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they discoursed among their friends about the ordering of the
battle； and Brutus desired of Cassius that he might command the
right wing； though it was thought that this was more fit for
Cassius； in regard both of his age and his experience。 Yet even in
this Cassius complied with Brutus； and placed Messala with the
valiantest of all his legions in the same wing； so Brutus
immediately drew out his horse； excellently well equipped； and was not
long in bringing up his foot after them。
Antony's soldiers were casting trenches from the marsh by which they
were encamped across the plain； to cut off Cassius's communications
with the sea。 Caesar was to be at hand with his troops to support
them； but he was not able to be present himself； by reason of his
sickness； and his soldiers； not much expecting that the enemy would
come to a set battle； but only make some excursions with their darts
and light arms to disturb the men at work in the trenches； and not
taking notice of the troops drawn up against them ready to give
battle； were amazed when they heard the confused and great outcry that
came from the trenches。 In the meanwhile Brutus had sent his
tickets； in which was the word of battle； to the officers； and himself
riding about to all the troops； encouraged the soldiers； but there
were but few of them that understood the word before they engaged； the
most of them； not staying to have it delivered to them； with one
impulse and cry ran upon the enemy。 This disorder caused an unevenness
in the line； and the legions got severed and divided one from another；
that of Messala first； and afterwards the other adjoining； went beyond
the left wing of Caesar and having just touched the extremity； without
slaughtering any great number； passing around that wing； fell directly
into Caesar's camp。 Caesar himself； as his own memoirs tell us； had
but just before been conveyed away； Marcus Artorius； one of his
friends； having had a dream bidding Caesar be carried out of the camp。
And it was believed that he was slain； for the soldiers had pierced
his litter； which was left empty； in many places with their darts
and pikes。 There was a great slaughter in the camp that was taken； and
two thousand Lacedaemonians that were newly come to the assistance
of Caesar were all cut off together。
The rest of the army； that had not gone round； but had engaged the
front； easily overthrew them； finding them in great disorder； and slew
upon the place three legions； and being carried on with the stream
of victory； pursuing those that fled； fell into the camp with them；
Brutus himself being there。 But they that were conquered took the
advantage in their extremity of what the conquerors did not
consider。 For they fell upon that part of the main body which had been
left exposed and separated； where the right wing had broke off from
them and hurried away in the pursuit； yet they could not break into
the midst of their battle； but were received with strong resistance
and obstinacy。 Yet they put to flight the left wing； where Cassius
commanded； being in great disorder； and ignorant of what had passed on
the other wing； and pursuing them to their camp； they pillaged and
destroyed it； neither of their generals being present； for Antony；
they say； to avoid the fury of the first onset； had retired into the
marsh that was hard by； and Caesar was nowhere to be found after his
being conveyed out of the tents； though some of the soldiers showed
Brutus their swords bloody； and declared that they had killed him；
describing his person and his age。 By this time also the centre of
Brutus's battle had driven back their opponents with great
slaughter； and Brutus was everywhere plainly conqueror； as on the
other side Cassius was conquered。 And this one mistake was the ruin of
their affairs； that Brutus did not come to the relief of Cassius；
thinking； that he； as well as himself； was conqueror； and that Cassius
did not expect the relief of Brutus； thinking that he too was
overcome。 For as a proof that the victory was on Brutus's side；
Messala urges his taking three eagles and many ensigns of the enemy
without losing any of his own。 But now； returning from the pursuit
after having plundered Caesar's camp； Brutus wondered that he could
not see Cassius's tent standing high； as it was wont； and appearing
above the rest； nor other things appearing as they had been； for
they had been immediately pulled down and pillaged by the enemy upon
their first falling into the camp。 But some that had a quicker and
longer sight than the rest acquainted Brutus that they saw a great
deal of shining armour and silver targets moving to and fro in
Cassius's camp； and that they thought； by their number and the fashion
of their armour； they could not be those that they left to guard the
camp； but yet that there did not appear so great a number of dead
bodies thereabouts as it was probable there would have been after
the actual defeat of so many legions。 This first made Brutus suspect
Cassius's misfortune； and； leaving a guard in the enemy's camp； he
called back those that were in the pursuit； and rallied them
together to lead them to the relief of Cassius； whose fortune had been
as follows。
First； he had been angry at the onset that Brutus's soldiers made；
without the word of battle or command to charge。 Then； after they
had overcome； he was as much displeased to see them rush on to the
plunder and spoil； and neglect to surround and encompass the rest of
the enemy。 Besides this； letting himself act by delay and expectation；
rather than command； boldly and with a clear purpose； he got hemmed in
by the right wing of the enemy； and； his horse making with all haste
their escape and flying towards the sea； the foot also began to give
way； which he perceiving laboured as much as ever he could to hinder
their flight and bring them back； and； snatching an ensign out of
the hand of one that fled； he stuck it at his feet； though he could
hardly keep even his own personal guard together。 So that at last he
was forced to fly with a few about him to a little hill that
overlooked the plain。 But he himself； being weak…sighted； discovered
nothing； only the destruction of his camp； and that with difficulty。
But they that were with him saw a great body of horse moving towards
him； the same whom Brutus had sent。 Cassius believed these were
enemies； and in pursuit of him； however； he sent away Titinius； one of
those that were with him； to learn what they were。 As soon as Brutus's
horse saw him coming； and knew him to be a friend and a faithful
servant of Cassius； those of them that were his more familiar
acquaintance； shouting out for joy and alighting from their horses；
shook hands and embraced him； and the rest rode round about him
singing and shouting； through their excess of gladness at the sight of
him。 But this was the occasion of the greatest mischief that could be。
For Cassius really thought that Titinius had been taken by the
enemy； and cried out； 〃Through too much fondness of life； I have lived
to endure the sight of my friend taken by the enemy before my face。〃
After which words he retired into an empty tent； taking along with him
only Pindarus； one of his freemen； whom he had reserved for such an
occasion ever since the disasters in the expedition against the
Parthians； when Crassus was slain。 From the Parthians he came away
in safety； but now； pulling up his mantle over his head； he made his
neck bare； and held it forth to Pindarus； commanding him to strike。
The head was certainly found lying severed from the body。 But no man
ever saw Pindarus after； from which some suspected that he had
killed his master without his command。 Soon after they perceived who
the horsemen were； and saw Titinius； crowned with garlands； making
what haste he could towards Cassius。 But as soon as he understood by
the cries and lamentations of his afflicted friends the unfortunate
error and death of his general； he drew his sword； and having very
much accused and upbraided his own long stay； that had caused it； he
slew himself。
Brutus； as soon as he was assured of the defeat of Cassius； made
haste to him； but heard nothing of his death till he came near his
camp。 Then having lamented over his body； calling him 〃the last of the
Romans；〃 it being impossible that the city should ever produce another
man of so great a spirit； he sent away the body to be buried at
Thasos； lest celebrating his funeral within the camp might breed
some disorder。 He then gathered the soldiers together and comforted
them； and； seeing them destitute of all things necessary； he
promised to every man two thousand drachmas in recompense of what he
had lost。 They at these words took courage； and were astonished at the
magnificence of the gift； and waited upon him at his parting with
shouts and praises； magnifying him for the only general of all the
four who was not overcome in the battle。 And indeed the action
itself testified that it was not without reason he believed he
should conquer； for with a few legions he overthrew all that
resisted him； and if all his soldiers had fought； and the most of them
had not passed beyond the enemy in pursuit of the