of Brutus actes Porcia studied in Philosophie The corage of Porcia Great difference betwext a wise and a harlot Porciaes words vnto her husband Brutus The wonderfull constancy of the conspirators in killing of Caesar. Sundrie misfortunes to haue broken of the enterprise The weakenes of Porcia notwithstanding her former corage Brutus with his countenaunce encoraged his fearefull consories * In Caesars life it is sayd it was Decius Brutus Albinus that kept Antonius with a talke without * In Caesars life he is called Metellus Cimber The mother of Caesar. Casca the first that wounded him VVhy Antonius was not slayne with Ceasar Brutus with his consorts went vnto the Capitoll Honors decreed for the murtherers of Caesar. Caesars will funeralls Brutus committed two great faults after Caesars death Antonius funerall oration for Caesar. The straunge dreame of Cinna the Poet The murder of Cinna the Poet being mistaken for an other of that name Brutus and his consorts doe flye from Rome Brutus playes and sportes at Rome in his absence Octauius Caesar comming to Rome Brutus reproued Cicero for taking part with Octauius Caesar. Porciaes sorowfull returne to Rome for the absence of her husband Brutus The story of Hector and Andromachè set forth in painted tables How Brutus bestowed his time at Athens Brutus commendeth Ciceroes sonne Brutus prepareth him selfe to warre A strange disease tooke Brutus at Dyrrachium VVho by snow this hungry disease taketh men that are wearied with trauaile Brutus thankfulnes and clemency C. Antonius yelded vnto Brutus Octauius Caesar ioyneth with Antonius Brutus senteÌ„sed and condemned by Octauius Caesars meanes for the death of Iulius Caesar. The Triumuirate C. Antonius murdered Brutus and Cassius doe ioyne armies together The sharpe and cruell condicions of Cassius Brutus gentle and â—aâ—er condicions Brutus intent good if he had ouercomen Antonius testimonie of Brutus Brutus to his mind to his contry Brutus a true Prophet of Antonius Cassius wanne the citie of Rhodes Brutus â—eâ—ts in Lycia The citie of Xanethus set a fire The desperat ende of the Xanthians The Palareâ—ans doe yeld them selues vnto Brutus The extreme couetousnes and crueltie of Cassius to the Rhodians Brutus clemeÌ„cy vnto the Lycians Theodotus borne in Chio a Rethoritian Scholemaister is Ptolomy the young king of AEgypt Theodotus saying a dead man biteth not Theodotus Chian the Rethoritian that gaue counsell to kill Pompeys was put to death by Brutus Brutus and Cassius doe meete at the citie of Sardis Brutus and Cassius complaints one vnto the other M. Phaonius a follower of Cato Cynick Philosophers cowÌ„red dogges Iulius Caesar slayne at the Ides of March. The wonderfull constency of Brutus in matters of iustice and equitie Brutus care and watching A spirit appeared vnto Brutus in the citie of Sardis Cassius opinion of spirits after the Epicurians sect The cause of dreames A wonderfull signe by two Eagles Brutus and Cassius camps before the citie of Philippes against Octauius Caesar Antonius Brutus souldiers brauely armed Brutus opinion for the brauery of souldiers in their armor and weapons Vnlucky signes vnto Cassius Cassius and Brutus opinions about battell Atellius opinion for the battell Cassius words vnto Messala the night before the battell Brutus and Cassius talke before the battell Brutus aunswer to Cassius The battell at Philippes against Octauius Caesar and Antonius Octavius Caesar falsely reported to be slaine at the battell of Philippes Cassius misfortune Cassius offended with the sundrie errous Brutus and his men committed in battell Cassius valliantnes in warres The importance of error mistaking in warres Cassius slaine by his man Pindarus The death of Titinnius The number of men slaine at the battell of Philippes Brutus clemeÌ„cy courtesie Brutus fault wisely excused by Plutarke Brutus victorie by sea VVonderfull famine amoÌ„g Caesars souldiers by sea The ignoraÌ„ce of Brutus victorie by sea was his vtter destruction The euill spirit appeared againe vnto Brutus Straunge fightes before Brutus second battell Brutus second battell Brutus valliantnes and great skill in warres The death of the valliant young man Cato the sonne of Marcus Cato The fidelitie of Lucilius vnto Brutus Brutus flying Appian meaneth this by Antonius The death of Statilius Brutus saying of flying with hands not with feete Brutus slue him selfe Strato Brutus familiar and frend Strato receiued into Caesars frendship Messala Coruinus Brutus frend Brutus funeralls Porcia Brutus wife killed her selfe with burning coles In what things Dion was inferior vnto Brutus Brutus hoâ—â—aved of his enemies after his death Brutus image or statue standing in brasse in Milleine was preserued and kept by Octauius Caesar The example of our auncesters wherein profitable to their posteritie The common weale of the Sicyonians commersed into tyrannie Abantidas â—â—ran of Sicyone Aratus the sonne of Clinias scaped the handes of the tyran Abantidas Aratus malice against tyrannes Aratus fauor Aratus wrote a booke of CoÌ„mentaries Abantidas the tyran slaine Aristotle the Logitian Aratus goeth about to deliuer his contry from the tyrannie * In an other place he calleth him Ecdemus Aristomachus and Ecdelus doe ioine with Aratus Aratus preparacioÌ„ to deliuer his contrie from tyrannie Aratus policy to deceiue Nicocles spialls Aratus daungers in deliuering of his contrie from the tyranny of Nicocles Aratus was the citie of Sicyone without bloodshed Nicocles the tyrant flyeth Aratus ioyneth the citie of Sicyone vnto the Achaians Aratus referred all things to the common wealth VVhy owles set best by night and not by day Management of Philosophy be likined unto owles Aratus taketh sea to go to king Ptolomy into AEgypt The pictures and paynted tables made in the citie of Sicyone did passe all the other paintings in Graece The excelleÌ„cy of Aristratus picture the tyran of Sicyone painted by all Melanthus scholers and Apelles help Aratus consultation for the defacing of it The saying of Nealces the paynter touching tyraÌ„ne The great liberalitie of Ptolomey vnto Aratus Aratus temperances Aratus doings in his first Praetorship Presche an Island of Peloponnesus Acto or inthus means Young king Philips saying of the castell of Corinth Antigunus wife and dauise Antigonus craftily taketh the castell of the Acrocorinthe Ouergreat as lay to a simple man maketh him mad Perceiue the Philisopher made captaine of the Acrocorinthe Aratus determination for the taking of the Acrocorinthe The error and daunger by likenes of men one vnto another Aratus great daunger in taking of the castell of the Acrocorinthe The happy benefit of the Moone Aratus taketh the Acrocorinthe Aratus ioyneth the city of Corinthe vnto Achaia Zenoes opinion that a man could not be a good Captaine vnles he were a perfit wise man. Persaus aunswer to Zenoes opinion Philopaemen the last famous man of the Graecians Aratus power and authority with the Achaians Aratus gaeth about to set Argos at libertie Aratus prepared litle short daggers against the tyrants decree ordinance Aristippus tyrant of the citie of Argos Aristippus layed man to kill Aratus No
and vprore it was thought then that Brutus woulde take parte with Caesar bicause Pompey not long before had put his father vnto death But Brutus preferring the respect of his contrie and common wealth before priuate affection and perswading himselfe that Pompey had iuster cause to enter into armes then Caesar he then tooke parte with Pompey though oftentimes meting him before he thought scorne to speake to him thinking it a great sinne and offence in him to speake to the murtherer of his father But then submitting him selfe vnto Pompey as vnto the head of the common wealth he sailed into SICILIA Lieutenant vnder Sestius that was Gouernor of that prouince But when he saw that there was no way to rise nor to do any noble exployts and that Caesar Pompey were both camped together and fought for victory he went of him selfe vnsent for into MACEDON to be partaker of the daunger It is reported that Pompey being glad and wondering at his comming when he sawe him come to him he rose out of his chaire and went and imbraced him before them all and vsed him as honorablie as he could haue done the noblest man that tooke his parte Brutus being in Pompeys campe did nothing but studie all day long except he were with Pompey not only the dayes before but the selfe same day also before the great battell was fought in the fieldes of PHARSALIA where Pompey was ouerthrowen It was in the middest of sommer and the sunne was verie hotte besides that the campe was lodged neere vnto marishes and they that caried his tent taried long before they came whereuppon being verie wearie with trauell scant any meate came into his mouth at dinner time Furthermore when others slept or thought what woulde happen the morrowe after he fell to his booke and wrote all day long till night wryting a breuiarie of Polybius It is reported that Caesar did not forgette him and that he gaue his Captaines charge before the battell that they shoulde beware they killed not Brutus in fight and if he yeelded willinglie vnto them that then they shoulde bring him vnto him but if he resisted and woulde not be taken then that they shoulde lette him goe and doe him no hurte Some saye he did this for Seruiliaes sake Brutus mother For when he was a young man he had bene acquainted with Seruilia who was extreamelie in loue with him And bicause Brutus was borne in that time when their loue was hottest he perswaded him selfe that he begat him For proofe hereof the reporte goeth that when the waightiest matters were in hande in the Senate about the conspiracie of Catiline which was likelie to haue vndone the citie of ROME Caesar and Cato sate neere together and were both of contrarie mindes to eache other and then that in the meane time one deliuered Caesar a letter Caesar tooke it and red it softlie to him selfe but Cato cried out vpon Caesar and sayd he did not well to receiue aduertisementes from enemies Whereuppon the whole Senate beganne to murmure at it Then Caesar gaue Cato the letter as it was sent him who red it and founde that it was a loue letter sent from his sister Seruilia thereuppon he cast it againe to Caesar and sayde vnto him holde dronken soppe When he had done so he went on with his tale and maintayned his opinion as he did before so commonlie was the loue of Seruilia knowen which she bare vnto Caesar. So after Pompeys ouerthrowe at the battell of PHARSALIA and that he fledde to the sea when Caesar came to beseege his campe Brutus went out of the campe gates vnseene of any man and lept into a marishe full of water and reedes Then when night was come he crept out and went vnto the citie of LARISSA from whence he wrote vnto Caesar who was verie glad that he had scaped and sent for him to come vnto him When Brutus was come he did not onelie pardon him but also kept him alwayes about him and did as muche honor and esteeme him any man he had in his companie Nowe no man coulde tell whether Pompey was fledde and all were maruelous desirous to knowe it wherefore Caesar walking a good waye alone with Brutus he did aske him which way he thought Pompey tooke Caesar perceiuing by his talke that Brutus gessed certainlie whether Pompey shoulde be fledde he left all other wayes and tooke his iorney directlie towardes AEGYPT Pompey as Brutus had coniectured was in deede fledde into AEGYPT but there he was villanouslie slayne Furthermore Brutus obteyned pardon of Caesar for Cassius and defending also the king of LYBIAES cause he was ouerlayed with a worlde of accusacions against him howebeit intreating for him he saued him the best parte of his realme and kingdome They say also that Caesar sayd when he hearde Brutus pleade I knowe not sayd he what this young man woulde but what he woulde he willeth it vehementlie For as Brutus grauetie and constant minde woulde not graunt all men their requests that sued vnto him but being moued with reason and discretion did alwayes encline to that which was good and honest euen so when it was moued to followe any matter he vsed a kinde of forcible and vehement perswasion that calmed not till he had obteyned his desire For by flattering of him a man coulde neuer obteyne any thing at his handes nor make him to doe that which was vniust Further he thought it not meete for a man of calling and estimacion to yeelde vnto the requestes and intreaties of a shamelesse and importunate suter requesting thinges vnmeete the which notwithstanding some men doe for shame bicause they dare deny nothing And therefore he was wont to say that he thought them euill brought vp in their youth that coulde deny nothing Nowe when Caesar tooke sea to goe into AFRICKE against Cato and Scipio he left Brutus Gouernment of GAVLE in ITALIE on this side of the Alpes which was a great good happe for that prouince For where others were spoyled and polled by the insolencie and couetousnesse of the Gouernours as if it had bene a contrie conquered Brutus was a comforte and rest vnto their former troubles and miseries they susteyned But he referred it whollie vnto Caesars grace and goodnesse For when Caesar returned out of AFRICKE and progressed vp and downe ITALIE the things that pleased him best to see were the cities vnder Brutus charge and gouernment and Brutus him selfe who honored Caesar in person and whose companie also Caesar greatlie esteemed Now there were diuers sortes of Praetorshippes at ROME and it was looked for that Brutus or Cassius would make sute for the chiefest Praetorshippe which they called the Praetorshippe of the citie bicause he that had that office was as a Iudge to minister iustice vnto the citizens Therefore they stroue one against the other though some say that there was some litle grudge betwext them for other matters before and
that this contencion did sette them further out though they were allyed together For Cassius had maried Iunia Brutus sister Others say that this contencion betwext them come by Caesar himselfe who secretly gaue either of them both hope of his fauour So their sute for the Praetorshippe was so followed and laboured of either partie that one of them put an other in sute of lawe Brutus with his vertue and good name contended against many noble exploytes in armes which Cassius had done against the PARTHIANS So Caesar after he had heard both their obiections he told his frendes with whom he consulted about this matter Cassius cause is the iuster sayd he but Brutus must be first preferred Thus Brutus had the first Praetorshippe and Cassius the second who thanked not Caesar so much for the Praetorshippe he had as he was angrie with him for that he had lost But Brutus in many other thinges tasted of the benefite of Caesars fauour in any thing he requested For if he had listed he might haue bene one of Caesars chiefest frendes and of greatest authoritie and credit about him Howebeit Cassius frendes did disswade him from it for Cassius and he were not yet reconciled together sithence their first contencion and strife for the Praetorship and prayed him to beware of Caesars sweete intisements and to flie his tyrannicall fauors the which they sayd Caesar gaue him not to honor his vertue but to weaken his constant minde framing it to the bent of his bowe Now Caesar on the other side did not trust him ouermuch nor was not without tales brought vnto him against him howbeit he feared his great minde authority frends Yet on the other side also he trusted his good nature fayer condicions For intelligence being brought him one day that Antonius and Dolabella did conspire against him he aunswered that these fat long heared men made him not affrayed but the leane and whitely faced fellowes meaning that by Brutus and Cassius At an other time also when one accused Brutus vnto him and bad him beware of him What sayd he againe clapping his hand on his brest thinke ye that Brutus will not tarie till this bodie dye Meaning that none but Brutus after him was meete to haue suche power as he had And surelie in my opinion I am perswaded that Brutus might in dede haue come to haue bene the chiefest man of ROME if he could haue contented him selfe for a time to haue bene next vnto Caesar to haue suffred his glorie and authoritie which he had gotten by his great victories to consume with time But Cassius being a chollericke man and hating Caesar priuatlie more then he did the tyrannie openlie he incensed Brutus against him It is also reported that Brutus coulde euill away with the tyrannie and that Cassius hated the tyranne making many complayntes for the iniuries he had done him and amongest others for that he had taken away his Lyons from him Cassius had prouided them for his sportes when he should be AEdilis and they were found in the citie of MEGARA when it was wonne by Calenus and Caesar kept them The rumor went that these Lyons did maruelous great hurt to the MAGARIANS For when the citie was taken they brake their cages where they were tied vp and turned them loose thinking they would haue done great mischiefe to the enemies and haue kept them from setting vppon them but the Lyons contrarie to expectacion turned vpon them selues that fled vnarmed did so cruelly tare some in peces that it pitied their enemies to see them And this was the cause as some do report that made Cassius conspire against Caesar. But this holdeth no water For Cassius euen frō his cradell could not abide any maner of tyrans as it appeared when he was but a boy went vnto the same schoole that Faustus the sonne of Sylla did And Faustus bragging among other boyes highly boasted of his fathers kingdom Cassius rose vp on his feete and gaue him two good wlirts on the eare Faustus gouernors would haue put this matter in sute against Cassius But Pompey woulde not suffer them but caused the two boyes to be brought before him and asked them howe the matter came to passe Then Cassius as it is wrytten of him sayd vnto the other goe to Faustus speake againe and thou darest before this noble man here the same wordes that made me angrie with thee that my fistes may walke once againe about thine eares Suche was Cassius hotte stirring nature But of Brutus his frendes and contrie men both by diuers procurementes and sundrie rumors of the citie and by many bills also did openlie call and procure him to doe that he did For vnder the image of his auncester Iunius Brutus that draue the kinges out of ROME they wrote O that it pleased the goddes thou wert nowe aliue Brutus and againe that thou wert here amonge vs nowe His tribunall or chaire where he gaue audience duringe the time he was Praetor was full of suche billes Brutus thou art a sleepe and art not Brutus in deede And of all this Caesars flatterers were the cause who beside many other exceeding and vnspeakeable honors they dayly deuised for him in the night time they did put Diadeames vppon the heades of his images supposinge thereby to allure the common people to call him kinge in steade of Dictator Howebeit it turned to the contrarie as we haue wrytten more at large in Iulius Caesars life Nowe when Cassius felt his frendes and did stirre them vp against Caesar they all agreed and promised to take parte with him so Brutus were the chiefe of their conspiracie For they told him that so high an enterprise and attempt as that did not so muche require men of manhoode and courage to drawe their swordes as it stoode them vppon to haue a man of suche estimacion as Brutus to make euerie man boldlie thinke that by his onelie presence the fact were holie and iust If he tooke not this course then that they shoulde goe to it with fainter hartes and when they had done it they shoulde be more fearefull bicause euerie man woulde thinke that Brutus woulde not haue refused to haue made one with them if the cause had bene good and honest Therefore Cassius considering this matter with him selfe did first of all speake to Brutus since they grewe straunge together for the sute they had for the Praetorshippe So when he was reconciled to him againe and that they had imbraced one an other Cassius asked him if he were determined to be in the Senate house the first day of the moneth of Marche bicause he heard say that Caesars frendes shoulde moue the counsell that day that Caesar shoulde he called king by the Senate Brutus aunswered him he would not be there But if we be sent for sayd Cassius howe then For my selfe then sayd Brutus I meane not to holde my peace but to
owne money that should haue kept him in his banishment Furthermore Brutus and Cassius were compelled of necessity to make warres bicause they coulde not haue liued safelie in peace when they were driuen out of ROME for that they were condemned to death and pursued by their enemies And for this cause therefore they were driuen to hazard them selues in warre more for their owne safetie then for the libertie of their contrie men Whereas Dion on the other side liuing more merily and safelie in his banishment then the tyranne Dionysius him selfe that had banished him did put him selfe to the daunger to deliuer SICILE from bondage Nowe the matter was not a like vnto the ROMANES to be deliuered from the gouernment of Caesar as it was for the SYRACVSANS to be ridde of Dionysius tyrannie For Dionysius denyed not that he was not a tyranne hauing filled SICILE with suche miserie and calamitie Howebeit Caesars power and gouernment when it came to be established did in deede much hurt at his first entrie and beginning vnto those that did resist him but afterwardes vnto them that being ouercome had receiued his gouernment it seemed he rather had the name and opinion onely of a tyranne then otherwise that he was so in deede For there neuer followed any tyrannicall nor cruell act but contrarilie it seemed that he was a mercifull Phisition whom God had ordeyned of speciall grace to be Gouernor of the Empire of ROME and to set all thinges againe at quiet stay the which required the counsell and authoritie of an absolute Prince And therefore the ROMANES were maruelous sorie for Caesar after he was slaine and afterwardes would neuer pardon them that had slaine him On the other side the cause why the SYRACVSANS did most accuse Dion was bicause he did let Dionysius escape out of the castell of SYRACVSA and bicause he did not ouerthrow and deface the tombe of his father Furthermore towching the warres Dion alway shewed him selfe a Captaine vnreprouable hauing wiselie and skilfullie taken order for those things which he had enterprised of his owne head and counsell and did amende the faults others committed and brought things to better state then he found them Where it seemeth that Brutus did not wisely to receiue the second battell considering his rest stoode vpon it For after he had lost the battell it was vnpossible for him euer to rise againe therefore his hart failed him and so gaue vp all and neuer durst striue with his euill fortune as Pompey did considering that he had present cause enough in the field to hope of his souldiers and being beside a dreadfull Lorde all the sea ouer Furthermore the greatest reproache they could obiect against Brutus was that Iulius Caesar hauing saued his life and pardoned all the prisoners also taken in battell as many as he had made request for taking him for his frende and honoring him aboue all his other frends Brutus notwithstanding had imbrued his hands in his blood wherewith they could neuer reproue Dion For on the contrarie side so long as Dion was Dionysius frende and kinseman he did alway helpe him to order and gouerne his affaires But after he was banished his contrie and that his wife was forciblie maried to an other man and his goodes also taken from him then he entred into iust and open warres against Dionysius the tyranne But in this poynt they were contrarie together For wherein their chiefest praise consisted to witte in hating of tyrannes and wicked men it is most true that Brutus desire was most sincere of both For hauing no priuate cause of complaint or grudge against Caesar he ventred to kill him onely to set his contrie againe at libertie Where if Dion had not receiued priuate cause of quarrell against Dionysius he woulde neuer haue made warre with him The which Plato proueth in his Epistells where is plainlie seene that Dion being driuen out of the tyrans Court against his will and not putting him selfe to voluntarie banishment he draue out Dionysius Furthermore the respect of the common wealth caused Brutus that before was Pompeys enemie to become his frende and enemie vnto Caesar that before was his frend only referring his frendshippe and enmitie vnto the consideracion of iustice and equitie And Dion did many things for Dionysius sake and benefit all the while he trusted him and when he beganne to mistrust him then for anger he made warre with him Wherefore all his frendes did not beleue but after he had driuen out Dionysius he would stablish the gouernment to him selfe flattering the people with a more curteous and gentle title then the name of a tyranne But for Brutus his verie enemies them selues confessed that of all those that conspired Caesars death he only had no other ende and intent to attempt his enterprise but to restore the Empire of ROME againe to her former state gouernment And furthermore it was not all one thing to deale with Dionysius as it was to haue to doe with Iulius Caesar. For no man that knew Dionysius but would haue despised him considering that he spent the most parte of his time in drinking dycing and in haunting lewde womens company But to haue vndertaken to destroy Iulius Caesar and not to haue shroncke backe for feare of his great wisedom power and fortune considering that his name only was dreadfull vnto euerie man and also not to suffer the kings of PARTHIA and INDIA to be in rest for him this could not come but of a maruelous noble minde of him that for feare neuer fainted nor let fall any part of his corage And therefore so sone as Dion came into SICILIA many thowsands of men came and ioyned with him against Dionysius But the fame of Iulius Caesar did set vp his frends againe after his death and was of suche force that it raised a young stripling Octauius Caesar that had no meanes nor power of him selfe to be one of the greatest men of ROME and they vsed him as a remedie to encounter Antonius malice and power And if men will say that Dion draue out the tyran Dionysius with force of armes and sundrie battells and that in contrarie maner Brutus slue Caesar being a naked man and without gard then doe I aunswere againe that it was a noble parte and of a wise Captaine to choose so apt a time and place to come vppon a man of so great power and to finde him naked without his gard For he went not sodainlie in a rage and alone or with a small companie to assaile him but his enterprise was long time before determined of and that with diuers men of all the which not a man of them once fayled him but it is rather to be thought that from the beginning he chose them honest men or else that by his choyse of them he made them good men Whereas Dion either from the beginning made no wise choyse in trusting of euill men or else bicause he could not
deuise of Artaxerxes how to preuent the conspirators and to saue him selfe Tiribazus the traitor slaine Darius condemned to dye and executed King Artaxerxes sonne The death of king Artaxerxes Artaxerxes was 94 yeres olde at his death Dion Brutus both Platonians Plato de virtute How mens acts should be famous in the coÌ„mon wealth A wicked spirite appeared vnto Dion Brutus Dionysius maried Hermocrates daughter Dionysius wiues Doride of Locres Aristomaché of Syracvsa Hipparinus daughter and Dions sister Dion kindred with Dionysius Plato came out of Italie vnto Syracvsa Dion Platoes schollar Plato and Dionysius the elder talke together Dionysius malice vnto Plato Plato solde in the I le of AEgina Dions boldnes in speaking plainly to the tyran Gelon signifieth laughture Sophrosynè and Areté the daughters of Dionysius by Aristomaché Dion marieth his Nece Areté the daughter of Dionysius of his sister Aristomaché The death of Dionysius the elder Flattering Courtiers do intense Dionysius the younger to hate Dion The vices of Dionysius the younger Dions maners too graue and seuere Obstinacie follow and companion of solitarines Dionysius the elder a maruelous timerous suspitious man. Dionysius dreame Dion persuadeth the younger Dionysius to fall to study The assured gard of Princes is the loue of their subiects Plaâ—â— goâ—th into Sicilia to teach Dionysius the youngeâ— Philistus the Historiographer Philistus the Historiographer banished out of Sicilia by Dionysius the elder Democratia the gouernment of the people Dion allowed not popular state Aristocratia the gouernment of a few of the nobilitie Plato came into Sicilia vnto Dionysius the younger The chaunge of Dionysius vpon Platoes comming Philistus accusations against Dion Dions letters vnto Carthage Dion sent away by Dionysius into Italie Dions wealth Dionysius tyrannicall loâ—â— to Plato Dionysius sent Plato from home Dions life in Graece Dions vertues and honors done vnto him by the Graecians Archytas a Pythagorian Philosopher Dionysius sendeth againe for Plato to come into Sicilia Platoes third iorney into Sicilia Aristippus saying of Dionysius Helycon a Mathematician Aristippus diuination Architas requireth Plato of Dionysius Dionysius maried Dions wife to an other man. Polyxenus maried Thesta his father Dionysius sister The noble answere of Thesta vnto her brother Dionysius the elder Dion beginneth to make warre against Dionysius The Philosophers aduanced Dions warre Aristotles dialogue de anima Dions army Dions sumptuous fare in feasting The eclipse of the Moone and cause of the eclipse VVonders shewed vnto Dion VVonders appearing vnto Dionysius Dions preparation Pachynus the foreland of Sicilia A tempest on the sea against Dion Synalus Captaine of Minoa for the Carthaginians Dion wanne Minoa Dion goeth to Syracusa A straunge chaunce happened vnto the Messenger sent to Dionysius A woulfe caried away the Messengers portmanteau Anapus ti Dionysius picke thankes slayne Dion receiued into Syracusa Dion restoreth the Syracusans to libertie Dionysius clocke The predictions of the Soothsayers Dionysius seÌ„t Ambassadors vnto Dion Dion fighteth with Dionysius Dion hurt Dions victory of Dionysius Hipparinus Dions sonne Dionysius craft vnto Dion Heraclides what he was Heraclides returneth to Syracusa The Syracusans do choose Heraclides Admirall to spight Dion Heraclides a dissembler practising to make the people to rebell against Dion Sosis a wicked man moueth sedition against Dion Dion cleareth Sosis accusation against him Sosis condemned to death Philistus slain Timaus and Ephorus the Historiographers reproued Dionysius flyeth from Syracusa Apollocrates the eldest sonne of Dionysius the yonger Signes appearing to the Syracusans Dion departeth out of Syracusa The cowardlines of the Syracusans The Leontines doe receiue Dion The negligence and troubles of the Syracusans The Syracusans doe send for Dion againe Dions oration vnto his souldiers perswading them to ayde the Syracusans The inconstancy of the Syracusans Syracusa set a fire by Dionysius souldiers Dions fight in the citie of Syracusa Nypsius compelled by Dion to flie into the castell Dions mercy to his enemies the great profit he tooke by study in the Academy at Athens No maÌ„ should be worse by an others wickednes The frowardnes of the Syracusans against Dion Heraclides againe stirreth vp the Syracusans to rebell against Dion Gaesylus Lacedaemonian commeth to Syracusa to be generall of the Syracusans Gaesylus maketh Dion Heraclides friends again The castell of Syracusa surrendred vnto Dion The words of Aristomaché vnto Dion at his entry into the castell of Syracusa Dion taketh his wife Areta againe which had forcibly bene maried vnto another man. Dions temperance and thriftines Heraclides conspireth againe against Dion Dion sent to the Corinthians to stablish a common wealth to the Syracusans Dion ment to abolish Democratia and to aduaunce Aristocratia The authoritie of the people resembled by Plato to a fayer or market The common wealth of the Corinthians The murther of Heraclides Callippus Athenian conspireth against Dion Note the suttletie of tale bearers A spirite appeared vnto Dion The lamentable death of Dions sonne Apollocrates Dionysius sonne The great oth of the Syracusant Dion slaine by Callippus Athenian Dions wife brought to bed of a sonne in prison The punishment of Callippus * 〈…〉 in corrupt speech signifieth a knife to scrape or cut cheese which it truelier called 〈…〉 Iulius Pollux lib. 10 cap. 24. Callippus slaine with the same dagger that slue Dion The crueltie of the Syracusans vnto Dion and his posterity The pareÌ„tage of Brutus Brutus maners Seruilia M. Brutus mother Brutus parentage by his father Seruilia Catoes sister Brutus studies Brutus followed the olde Academyks Empylus an Orator wrote a booke of Caesars death and intituled it Brutus Brutus maner of wryting his Epistels in Graeke A briefe letter to the Samians Brutus followed Cato into Cyprus * Or Canidius Brutus taketh parte with Pompey Brutus exercise in Pompeys campe Brutus studied in Pompeis campe Iulius Caesar carefull of Brutus safary Iulius Caesar loued Seruilia Brutus mother Brutus saued by Iulius Caesar after the battell of Pharsalia * This king was Iuba howbeit it is true also that Brutus made intercession for Deiotarus king of Galatia who was depriued notwithstanding of the most parte of his contrie by Caesar and therefore this place were best to be vnderstanded by Deiotorus Caesar made Brutus Gouernor of Gaule on this side the mouÌ„taines Brutus and Cassius contend for the Praetorship of the citie Cassius maried Iunia Brutus sister The first cause of Cassius malice against Caesar. Caesar suspected Brutus Caesar saying of Brutus Cassius incenseth Brutus against Caesar. Cassius Lions at Megara Cassius an enemie of tyranâ— How Brutus was incensed against Caesar. Cassius praieth Brutus first to helpe him to put downe the tyran * In an other place they cal him Quintus Brutus maketh Ligarius one of the coÌ„spiracie They do hide the conspiracy against Caesar from Cicero Ciuill warre worse then tyrannicall gouernment The wonderfull faith and secrifie of the Conspirators of Casars death Porcia Catoes daughter wife vnto Brutus Bibulus booke
withstande it and rather dye then lose my libertie Cassius being bolde and taking holde of this worde why ê™ he what ROMANE is he aliue that will suffer thee to dye for the libertie What knowest thou not that thou art Brutus Thinkest thou that they be cobblers tapsters or suche like base mechanicall people that wryte these billes and scrowles which are founde dayly in thy Praetors chaire and not the noblest men and best citizens that doe it No be thou well assured that of other Praetors they looke for giftes common distribucions amongest the people and for common playes and to see fensers fight at the sharpe to shew the people pastime but at thy handes they specially require as a due det vnto them the taking away of the tyranny being fully bent to suffer any extremity for thy sake so that thou wilt shew thy selfe to be the man thou art taken for and that they hope thou art Thereuppon he kissed Brutus and imbraced him and so each taking leaue of other they went both to speake with their frendes about it Nowe amongest Pompeys frendes there was one called Caius Ligarius who had bene accused vnto Caesar for taking parte with Pompey and Caesar discharged him But Ligarius thanked not Caesar so muche for his discharge as he was offended with him for that he was brought in daunger by his tyrannicall power And therefore in his hearte he was alway his mortall enemie and was besides verie familiar with Brutus who went to see him beinge sicke in his bedde and sayed vnto him O Ligarius in what a time art thou sicke Ligarius risinge vppe in his bedde and taking him by the right hande sayed vnto him Brutus sayed he if thou hast any great enterprise in hande worthie of thy selfe I am whole After that time they beganne to feele all their acquaintaunce whome they trusted and layed their heades together consultinge vppon it and did not onelie picke out their frendes but all those also whome they thought stowt enough to attempt any desperate matter and that were not affrayed to loase their liues For this cause they durst not acquaint Cicero with their conspiracie although he was a man whome they loued dearelie and trusted best for they were affrayed that he being a coward by nature and age also hauing increased his feare he woulde quite turne and alter all their purpose and quenche the heate of their enterprise the which speciallie required hotte and earnest execucion seeking by perswasion to bring all thinges to suche safetie as there should be no perill Brutus also did let other of his frendes alone as Statilius EPICVRIAN and Faonius that made profession to followe Marcus Cato Bicause that hauing cast out wordes a farre of disputing together in Philosophie to feele their mindes Faonius aunswered that ciuill warre was worse then tyrannicall gouernment vsurped against the lawe And Statilius tolde him also that it were an vnwise parte of him to put his life in daunger for a sight of ignoraunt fooles and asses Labeo was present at this talke and maintayned the contrarie against them both But Brutus helde his peace as though it had bene a doubtfull matter and a harde thing to haue decided But afterwardes being out of their companie he made Labeo priuie to his intent who verie readilie offered him selfe to make one And they thought good also to bring in an other Brutus to ioyne with him surnamed Albinus who was no man of his handes him selfe but bicause he was able to bring good force of a great number of slaues and sensers at the sharpe whome he kept to shewe the people pastime with their fighting besides also that Caesar had some trust in him Cassius and Labeo tolde Brutus Albinus of it at the first but he made them no aunswere But when he had spoken with Brutus him selfe alone and that Brutus had tolde him he was the chiefe ringleader of all this conspiracie then he willinglie promised him the best aide he coulde Furthermore the onlie name and great calling of Brutus did bring on the most of them to geue consent to this conspiracie Who hauing neuer taken others together nor taken or geuen any caution or assuraunce nor binding them selues one to an other by any religious others they all kept the matter so secret to them selues and coulde so cunninglie handle it that notwithstanding the goddes did reueale it by manifest signes and tokens from aboue and by predictions of sacrifices yet all this woulde not be beleued Nowe Brutus who knewe verie well that for his sake all the noblest valliantest and most couragious men of ROME did venter their liues waying with him selfe the greatnesse of the daunger when he was out of his house he did so frame and facion his countenaunce and lookes that no man coulde discerne he had any thing to trouble his minde But when night came that he was in his owne house then he was cleane chaunged For either care did wake him against his will when he woulde haue slept or else oftentimes of him selfe he fell into suche deepe thoughtes of this enterprise casting in his minde all the daungers that might happen that his wife lying by him founde that there was some maruelous great matter that troubled his minde not beinge wont to be in that taking and that he coulde not well determine with him selfe His wife Porcia as we haue tolde you before was the daughter of Cato whome Brutus maried being his cosin not a maiden but a younge widowe after the death of her first husbande Bibulus by whome she had also a younge sonne called Bibulus who afterwardes wrote a booke of the actes and ieastes of Brutus extant at this present day This young Ladie being excellentlie well seene in Philosophie louing her husbande well and being of a noble courage as she was also wise bicause she woulde not aske her husbande what he ayled before she had made some proofe by her selfe she tooke a litle rasor suche as barbers occupie to pare mens nayles and causinge all her maydes and women to goe out of her chamber gaue her selfe a greate gashe withall in her thigh that she was straight all of a goare bloode and incontinentlie after a vehement feuer tooke her by reason of the payne of her wounde Then perceiuing her husbande was maruelouslie out of quiet and that he coulde take no rest euen in her greatest payne of all she spake in this sorte vnto him I being O Brutus sayed she the daughter of Cato was maried vnto thee not to be thy beddefellowe and companion in bedde and at borde onelie like a harlot but to be partaker also with thee of thy good and euill fortune Nowe for thy selfe I can finde no cause of faulte in thee touchinge our matche but for my parte howe may I showe my duetie towardes thee and howe muche I woulde doe for thy sake if I can not constantlie beare a secret mischaunce or griefe with thee
cold and paynes he had taken This sicknes chaunceth often both to men beasts that trauaile when it hath snowen Either bicause the naturall heate being retyred into the inward parts of the body by the coldnes of the ayer hardening the skinne doth straight disgest and consume the meate or els bicause a sharpe suttell wind comming by reason of the snow when it is molten doth pearce into the body and driueth out the naturall heate which was cast outward For it seemeth that the heate being quenched with the cold which it meeteth withall comming out of the skinne of the body causeth the sweates that follow the dissease But hereof we haue spoken at large in other places Brutus being very faynt and hauing nothing in his campe to eate his souldiers were compelled to goe to their enemies comming to the gates of the citie they prayed the warders to helpe them to bread When they heard in what case Brutus was they brought him both meate and drinke in requitall whereof afterwards when he wanne the citie he did not onely intreate and vse the Citizens thereof curteously but all the inhabitants of the citie also for their sakes Now when Caius Antonius was arriued in the citie of APOLLONIA he sent vnto the souldiers thereabouts to come vnto him But when he vnderstoode that they went all to Brutus and furthermore that the Citizens of APOLLONIA did fauor him much he then forsooke that citie and went vnto the citie of BVTHROTVS but yet he lost three of his enseignes by the way that were slayne euery man of them Then he sought by force to winne certaine places of strength about BYLLIS to driue Brutus men from thence that had taken it before and therefore to obtayne his purpose he fought a battell with Cicero the sonne of Marcus Tullius Cicero by whome he was ouercome For Brutus made the younger Cicero a Captaine and did many notable exploytes by his seruice Shortly after hauing stolen vpon Caius Antonius in certein marishes farre from the place from whence he fled he would not set on him with furie but onely road round about him commaunding his souldiers to spare him his men as reckoning them all his own without stroke striking and so in deede it hapned For they yelded them selues and their Captaine Antonius vnto Brutus so that Brutus had now a great army about him Now Brutus kept this Caius Antonius long time in his office and neuer tooke from him the markes and signes of his Consulship although many of his friends Cicero among others wrote vnto him to put him to death But when he sawe Antonius secretly practised with his Captaines to make some alteracion then he sent him into a shippe and made him to be kept there When the souldiers whome C. Antonius had corrupted were gotten into the citie of APOLLONIA and sent from thence vnto Brutus to come vnto them he made them aunswer that it was not the maner of ROMANE Captaines to come to the souldiers but the souldiers to come to the Captaine and to craue pardon for their offences committed Thereuppon they came to him and he pardoned them So Brutus preparing to goe into ASIA newes came vnto him of the great chaunge at ROME For Octauius Caesar was in armes by commaundement and authoritie from the Senate against Marcus Antonius But after that he had driuen Antonius out of ITALY the Senate then began to be affrayd of him bicause he sued to be Consul which was contrary to the law and kept a great army about him when the Empire of ROME had no neede of them On the other side Octauius Caesar perceiuing the Senate stayed not there but turned vnto Brutus that was out of ITALY and that they appoynted him the gouernment of certaine prouinces then he began to be affrayd for his part and sent vnto Antonius to offer him his friendship Then comming on with his armye neare to ROME he made him selfe to be chosen Consul whether the Senate would or not when he was yet but a strippling or springal of twenty yeare old as him selfe reporteth in his owne commentaries So when he was Consul he presently appoynted Iudges to accuse Brutus and his companions for killing of the noblest person in ROME and chiefest Magistrate without law or iudgement and made L. Cornificius accuse Brutus and M. Agrippa Cassius So the parties accused were condemned bicause the Iudges were compelled to giue such sentence The voyce went that when the Herauld according to the custom after sentence giuen went vp to the chaier or pulpit for orations proclaymed Brutus with a lowd voyce summoning him to appeare in person before the Iudges the people that stoode by sighed openly and the noble men that were present honge downe their heads durst not speake a word Among them the teares fell from Publius Silicius eyes who shortly after was one of the proscripts or outlawes appoynted to be slayne After that these three Octauius Caesar Antonius and Lepidus made an agreement betwene them selues and by those articles deuided the prouinces belonging to the Empire of ROME amonge them selues and did set vp billes of proscription and outlary condemning two hundred of the noblest men of ROME to suffer death and among that number Cicero was one Newes being brought thereof into MACEDON Brutus being then inforced to it wrote vnto Hortensius that he should put Caius Antonius to death to be reuenged of the death of Cicero and of the other Brutus of the which the one was his friend and the other his kinsemen For this cause therefore Antonius afterwards taking Hortensius at the battell of PHILIPPES he made him to be slayne vpon his brothers tombe But then Brutus sayd that he was more ashamed of the cause for the which Cicero was slayne then he was otherwise sory for his death and that he could not but greatly reproue his friendes he had at ROME who were slaues more through their owne fault then through their valliantnes or manhood which vsurped the tyranny considering that they were so cowardly and faynt harted as to suffer the sight of those things before their eyes the report whereof should onely have grieued them to the hart Nowe when Brutus had passed ouer his army that was very great into ASIA he gaue order for the gathering of a great number of shippes together aswell in the coast of BITHYNIA as also in the citie of CYLICVM bicause he would haue an army by sea and him selfe in the meane time went vnto the cities taking order for all things and giuing audience vnto Princes and noble men of the contry that had to doe with him Afterwards he sent vnto Cassius in SYRIA to turne him from his iorney into AEGYPT telling him that it was not for the conquest of any kingdom for them selues that they wandred vp and downe in that sort but contrarily that it was to restore their contry againe to their libertie and that the
his friendes There both their armies being armed they called them both Emperors Nowe as it commonly hapneth in great affayres betwene two persons both of them hauing many friends and so many Captaines vnder them there ranne tales and complaints betwixt them Therefore before they tell in hand with any other matter they went into a litle chamber together and bad euery man auoyde and did shut the dores to them Then they beganne to powre out their complaints one to the other and grew hot and lowde earnestly accusing one another and at lenght fell both a weeping Their friends that were without the chamber hearing them lowd within and angry betwene them selues they were both amased and affrayd also lest it would grow to further matter but yet they were commaunded that no man should come to them Notwithstanding one Marcus Phaonius that had bene a friend and follower of Cato while he liued tooke vpon him to counterfeate a Philosopher not with wisedom and discretion but with a certaine bedlem and frantick motion he would needes come into the chamber though the men offered to keepe him out But it was no boote to let Phaonius when a mad moode or toye tooke him in the head for he was a hot hasty man sodaine in all his doings and cared for neuer a Senator of them all Now though he vsed this bold manner of speeche after the profession of the Cynick Philosophers as who would say doggs yet this boldnes did no hurt many time bicause they did but laugh at him to see him so mad This Phaonius at that time in despite of the doorekeepers came into the chamber and with a certaine scoffing mocking gesture which he counterfeated of purpose he rehearsed the verses which old Nestor sayd in Homer My Lords I pray you harken both to mee For I haue seene moe yeares than suchye three Cassius fel a laughing at him but Brutus thrust him out of the chamber called him dogge and counterfeate Cynick Howbeit his comming in brake their strife at that time and so they left eche other The selfe same night Cassius prepared his supper in his chamber and Brutus brought his friendes with him So when they were set at supper Phaonius came to sit downe after he had washed Brutus tolde him alowd no man sent for him and bad them set him at the vpper end meaning in deede at the lower ende of the bed Phaonius made no ceremonie but thrust in amongest the middest of them and made all the companye laugh at him So they were merry all supper tyme and full of their Philosophie The next daye after Brutus vpon complaynt of the SARDIANS did condemne and noted Lucius Pella for a defamed person that had bene a Praetor of the ROMANES and whome Brutus had giuen charge vnto for that he was accused and conuicted of robberie and pilferie in his office This iudgement much misliked Cassius bicause he him selfe had secretly not many dayes before warned two of his friends attainted and conuicted of the like offences and openly had cleered them but yet he did not therefore leaue to employ them in any manner of seruice as he did before And therefore he greatly reproued Brutus for that he would shew him selfe so straight and seueare in such a tyme as was meeter to beare a litle then to take thinges at the worst Brutus in contrary manner aunswered that he shoulde remember the Ides of Marche at which tyme they slue Iulius Caesar who nether pilled nor polled the contrye but onely was a fauorer and suborner of all them that did robbe and spoyle by his countenaunce and authoritie And if there were any occasion whereby they might honestly sette aside iustice and equitie they should haue had more reason to haue suffered Caesars friendes to haue robbed and done what wronge and iniurie they had would then to beare with their owne men For then sayde he they could but haue sayde they had bene cowards and nowe they may accuse vs of iniustice beside the paynes we take and the daunger we put our selues into And thus may we see what Brutus intent and purpose was But as they both prepared to passe ouer againe out of ASIA into EVROPE there went a rumor that there appeared a wonderfull signe vnto him Brutus was a carefull man and slept very litle both for that his dyet was moderate as also bicause he was continually occupied He neuer slept in the day tyme and in the night no lenger then the tyme he was driuen to be alone and when euery bodye els tooke their rest But nowe whilest he was in warre and his heade euer busily occupied to thinke of his affayres and what would happen after he had slumbered a litle after supper he spent all the rest of the night in dispatching of his waightiest causes and after he had taken order for them if he had any leysure left him he would read some booke till the third watche of the night at what tyme the Captaines pety Captaines and Colonells did vse to come vnto him So being ready to goe into EVROPE one night very late when all the campe tooke quiet rest as he was in his tent with a litle light thinking of waighty matters he thought he heard one come in to him and casting his eye towards the doore of his tent that he saw a wonderfull straunge and monstruous shape of a body comming towards him and sayd neuer a word So Brutus boldly asked what he was a god or a man and what cause brought him thither The spirit aunswered him I am thy euill spirit Brutus and thou shalt see me by the citie of PHILIPPES Brutus beeing no otherwise affrayd replyed againe vnto it well then I shall see thee agayne The spirit presently vanished away and Brutus called his men vnto him who tolde him that they heard no noyse nor sawe any thinge at all Thereuppon Brutus returned agayne to thinke on his matters as he did before and when the daye brake he went vnto Cassius to tell him what vision had appeared vnto him in the night Cassius beeing in opinion an EPICVRIAN and reasoning thereon with Brutus spake to him touching the vision thus In our secte Brutus we haue an opinion that we doe not alwayes feele or see that which we suppose we doe both see and feele but that our senses beeing credulous and therefore easily abused when they are idle and vnoccupied in their owne obiects are induced to imagine they see and coniecture that which they in truth doe not For our minde is quicke and cunning to worke without eyther cause or matter any thinge in the imagination whatsoeuer And therefore the imagination is resembled to claye and the minde to the potter who without any other cause than his fancie and pleasure chaungeth it into what facion and forme he will. And this doth the diuersitie of our dreames shewe vnto vs. For our imagination doth vppon a small