按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
with order and with silence； and； when he began to speak； heard him
with quiet and attention。 But that all were not pleased with this
action they plainly showed when； Cinna beginning to speak and accuse
Caesar； they broke out into a sudden rage； and railed at him in such
language that the whole party thought fit again to withdraw to the
capitol。 And there Brutus； expecting to be besieged； dismissed the
most eminent of those that had accompanied them thither； not
thinking it just that they who were not partakers of the fact should
share in the danger。
But the next day； the senate being assembled in the temple of the
Earth； and Antony and Plancus and Cicero having made orations
recommending concord in general and an act of oblivion； it was decreed
that the men should not only be put out of all fear or danger； but
that the consuls should see what honours and dignities were proper
to be conferred upon them。 After which done； the senate broke up； and；
Antony having sent his son as an hostage to the capitol； Brutus and
his company came down； and mutual salutes and invitations passed
amongst them； the whole of them being gathered together。 Antony
invited and entertained Cassius； Lepidus did the same to Brutus； and
the rest were invited and entertained by others； as each of them had
acquaintance or friends。 And as soon as it was day； the senate met
again； and voted thanks to Antony for having stifled the beginning
of a civil war； afterwards Brutus and his associates that were present
received encomiums； and had provinces assigned and distributed among
them。 Crete was allotted to Brutus； Africa to Cassius； Asia to
Trebonius； Bithynia to Cimber； and to the other Brutus Gaul about
the Po。
After these things； they began to consider of Caesar's will； and the
ordering of his funeral。 Antony desired that the will might be read；
and that the body should not have a private or dishonourable
interment； lest that should further exasperate the people。 This
Cassius violently opposed； but Brutus yielded to it； and gave leave；
in which he seems to have a second time committed a fault。 For as
before in sparing the life of Antony he could not be without some
blame from his party； as thereby setting up against the conspiracy a
dangerous and difficult enemy； so now； in suffering him to have the
ordering of the funeral； he fell into a total and irrevocable error。
For first； it appearing by the will that Caesar had bequeathed to
the Roman people seventy…five drachmas a man； and given to the
public his gardens beyond Tiber （where now the temple of Fortune
stands）； the whole city was fired with a wonderful affection for
him； and a passionate sense of the loss of him。 And when the body
was brought forth into the forum； Antony； as the custom was； making
a funeral oration in the praise of Caesar； and finding the multitude
moved with his speech； passing into the pathetic tone； unfolded the
bloody garment of Caesar； showed them in how many places it was
pierced； and the number of his wounds。 Now there was nothing to be
seen but confusion； some cried out to kill the murderers； others （as
was formerly done when Clodius led the people） tore away the benches
and tables out of the shops round about； and； heaping them altogether；
built a great funeral pile； and having put the body of Caesar upon it；
set it on fire； the spot where this was done being moreover surrounded
with a great many temples and other consecrated places； so that they
seemed to burn the body in a kind of sacred solemnity。 As soon as
the fire flamed out； the multitude； flocking in some from one part and
some from another； snatched the brands that were half burnt out of the
pile； and ran about the city to fire the houses of the murderers of
Caesar。 But they； having beforehand well fortified themselves；
repelled this danger。
There was； however； a kind of poet； one Cinna； not at all
concerned in the guilt of the conspiracy； but on the contrary one of
Caesar's friends。 This man dreamed that he was invited to supper by
Caesar； and that he declined to go； but that Caesar entreated and
pressed him to it very earnestly； and at last； taking him by the hand；
led him into a very deep and dark place； whither he was forced against
his will to follow in great consternation and amazement。 After this
vision； he had a fever the most part of the night； nevertheless in the
morning； hearing that the body of Caesar was to be carried forth to be
interred； he was ashamed not to be present at the solemnity； and
came abroad and joined the people； when they were already infuriated
by the speech of Antony。 And perceiving him； and taking him not for
that Cinna who indeed he was； but for him that a little before in a
speech to the people had reproached and inveighed against Caesar； they
fell upon him and tore him to pieces。
This action chiefly； and the alteration that Antony had wrought；
so alarmed Brutus and his party that for their safety they retired
from the city。 The first stay they made was at Antium； with a design
to return again as soon as the fury of the people had spent itself and
was abated； which they expected would soon and easily come to pass
in an unsettled multitude； apt to be carried away with any sudden
and impetuous passion； especially since they had the senate favourable
to them； which； though it took no notice of those that had torn
Cinna to pieces； yet made a strict search and apprehended in order
to punishment those that had assaulted the houses of the friends of
Brutus and Cassius。 By this time； also； the people began to be
dissatisfied with Antony； who they perceived was setting up a kind
of monarchy for himself； they longed for the return of Brutus； whose
presence they expected and hoped for at the games and spectacles which
he； as praetor； was to exhibit to the public。 But he having
intelligence that many of the old soldiers that had borne arms under
Caesar； by whom they had had lands and cities given them； lay in
wait for him； and by small parties at a time had stolen into the city；
would not venture to come himself； however； in his absence there
were most magnificent and costly shows exhibited to the people； for；
having brought up a great number of all sorts of wild beasts； he
gave order that not any of them should be returned or saved； but
that all should be spent freely at the public spectacles。 He himself
made a journey to Naples to procure considerable number of players；
and hearing of one Canutius that was very much praised for his
acting upon the stage； he wrote to his friends to use all their
entreaties to bring him to Rome （for； being a Grecian； he could not be
compelled）； he wrote also to Cicero； begging him by no means to omit
being present at the shows。
This was the posture of affairs when another sudden alteration was
made upon the young Caesar's coming to Rome。 He was son to the niece
of Caesar； who adopted him； and left him his heir by his will。 At
the time when Caesar was killed； he was following his studies at
Apollonia； where he was expecting also to meet Caesar on his way to
the expedition which he had determined on against the Parthians；
but； hearing of his death； he immediately came to Rome； and to
ingratiate himself with the people； taking upon himself the name of
Caesar； and punctually distributing among the citizens the money
that was left them by the will； he soon got the better of Antony；
and by money and largesses； which he liberally dispersed amongst the
soldiers； he gathered together and brought over to his party a great
number of those that had served under Caesar。 Cicero himself； out of
the hatred which he bore to Antony； sided with young Caesar； which
Brutus took so ill that he treated with him very sharply in his
letters； telling him that he perceived Cicero could well enough endure
a tyrant； but was afraid that he who hated him should be the man； that
in writing and speaking so well of Caesar； he showed that his aim
was to have an easy slavery。 〃But our forefathers；〃 said Brutus；
〃could not brook even gentle masters。〃 Further he added； that for
his own part he had not as yet fully resolved whether he should make
war or peace； but that as to one point he was fixed and settled； which
was； never to be a slave； that he wondered Cicero should fear the
dangers of a civil war； and not be much more afraid of a dishonourable
and infamous peace； that the very reward that was to be given him
for subverting Antony's tyranny was the privilege of establishing
Caesar as tyrant in his place。 This is the tone of Brutus's first
letters to Cicero。
The city being now divided into two factions； some betaking
themselves to Caesar and others to Antony； the soldiers selling
themselves； as it were； by public outcry； and going over to him that
would give them most； Brutus began to despair of any good event of
such proceedings； and； resolving to leave Italy； passed by land
through Lucania and came to Elea by the seaside。 From hence it was
thought convenient that Porcia should return to Rome。 She was overcome
with grief to part from Brutus； but strove as much as was possible
to conceal it； but； in spite of all her constancy； a picture which she
found there ac