Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/335

 CAESAR. 327 concerned in it, and suffering none to escape, but reaching all who in any sort or kind were either actually engaged in the fact, or by their counsels any way promoted it. The most remarkable of mere human coincidences was that which befell Cassius, who, when he was defeated at Philippi, killed himself with the same dagger which he had made use of against Csesar. The most signal preter- natural appearances were the great comet, which shone very bright for seven nights after Caesar's death, and then disappeared, and the dimness of the sun,* whose orb con- tinued pale and dull for the whole of that year, never showing its ordinary radiance at its rising, and giving but a weak and feeble heat. The air consequently was damp and gross, for want of stronger rays to open and rarify it. The fruits, for that reason, never properly ripened, and began to wither and fall off for want of heat, before they were fully formed. But above all, the phantom which appeared to Brutus showed the murder was not pleasing to the gods. The story of it is this. Brutus being to pass his army from Abydos to the con- tinent on the other side, laid himself down one night, as he used to do, in his tent, and was not asleep, but think- ing of his affairs, and what events he might expect. For he is related to have been the least inclined to sleep of all men who have commanded armies, and to have had the greatest natural capacity for continuing awake, and employing himself without need of rest. He thought he heard a noise at the door of his tent, and looking that way, by the light of his lamp, which was almost out, saw Solem quis dicere falsiim Audeat? ille etiam cascos instare tumultus Sajpe monet, fraudemque et operta tumescere bella. Ille etiam exstincto miseratus Caesare Romam ; Cum caput obscura nitidum ferrugine texit, Impiaque reternam timuerunt sa;cula noetem. Virg. Georg. I. 463.