Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/327

 MARCUS BRUTUS. 319 a great while with him, Caesar standing still all the while, and seeming to be very attentive. The conspirators, (to give them this name,) not being able to hear what he said, but guessing by what themselves were conscious of that this conference was the discovery of their treason, were again disheartened, and, looking upon one another, agreed from each other's countenances that they should not stay to be taken, but should all kill themselves. And now when Cassius and some others wei'e laying hands upon tTieir daggers under their robes, and were drawing them out, Brutus, viewing narrowly the looks and gesture of Lasnas, and finding that he was earnestly petitioning and not accusing, said nothing, because there were many strangers to the conspiracy mingled amongst them, but by a cheerful countenance encouraged Cassius. And af- ter a little while, Lfenas, having kissed Cassar's hand, went away, showing plainly that all his discourse was about some particular business relating to himself. Now when the senate was gone in before to the cham- ber where they were to sit, the rest of the company placed themselves close about Csesar's chair, as if they had some suit to make to him, and Cassius, tui-ning his face to Pom- pey's statue, is said to have invoked it, as if it had been sensible of his prayers. Trebonius, in the meanwhile, engaged Antony's attention at the door, and kept him in talk outside. "When Csesar entered, the whole senate rose up to him. As soon as he was set down, the men all crowded round about him, and set Tillius Ciraber, one of their own number, to intercede in behalf of his brother, that was banished ; they all joined their prayers, with his, and took Csesar by the hand, and kissed his head and his breast. But he putting aside at first their supplications, and afterwards, when he saw they would not desist, vio- lently rising up, Tillius with both hands caught hold of his robe and pulled it off from his shoulders, and Casca,