
ment in the evening, to which Brutus invited his
friends. When they were seated, Favonius came in
from bathing. Brutus called aloud to him, telling him
he was not invited, and bade him go to the lower end
of the table. Favonius, notwithstanding, thrust him-
self in, and sat down in the middle. On that occasion
there was much learning and good-humor in the con-
versation.
The day following, one Lucius Pella, who had been
pretor, and employed in offices of trust, being im-
peached by the Sardians of embezzling the public
money, was disgraced and condemned by Brutus.
This was very mortifying to Cassius; for, a little
before, two of his own friends had been accused of
the same crime; but he had absolved them in public,
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PLUTARCH.
and contenting himself with giving them a private re-
proof, continued them in office. Of course he charged
Brutus with too rigid an exaction of the laws at a time
when lenity was much more politic. Brutus, on the
other hand, reminded him of the ides of March, the
time when they had killed Caesar; who was not, per-
sonally speaking, the scourge of mankind, but only
abetted and supported those that were with his power.
He bade him consider, that if the neglect of justice
were in any case to be connived at, it should have been
done before, and that they had better have borne with
the oppressions of Caesar's friends, than suffered the
malpractices of their own to pass with impunity: 'For
then,' continued he, ' we could have been blamed only
for cowardice; but now, after all we have undergone,
we shall lie under the imputation of injustice. ' Such
tyere the principles of Brutus.
When they were about to leave Asia, Brutus, it is
said, had an extraordinary apparition. Naturally
watchful, sparing in his diet, and assiduous in business,
he allowed himself but little time for sleep. In the day
he never slept, nor in the night, till all business was
over, and, the rest being retired, he had nobody to con-
verse with. But at this time, involved as he was in the
operations of war, and solicitous for the event, he only
slumbered a little after supper, and spent the rest of
the night in ordering his most urgent affairs. When
these were despatched, he employed himself in reading
till the third watch, when the tribunes and centurions
came to him for orders. Thus, a little before be left
Asia, he was sitting alone in his tent, by a dim light,
and at a late hour. The whole army lay in sleep and
silence, while the general, wrapt in meditation, thought
he perceived something enter his tent: turning towards
the door, he saw a horrible and monstrous spectre stand-
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? MARCUS BRUTU6.
175
ing silently by his side. 'What art thou V said he
boldly. 'Art thou god or man? And what is thy busi-
ness with me? ' The spectre answered, 'I am thy evil
genius, Brutus! Thou wilt see me at Philippi. ' To
which he calmly replied, ' I'll meet thee there. ' When
the apparition was gone, he called his servants, who
told him they had neither heard any noise, nor had
seen any vision. That night he did not go to rest, but
went early in the morning to Cassius, and told him
what had happened. Cassius, who was of the school
of Epicurus, and used frequently to dispute with Bru-
tus on these subjects, answered him thus: ' It is the
opinion of our sect, that not every thing we see is real;
for matter is evasive, and sense deceitful. Besides,
the impressions it receives are, by that quick and subtle
influence of imagination, thrown into a variety of forms,
many of which have no archetypes in nature: and this
the imagination effects as easily as we may make an
impression on wax. The mind of man, having in itself
the plastic powers, and the component parts, can fashion
and vary its objects at pleasure. This is clear from the
sudden transition of dreams, in which the imagination
can educe from the slightest principles such an amazing
variety of forms, and call into exercise all the passions
of the soul. The mind is perpetually in motion, and
that motion is imagination, or thought. But, when the
body, as in your case, is fatigued with labor, it natu-
rally suspends, or perverts the regular functions of the
mind. On the whole, it is highly improbable that
there should be any such beings as demons, or spirits;
or, that if there were such, they should assume a human
shape or voice, or have any power to affect us. At the
same time I own I could wish there were such beings,
that we might not rely on fleets and armies, but find
the concurrence of the gods in this our sacred and
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? 17G
PLUTARCH.
glorious enterprise. ' Such were the arguments he
made use of to satisfy Brutus.
When the army began to march, two eagles perched
on the two first standards, and accompanied them as
far as Philippi, being constantly fed by the soldiers;
but the day before the battle they flew away. Brutus
had already reduced most of the nations in these parts;
nevertheless he traversed the sea-coast over-against
Thasus, that, if any hostile power remained, he might
bring it into subjection. Norbanus, who was encamped
m the straits near Symbolum, they surrounded in such
a manner, that they obliged him to quit the place. In-
deed, he narrowly escaped losing his whole army, which
had certainly been the case, had not Antony come to
his relief with such amazing expedition, that Brutus
could not believe it to be possible. Caesar, who had
been kept behind by sickness, joined his army about
ten days after. Brutus was encamped over-against
him; Cassius was opposite to Antony. The space be-
tween the two armies the Romans call the plains of
Philippi. Two armies of Romans, equal in numbers
to these, had never before met to engage each other.
Caesar's was something superior in numbers; but, in
the splendor of arms and equipage, was far exceeded
by that of Brutus; for most of their arms were of gold
and silver, which their general had liberally bestowed
on them. Brutus, in other things, had accustomed his
officers to frugality; but the riches which his soldiers
carried about with them, would at once, he thought,
add to the spirit of the ambitious, and make the covet-
ous valiant in the defence of those arms which were
their principal wealth.
Caesar made a lustration of his army within the
camp, and gave each private man a little corn, and five
drachmas only for the sacrifice. But Brutus, to show
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
177
his contempt of the poverty, or the avarice of Caesar,
made a public lustration of his army in the field, and
not only distributed cattle to each cohort for the sacri-
fice, but gave fifty drachmas on the occasion to each
private man. Of course he was more beloved by his
soldiers, and they were more ready to fight for him.
It is reported that, during the lustration, an unlucky
omen happened to Cassius. The garland he was to
wear at the sacrifice was presented to him the wrong
side outwards. It is said too, that at a solemn pro-
cession, some time before, the person who bore the
golden image of Victory before Cassius happened to
stumble, and the image fell to the ground. Several
birds of prey hovered daily about the camp, and swarms
of bees were seen within the trenches. On which the
soothsayers ordered the part where they appeared to be
shut up: for Cassius, with all his Epicurean philoso-
phy, began to be superstitious, and the soldiers were
extremely disheartened by these omens.
For this reason Cassius was inclined to protract the
war, and unwilling to hazard the whole of the event of
a present engagement. What made for this measure too
was, that they were stronger in money and provisions,
but inferior in numbers. Brutus, on the other hand, was,
as usual, for an immediate decision; that he might either
give liberty to his country, or rescue his fellow-citizens
from the toils and expenses of war. He was encouraged
likewise by the success his cavalry met with in several
skirmishes; and some instances of desertion and mu-
tiny in the camp brought over many of the friends of
Cassius to his opinion. But there was one Atellius,
who still opposed an immediate decision, and advised
to put it off till the next winter. When Brutus asked
him what advantages he expected from that, he answered,
'If I gain nothing else, I shall at least live so much the
PLUT. VoL. VII. M
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? 178
PLUTARCH.
longer. ' Both Cassius and the rest of the officers were
displeased with this answer; and it was determined to
give battle the day following.
Brutus that night expressed great confidence and
cheerfulness; and having passed the time of supper in
philosophical conversation, he went to rest. Messala
says that Cassius supped in private with some of his
most intimate friends; and that, contrary to his usual
manner, he was pensive and silent. He adds, that after
supper he took him by the hand, and pressing it close,
as he commonly did, in token of his friendship, he said
in Greek,--' Bear witness, Messala, that I am reduced
to the same necessity with Pompey the Great, of ha-
zarding the liberty of my country on one battle. Yet
I have confidence in our good fortune, on which we
ought still to rely, though the measures we have re-
solved on are indiscreet. ' These, Messala tells us, ?
were the last words that Cassius spoke before he bade
him farewell; and that the next day, being his birth-
day, he invited Cassius to sup with him.
Next morning, as soon as it was light, the scarj/et
robe, which was the signal for battle, was hung out in
the tents of Brutus and Cassius; and they themselves
met on the plain between the- two armies. On this
occasion Cassius thus addressed himself to Brutus:--
'May the gods, Brutus, make this day successful, that
we may pass the rest of our days together in prosperity.
But as the most important of human events are the most
uncertain; and as we may never see each other any
more, if we are unfortunate on this occasion, tell me
what is your resolution concerning flight and death V
Brutus answered, 'In the younger and less expe-
rienced part of my life, I was led, on philosophical
principles, to condemn the conduct of Cato, in killing
himself. I thought it at once impious and unmanly
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
179
to sink beneath the stroke of fortune, and to refuse the
lot that had befallen us. In my present situation,
however, I am of a different opinion. So that if hea-
ven should now be unfavorable to our wishes, I will
no longer solicit my hopes or my fortune, but die con-
tented with it, such as it is. On the ides of March I
devoted my life to my country; and since that time I
have lived in liberty and glory. ' At these words Cas-
sius smiled, and embracing Brutus, said, 'Let us
march then against the enemy; for with these resolu-
tions, though we should not conquer, we have no-
thing to fear. ' They then consulted with their friends
concerning the order of battle. Brutus desired that
he might command the right wing, though the post was
thought more proper for Cassius on account of his ex-
perience. Cassius, however, gave it up to him, and
placed Messala, with the best of his legions, in the
same wing. Brutus immediately drew out his cavalry,
which were equipped with great magnificence; and the
foot followed close on them.
Antony's soldiers were at this time employed in
making a trench from the marsh where they were en-
camped, to cut off Cassius' communication with the
sea. Caesar lay still in his tent, confined by sickness.
His soldiers were far from expecting that the enemy
would come to a pitched battle. They supposed that
they were only making excursions to harass the
trench-diggers with their light arms; and not per-
ceiving that they were pouring in close on them, they
were astonished at the outcry they heard from the
trenches. Brutus, in the mean time, sent tickets to
the several officers with the word of battle, and rode
through the ranks to encourage his men. There were
few who had patience to wait for the word. The greatest
part, before it could reach them, fell with loud shouts
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? 180
PLUTARCH.
on the enemy. This precipitate onset threw the army
into confusion, and separated the legions. Messala's
legion first got beyond the left wing of Caesar, and
was followed by those that were stationed near him.
In their way they did nothing more than ttfrow some of
the outmost ranks into disorder, and killed few of the
enemy: their great object was to fall on Caesar's camp,
and they made directly up to it. Caesar himself, as he
tells ns in his Commentaries, had but just before been
conveyed out of his tent, in consequence of a vision
of his friend Artorius, which commanded that he should
be carried out of the camp. This made it believed
that he was slain; for the soldiers had pierced his
empty litter in many places with darts. Those who
were taken in the camp were put to the sword, amongst
whom were two thousand Lacedaemonian auxiliaries.
Those who attacked Caesar's legions in front easily
put them to the rout, and cut three legions in pieces.
After this, borne along with the impetuosity of victory,
they rushed into the camp at the same time with the fu-
gitives, and Brutus was in the midst of them. The flank
of Brutus' army was now left unguarded, by the separa-
tion of the right wing, which was gone off too far in
the pursuit; and the enemy perceiving this, endeavored
to take advantage of it. They accordingly attacked it
with great fury, but could make no impression on the
main body, which received them with firmness and un-
shaken resolution. The left wing, however, which
was under the command of Cassius, was soon put to the
rout; for the men were in great disorder, and knew no-
thing of what had passed in the right wing. The enemy
pursued him into the camp, which they plundered and
destroyed, though neither of their generals were pre-
sent. Antony, it is said, to avoid the fury of the first
onset, had retired into the adjoining marsh; and Caesar,
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? MARCUS BRUTUS.
181
who had been carried sick out of the camp, was no
where to be found. Nay, some of the soldiers would
have persuaded Brutus that they had killed Caesar, de-
scribing his age and person, and showing him their
bloody swords.
The main body of Brutus' army had now made pro-
digious havoc of the enemy; and Brutus, in his de-
partment, was no less absolutely conquered than Cas-
sius was conquered. The want of knowing this was
the ruin of their affairs. Brutus neglected to relieve
Cassius, because he knew not that he wanted relief.
When Brutus had destroyed the camp of Caesar,
and was returning from the pursuit, he was surprised
that he could neither perceive the tent of Cassius above
the rest, as usual, nor any of those that were about it;
for they had been demolished by the enemy, on their
first entering the camp.