Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/359

 3IARCUS BRUTUS. 351 their excess of gladness at the sight of him. But this was the occasion of the greatest mischief that could be. For Cassius really thought that Titinius had been taken by the enemy, and cried out, " Through too much fond- ness of life, I have lived to endure the sight of my friend taken by the enemy before my face." After -which words he retired into an empty tent, taking along with him only Pindarus, one of his freedmen, whom he had re- served for such an occasion ever since the disasters in the expedition against the Parthians, when Crassus was slain. From the Parthians he came away in safety ; but now, pulling up his mantle over his head, he made his neck bare, and held it forth to Pindarus, commanding him to strike. The head was certainly found lying severed from the bod3^ But no man ever saw Pindarus after, from which some suspected that he had killed his master without his command. Soon after they perceived who the horsemen were, and saw Titinius, crowned with garlands, making what haste he could towards Cassius. But as soon as he understood by the cries and lamenta- tions of his afflicted friends the unfortunate error and death of his general, he drew his sword, and haang very much accused and upbraided his own long stay, that had caused it, he slew himself Brutus, as soon as he was assured of the defeat of Cassius, made haste to him ; but heard nothing of his death till he came near his camp. Then having lament- ed over his body, calling him " the last of the Romans," it being impossible that the city should ever produce another man of so great a spu-it, he sent away the body to be buried at Thasos, lest celebi'ating his funeral within the camp might bi-eed some disordei-. He then gathered the soldiei's together and comforted them ; and, seeing them destitute of all things necessary, he promised to every man two thousand drachmas in recomj^cnse of