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enemies of the commonwealth； and when many other senators exclaimed
against it； Caesar delivered the note as he had received it to Cato；
who reading it found it to be a love…letter from his own sister
Servilia； and threw it back again to Caesar with the words； 〃Keep
it； you drunkard；〃 and returned to the subject of the debate。 So
public and notorious was Servilia's love to Caesar。
After the great overthrow at Pharsalia； Pompey himself having made
his escape to the sea； and Caesar's army storming the camp； Brutus
stole privately out by one of the gates leading to marshy ground
full of water and covered with reeds； and； travelling through the
night； got safe to Larissa。 From Larissa he wrote to Caesar who
expressed a great deal of joy to hear that he was safe； and； bidding
him come； not only forgave him freely； but honoured and esteemed him
among his chiefest friends。 Now when nobody could give any certain
account which way Pompey had fled； Caesar took a little journey
along with Brutus； and tried what was his opinion herein； and after
some discussion which passed between them； believing that Brutus's
conjecture was the right one； laying aside all other thoughts； he
set out directly to pursue him towards Egypt。 But Pompey； having
reached Egypt； as Brutus guessed his design was to do； there met his
fate。
Brutus in the meantime gained Caesar's forgiveness for his friend
Cassius； and pleading also in defence of the king of the Lybians；
though he was overwhelmed with the greatness of the crimes alleged
against him； yet by his entreaties and deprecations to Caesar in his
behalf； he preserved to him a great part of his kingdom。 It is
reported that Caesar； when he first heard Brutus speak in public； said
to his friends； 〃I know not what this young man intends； but； whatever
he intends； he intends vehemently。〃 For his natural firmness of
mind； not easily yielding； or complying in favour of every one that
entreated his kindness； once set into action upon motives of right
reason and deliberate moral choice； whatever direction it thus took；
it was pretty sure to take effectively； and to work in such a way as
not to fail in its object。 No flattery could ever prevail with him
to listen to unjust petitions： and he held that to be overcome by
the importunities of shameless and fawning entreaties； though some
compliment it with the name of modesty and bashfulness； was the
worst disgrace a great man could suffer。 And he used to say that he
always felt as if they who could deny nothing could not have behaved
well in the flower of their youth。
Caesar； being about to make his expedition into Africa against
Cato and Scipio； committed to Brutus the government of Cisalpine Gaul；
to the great happiness and advantage of that province。 For while
people in other provinces were in distress with the violence and
avarice of their governors； and suffered as much oppression as if they
had been slaves and captives of war； Brutus； by his easy government；
actually made them amends for their calamities under former rulers；
directing moreover all their gratitude for his good deeds to Caesar
himself； insomuch that it was a most welcome and pleasant spectacle to
Caesar； when in his return he passed through Italy； to see the
cities that were under Brutus's command； and Brutus himself increasing
his honour and joining agreeably in his progress。
Now several praetorships being vacant； it was all men's opinion that
that of the chiefest dignity； which is called the praetorship of the
city； would be conferred either upon Brutus or Cassius； and some say
that； there having been some little difference upon former accounts
between them； this competition set them much more at variance；
though they were connected in their families； Cassius having married
Junia； the sister of Brutus。 Others say that the contention was raised
between them by Caesar's doing； who had privately given each of them
such hopes of his favour as led them on； and provoked them at last
into this open competition and trial of their interest。 Brutus had
only the reputation of his honour and virtue to oppose to the many and
gallant actions performed by Cassius against the Parthians。 But
Caesar； having heard each side； and deliberating about the matter
among his friends； said； 〃Cassius has the stronger plea； but we must
let Brutus be first praetor。〃 So another praetorship was given to
Cassius； the gaining of which could not so much oblige him； as he
was incensed for the loss of the other。 And in all other things Brutus
was partaker of Caesar's power as much as he desired： for he might； if
he had pleased； have been the chief of all his friends； and had
authority and command beyond them all； but Cassius and the company
he met with him drew him off from Caesar。 Indeed； he was not yet
wholly reconciled to Cassius； since that competition which was between
them： but yet he gave ear to Cassius's friends； who were perpetually
advising him not to be so blind as to suffer himself to be softened
and won over by Caesar； but to shun the kindness and favours of a
tyrant； which they intimated that Caesar showed him； not to express
any honour to his merit or virtue； but to unbend his strength； and
undermine his vigour of purpose。
Neither was Caesar wholly without suspicion of him； nor wanted
informers that accused Brutus to him； but he feared； indeed； the
high spirit and the great character and the friends that he had； but
thought himself secure in his moral disposition。 When it was told
him that Antony and Dolabella designed some disturbance； 〃It is
not；〃 said he； 〃the fat and the long…haired men that I fear； but the
pale and the lean；〃 meaning Brutus and Cassius。 And when some maligned
Brutus to him； and advised him to beware of him； taking hold of his
flesh with his hand； 〃What；〃 he said； 〃do you think that Brutus will
not wait out the time of this little body？〃 as if he thought none so
fit to succeed him in his power as Brutus。 And indeed it seems to be
without doubt that Brutus might have been the first man in the
commonwealth； if he had had patience but a little time to be second to
Caesar； and would have suffered his power to decline after it was come
to its highest pitch； and the fame of his great actions to die away by
degrees。 But Cassius； a man of a fierce disposition； and one that
out of private malice； rather than love of the public； hated Caesar；
not the tyrant； continually fired and stirred him up。 Brutus felt
the rule an oppression； but Cassius hated the ruler； and； among
other reasons on which he grounded his quarrel against Caesar； the
loss of his lions which he had procured when he was aedile…elect was
one； for Caesar； finding these in Megara； when that city was taken
by Calenus； seized them to himself。 These beasts； they say； were a
great calamity to the Megarians； for； when their city was just
taken； they broke open the lions' dens； and pulled off their chains
and let them loose that they might run upon the enemy that was
entering the city； but the lions turned upon them themselves； and tore
to pieces a great many unarmed persons running about； so that it was a
miserable spectacle even to their enemies to behold。
And this； some say； was the chief provocation that stirred up
Cassius to conspire against Caesar； but they are much in the wrong。
For Cassius had from his youth a natural hatred and rancour against
the whole race of tyrants； which he showed when he was but a boy；
and went to the same school with Faustus； the son of Sylla； for； on
his boasting himself amongst the boys； and extolling the sovereign
power of his father； Cassius rose up and struck him two or three boxes
on the ear； which when the guardians and relations of Faustus designed
to inquire into and to prosecute； Pompey forbade them； and； sending
for both the boys together； examined the matter himself。 And Cassius
is then reported to have said thus； 〃Come； then； Faustus； dare to
speak here those words that provoked me； that I may strike you again
as I did before。〃 Such was the disposition of Cassius。
But Brutus was roused up and pushed on to the undertaking by many
persuasions of his familiar friends； and letters and invitations
from unknown citizens。 For under the statue of his ancestor Brutus；
that overthrew the kingly government； they wrote the words； 〃O that we
had a Brutus now！〃 and； 〃O that Brutus were alive！〃 And Brutus's own
tribunal； on which he sat as praetor； was filled each morning with
writings such as these： 〃You are asleep； Brutus；〃 and； 〃You are not
a true Brutus。〃 Now the flatterers of Caesar were the occasion of
all this； who； among other invidious honours which they strove to
fasten upon Caesar； crowned his statues by night with diadems； wishing
to incite the people to salute him king instead of dictator。 But quite
the contrary came to pass； as I have more particularly related in
the life of Caesar。
When Cassius went about soliciting friends to engage in this
design against Caesar； all whom he tried readily consented； if
Brutus would be head of it； for their opinion was that the
enterprise wanted not hands or resolution； but the reputation and
authority of a man such as he was； to giv