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but at the first onset fled。 After defeating these； the enemy at
once took Brutus in the rear； who all the while did all that was
possible for an expert general and valiant soldier； doing everything
in the peril； by counsel and by hand； that might recover the
victory。 But that which had been his superiority in the first fight
was to his prejudice in the second。 For in the first； that part of the
enemy which was beaten was killed on the spot； but of Cassius's
soldiers that fled； few had been slain； and those that escaped；
daunted with their defeat； infected the other and larger part of the
army with their want of spirit and their disorder。 Here Marcus； the
son of Cato； was slain； fighting and behaving himself with great
bravery in the midst of the youth of the highest rank and greatest
valour。 He would neither fly nor give the least ground； but still
fighting and declaring who he was and naming his father's name； he
fell upon a heap of dead bodies of the enemy。 And of the rest； the
bravest were slain in defending Brutus。
There was in the field one Lucilius； an excellent man and a friend
of Brutus； who； seeing some barbarian horse taking no notice of any
other in the pursuit； but galloping at full speed after Brutus；
resolved to stop them； though with the hazard of his life； and；
letting himself fall a little behind； he told them that he was Brutus。
They believed him the rather； because he prayed to be carried to
Antony； as if he feared Caesar； but durst trust him。 They； overjoyed
with their prey； and thinking themselves wonderfully fortunate；
carried him along with them in the night； having first sent messengers
to Antony of their coming。 He was much pleased； and came to meet them；
and all the rest that heard that Brutus was taken and brought alive
flocked together to see him； some pitying his fortune； others accusing
him of a meanness unbecoming his former glory； that out of too much
love of life he would be a prey to barbarians。 When they came near
together； Antony stood still； considering with himself in what
manner he should receive Brutus； but Lucilius； being brought up to
him； with great confidence said： 〃Be assured； Antony； that no enemy
either has taken or ever shall take Marcus Brutus alive （forbid it；
heaven； that fortune should ever so much prevail above virtue！）； but
he shall be found； alive or dead； as becomes himself。 As for me； I
am come hither by a cheat that I put upon your soldiers； and am ready；
upon this occasion； to suffer any severities you will inflict。〃 All
were amazed to hear Lucilius speak these words。 But Antony； turning
himself to those that brought him； said： 〃I perceive； my
fellow…soldiers； that you are concerned； and take it ill that you have
been thus deceived； and think yourselves abused and injured by it； but
know that you have met with a booty better than that you sought。 For
you were in search of an enemy； but you have brought me here a friend。
For indeed I am uncertain how I should have used Brutus； if you had
brought him alive； but of this I am sure； that it is better to have
such men as Lucilius our friends than our enemies。〃 Having said
this； he embraced Lucilius； and for the present commended him to the
care of one of his friends； and ever after found him a steady and a
faithful friend。
Brutus had now passed a little brook； running among trees and
under steep rocks； and； it being night； would go no further； but sat
down in a hollow place with a great rock projecting before it； with
a few of his officers and friends about him。 At first； looking up to
heaven； that was then full of stars； he repeated two verses； one of
which； Volumnius writes； was this：…
〃Punish； great Jove； the author of these ills。〃
The other he says he has forgot。 Soon after； naming severally all
his friends that had been slain before his face in the battle； he
groaned heavily； especially at the mentioning of Flavius and Labeo；
the latter his lieutenant； and the other chief officer of his
engineers。 In the meantime； one of his companions； that was very
thirsty and saw Brutus in the same condition； took his helmet and
ran to the brook for water； when a noise being heard from the other
side of the river； Volumnius； taking Dardanus； Brutus's armour…bearer；
with him； went out to see what it was。 They returned in a short space；
and inquired about the water。 Brutus； smiling with much meaning；
said to Volumnius。 〃It is all drunk； but you shall have some more
fetched。〃 But he that had brought the first water； being sent again；
was in great danger of being taken by the enemy； and having received a
wound； with much difficulty escaped。
Now Brutus guessing that not many of his men were slain in the
fight； Statyllius undertook to dash through the enemy （for there was
no other way）； and to see what was become of their camp； and promised；
if he found all things there safe； to hold up a torch for a signal；
and then return。 The torch was held up； Statyllius got safe to the
camp； but when after a long time he did not return； Brutus said； 〃If
Statyllius be alive； he will come back。〃 But it happened that in his
return he fell into the enemy's hands； and was slain。
The night now being far spent； Brutus； as he was sitting； leaned his
head towards his servant； Clitus； and spoke to him； he answered him
not； but fell a weeping。 After that he drew aside his armour…bearer；
Dardanus； and had some discourse with him in private。 At last；
speaking to Volumnius in Greek； he reminded him of their common
studies and former discipline and begged that he would take hold of
his sword with him； and help him to thrust it through him。 Volumnius
put away his request； and several others did the like； and some one
saying； that there was no staying there； but they needs must fly；
Brutus； rising up； said； 〃Yes； indeed； we must fly； but not with our
feet； but with our hands。〃 Then giving each of them his right hand；
with a countenance full of pleasure； he said； that he found an
infinite satisfaction in this； that none of his friends had been false
to him； that as for fortune； he was angry with that only for his
country's sake； as for himself； he thought himself much more happy
than they who had overcome； not only as he had been a little time ago；
but even now in his present condition； since he was leaving behind him
such a reputation of his virtue as none of the conquerors with all
their arms and riches should ever be able to acquire； no more than
they could hinder posterity from believing and saying； that being
unjust and wicked men； they had destroyed the just and the good； and
usurped a power to which they had no right。 After this； having
exhorted and entreated all about him to provide for their own
safety； he withdrew from them with two or three only of his peculiar
friends； Strato was one of these； with whom he had contracted an
acquaintance when they studied rhetoric together。 Him he placed next
to himself； and； taking hold of the hilt of his sword and directing it
with both his hands； fell upon it； and killed himself。 But others say；
that not he himself； but Strato； at the earnest entreaty of Brutus；
turning aside his head； held the sword； upon which he violently
throwing himself； it pierced his breast； and he immediately died。 This
same Strato； Messala； a friend of Brutus； being after reconciled to
Caesar； brought to him once at his leisure； and with tears in his eyes
said； 〃This； O Caesar； is the man that did the last friendly office to
my beloved Brutus。〃 Upon which Caesar received him kindly； and had
good use of him in his labours and his battles at Actium； being one of
the Greeks that proved their bravery in his service。 It is reported of
Messala himself； that； when Caesar once gave him this commendation；
that though he was his fiercest enemy at Philippi in the cause of
Brutus； yet he had shown himself his most entire friend in the fight
of Actium； he answered； 〃You have always found me； Caesar； on the best
and justest side。〃
Brutus's dead body was found by Antony； who commanded the richest
purple mantle that he had to be thrown over it； and afterwards the
mantle being stolen； he found the thief； and had him put to death。
He sent the ashes of Brutus to his mother Servilia。 As for Porcia
his wife； Nicolaus the philosopher and Valerius Maximus write； that；
being desirous to die； but being hindered by her friends； who
continually watched her； she snatched some burning charcoal out of the
fire； and； shutting it close in her mouth； stifled herself； and
died。 Though there is a letter current from Brutus to his friends；
in which he laments the death of Porcia； and accuses them for
neglecting her so that she desired to die rather than languish with
her disease。 So that it seems Nicolaus was mistaken in the time； for
this epistle （if it indeed is authentic and truly Brutus's） gives us
to understand the malady and love of Porcia； and the way in which
her death occurred。
THE END