the body。 But this I have in another place discussed more at large。
Brutus growing very faint； and there being none in the whole army
that had anything for him to eat； his servants were forced to have
recourse to the enemy； and； going as far as to the gates of the
city； begged bread of the sentinels that were upon duty。 As soon as
they heard of the condition of Brutus； they came themselves； and
brought both meat and drink along with them； in return for which
Brutus； when he took the city； showed the greatest kindness； not to
them only； but to all the inhabitants； for their sakes。 Caius
Antonius； in the meantime； coming to Apollonia； summoned all the
soldiers that were near that city to join him there； but finding
that they nevertheless went all to Brutus； and suspecting that even
those of Apollonia were inclined to the same party； he quitted that
city； and came to Buthrotum； having first lost three cohorts of his
men； that in their march thither were cut to pieces by Brutus。 After
this； attempting to make himself master of some strong places about
Byllis which the enemy had first seized； he was overcome in a set
battle by young Cicero； to whom Brutus gave the command； and whose
conduct he made use of often and with much success。 Caius himself
was surprised in a marshy place； at a distance from his support； and
Brutus having him in his power would not suffer his soldiers to
attack； but maneuvering about the enemy with his horse； gave command
that none of them should be killed； for that in a little time they
would all be of his side； which accordingly came to pass； for they
surrendered both themselves and their general。 So that Brutus had by
this time a very great and considerable army。 He showed all marks of
honour and esteem to Caius for a long time； and left him the use of
the ensigns of his office； though； as some report； he had several
letters from Rome； and particularly from Cicero； advising him to put
him to death。 But at last； perceiving that he began to corrupt his
officers； and was trying to raise a mutiny amongst the soldiers； he
put him aboard a ship and kept him close prisoner。 In the meantime；
the soldiers that had been corrupted by Caius retired to Apollonia；
and sent word to Brutus； desiring him to come to them thither。 He
answered that this was not the custom of the Romans； but that it
became those who had offended to come themselves to their general
and beg forgiveness of their offences； which they did； and accordingly
received their pardon。
As he was preparing to pass into Asia； tidings reached him of the
alteration that had happened at Rome； where the young Caesar； assisted
by the senate； in opposition to Antony； and having driven his
competitor out of Italy； had begun himself to be very formidable；
suing for the consulship contrary to law； and maintaining large bodies
of troops of which the commonwealth had no manner of need。 And then；
perceiving that the senate； dissatisfied with the proceedings； began
to cast their eyes abroad upon Brutus； and decreed and confirmed the
government of several provinces to him； he had taken the alarm。
Therefore despatching messengers to Antony； he desired that there
might be a reconciliation； and a friendship between them。 Then；
drawing all his forces about the city； he made himself to be chosen
consul； though he was but a boy； being scarce twenty years old； as
he himself writes in his memoirs。 At the first entry upon the
consulship he immediately ordered a judicial process to be issued
out against Brutus and his accomplices for having murdered a principal
man of the city； holding the highest magistracies of Rome； without
being heard or condemned； and appointed Lucius Cornificus to accuse
Brutus； and Marcus Agrippa to accuse Cassius。 None appearing to the
accusation； the judges were forced to pass sentence and condemn them
both。 It is reported that when the crier from the tribunal； as the
custom was； with a loud voice cried Brutus to appear； the people
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 i