which seuen nights together was seene very bright after Cæsars death, the eighth night after was neuer seene more. Also the brightnesse of the Sunne was darkened, the which all that yeare through rose very pale, and shined not out, whereby it gaue but small heate: therefore the ayre being very cloudie and darke, by the weaknesse of the heate that could not come forth, did cause the earth to bring forth but raw and vnripe fruite, which rotted before it could ripe. But aboue all, the ghost that appeared vnto Brutus shewed plainly, that the gods were offended with the murther of Cæsar. The vision was thus: Brutus being readie to passe ouer his armie from the citie of Arydos, to the other coast lying directly against it, slept euery night (as his maner was) in his tent, and being yet awake, thinking of his affaires : (for by report he was as carefull a Captaine, and liued with as little sleepe, as euer man did) he thought he heard a noise at his tent doore, and looking towards the light of the lamp that waxed very dim, he saw a horrible vision of a man, of a wonderfull greatnesse, and dreadfull looke, which at the first made him maruellously afraid. But when he saw that it did him no hurt, but stood by his bed side, & said nothing; at length he asked him what he was. The image answered him: I am thy ill Angell, Brutus, and thou shalt see me by the citie of Philippes. Then Brutus replied againe, and said: Well, I shall see thee then. Therewithall, the spirit presently vanished from him. After that time, Brutus being in battell neare vnto the citie of Philippes, against Antonius and Octauius Cæsar, at the first battell he wanne the victorie, and ouerthrowing all them that withstood him, he draue them into yong Cæsars camp, which he tooke. The second battell being at hand, this spirit appeared againe vnto him, but spake neuer a word. Thereupon Brutus knowing that he should die, did put himselfe to all hazard in battell, but yet fighting could not be slaine. So seeing his men put to flight and ouerthrowne, he ranne vnto a little rocke not farre off, and there setting his swords point to his breast, fell vpon it, and slue himselfe : but yet, as it is reported, with the helpe of his friend that dispatched him.

From the Life of MARCUS BRUTUS.

MARCUS BRUTUS came of that Iunius Brutus, for whom the auncient Romaines made his statue of brasse to be set vp in the Capitoll, with the images of the kings, holding a naked sword in his hand : because he had valiantly put downe the Tarqvines from their kingdome of Rome. But that Iunius Brutus being of a sower sterne nature, not softened by reason, being like vnto sword blades of too hard a temper: was so subiect to his choller and malice he bare vnto the tyrants, that for their sakes he caused his owne sonnes to be executed. But this Marcus Brutus in contrarie manner, whose life we presently write, hauing framed his life by the rules of vertue, and studie of Philosophie, and hauing employed his wit, which was gentle and constant, in attempting of great things: methinkes he was rightly made and framed vnto vertue. So that his very enemies which wish him most hurt, because of his conspiracie against Iulius Cæsar: if there were any noble attempt done in all this conspiracie, they referre it wholy vnto Brutus, and all the cruel and violent actes vnto Cassius, who was Brutus familiar friend, but not so well giuen, and conditioned as he. Marcus Cato the Philosopher was brother vnto Seruilia, Marcus Brutus mother: whom Brutus studied most to follow of all the other Romaines, because he was his vncle, and afterwards he maried his daughter. Now touching the Grecian Philosophers, there was no sect or Philosopher of them, but he heard and liked it: but aboue all the rest, he loued Platoes sect best, and did not much giue himselfe to the new or meane Academie (as they call it) but altogether to the old Academie.

Cassius being a cholericke man, and hating Cesar priuatly, more then he did the tyrannie openly; he incensed Brutus against him. It is also reported, that Brutus could euill away with the tyrannie, and that Cassius hated the tyrant : making many complaints for the iniuries he had done

him; and amongst others, for that he had taken away his Lions from him. Cassius had prouided them for his sports, when he should be Ædilis, and they were found in the citie of Megara, when it was wonne by Calenus, and Cæsar kept them. The rumor went, that these lions did maruellous great hurt to the Megarians: for when the city was taken, they brake their cages where they were tyed vp, & turned the loose, breaking they wold haue done great mischiefe to the enemies, and haue kept them from setting vpon them: but the lions (contrarie to expectation) turned upon themselues that fled vnharmed, and did so cruelly teare some in peeces, that it pitied their enemies to see them. And this was the cause (as some do report) that made Cassius conspire against Cæsar. But this holdeth no water: for Cassius euen from his cradle could not abide any manner of tyrants, as it appeared when he was but a boy, and went vnto the same schoole that Faustus, the son of Sylla, did. And Faustus bragging among other boyes, highly boasted of his fathers kingdom: Cassius rose vp on his feet, and gaue him two good whirts on the eare. Faustus gouernors would haue put this matter in sute against Cassius: but Pompey would not suffer them, but caused the two boyes to be brought before him, and asked them, how the matter came to passe. Then Cassius (as it is written of him) said vnto the other: Go too Faustus, speake againe and thou darest, before this Nobleman here, the same words that made me angrie with thee, that my fistes may walke once againe about thine ears. Such was Cassius hote stirring nature. But for Brutus, his friends and countrimen, both by diuers procurements, and sundrie rumours of the citie, and by many bils also, did openly call and procure him to do that he did. For vnder the image of his auncestor Iunius Brutus, (that draue the kings out of Rome) they wrote: O, that it pleased the gods thou wert now aliue, Brutus! and againe, That thou wert here among us now! His tribunall or chaire, where he gaue audience during the time he was Praetor, was full of such billes: Brutus thou art asleepe, and art not Brutus indeed. And of all this, Cæsars flatterers were the cause: who beside many other exceeding and unspeakable honours they daily deuised for him, in the night time they did put Diademes

vpon the heades of his images, supposing thereby to allure the common people to call him King, in steade of Dictator. Howbeit, it turned to the contrarie, (as we haue written more at large in Iulius Cæsars life.) Now when Cassius felt his friends, and did stirre them vp against Cæsar: they all agreed and promised to take part with him, so Brutus were the chiefe of their conspiracie. For they told him, that so high an enterprise and attempt as that, did not so much require men of manhood, and courage to draw their swords: as it stood the vpon to haue a man of such estimation as Brutus, to make euery man boldly thinke, that by his onely presence the fact were holy and iust. If he tooke not this course, then that they should go to it with fainter hearts, and when they had done it they should be more fearefull: because euery man would thinke that Brutus would not haue refused to haue made one with them, if the cause had bene good and honest. Therefore Cassius considering this matter with himselfe, did first of all speake to Brutus, since they grew straunge together for the sute they had for the Prætorship. So when he was reconciled to him againe, and that they had embraced one another; Cassius asked him if he were determined to be in the Senate house, the first day of the moneth of March, because he heard say that Cæsars friendes should moue the councell that day, that Cæsar should be called King by the Senate. Brutus answered him, he would not be there. But if we be sent for (sayed Cassius) how then? For my selfe then (sayed Brutus) I meane not to hold my peace, but to withstand it, and rather die then lose my libertie. Cassius being bold, and taking hold of this word: Why (quoth he) what Romaine is he aliue that will suffer thee to dye for the libertie? What, knowest thou not that thou art Brutus? Thinkest thou that they be coblers, tapsters, or such like base mechanicall people, that write these billes and scrolles which are found daily in thy Prætors chaire, and not the noblest men and best citizens that do it? No, be thou well assured, that of other Prætors they looke for giftes, common distributions amongst the people, & for common playes, and to see fencers fight at the sharp, to shew the people pastime : but at thy hands, they specially require (as a due debt vnto them)

the taking away of the tyrannie, being fully bent to suffer any extremitie for thy sake, so that thou wilt shew thy selfe to be the man thou art taken for, and that they hope thou art. Thereupon he kissed Brutus and embraced him: and so each taking leaue of other, they went both to speake with their friends about it. Now amongst Pompeys friends, there was one called Caius Ligarius,* who had bene accused vnto Cæsar for taking part with Pompey; and Cæsar discharged him. But Ligarius thanked not Cæsar so much for his discharge, as he was offended with him, for that he was brought in daunger by his tyrannicall power. And therefore in his heart he was alway his mortall enemie, and was besides very familiar with Brutus, who went to see him being sicke in his bed, and sayed unto him: Ligarius, in what a time art thou sicke? Ligarius rising vp in his bed, and taking him by the right hand, said vnto him: Brutus (said he) if thou hast any great enterprise in hand worthie of thy selfe, I am whole. After that time they began to feele all their acquaintance whom they trusted, and layed their heads together consulting vpon it, and did not onely picke out their friends, but all those also whom they thought stout enough to attempt any desperate matter, and that were not affraid to lose their liues. For this cause they durst not acquaint Cicero with their conspiracie, although he was a man whom they loued dearely, and trusted best: for they were affraid that he being a coward by nature, and age also hauing increased his feare, he would quite turne and alter all their purpose, and quench the heate of their enterprise the which specially required hote and earnest execution, seeking by perswasion to bring all things to such safetie, as there should be no perill. Brutus also did let other of his friends alone, as Statilius Epicvrian, and Faonius, that made profession to follow Marcus Cato: because that hauing cast out words a farre off, disputing together in Philosophie to feele their minds: Faonius answered, That ciuill war was worse than tyrannicall gouernment vsurped against the law. And Statilius told him also, That it were an vnwise part of him, to put his life in daunger, for a sight of ignorant fooles and asses.

* In another place they call him Quintus.