ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

JULIUS CÆSAR.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

care did wake him against his will when he would have slept, or else oftentimes of himself he fell into such deep thoughts of this enterprise, casting in his mind all the dangers that might happen, that his wife lying by him found that there was some marvellous great matter that troubled his mind, not being wont to be in that taking, and that he could not well determine with himself. His wife Porcia, loving her husband well, 26 and being of a noble courage, as she was also wise, because she would not ask her husband what he ailed, before she had made some proof by herself, she took a little razor, such as barbers occupy to pare men's nails, and causing her maids and women to go out of her chamber, gave herself a great gash withal in her thigh, that she was straight all of a gore blood, and incontinently after, a vehement fever took her, by reason of the pain of her wound. Then perceiving that her husband was mar- 27 vellously out of quiet, and that he could take no rest, even in her greatest pain of all she spake in this sort unto him:-'I being, O Brutus, (said she,) the daughter of Cato, was married unto thee, not to be thy bedfellow, and companion in bed and at board only, like a harlot, but to be partaker also with thee of thy good and evil fortune. Now, for thyself, I can find no cause of fault in thee, touching our match. But, for my part, how may I show my duty towards thee, and how much I would do for thy sake, if I cannot constantly bear a secret mischance or grief with thee, which requireth secresy and fidelity. I confess that a woman's wit commonly is too weak to keep a secret safely; but yet, Brutus, good education and the company of virtuous men have some power to reform the defect of nature. And, for myself, I have this benefit, moreover, that I am the daughter of Cato and wife of Brutus. This notwithstanding, I did not trust to any of these things before, until that now I have found by experience, that no pain or grief whatsoever can overcome me.' With those words she showed him her wound on her thigh, and told him what she had done to prove herself. Brutus was amazed to hear what she said unto him, and lifting up his hands to heaven, he besought the gods to give him the grace he might bring his enterprise to so good pass,

28

29

that he might be found a husband worthy of so noble a wife as Porcia. So he then did comfort her the best he could.” "The conspirators thought that the appointment of the place where the council should be kept was chosen of purpose by Divine providence, and made all for them [i. e. was all in their favour]. For it was one of the porches about the theatre, in the which there was a certain place full of seats for men to sit in; where also was set up the image of Pompey, which the city had made and consecrated in honour of him, when he did beautify that part of the city with the theatre he built, with divers porches about it. In this place was the assembly of the senate appointed to be, just on the 15th day of the month of March, (which the Romans call Idus Martias,) so that it seemed some god of purpose had brought Cæsar thither to be slain, for revenge of Pompey's death." *

"A senator called Popilius Læna, after he had saluted Brutus and Cassius more friendly than he was wont to do, he rounded softly in their ears, and told them, 'I pray the gods you may go through with that you have taken in hand; but, withal despatch, I rede you, for your enterprise is bewrayed.' When he had said, he presently departed from them, and left them both afraid that their conspiracy would out."

"Now, it was reported that Cæsar was coming in his litter, for he determined not to stay in the senate all that day, (because he was afraid of the unlucky signs of the sacrificers,) but to adjourn matters of importance unto the next session and council holden, feigning himself not to be well at ease. When Cæsar came out of his litter, Popilius Læna (that had talked before with Brutus and Cassius, and had prayed the gods they might bring this enterprise to pass,) went unto Cæsar, and kept him a long time with a talk. Cæsar gave good ear unto him; wherefore the conspirators, (if so they should be called,) not hearing what he said to Cæsar, but conjecturing, by that he had told them a little before, that his talk was none other but the very

* It is not easy to conjecture why Shakspeare has departed from the truth of history, in making the Capitol, instead of the Curia of Pompey, the scene of Cæsar's murder.

discovery of their conspiracy, they were afraid every man of them; and one looking in another's face, it was easy to see that they all were of a mind that it was no tarrying for them till they were apprehended, but rather that they should kill themselves with their own hands. And when Cassius and certain other clapped their hands on their swords under their gowns, to draw them, Brutus marking the countenance and gesture of Læna, and considering that he did use himself rather like an humble and earnest suitor, than like an accuser, he said nothing to his companions, (because there were many amongst them that were not of the conspiracy,) but with a pleasant countenance encouraged Cassius, and immediately after, Læna went from Cæsar, and kissed his hand, which showed plainly that it was for some matter concerning himself that he had held him so long in talk.

"When Cæsar was set, the conspirators flocked about him, and 30 amongst them they presented one Tullius Cimber *, who made humble suit for the calling home again of his brother that was banished. They all made as though they were intercessors for him, and took Cæsar by the hands, and kissed his head and breast. Cæsar at the first simply refused their kindness and entreaties; but afterwards, perceiving they still pressed on him, he violently thrust them from him. Then Cimber, with both his hands plucked Cæsar's gown over his shoulders, and Casca that stood behind him drew his dagger first, and strake Cæsar upon the shoulder, but gave him no great wound. Cæsar, feeling himself hurt, took him straight by the hand he held his dagger in, and cried out, in Latin, 'O traitor Casca, what dost thou?' Casca, on the other side, cried in Greek, and called his brother to help him. So divers running on a heap together to fly upon Cæsar, he, looking about him to have fled, saw Brutus with a sword drawn in his hand ready to strike at him; then he let Casca's hand go, and, casting his gown over his face, suffered every man to strike at him that would. Then the con- 31

* In Plutarch's "Cæsar," North's translation, this man is called Metellus Cimber, which is the name Shakspeare adopts. Suetonius, I. 82, calls him Cimber Tullius.

spirators thronging one upon another, because every man was desirous to have a cut at him, so many swords and daggers lighting upon one body, one of them hurt another, and among them Brutus caught a blow on his hand, because he would make one in murdering of him, and all the rest also were every 32 man of them bloodied. Cæsar being slain in this manner, Brutus, standing in the midst of the house, would have spoken and stayed the other senators that were not of the conspiracy, to have told them the reason why they had done this fact; but they, as men both afraid and amazed, fled, one upon another's neck, in haste to get out at the door, and no man followed them; for it was set down and agreed between them, that they should kill no man but Cæsar only, and should entreat all the 33 rest to look to defend their liberty. All the conspirators but Brutus, determining upon this matter, thought it good also to kill Antonius, because he was a wicked man, and that in nature favoured tyranny. Besides also for that he was in great estimation with soldiers, having been conversant of long time amongst them, and especially having a mind bent to great enterprises; he was also of great authority at that time, being consul with Cæsar. But Brutus would not agree to it: first, for that he said it was not honest; secondly, because he told them there was hope of change in him, for he did not mistrust, but that Antonius, being a noble-minded and courageous man, (when he should know that Cæsar was dead,) would willingly help his country to recover her liberty, having them an example unto him to follow their courage and virtue. So Brutus by this means saved Antonius' life, who at that present time disguised himself and stole away. But Brutus and his consorts, having their swords bloody in their hands, went straight to the Capitol, persuading the Romans, as they went, to take their liberty again. Now at the first time, when the murder was newly done, there were sudden outcries of people that ran up and down the city, the which indeed did the more increase the noise and tumult; but when they saw they slew no man, neither did spoil or make havoc of anything, then certain of the senators, and many of the people, emboldening themselves, went to

34

the Capitol unto them. There a great number of men being 35 assembled together, one after another, Brutus made an oration unto them, to win the favour of the people, and to justify that they had done. All those that were by said they had done well, and cried unto them that they should boldly come down from the Capitol; whereupon Brutus and his companions came boldly down into the market-place. The rest followed in troop, but Brutus went foremost, very honourably compassed in round about with the noblest men of the city, which brought him from the Capitol, through the market-place, to the pulpit for orations. When the people saw him in the pulpit, although they were a multitude of rakehells of all sorts, and had a good will to make some stir, yet being ashamed to do it for the reverence they bare unto Brutus, they kept silence to hear what he would say. When Brutus began to speak, they gave him 36 quiet audience; howbeit, immediately after they showed that they were not all contented with the murder. For when another, called Cinna, would have spoken, and began to accuse Cæsar, they fell into a great uproar among them, and marvellously reviled him insomuch that the conspirators returned again into the Capitol. There Brutus, being afraid to be besieged, sent back again the noblemen that came thither with him, thinking it no reason, that they which were no partakers of the murder should be partakers of the danger."

"Then Antonius, thinking good his testament should be read 37 openly, and also that his body should be honourably buried, and not in hugger-mugger, lest the people might thereby take occasion to be worse offended if they did otherwise, Cassius stoutly spake against it; but Brutus went with the motion and agreed unto it: wherein it seemeth he committed a second fault. For the first fault he did, was when he would not consent to his fellow-conspirators that Antonius should be slain ; and therefore he was justly accused that thereby he had saved and strengthened a strong and grievous enemy of their conspiracy. The second fault was, when he agreed that Cæsar's funerals should be as Antonius would have them; the which indeed marred all. For, first of all, when Cæsar's testament 38

a

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »