按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
went to the senate； met this soothsayer； and said to him by way of
raillery； 〃The Ides of March are come；〃 who answered him calmly； 〃Yes；
they are come； but they are not past。〃 The day before his
assassination he supped with Marcus Lepidus； and as he was signing
some letters according to his custom； as he reclined at table； there
arose a question what sort of death was the best。 At which he
immediately； before any one could speak； said； 〃A sudden one。〃
After this； as he was in bed with his wife； all the doors and
windows of the house flew open together he was startled at the
noise； and the light which broke into the room； and sat up in his bed；
where by the moonshine he perceived Calpurnia fast asleep； but heard
her utter in her dream some indistinct words and inarticulate
groans。 She fancied at that time she was weeping over Caesar； and
holding him butchered in her arms。 Others say this was not her
dream； but that she dreamed that a pinnacle； which the senate； as Livy
relates； had ordered to be raised on Caesar's house by way of ornament
and grandeur； was tumbling down； which was the occasion of her tears
and ejaculations。 When it was day； she begged of Caesar； if it were
possible； not to stir out； but to adjourn the senate to another
time； and if he slighted her dreams； that she would be pleased to
consult his fate by sacrifices and other kinds of divination。 Nor
was he himself without some suspicion and fears； for he never before
discovered any womanish superstition in Calpurnia； whom he now saw
in such great alarm。 Upon the report which the priests made to him；
that they had killed several sacrifices； and still found them
inauspicious； he resolved to send Antony to dismiss the senate。
In this juncture； Decimus Brutus； surnamed Albinus； one whom
Caesar had such confidence in that he made him his second heir； who
nevertheless was engaged in the conspiracy with the other Brutus and
Cassius； fearing lest if Caesar should put off the senate to another
day； the business might get wind； spoke scoffingly and in mockery of
the diviners； and blamed Caesar for giving the senate so fair an
occasion of saying he had put a slight upon them； for that they were
met upon his summons； and were ready to vote unanimously that he
should be declared king of all the provinces out of Italy； and might
wear a diadem in any other place but Italy； by sea or land。 If any one
should be sent to tell them they might break up for the present； and
meet again when Calpurnia should chance to have better dreams； what
would his enemies say？ Or who would with any patience hear his
friends； if they should presume to defend his government as not
arbitrary and tyrannical？ But if he was possessed so far as to think
this day unfortunate； yet it were more decent to go himself to the
senate； and to adjourn it in his own person。 Brutus； as he spoke these
words； took Caesar by the hand； and conducted him forth。 He was not
gone far from the door； when a servant of some other person's made
towards him； but not being able to come up to him； on account of the
crowd of those who pressed about him； he made his way into the
house； and committed himself to Calpurnia； begging of her to secure
him till Caesar returned； because he had matters of great importance
to communicate to him。
Artemidorus； a Cnidian； a teacher of Greek logic； and by that
means so far acquainted with Brutus and his friends as to have got
into the secret； brought Caesar in a small written memorial the
heads of what he had to depose。 He had observed that Caesar； as he
received any papers； presently gave them to the servants who
attended on him； and therefore came as near to him as he could； and
said； 〃Read this； Caesar； alone； and quickly； for it contains matter
of great importance which nearly concerns you。〃 Caesar received it；
and tried several times to read it； but was still hindered by the
crowd of those who came to speak to him。 However； he kept it in his
hand by itself till he came into the senate。 Some say it was another
who gave Caesar this note； and that Artemidorus could not get to
him； being all along kept off by the crowd。
All these things might happen by chance。 But the place which was
destined for the scene of this murder； in which the senate met that
day； was the same in which Pompey's statue stood； and was one of the
edifices which Pompey had raised and dedicated with his theatre to the
use of the public； plainly showing that there was something of a
supernatural influence which guided the action and ordered it to
that particular place。 Cassius； just before the act； is said to have
looked towards Pompey's statue； and silently implored his
assistance； though he had been inclined to the doctrines of
Epicurus。 But this occasion； and the instant danger； carried him
away out of all his reasonings； and filled him for the time with a
sort of inspiration。 As for Antony； who was firm to Caesar and a
strong man； Brutus Albinus kept him outside the house； and delayed him
with a long conversation contrived on purpose。 When Caesar entered；
the senate stood up to show their respect to him； and of Brutus's
confederates； some came about his chair and stood behind it； others
met him； pretending to add their petitions to those of Tillius Cimber；
in behalf of his brother； who was in exile； and they followed him with
their joint applications till he came to his seat。 When he was sat
down； he refused to comply with their requests； and upon their
urging him； further began to reproach them severely for their
importunities； when Tillius； laying hold of his robe with both his
hands； pulled it down from his neck； which was the signal for the
assault。 Casca gave him the first cut in the neck； which was not
mortal nor dangerous； as coming from one who at the beginning of
such a bold action was probably very much disturbed； Caesar
immediately turned about； and laid his hand upon the dagger and kept
hold of it。 And both of them at the same time cried out； he that
received the blow； in Latin； 〃Vile Casca； what does this mean？〃 and he
that gave it； in Greek to his brother； 〃Brother； help！〃 Upon this
first onset； those who were not privy to the design were astonished；
and their horror and amazement at what they saw were so great that
they durst not fly nor assist Caesar； nor so much as speak a word。 But
those who came prepared for the business enclosed him on every side；
with their naked daggers in their hands。 Which way soever he turned he
met with blows； and saw their swords levelled at his face and eyes；
and was encompassed like a wild beast in the toils on every side。
For it had been agreed they should each of them make a thrust at
him； and flesh themselves with his blood； for which reason Brutus also
gave him one