Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/364

 356 MARCUS BRUTUS. with Brutus, makes no mention of this apparition, but says that the first eagle was covered with a swarm of, bees, and that there was one of the captains whose ann of itself sweated oil of roses, and, though they often dried and wiped it, yet it would not cease; and that immediately before the battle, two eagles falling upon each other fought in the space between the two armies, that the whole field kept incredible silence and all were intent upon the spectacle, until at last that which was ou Brutus's side yielded and fled. But the stoi'y of the Ethiopian is very famous, who meeting the standard- bearer at the ojjening the gate of the camp, was cut to pieces by the soldiers, that took it for an ill omen. Brutus, having brought his army into the field and set them in array against the enemy, paused a long while be- fore he would fight; for, as he was reviewing the troops, suspicions were excited, and informations laid against some of them. Besides, he saw his horse not very eager to begin the action, and waiting to see what the foot would do. Then suddenly Camulatus, a very good soldier, and one whom for his valor he highly esteemed, riding hard by Brutus himself, went over to the enemy, the sight of which grieved Brutus exceedingly. So that partly out of anger, and partly out of fear of some greater treason and desertion, he immediately drew on his forces upon the enemy, the sun now declining, about three of the clock in the afternoon. Brutus on his side had the better, and pressed hard on the left wing, which gave way and re- treated ; and the horse too fell in together with the foot, when they saw the enemy in disorder. But the other wing, when the officers extended the line to avoid its being encompassed, the numbers being inferior, got drawn out too thin in the centre, and was so weak here that they could not withstand the charge, but at the first onset fled. After defeating these, the enemy at once