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resisted him； and if all his soldiers had fought； and the most of them
had not passed beyond the enemy in pursuit of the plunder； it is
very likely that he had utterly defeated every part of them。
There fell of his side eight thousand men； reckoning the servants of
the army； whom Brutus calls Briges； and on the other side； Messala
says his opinion is that there were slain about twice that number。 For
which reason they were more out of heart than Brutus； until a
servant of Cassius； named Demetrius； came in the evening to Antony；
and brought to him the garment which he had taken from the dead
body； and his sword at the sight of which they were so encouraged；
that； as soon as it was morning； they drew out their whole force
into the field； and stood in battle array。 But Brutus found both his
camps wavering and in disorder； for his own； being filled with
prisoners； required a guard more strict than ordinary over them； and
that of Cassius was uneasy at the change of general； besides some envy
and rancour； which those that were conquered bore to that part of
the army which had been conquerors。 Wherefore he thought it convenient
to put his army in array； but to abstain from fighting。 All the slaves
that were taken prisoners； of whom there was a great number that
were mixed up； not without suspicion； among the soldiers； he commanded
to be slain； but of the freemen and citizens； some he dismissed；
saying that among the enemy they were rather prisoners than with
him； for with them they were captives and slaves； but with him freemen
and citizens of Rome。 But he was forced to hide and help them to
escape privately； perceiving that his friends and officers were bent
upon revenge against them。 Among the captives there was one Volumnius；
a player； and Sacculio； a buffoon； of these Brutus took no manner of
notice； but his friends brought them before him and accused them
that even then in that condition they did not refrain from their jests
and scurrilous language。 Brutus； having his mind taken up with other
affairs； said nothing to their accusation； but the judgment of Messala
Corvinus was； that they should be whipped publicly upon a stage； and
so sent naked to the captains of the enemy； to show them what sort
of fellow…drinkers and companions they took with them on their
campaigns。 At this some that were present laughed； and Publius
Casca； he that gave the first wound to Caesar； said； 〃We do ill to
jest and make merry at the funeral of Cassius。 But you； O Brutus；〃
he added； 〃will show what esteem you have for the memory of that
general； according as you punish or preserve alive those who will
scoff and speak shamefully of him。〃 To this Brutus； in great
discomposure； replied； 〃Why then； Casca； do you ask me about it； and
not do yourselves what you think fitting？〃 This answer of Brutus was
taken for his consent to the death of these wretched men； so they were
carried away and slain。
After this he gave the soldiers the reward that he had promised
them； and having slightly reproved them for having fallen upon the
enemy in disorder without the word of battle or command； he promised
them； that if they behaved themselves bravely in the next
engagement； he would give them up two cities to spoil and plunder；
Thessalonica and Lacedaemon。 This is the one indefensible thing of all
that is found fault with in the life of Brutus； though true it may
be that Antony and Caesar were much more cruel in the rewards that
they gave their soldiers after victory； for they drove out； one
might almost say； all the old inhabitants of Italy； to put their
soldiers in possession of other men's lands and cities。 But indeed
their only design and end in undertaking the war was to obtain
dominion and empire； whereas Brutus； for the reputation of his virtue；
could not be permitted either to overcome or save himself but with
justice and honour； especially after the death of Cassius； who was
generally accused of having been his adviser to some things that he
had done with less clemency。 But now； as in a ship； when the rubber is
broken by a storm； the mariners fit and nail on some other piece of
wood instead of it； striving against the danger not well； but as
well as in that necessity they can； so Brutus； being at the head of so
great an army； in a time of such uncertainty； having no commander
equal to his need； was forced to make use of those that he had； and to
do and to say many things according to their advice； which was； in
effect； whatever might conduce to the bringing of Cassius's soldiers
into better order。 For they were very headstrong and intractable； bold
and insolent in the camp for want of their general； but in the field
cowardly and fearful； remembering that they had been beaten。
Neither were the affairs of Caesar and Antony in any better posture；
for they were straitened for provision； and； the camp being in a low
ground； they expected to pass a very hard winter。 For being driven
close upon the marshes； and a great quantity of rain； as is usual in
autumn； having fallen after the battle； their tents were all filled
with mire and water； which through the coldness of the weather
immediately froze。 And while they were in this condition； there was
news brought to them of their loss at sea。 For Brutus's fleet fell
upon their ships； which were bringing a great supply of soldiers out
of Italy； and so entirely defeated them； that but very few of the
men escaped being slain； and they too were forced by famine to feed
upon the sails and tackle of the ship。 As soon as they heard this；
they made what haste they could to come to the decision of a battle；
before Brutus should have notice of his good success。 For it had so
happened that the fight both by sea and land was on the same day；
but by some misfortune； rather than the fault of his commanders；
Brutus knew not of his victory twenty days after。 For had he been
informed of this； he would not have been brought to a second battle；
since he had sufficient provisions for his army for a long time； and
was very advantageously posted； his camp being well sheltered from the
cold weather； and almost inaccessible to the enemy； and his being
absolute master of the sea； and having at land overcome on that side
wherein he himself was engaged； would have made him full of hope and
confidence。 But it seems the state of Rome not enduring any longer
to be governed by many； but necessarily requiring a monarchy； the
divine power； that it might remove out of the way the only man that
was able to resist him that could control the empire； cut off his good
fortune from coming to the ears of Brutus； though it came but a very
little too late； for the very evening before the fight Clodius； a
deserter from the enemy； came and announced that Caesar had received
advice of the loss of his fleet； and for that reason was in such haste
to come to a battle； But his story met with no credit； nor was he so
much as seen by Brutus； being simply set down as one that had no
good information； or invented lies to bring himself into favour。
The same night； they say； the vision appeared again to Brutus； in
the same shape that it did before； but vanished without speaking。
But Publius Volumnius； a philosopher； and one that had from the
beginning borne arms with Brutus； makes no mention of this apparition；
but says that the first eagle was covered with a swarm of bees； and
that there was one of the captains whose arm of itself sweated oil
of roses； and； though they often dried and wiped it； yet it would
not cease； and that immediately before the battle； two eagles
falling upon each other fought in the space between the two armies；
that the whole field kept incredible silence and all were intent
upon the spectacle； until at last that which was on Brutus's side
yielded and fled。 But the story of the Ethiopian is very famous；
who； meeting the standard…bearer at the opening the gate of the
camp； was cut to pieces by the soldiers； that took it for an ill…omen。
Brutus； having brought his army into the field and set them in array
against the enemy； paused a long while before he would fight； for as
he was reviewing the troops； suspicions were excited and
informations laid against some of them。 Besides； he saw his horse
not very eager to begin the action； and waiting to see what the foot
would do。 Then suddenly Camulatus； a very good soldier； and one whom
for his valour he highly esteemed； riding hard by Brutus himself； went
over to the enemy； the sight of which grieved Brutus exceedingly。 So
that partly out of anger； and partly out of fear of some greater
treason and desertion； he immediately drew on his forces upon the
enemy； the sun now declining； about three of the clock in the
afternoon。 Brutus on his side had the better； and pressed hard on
the left wing； which gave way and retreated； and the horse too fell in
together with the foot； when they saw the enemy in disorder。 But the
other wing； when the officers extended the line to avoid its being
encompassed； the numbers being inferior； got drawn out too thin in the
centre； and was so weak here that they could not withstand the charge；
but at the first onset fled。 After defeating these； the enemy