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were so bold as to salute him by the name of king； but he； finding the
people disrelish it； seemed to resent it himself； and said his name
was Caesar； not king。 Upon this there was a general silence； and he
passed on looking not very well pleased or contented。 Another time；
when the senate had conferred on him some extravagant honours； he
chanced to receive the message as he was sitting on the rostra； where；
though the consuls and praetors themselves waited on him； attended
by the whole body of the senate； he did not rise； but behaved
himself to them as if they had been private men； and told them his
honours wanted rather to be retrenched than increased。 This
treatment offended not only the senate； but the commonalty too； as
if they thought the affront upon the senate equally reflected upon the
whole republic； so that all who could decently leave him went off；
looking much discomposed。 Caesar； perceiving the false step he had
made； immediately retired home； and laying his throat bare； told his
friends that he was ready to offer this to any one who would give
the stroke。 But afterwards he made the malady from which he suffered
the excuse for his sitting； saying that those who are attacked by it
lose their presence of mind if they talk much standing； that they
presently grow giddy； fall into convulsions； and quite lose their
reason。 But this was not the reality； for he would willingly have
stood up to the senate； had not Cornelius Balbus； one of his
friends； or rather flatterers； hindered him。 〃Will you and
remember；〃 said he； 〃you are Caesar； and claim the honour which is due
to your merit？〃
He gave a fresh occasion of resentment by his affront to the
tribunes。 The Lupercalia were then celebrated； a feast at the first
institution belonging； as some writers say； to the shepherds； and
having some connection with the Arcadian Lycae。 Many young noblemen
and magistrates run up and down the city with their upper garments
off； striking all they meet with thongs of hide； by way of sport；
and many women； even of the highest rank； place themselves in the way；
and hold out their hands to the lash； as boys in a school do to the
master； out of a belief that it procures an easy labour to those who
are with child； and makes those conceive who are barren。 Caesar；
dressed in a triumphal robe； seated himself in a golden chair at the
rostra to view this ceremony。 Antony； as consul； was one of those
who ran this course； and when he came into the forum； and the people
made way for him； he went up and reached to Caesar a diadem wreathed
with laurel。 Upon this there was a shout； but only a slight one；
made by the few who were planted there for that purpose； but when
Caesar refused it； there was universal applause。 Upon the second
offer； very few； and upon the second refusal； all again applauded。
Caesar finding it would not take； rose up； and ordered the crown to be
carried into the capitol。 Caesar's statues were afterwards found
with royal diadems on their heads。 Flavius and Marullus； two
tribunes of the people； went presently and pulled them off； and having
apprehended those who first saluted Caesar as king committed them to
prison。 The people followed them with acclamations； and called them by
the name of Brutus； because Brutus was the first who ended the
succession of kings； and transferred the power which before was lodged
in one man into the hands of the senate and people。 Caesar so far
resented this； that he displaced Marullus and Flavius； and in urging
his charges against them； at the same time ridiculed the people； by
himself giving the men more than once the names of Bruti and Cumaei。
This made the multitude turn their thoughts to Marcus Brutus； who；
by his father's side； was thought to be descended from that first
Brutus； and by his mother's side from the Servilii； another noble
family； being besides nephew and son…in…law to Cato。 But the honours
and favours he had received from Caesar took off the edge from the
desires he might himself have felt for overthrowing the new
monarchy。 For he had not only been pardoned himself after Pompey's
defeat at Pharsalia； and had procured the same grace for many of his
friends； but was one in whom Caesar had a particular confidence。 He
had at that time the most honourable praetorship for the year； and was
named for the consulship four years after； being preferred before
Cassius； his competitor。 Upon the question as to the choice； Caesar；
it is related； said that Cassius had the fairer pretensions； but
that he could not pass by Brutus。 Nor would he afterwards listen to
some who spoke against Brutus； when the conspiracy against him was
already afoot； but laying his hand on his body； said to the informers；
〃Brutus will wait for this skin of mine；〃 intimating that he was
worthy to bear rule on account of his virtue； but would not be base
and ungrateful to gain it。 Those who desired a change； and looked on
him as the only； or at least the most proper； person to effect it； did
not venture to speak with him； but in the night…time laid papers about
his chair of state； where he used to sit and determine causes； with
such sentences in them as； 〃You are asleep； Brutus；〃 〃You are no
longer Brutus。〃 Cassius； when he perceived his ambition a little
raised upon this； was more instant than before to work him yet
further； having himself a private grudge against Caesar for some
reasons that we have mentioned in the Life of Brutus。 Nor was Caesar
without suspicions of him； and said once to his friends； 〃What do
you think Cassius is aiming at？ I don't like him； he looks so pale。〃
And when it was told him that Antony and Dolabella were in a plot
against him； he said he did not fear such fat； luxurious men； but
rather the pale； lean fellows； meaning Cassius and Brutus。
Fate； however； is to all appearance more unavoidable than
unexpected。 For many strange prodigies and apparitions are said to
have been observed shortly before this event。 As to the lights in
the heavens； the noises heard in the night； and the wild birds which
perched in the forum； these are not perhaps worth taking notice of
in so great a case as this。 Strabo； the philosopher； tells us that a
number of men were seen； looking as if they were heated through with
fire； contending with each other； that a quantity of flame issued from
the hand of a soldier's servant； so that they who saw it thought he
must be burnt； but that after all he had no hurt。 As Caesar was
sacrificing； the victim's heart was missing； a very bad omen；
because no living creature can subsist without a heart。 One finds it
also related by many that a soothsayer bade him prepare for some great
danger on the Ides of March。 When this day was come； Caesar； as he
went to the senate； met this soothsayer