Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/328

 320 MARCUS BRUTUS. that stood beliiiul him, drawing his dagger, gave him the first, but a slight wound, about the shoulder. Caesar snatching hold of the handle of the dagger, and crying out aloud in Latin, " Villain Casca, what do you?" he, calling in Greek to his brother, bade him come and help. And by this time, finding himself struck by a great many hands, and looking round about him to see if he could force his way out, when he saw Brutus with his dagger drawn against him, he let go Casca's hand, that he had hold of, and, covering his head with his robe, gave up his body to their blows. And they so eagerly pressed to- wards the body, and so many daggers were hacking together, that they cut one another ; Brutus, particularly, received a wound in his hand, and all of them were besmeared with the blood. Caesar being thus slain, Brutus, stepping forth into the midst, intended to have made a speech, and called back and encouraged the senators to stay; but they all affrighted ran away in great disorder, and there was a great confusion and press at the door, though none pur- sued or followed. For they had come to an express resolution to kill nobody besides Caesar, but to call and invite all the rest to liberty. It was indeed the opinion of all the others, when they consulted about the execu- tion of their design, that it was necessary to cut off An- tony with Caesar, looking upon him as an insolent man, an affecter of monarchy, and one that, by his familiar in- tercourse, had gained a powerful interest with the soldiers. And this they urged the rather, because at that time to the natiu-al loftiness and ambition of his temper there was added the dignity of being consul and colleague to Caesar. But Brutus opposed this counsel, insisting first upon the injustice of it, and afterwards giving them hopes that a change might be worked in Antony. For he did not de- spair but that so highly gifted and honorable a man, and