spread abroad that Porcia was dead； though with her women's help she
recovered in a little while； and came to herself again。 When Brutus
received this news； he was extremely troubled； not without reason； yet
was not so carried away by his private grief as to quit his public
purpose。
For now news was brought that Caesar was coming； carried in a
litter。 For； being discouraged by the ill…omens that attended his
sacrifice； he had determined to undertake no affairs of any great
importance that day； but to defer them till another time； excusing
himself that he was sick。 As soon as he came out of his litter；
Popilius Laenas； he who but a little before had wished Brutus good
success in his undertaking； coming up to him； conversed a great
while with him； Caesar standing still all the while； and seeming to be
very attentive。 The conspirators （to give them this name）； not being
able to hear what he said； but guessing by what themselves were
conscious of that this conference was the discovery of their
treason； were again disheartened； and； looking upon one another；
agreed from each other's countenances that they should not stay to
be taken； but should all kill themselves。 And now when Cassius and
some others were laying hands upon their daggers under their robes；
and were drawing them out； Brutus； viewing narrowly the looks and
gesture of Laenas； and finding that he was earnestly petitioning and
not accusing； said nothing； because there were many strangers to the
conspiracy mingled amongst them： but by a cheerful countenance
encouraged Cassius。 And after a little while； Laenas； having kissed
Caesar's hand； went away； showing plainly that all his discourse was
about some particular business relating to himself。
Now when the senate was gone in before to the chamber where they
were to sit； the rest of the company placed themselves close about
Caesar's chair； as if they had some suit to make to him； and
Cassius； turning his face to Pompey's statue； is said to have
invoked it； as if it had been sensible of his prayers。 Trebonius； in
the meanwhile； engaged Antony's attention at the door； and kept him in
talk outside。 When Caesar entered； the whole senate rose up to him。 As
soon as he was sat down； the men all crowded round about him； and
set Tillius Cimber； one of their own number； to intercede in behalf of
his brother that was banished； they all joined their prayers with his；
and took Caesar by the hand； and kissed his head and his breast。 But
he putting aside at first their supplications； and afterwards； when he
saw they would not desist； violently rising up； Tillius with both
hands caught hold of his robe and pulled it off from his shoulders；
and Casca； that stood behind him； drawing his dagger； gave him the
first； but a slight wound； about the shoulder。 Caesar snatching hold
of the handle of the dagger； and crying out aloud in Latin； 〃Villain
Casca； what do you？〃 he； calling in Greek to his brother； bade him
come and help。 And by this time； finding himself struck by a great
many hands； and looking around about him to see if he could force
his way out； when he saw Brutus with his dagger drawn against him；
he let go Casca's hand； that he had hold of and covering his head with
his robe； gave up his body to their blows。 And they so eagerly pressed
towards the body； and so many daggers were hacking together； that they
cut one another； Brutus； particularly； received a wound in his hand；
and all of them were besmeared with the blood。
Caesar being thus slain； Brutus； stepping forth into the midst；
intended to have made a speech； and called back and encouraged the
senators to stay； but they all affrighted ran away in great
disorder； and there was a great confusion and press at the door；
though none pursued or followed。 For they had come to an express
resolution to kill nobody beside Caesar； but to call and invite all
the rest to liberty。 It was indeed the opinion of all the others； when
they consulted about the execution of their design； that it was
necessary to cut off Antony with Caesar； looking upon him as an
insolent man； an affecter of monarchy； and one that； by his familiar
intercourse； had gained a powerful interest with the soldiers。 And
this they urged the rather； because at that time to the natural
loftiness and ambition of his temper there was added the dignity of
being counsel and colleague to Caesar。 But Brutus opposed this consul；
insisting first upon the injustice of it； and afterwards giving them
hopes that a change might be worked in Antony。 For he did not
despair but that so highly gifted and honourable a man； and such a
lover of glory as Antony； stirred up with emulation of their great
attempt； might； if Caesar were once removed； lay hold of the
occasion to be joint restorer with them of the liberty of his country。
Thus did Brutus save Antony's life。 But he； in the general
consternation； put himself into a plebeian habit； and fled。 But Brutus
and his party marched up to the capitol； in their way showing their
hands all bloody； and their naked swords； and proclaiming liberty to
the people。 At first all places were filled with cries and shouts； and
the wild running to and fro； occasioned by the sudden surprise and
passion that every one was in； increased the tumult in the city。 But
no other bloodshed following； and no plundering of the goods in the
streets； the senators and many of the people took courage and went
up to the men in the capitol； and a multitude being gathered together；
Brutus made an oration to them； very popular； and proper for the state
that affairs were then in。 Therefore； when they applauded his
speech； and cried out to him to come down； they all took confidence
and descended into the forum； the rest promiscuously mingled with
one another； but many of the most eminent persons； attending Brutus；
conducted him in the midst of them with great honour from the capitol；
and placed him in the rostra。 At the sight of Brutus； the crowd；
though consisting of a confused mixture and all disposed to make a
tumult； were struck with reverence； and expected what he would say
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
presse