Caesar； and was one of Brutus's most intimate friends。 Him Brutus
visited； and finding him sick； 〃O Ligarius；〃 says he； 〃what a time you
have found out to be sick in！〃 At which words Ligarius； raising
himself and leaning on his elbow； took Brutus by the hand； and said；
〃But； O Brutus； if you are on any design worthy of yourself； I am
well。〃
From this time they tried the inclinations of all their
acquaintances that they durst trust； and communicated the secret to
them； and took into the design not only their familiar friends； but as
many as they believed bold and brave and despisers of death。 For which
reason they concealed the plot from Cicero； though he was very much
trusted and as well beloved by them all； lest； to his own disposition；
which was naturally timorous； adding now the weariness and caution
of old age； by his weighing； as he would do； every particular； that he
might not make one step without the greatest security； he should blunt
the edge of their forwardness and resolution in a business which
required all the despatch imaginable。 As indeed there were also two
others that were companions of Brutus； Statilius the Epicurean； and
Favonius the admirer of Cato； whom he left out for this reason： as
he was conversing one day with them； trying them at a distance； and
proposing some such question to be disputed of as among
philosophers； to see what opinion they were of； Favonius declared
his judgment to be that a civil war was worse than the most illegal
monarchy； and Statilius held； that to bring himself into troubles
and danger upon the account of evil or foolish men did not become a
man that had any wisdom or discretion。 But Labeo； who was present；
contradicted them both and Brutus； as if it had been an intricate
dispute； and difficult to be decided； held his peace for that time；
but afterwards discovered the whole design to Labeo； who readily
undertook it。 The next thing that was thought convenient was to gain
the other Brutus surnamed Albinus； a man of himself of no great
bravery or courage； but considerable for the number of gladiators that
he was maintaining for a public show； and the great confidence that
Caesar put in him。 When Cassius and Labeo spoke with him concerning
the matter； he gave them no answer； but； seeking an interview with
Brutus himself alone； and finding that he was their captain； he
readily consented to partake in the action。 And among the others；
also； the most and best were gained by the name of Brutus。 And； though
they neither gave nor took any oath of secrecy； nor used any other
sacred rite to assure their fidelity to each other； yet all kept their
design so close； were so wary； and held it so silently among
themselves that； though by prophecies and apparitions and signs in the
sacrifices the gods gave warning of it； yet could it not be believed。
Now Brutus； feeling that the noblest spirits of Rome for virtue
birth； or courage were depending upon him； and surveying with
himself all the circumstances of the dangers they were to encounter；
strove indeed； as much as possible； when abroad； to keep his
uneasiness of mind to himself； and to compose his thoughts； but at
home； and especially at night； he was not the same man； but
sometimes against his will his working care would make him start out
of his sleep； and other times he was taken up with further
reflection and consideration of his difficulties； so that his wife
that lay with him could not choose but take notice that he was full of
unusual trouble； and had in agitation some dangerous and perplexing
question。 Porcia； as was said before； was the daughter of Cato； and
Brutus； her cousin…german； had married her very young； though not a
maid； but after the death of her former husband； by whom she had one
son that was named Bibulus； and there is a little book； called Memoirs
of Brutus； written by him； yet extant。 This Porcia； being addicted
to philosophy； a great lover of her husband； and full of an
understanding courage； resolved not to inquire into Brutus's secrets
before she had made this trial of herself。 She turned all her
attendants out of her chamber； and taking a little knife； such as they
use to cut nails with； she gave herself a deep gash in the thigh； upon
which followed a great flow of blood； and soon after； violent pains
and a shivering fever； occasioned by the wound。 Now when Brutus was
extremely anxious and afflicted for her； she； in the height of all her
pain； spoke thus to him： 〃I； Brutus； being the daughter of Cato； was
given to you in marriage； not like a concubine； to partake only in the
common intercourse of bed and board； but to bear a part in all your
good and all your evil fortunes； and for your part； as regards your
care for me； I find no reason to complain； but from me； what
evidence of my love； what satisfaction can you receive； if I may not
share with you in bearing your hidden griefs； nor to be admitted to
any of your counsels that require secrecy and trust？ I know very
well that women seem to be of too weak a nature to be trusted with
secrets； but certainly； Brutus； a virtuous birth and education； and
the company of the good and honourable； are of some force to the
forming our manners； and I can boast that I am the daughter of Cato；
and the wife of Brutus； in which two titles though before I put less
confidence； yet now I have tried myself； and find that I can bid
defiance to pain。〃 Which words having spoken； she showed him her
wound； and related to him the trial that she had made of her
constancy； at which he being astonished； lifted up his hands to
heaven； and begged the assistance of the gods in his enterprise；
that he might show himself a husband worthy of such a wife as
Porcia。 So then he comforted his wife。
But a meeting of the senate being appointed； at which it was
believed that Caesar would be present； they agreed to make use of that
opportunity； for then they might appear all together without
suspicion； and； besides； they hoped that all the noblest and leading
men of the commonwealth； being then assembled as soon as the great
deed was done； would immediately stand forward and assert the common
liberty。 The very place too where the senate was to meet seemed to
be by divine appointment favourable to their purpose。 It was a
portico； one of those joining the theatre； with a large recess； in
which there stood a statue of Pompey； erected to him by the
commonwealth； when he adorned that part of the city with the
porticos and the theatre。 To this place it was that the senate was
summoned for the middle of March （the Ides of March is the Roman
name for the day）； as if some more than human power were leading the
man thither； there to meet his punishment for the death of Pompey。
As soon as it was day； Brutus； taking with him a dagger； which
none but his wife knew of； went out。 The rest met together at
Cassius's house； and brought forth his son that was that day to put on
the manly gown； as it is called； into the forum； and from thence；
going all to Pompey's porch； stayed there； expecting Caesar to come
without delay to the senate。 Here it was chiefly that any one who
had known what they had purposed； would have admired the unconcerned
temper and the steady resolution of these men in their most
dangerous undertaking； for many of them； being praetors； and called
upon by their office to judge and determine causes； did not only
hear calmly all that made application to them and pleaded against each
other before them； as if they were free from all other thoughts； but
decided causes with as much accuracy and judgment as they had heard
them with attention and patience。 And when one person refused to stand
to the award of Brutus； and with great clamour and many attestations
appealed to Caesar； Brutus； looking round about him upon those that
were present； said； 〃Caesar does not hinder me； nor will he hinder me；
from doing according to the laws。〃
Yet there were many unusual accidents that disturbed them and by
mere chance were thrown in their way。 The first and chiefest was the
long stay of Caesar； though the day was spent； and he being detained
at home by his wife； and forbidden by the soothsayers to go forth；
upon some defect that appeared in his sacrifice。 Another was this：
There came a man up to Casca； one of the company； and； taking him by
the hand； 〃You concealed；〃 said he； 〃the secret from us； but Brutus
has told me all。〃 At which words when Casca was surprised； the other
said laughing； 〃How came you to be so rich of a sudden； that you
should stand to be chosen aedile？〃 So near was Casca to let out the
secret； upon the mere ambiguity of the other's expression。 Then
Popilius Laenas； a senator； having saluted Brutus and Cassius more
earnestly than usual； whispered them softly in the ear； and said；
〃My wishes are with you； that you may accomplish what you design；
and I advise you to make no delay； for the thing is now no secret。〃
This said； he departed； and left them in great suspicion that the
design had taken wind。 In the meanwhile； there came one in haste
from Brutus's house and brought him news that his wife was dying。
For Porcia； being extremely disturbed with expectation of the event；
and not able to bear the greatness of her anxiety； could scarce keep
herself within doors； and at every little noise or voice she heard；
starting up suddenly； like those possessed with the bacchic frenzy；
she asked every one that came in from the forum what Brutus was doing；
and sent one messenger after another to inquire。 At last； after long
expectation and waiting； the strength of her constitution could hold
out no longer； her mind was overcome with her doubts and fears； and
she lost the control of herself； and began to faint away。 She had
not time to betake herself to her chamber； but； sitting as she was
amongst her women； a sudden swoon and a great stupor seized her； and
her colour changed； and her speech was quite lost。 At this sight her
women made a loud cry； and many of the neighbours running to
Brutus's door to know what was the matter； the report was soon
spread abroad that Porcia was dead； though with her women's help she
recovered in a little while； and came to herself again。 When Brut