Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/325

 MARCUS BRUTUS. 317 Caesar to come without delay to the senate. Here it was chiefly that any one who had known what they had piu'posed, would have admired the unconcerned temper and the steady resolution of these men in their most dangerous under-taking; for many of them, being praetors, and called upon by their office to judge and determine causes, did not oulj' hear calmly all that made application to them and pleaded against each other before them, as if they were free from all other thoughts, but decided causes with as much accuracy and judgment as they had heard them with attention and patience. And when one person refused to stand to the award of Brutus, and with great clamor and many attes- tations appealed to Caesar, Brutus, looking round about him upon those that were present, said, " Caesar does not hinder me, nor will he hinder me, from doing according to the laws." Yet there were many unusual accidents that distm'bed them and b}- mere chance were thrown in their wa}-. The first and chiefest was the long stay of Ctesar, though the- day was far spent, and his being detained at home by his wife, and forbidden by the soothsayers to go forth, upon some defect that appeared in his sacrifice. Another was this : There came a man up to Casca, one of the company, and, taking him by the hand, " You concealed," said he, " the secret from us, but Brutus has told me all." At which words when Casca was surprised,- the other said lau2:hing, " How come von to be so rich of a sudden, that you should stand to be chosen edile?" So near was Casca to let out the secret, upon the mere ambi- guity of the other's expression. Then Popilius Lsenas, a senator, having saluted Brutus and Cassius more earn- estly than usual, whispered them softly in the ear and said, "My wishes are with you, that you may accomplish what you design, and I advise you to make no delay, for