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groaned audibly； and the noble citizens hung down their heads for
grief。 Publicus Silicius was seen to burst out into tears； which was
the cause that not long after he was put down in the list of those
that were proscribed。 After this； the three men； Caesar； Antony； and
Lepidus； being perfectly reconciled； shared the provinces among
themselves； and made up the catalogue of proscription； wherein were
set those that were designed for slaughter； amounting to two hundred
men； in which number Cicero was slain。
The news being brought to Brutus in Macedonia； he was under a
compulsion； and sent orders to Hortensius that he should kill Caius
Antonius in revenge of the death of Cicero his friend； and Brutus
his kinsman； who also was proscribed and slain。 Upon this account it
was that Antony； having afterwards taken Hortensius in the battle of
Philippi； slew him upon his brother's tomb。 But Brutus expresses
himself as more ashamed for the cause of Cicero's death than grieved
for the misfortune of it； and says he cannot help accusing his friends
at Rome； that they were slaves more through their own doing than
that of those who now were their tyrants； they could be present and
see and yet suffer those things which even to hear related ought to
them to have been insufferable。
Having made his army； that was already very considerable； pass
into Asia； he ordered a fleet to be prepared in Bithynia and about
Cyzicus。 But going himself through the country by land； he made it his
business to settle and confirm all the cities； and gave audience to
the princes of the parts through which he passed。 And he sent orders
into Syria to Cassius to come to him； and leave his intended journey
into Egypt； letting him understand that it was not to gain an empire
for themselves； but to free their country； that they went thus
wandering about and had got an army together whose business it was
to destroy the tyrants； that therefore； if they remembered and
resolved to persevere in their first purpose； they ought not to be too
far from Italy； but make what haste they could thither； and
endeavour to relieve their fellow…citizens from oppression。
Cassius obeyed his summons； and returned； and Brutus went to meet
him； and at Smyrna they met； which was the first time they had seen
one another since they parted at the Piraeus in Athens； one for Syria；
and the other for Macedonia。 They were both extremely joyful and had
great confidence of their success at the sight of the forces that each
of them had got together； since they who had fled from Italy； like the
most despicable exiles； without money； without arms； without a ship or
a soldier or a city to rely on； in a little time after had met
together so well furnished with shipping and money； and an army both
of horse and foot； that they were in a condition to contend for the
empire of Rome。
Cassius was desirous to show no less respect and honour to Brutus
than Brutus did to him； but Brutus was still beforehand with him；
coming for the most part to him； both because he was the elder man；
and of a weaker constitution than himself。 Men generally reckoned
Cassius a very expert soldier； but of a harsh and angry nature； and
one that desired to command rather by fear than love； though； on the
other side； among his familiar acquaintance he would easily give way
to jesting and play the buffoon。 But Brutus； for his virtue； was
esteemed by the people； beloved by his friends； admired by the best
men； and hated not by his enemies themselves。 For he was a man of a
singularly gentle nature； of a great spirit； insensible of the
passions of anger or pleasure or covetousness； steady and inflexible
to maintain his purpose for what he thought right and honest。 And that
which gained him the greatest affection and reputation was the
entire faith in his intentions。 For it had not ever been supposed that
Pompey the Great himself； if he had overcome Caesar； would have
submitted his power to the laws； instead of taking the management of
the state upon himself； soothing the people with the specious name
of consul or dictator； or some other milder title than king。 And
they were well persuaded that Cassius； being a man governed by anger
and passion； and carried often； for his interest's sake； beyond the
bounds of justice； endured all these hardships of war and travel and
danger most assuredly to obtain dominion to himself； and not liberty
to the people。 And as for the former disturbers of the peace of
Rome； whether a Cinna； a Marius； or a Carbo； it is manifest that they；
having set their country as a stake for him that should win； did
almost own in express terms that they fought for empire。 But even
the enemies of Brutus did not； they tell us； lay this accusation to
his charge； nay； many heard Antony himself say that Brutus was the
only man that conspired against Caesar out of a sense of the glory and
the apparent justice of the action； but that all the rest rose up
against the man himself； from private envy and malice of their own。
And it is plain by what he writes himself； that Brutus did not so much
rely upon his forces； as upon his own virtue。 For thus he speaks in
a letter to Atticus； shortly before he was to engage with the enemy：
that his affairs were in the best state of fortune that he could wish；
for that either he should overcome； and restore liberty to the
people of Rome； or die； and be himself out of the reach of slavery；
that other things being certain and beyond all hazard； one thing was
yet in doubt； whether they should live or die free men。 He adds
further； that Mark Antony had received a just punishment for his
folly； who； when he might have been numbered with Brutus and Cassius
and Cato； would join himself to Octavius； that though they should
not now be both overcome； they soon would fight between themselves。
And in this he seems to have been no ill…prophet。
Now when they were at Smyrna； Brutus desired of Cassius that he
might have part of the great treasure that he had heaped up； because
all his own was expended in furnishing out such a fleet of ships as
was sufficient to keep the whole interior sea in their power。 But
Cassius's friends dissuaded him from this； 〃for；〃 said they； 〃it is
not just that the money which you with so much parsimony keep； and
with so much envy have got； should be given to him to be disposed of
in making himself popular； and gaining the favour of the soldiers。〃
Notwithstanding this； Cassius gave him a third part of all that he
had； and then they parted each to their several commands。 Cassius；
having taken Rhodes； behaved himself there with no clemency； though at
his first entry； when some had called him lord and king； he answered
that he was neither king nor lord； but the destroyer and punisher of a
king and lord。 Brutus； on the other part； sent to the Lycians to
demand from them a supply of money and men； but Laucrates； their
popular leader； persuaded the cities to resist； and they occupied
several little mountains and hills with a design to hinder Brutus's
passage。 Brutus at first sent out a party of horse which； surprising
them as they were eating； killed six hundred of them； and afterward；
having taken all their small towns and villages round about； he set
all his prisoners free without ransom； hoping to win the whole
nation by good…will。 But they continued obstinate； taking in anger
what they had suffered； and despising his goodness and humanity；
until； having forced the most warlike of them into the city of
Xanthus； he besieged them there。 They endeavoured to make their escape
by swimming and diving through the river that flows by the town； but
were taken by nets let down for that purpose in the channel； which had
little bells at the top； which gave present notice of any that were
taken in them。 After that； they made a sally in the night； and seizing
several of the battering engines； set them on fire； but being
perceived by the Romans； were beaten back to their walls； and there
being a strong wind； it carried the flames to the battlements of the
city with such fierceness that several of the adjoining houses took
fire。 Brutus； fearing lest the whole city should be destroyed；
commanded his own soldiers to assist and quench the fire。
But the Lycians were on a sudden possessed with a strange and
incredible desperation； such a frenzy as cannot be better expressed
than by calling it a violent appetite to die； for both women and
children； the bondmen and the free； those of all ages and of all
conditions strove to force away the soldiers that came in to their
assistance from the walls； and themselves gathering together reeds and
wood； and whatever combustible matter they found； spread the fire over
the whole city； feeding it with whatever fuel they could； and by all
possible means exciting its fury； so that the flame； having
dispersed itself and encircled the whole city； blazed out in so
terrible a manner that Brutus； extremely afflicted at their
calamity； got on horseback and rode round the walls； earnestly
desirous to preserve the city； and stretching forth his hands to the
Xanthians； begged of them that they would spare themselves and save
the town。 Yet none regarded his