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 entreaties； but； by all manner of
ways； strove to destroy themselves； not only men and women； but even
boys and little children； with a hideous outcry； leaped some into
the fire； others from the walls； others fell upon their parents'
swords； baring their throats and desiring to be struck。 After the
destruction of the city； there was found a woman who had hanged
herself with her young child hanging from her neck； and the torch in
her hand with which she had fired her own house。
It was so tragical a sight that Brutus could not endure to see it；
but wept at the very relation of it and proclaimed a reward to any
soldier that could save a Xanthian。 And it is said that an hundred and
fifty only were found； to have their lives saved against their
wills。 Thus the Xanthians after a long space of years； the fated
period of their destruction having； as it were； run its course；
repeated by their desperate deed the former calamity of their
forefathers； who after the very same manner in the Persian war had
fired their city and destroyed themselves。
Brutus； after this； finding the Patareans resolved to make
resistance and hold out their city against him； was very unwilling
to besiege it； and was in great perplexity lest the same frenzy
might seize them too。 But having in his power some of their women； who
were his prisoners； he dismissed them all without any ransom； who；
returning and giving an account to their husbands and fathers； who
were of the greatest rank； what an excellent man Brutus was； how
temperate and how just； persuaded them to yield themselves and put
their city into his hands。 From this time all the cities round about
came into his power； submitting themselves to him； and found him
good and merciful even beyond their hopes。 For though Cassius at the
same time had compelled the Rhodians to bring in all the silver and
gold that each of them privately was possessed of； by which he
raised a sum of eight thousand talents； and besides this had condemned
the public to pay the sum of five hundred talents more； Brutus； not
having taken above a hundred and fifty talents from the Lycians； and
having done them no other manner of injury； parted from thence with
his army to go into Ionia。
Through the whole course of this expedition； Brutus did many
memorable acts of justice in dispensing rewards and punishments to
such as had deserved either； but one in particular I will relate；
because he himself； and all the noblest Romans； were gratified with it
above all the rest。 When Pompey the Great； being overthrown from his
great power by Caesar； had fled to Egypt； and landed near Pelusium；
the protectors of the young king consulted among themselves what was
fit to be done on that occasion； nor could they all agree in the
same opinion； some being for receiving him； others for driving him
from Egypt。 But Theodotus； a Chian by birth； and then attending upon
the king as a paid teacher of rhetoric； and for want of better men
admitted into the council； undertook to prove to them that both
parties were in the wrong； those that counselled to receive Pompey；
and those that advised to send him away； that in their present case
one thing only was truly expedient； to seize him and to kill him；
and ended his argument with the proverb； that 〃dead men don't bite。〃
The council agreed to his opinion； and Pompey the Great （an example of
incredible and unforeseen events） was slain； as the sophister
himself had the impudence to boast； through the rhetoric and
cleverness of Theodotus。 Not long after； when Caesar came to Egypt；
some of the murderers received their just reward and suffered the evil
death they deserved。 But Theodotus； though he had borrowed on from
fortune a little further time for a poor； despicable； and wandering
life； yet did not lie hid from Brutus as he passed through Asia； but
being seized by him and executed； had his death made more memorable
than was his life。
About this time； Brutus sent to Cassius to come to him at the city
of Sardis； and； when he was on his journey； went forth with his
friends to meet him； and the whole army in array saluted each of
them with the name of Imperator。 Now （as it usually happens in
business of great concern； and where many friends and many
commanders are engaged）； several jealousies of each other and
matters of private accusation having passed between Brutus and
Cassius； they resolved； before they entered upon any other business；
immediately to withdraw into some apartment； where； the door being
shut and they two alone； they began first to expostulate； then to
dispute hotly； and accuse each other； and finally were so
transported into passion as to fall to hard words； and at last burst
out into tears。 Their friends who stood without were amazed； hearing
them loud and angry； and feared lest some mischief might follow； but
yet durst not interrupt them； being commanded not to enter the room。
However； Marcus Favonius； who had been an ardent admirer of Cato； and；
not so much by his learning or wisdom as by his wild； vehement manner；
maintained the character of a philosopher； was rushing in upon them；
but was hindered by the attendants。 But it was a hard matter to stop
Favonius； wherever his wildness hurried him； for he was fierce in
all his behaviour； and ready to do anything to get his will。 And
though he was a senator； yet； thinking that one of the least of his
excellences； he valued himself more upon a sort of cynical liberty
of speaking what he pleased； which sometimes； indeed； did away with
the rudeness and unseasonableness of his addresses with those that
would interpret it in jest。 This Favonius； breaking by force through
those that kept the doors； entered into the chamber； and with a set
voice declaimed the verses that Homer makes Nestor use…
〃Be ruled； for I am older than ye both。〃
At this Cassius laughed； but Brutus thrust him out； calling him
impudent dog and counterfeit Cynic； but yet for the present they let
it put an end to their dispute； and parted。 Cassius made a supper that
night； and Brutus invited the guests； and when they were set down；
Favonius； having bathed； came in among them。 Brutus called out aloud
and told him he was not invited； and bade him go to the upper couch；
but he violently thrust himself in； and lay down on the middle one；
and the entertainment passed in sportive talk； not wanting either
wit or philosophy。
The next day after； upon the accusation of the Sardians； Brutus
publicly disgraced and condemned Lucius Pella； one that had been
censor of Rome； and employed in offices of trust by himself； for
having embezzled the public money。 This action did not a little vex
Cassius； for but a few days before； two of his own friends being
accused of the same crime； he only admonished them in private； but
in public absolved them； and continued them in his service； and upon
this occasion he accused Brutus of too much rigour and severity of
justice in a time which required them to use more policy and favour。
But Brutus bade him remember the Ides of March； the day when they
killed Caesar； who hims