O Brutus that this day we may overcome and that all the rest of our time we may live a happy Life together But since the greatest of humane Concerns are the most uncertain and since it will be very difficult for us ever to see one another again if the Battel should go against us tell me what is your resolution concerning Flight and Death Brutus answer'd When I was young Cassius and unskilful in Affairs I was engaged I know not how into an Opinion of Philosophy which made me accuse Cato for killing himself as thinking it an irreligious act against the Gods nor any way valiant among Men not to submit to Divine Providence nor to be able fearlesly to receive and undergo whatever ill shall happen but to fly from it But now in the midst of danger I am quite of another mind for if Providence shall not dispose what we now undertake according to our wishes I resolve to try no faâ—ther hopes nor make any more preparations for War but will die contented with my Fortune For I already have given up my Life to the Service of my Country on the Ides of March and all the time that I have lived since has been with Liberty and Honour Cassius at these words smil'd and embracing Brutus said With these Resolutions let us go on upon the Enemy for either we our selves shall Conquer or have no cause to fear those that do After this they discoursed among their Friends about the Ordering of the Battel And Brutus desired of Cassius that he might Command the Right Wing though it was thought that this was more fit for Cassius in regard both of his Age and his Experience Yet even in this Cassius comply'd with Brutus and placed Messala with the valiantest of all his Legions in the same Wing Brutus immediately drew out his Horse excellently well equip'd and took the same care of bringing up his Foot after them Now Antony's Souldiers were casting a Trench from the Marsh by which they were encamped to cut off Cassius's passage to the Sea Caesar was at a distance in his Tent not being able to be present himself by reason of his Sickness but his Soldiers not expecting that the Enemy would come to a set Battel but only make some excursions with their Darts and light Arms to disturb those that were working in their Trenches nor taking enough notice of them that were coming directly upon them ready to give Battel were amaz'd when they heard the confus'd and the great out-cry that came from the Trenches In the mean while Brutus sent his Tickets in which was the Word of Battel to the Captains and himself riding about to all the Troops encouraged the Souldiers but there were but few of them that understood the Word before they engaged and the most of them not staying for it with great fury and shouting ran upon the Enemy This disorder caus'd a great confusion in the Army and the Legions were scatter'd and dispersed one from another That of Messala first and afterwards the next went beyond the left Wing of Caesar and having cut off and pass'd that Wing with the slaughter of not many of the Enemy fell directly into Caesar's Camp Octavius himself as his own Commentaries shew had but just before been conveyed away upon the perswasion of Artorius one of his Friends who had dreamt that he saw a Vision which commanded Caesar to be carried out of the Camp And it was believed that he was here slain for the Souldiers had pierc'd his Litter which was left empty in many places with their Darts and Pikes There was a great slaughter in the Camp that was taken and two thousand Lacedaemonians that were newly come to the Assistance of Caesar were all cut off together The rest of the Army that had not gone round by the left Wing of Caesar but had engaged his Front easily overthrew them being in great Consternation for the loss of their Camp and slew upon the place three Legions and being carried on with the stream of Victory pursuing those that fled fell into the Camp with them Brutus himself being there But they that were conquered took the Advantage of what the Conquerours did not consider for they fell upon that part of the main Body which they found shatter'd and unguarded the right Wing being broke off from them and furiously carried away in the pursuit yet they could not break into the midst of their Battel but were receiv'd with strong resistance and obstinacy Yet they put to flight the left Wing where Cassius commanded being in great disorder and ignorant of what had passed on the other Wing and pursuing 'em to their Camp they pillaged and destroyed it though neither of their Generals were present For Antony as they say to avoid the fury of the first On-set had retir'd into the Marsh that was hard by and Caesar was no where to be found after his being convey'd out of the Tents But some of the Souldiers shew'd Brutus their Swords bloody and pretended that they had kill'd him describing his Person and his Age. Now the midst of Brutus's Battel had routed all that resisted them with great slaughter and Brutus was every where as plainly Conquerour as on the other side Cassius was conquered And this one mistake was the ruine of their Affairs That Brutus did not come to the relief of Cassius thinking that he as well as himself was Conquerour and that Cassius did not expect the Relief of Brutus thinking that he too was overcome For a Proof that the Victory was on Brutus's side Messala urges his taking of three Eagles and many Ensigns of the Enemy without losing any of his own Brutus now returning from the pursuit after having destroyed Caesar's Camp wonder'd that he could not see Cassius's Tent standing high as it was wont and appearing above the rest nor any of the others appearing round about it For they were immediately overturn'd and pillaged by the Enemy upon their first falling into the Camp But some that had a more quick and discerning sight than the rest acquainted Brutus that they saw a great deal of shining Armour and Silver Targets moving to and fro about Cassius's Tents and that they thought that by their Number and their Armour they could not be those that they left to Guard the Camp but yet that there did not appear so great a number of dead Bodies thereabouts as is probable would have been after the defeat of so many Legions This first made Brutus suspect Cassius's Misfortune and leaving a Guard in the Enemies Tent call'd back those that were in the pursuit and rallyed 'em together to lead 'em to the relief of Cassius who was now in this condition First he was angry at the first On-set that Brutus his Souldiers made without the Word of Battel or Command to Charge Then after they had overcome he was as much displeased to see them all rush on to the Plunder and Spoil and neglect to
People abominating his Midnight-Revelling his wild Expences and his rowling from one little Whore to another his Naps in the Day and his Walks to digest his Debauches and then at Night again his Entertainments and Balls for the solemnizing the Nuptials of some Comoedian or Buffoon It is reported that drinking all night at the Wedding of Hippias the Comoedian and on the Morning being to harangue the People he ventur'd out over-charg'd as he was and vomited before them all one of his Friends receiving it in his Gown Sergius the Comoedian was he who had the greatest Power with him und Cytheries of the same Vocation the Woman that had his Heart She when he went his Progress accompanied him in a Litter and had her Equipage not in any thing inferiour to his Mother's the world was scandaliz'd at the great Pomp of his Travelling Plate which was more proper for the Ornaments of a Triumph than the Convenience of a Journey at his causing Tents to be set up every where in the way by Rivers sides and in Groves for his dining with all the Luxury imaginable and that he made his Chariot to be drawn by Lions and lodg'd his little Whores and singing Wenches wheresover he past in the Houses of serious Men and Women famous for their Matron-like Behaviour And it seemed very unreasonable that Caesar out of Italy should fare hard and with great fatigue and danger pursue the remainder of a dangerous War whilst others in pretending his Authority left no insolence unpractis'd upon their Fellow-Citizens and this undoubtedly was occasion of great Trouble in Rome and gave the Souldier encouragement to injure and plunder the People upon this it is probable that Caesar at his return acquitted Dolabella and being created the third time Consul took not Antony but Lepidus for Colleague Pompey's House being to be sold Antony would buy it but was much troubled at the paying for it This and that he thought his former Services had not been recompenced as they deserved made him not follow Caesar with his Army into Libya and it is apparent that Caesar's not countenancing his Follies was a great Means of his amendment being weary therefore of this Course of Life he marries Fulvia the Widow of Clodius the great Ring-leader of the People a Woman not born for Spinning or Houswifry nor one that could be content with the power of ruling a private Husband but a Lady capable of advising a Magistrate and of ruling the General of an Army so that Cleopatra had great Obligations to her for having taught Antony to be so good a Servant he coming into her hands tame and broken in all obedience to the Commands of a Mistress Antony had many Devices by which he used to entertain and divert her from her more serious way of Carriage As when Caesar after his Victory in Spain was on his return Antony among the rest went out to meet him and a Rumour being spread that Caesar was kill'd and the Enemy marching into Italy he return'd to Rome and disguising himself came to her by night as a Servant that brought Letters from Antony but she with great impatience before she receiv'd the Letter asks if Antony were well instead of an Answer he gives her the Letter and as she was opening it took her about the Neck and kiss'd her This little Story of many of the same nature we thought fit to give you by which you might guess of his humour There was no body of Quality in Rome that did not go some days journey to meet Caesar in his return from Spain but Antony was the best received of any admitted to ride the whole Journey with him in his Coach behind came Brutus Albinus and Octavian his Sister's Son well known afterward by the name of Augustus Caesar Caesar being created the fifth time Consul without any demur chose Antony for his Colleague but designing himself to quit the Consulat to Dolabella he acquainted the Senate with his resolution but Antony opposed it with all his might and saying all the bitter things of Dolabella and receiving as injurious Language in return Caesar could bear with the indecency no longer but referr'd the Consideration of this Matter to another time and the next time it was propos'd Antony proclaim'd that all Omens that were taken from the flight of Birds were against his promotion so that Caesar was constrain'd to leave Dolabella very much discompos'd and 't is credible that Caesar had no great opinion of either of them for when one accus'd them to have design'd against him 't is not the Men so well fed and so wall dress'd I fear but the pale and lean said he I dread meaning Brutus and Cassius who afterwards conspir'd his Death and murther'd him To whom Antony without designing any harm gave the most plausible pretence that could be wish'd for The Romans were celebrating their Festival called the Lupercalia when Caesar in his Triumphal Habit and seated on a kind of Throne in the Market-place was a Spectator of the Sports the Custom is that many young Noblemen and of the Magistracy anointed with Oyl and having Straps of white Leather in their hand run about and strike every one they meet Antony was sporting with the rest who as soon as the ancient Ceremonies were perform'd took a Lawrel Garland and having wreathed the Diadem about it made towards the Throne and being lifted up by his Companions would have put it upon the Head of Caesar as if by that Ceremony he were declared King but Caesar seemingly refused the Offer and was applauded by the People with great Shouts the Dispute betwixt Antony's offering and Caesar's refusing the Crown lasted some while Antony receiving but little encouragement from the Shouts of a few Friends and Caesar's Refusal being accompanied with the general Applause of the People and this is very remarkable that the People should endure patiently all that a Kingly Government could impose and at the same time dread the Name of King as the utter destruction of their Liberty Caesar very much discompos'd at what had past stept down in haste from the Throne and laying bare his Neck said he offer'd himself a willing Sacrifice to the People if so it were their Pleasure The Crown at last was put upon one of his Statues but the Tribunes took it off to the great satisfaction of the People who followed them home with continual Shouts and Applauses Caesar resenâ—ed this and afterwards turn'd them out of their Office These Passages gave great encouragement to Brutus and Cassius who in making choice of trusty Friends for such an Enterprize were thinking to engage Antony every one approved the Man but Trebonius who did inform them that Antony and he had been very intimate in the late Journey they took to meet Caesar and that he had let fall several Words concerning the Matter now in hand on purpose to sound him that Antony very well understood him but did not at all
surround and encompass the rest of the Enemy Besides this by his own delay and slowness more than by the briskness and conduct of the Captains of the other side he found himself hem'd in by the Right Wing of the Enemy and all his Horse making with all hast their escape and flying towards the Sea the Foot also began to fly which he perceiving labour'd as much as ever he could to hinder their flight and bring them back and snatching an Ensign out of the Hand of one that fled he stuck it at his Feet though he could hardly keep even his own Praetorian Band together So that at last he was forc'd to fly with a few about him to a little Hill that over-looked all the Plain But he himself being weak sighted discover'd nothing only the destruction of his Camp and that with much difficulty but they that were with him saw a great Body of Horse sent by Brutus moving towards him Cassius believ'd these were Enemies and in pursuit of him and sent away Titinius one of those that was with him to learn what they were As soon as Brutus's Horse saw him coming and knew him to be a Friend and a faithful Servant of Cassius those of them that were his more familiar Acquaintance shouting out for joy and alighting from their Horses saluted and embraced him and the rest rode round about him in great Triumph and Noise through their excess of gladness at 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 cry'd out Through too much fondness of Life I have liv'd to endure the sight of my Friend taken by the Enemy before my face After which words he retir'd into a private Tent taking along with him only Pindarus one of his freed-men whom he had reserved for such an Occasion ever since the unhappy Battel against the Parthians where Crassus was slain But he escaped that Misfortune but now wrapping his loose Garment about his Head he made his Neck bare and held it forth to Pindarus commanding him to strike and his Head was found lying severed from his Body but no Man ever saw Pindarus after this Murther from which some suspected that he had kill'd his Master without his Command Soon after they perceived who the Horse-men were and saw Titinius crown'd with Garlands making what hast he could towards Cassius But as soon as he understood by the Cries and Lamentations of his afflicted Friends the unfortunate error and death of his General he drew his Sword and having very much accused and upbraided his own long stay that had caused it he slew himself Brutus as soon as he was assur'd of the Defeat of Cassius made haste to him but heard nothing of his Death till he came near his Camp Then having lamented over his Body calling him The last of all the Romans saying That it was impossible that the City should ever produce another man of so great a Spirit He sent away the Body to be buried at Thassus lest celebrating his Funeral within the Camp might breed some disorder He then gathered his Souldiers together and comforted them and seeing them destitute of all things necessary he promis'd to every Man 2000 Drachma's in recompence of what he had lost They at these words took courage and were astonish'd at the Magnificence of the gift and waited upon him at his parting with shouts and praises magnifying him for the only General of all the four who was not overcome in the Battel And indeed he prov'd by his Actions that it was not without reason he believ'd he should Conquer for with a few Legions he overthrew all that resisted him and if all his Soldiers had fought and the most of them had not past beyond the Enemy in pursuit of the Plunder it is very likely that he had utterly defeated them all There fell of his side eight thousand Men reckoning the Servants of the Army whom Brutus call'd Brigas And on the other side Messala says his Opinion is that there were slain above twice that number for which reason they were more out of Heart than Brutus till a Servant of Cassius named Demetrius came in the Evening to Antony and brought to him the Garment which he had taken from his Master 's dead Body and his Sword At the sight of which they were so encouraged that as soon as it was Morning they drew out their whole Force into the Field and stood in Battel-Array against Brutus But Brutus found both his Camps wavering and in disorder for his own being fill'd with Prisoners requir'd a Guard more strict than ordinary over 'em and that of Cassius was much discontented at the change of their General besides some Envy and Hatred which those that were conquer'd bore to that part of the Army which were Conquerours wherefore he thought it convenient to put his Army in Array but to abstain as much as he could from fighting All the Slaves that were taken Prisoners of which there was a great number that behav'd themselves not without suspicion among the Souldiers he commanded to be slain but of the Free-men and Citizens some he dismiss'd saying That among the Enemy they were rather Prisoners than with him for with them they were Captives and Slaves but with him Free-men and Citizens of Rome Others he was forced to hide and help them to escape privately perceiving that some of his Friends and Commanders were implacably bent upon Revenge against them Among the Captives there was one Volumnius a Mimick and Sacculio a Buffoon of these Brutus took no manner of notice but his Friends brought them before him and accused them that even then in that condition they did not refrain from their abusive Jests and scurrillous Language Brutus having his Mind taken up with other Affairs said nothing to their Accusation but the judgment of Messala Corvinus was That they should be whip'd publickly upon a Scaffold and so sent naked to the Captains of the Enemy to shew 'em what sort of Fellow-drinkers and Companions were fit for such Warriours At this some that were present laughed but Publius Casca he that gave the first Wound to Caesar said That it was not decent to jest and make so merry at the Funerals of Cassius But thou O Brutus says he will shew what esteem you have for the memory of that General in punishing or preserving those that scoff'd and spoke abusively of him To this Brutus with great indignation reply'd Why then Casca do you tell me of this and not do your self what you think fitting This Answer of Brutus was taken for his consent to the death of these wretched Men so they were carried away and slain After this he gave the Souldiers the Reward that he had promis'd them and having slightly reprov'd 'em for having fallen upon the Enemy in disorder without the Word of Battel or Command He promis'd 'em that if they behav'd
chiefest Dignity which is call'd the Praetorship of the City would be conferr'd either upon Brutus or Cassius and some say that there having been some little difference upon former Accounts between them this Competition set them much more at variance tho' they were related to each other Cassius having married Junia the Sister of Brutus Others say that this Contention was rais'd between them by Caesar's means who had privately given each of them such hopes of his favouring their Pretensions as made them break out into this open Competition and Tryal of their Interest Brutus had only the Reputation of his Honour and virtue to oppose to the many and gallant Actions perform'd by Cassius in his Youth against the Parthians But Caesar having heard each side and deliberating about the Matter among his Friends said Cassius indeed pleads with most Justice but Brutus must have the first Praetorship So another Praetorship was given to Cassius but the gaining of this could not so much oblige him as he was incens'd for the loss of the other And in all other things Brutus was partaker of Caesar's Power as much as he desir'd for he might if he had pleas'd been the chief of all his Friends and had Authority and Command beyond them all but Cassius by his Conversation drew him off from Caesar and turn'd him to himself Indeed he was not yet wholly reconcil'd to Cassius since that Competition which was between them but yet he gave ear to Cassius his Friends who were perpetually advising him not to be so blind as to suffer himself to be soften'd and won upon by Caesar but to shun the Kindness and Favours of a Tyrant which they intimated that Caesar shew'd him not to express any Honour to his Merit or Virtue but to unbend his Strength and slacken the vigour of his Mind Neither was Caesar wholly without suspicion of him nor wanted Informers that accus'd Brutus to him but he fear'd indeed the high Spirit and the great Authority and the many Friends that he had but thought himself secure in his Honesty and Virtue When it was told him first that Antony and Dolabella design'd some Disturbance It is not said he the fat and the long-hair'd men that I fear but the pale and the lean meaning Brutus and Cassius Afterwards when some accus'd Brutus to him and advis'd him to beware of him taking hold of his Flesh with his Hand he said What do ye think that Brutus will not wait out the time of this little Body as if he thought none fit to succeed him in so great Power but only Brutus And indeed it seems to be without doubt that Brutus might have been the first Man in the Common-wealth if he could have had patience but a little time to be second to Caesar if he would have suffer'd his Power insensibly to decay after it was come to its highest pitch and the fame of his great Actions to die and wither away by degrees But Cassius a Man of a fierce Disposition and one that out of private Malice rather than Love of the Publick hated Caesar not the Tyrant continually fir'd him and stirr'd him up Brutus could not endure the Imperial Power but Cassius hated the Emperor and among other Reasons on which he grounded his Quarrel against Caesar the loss of his Lions which he had procur'd when he was design'd Aedile was not the least for these Caesar finding in Megara when that City was taken by Calenus seized to himself These Beasts they say were a great mischief to the Megarians for when their City was taking they broke open the Lions Dens and pull'd off their Chains and let them loose that they might run upon the Enemy that was entring the City but the Lions turn'd upon them themselves and running wildly about tore a great many of them to pieces so that it was a miserable spectacle even to their enemies to behold And this some say was the chief provocation that stirr'd up Cassius to conspire against Caesar but they are much in the wrong for Cassius had from his Youth a natural Hatred and Rancour against the whole race of Tyrants which he shew'd when he was but a Boy and went to the same School with Faustus the Son of Sylla for he speaking great words among the Boys and extolling the unlimited command of his Father Sylla Cassius rose up and struck him two or three Boxes on the Ear which when the Tutors and Relations of Faustus design'd to enquire into and to prosecute Pompey forbad them and sending for both the Boys together examin'd the matter himself And Cassius then is reported to have said thus Come on Faustus dare to speak before this man those words that provok'd me that I may strike you again as I did before Such was the Disposition of Cassius But Brutus by many Perswasions of his familiar Friends and many Letters from unknown Citizens was rouz'd up and push'd on to this Undertaking For under the Statue of his Ancestor Brutus that overthrew the Kingly Government they writ these words O that we had a Brutus now And O that Brutus were alive And Brutus his own Tribunal on which he sate as Praetor was fill'd each Morning with such Inscriptions as these You are asleep Brutus And You are not a true Brutus Now the Flatterers of Caesar were the occasion of all this who among other invidious Honours which they strove to fasten upon Caesar crown'd his Statues by night with an imperial Crown with a design to stir up the People to salute him King instead of Dictator But the quite contrary came to pass as I have more particularly shewn in the Life of Caesar When Cassius went about solliciting Friends to engage in this Design against Caesar all whom he try'd readily consented if Brutus would be Head of the Conspiracy for their opinion was that for this Enterprize they wanted not Hands or Resolution but the Reputation and Authority of a Man such as he was to lead them on and by his presence justifie the Undertaking that without him they should go about this Action with less heart and should lie under greater Suspicions when they had done it for if their Cause were just and honourable they were sure Brutus would not refuse it Cassius having consider'd these things with himself went to Brutus and made him the first Visit after their falling out and after the Complements of Reconciliation pass'd and former Kindnesses renew'd between them he ask'd him if he design'd to be present at the Senate on the Calends of March for it was discours'd he said that Caesar's Friends intended then to move that he might be made King When Brutus answer'd That he would not be there But what says Cassâ—s if they should send for us It is my Business then reply'd Brutus not to hold my peace but to stand up boldly and dâ—e for the Liberty of my Country To which Cassius with some Concern answer'd But what Roman will suffer you to
and Caesar taking up Arms against one another the whole Government was turn'd into Confusion it was generally believ'd that he would have taken Caesar's side for his Father not long before had been put to Death by Pompey But he thinking it his duty to prefer the Interest of the Publick before his own private Resentments and judging Pompey's to be the better Cause took part with him tho' formerly he us'd not so much as to salute or take any notice of Pompey if he happen'd to meet him esteeming it a great crime to have the least Conversation with the Murtherer of his Father But now looking upon him as the General of his Countrey he listed himself under his Command and set Sail for Sicily in quality of Lieutenant to Sestius who had the Government of that Island But finding no opportunity there of shewing himself in any great Action and hearing that Pompey and Caesar were encamp'd near one another and were preparing to begin the Battle upon which the whole Empire depended he came of his own accord to Macedonia to partake in the Danger At his coming it is said that Pompey was so surpriz'd and so pleas'd that rising from his Chair in the sight of all his Guards he saluted and embrac'd him as one of the chiefest of his Party All the time that he was in the Camp expecting that which he spent in Pompey's Company he employ'd in Reading and in Study which he did not neglect even the day before the great Battle of Pharsalia It was the middle of Summer and the Heat was very great and the Camp sustain'd many inconveniencies by being lodged in a marshy Ground and they that carry'd Brutus his Tent had stay'd a long while before they came Yet tho' upon all these Accounts he was extremely harass'd and out of order having at last in the middle of the day scarcely anointed himself and eaten very sparingly whilst most others were either laid to sleep or were wholly taken up with the thoughts and apprehensions of what would be the issue of the Fight he spent his whole time till the evening in writing an Epitome of Polybius It is said that Caesar had so great a regard for him that he order'd his Commanders by no means to kill Brutus in the Battle but to spare him if possible and bring him safe to him if he would willingly surrender himself but if he made any Resistance to suffer him to escape rather than do him any Violence And this he is believ'd to have done out of a Tenderness to Servilia the Mother of Brutus for Caesar had it seems in his Youth being very intimate with her and she passionately in Love with him And considering that Brutus was born about that time in which their Loves were at the highest Caesar had some Reason to believe that he was begot by him There goes a Report too that when some great and weighty Matters concerning the Conspiracy of Catiline which had like to have been the Destruction of the Commonwealth were debated in the Senate Cato and Caesar tho' differing in their Opinions were placed near to one another In the middle of the Debate a little Note was deliver'd to Caesar from without which he took and read silently to himself Upon this Cato cry'd out aloud and accus'd Caesar for holding Correspondence and receiving Letters from the Enemies of the Common-wealth Many of the Senators being much concern'd and the House in an Uproar Caesar deliver'd the Note as he had receiv'd it to Cato who reading it found it to be a lewd Letter from his own Sister Servilia and threw it back again in Rage to Caesar with these words Keep it to your self you Sot And the Senate that had been interrupted fell afresh to the Business that was before them so publick and notorious was Servilia's Love to Caesar After the great Overthrow at Pharsalia Pompey himself having made his Escape to the Sea and Caesar's Army storming the Camp Brutus stole privately out of one of the Gates to a marshy Place full of Water and cover'd with Reeds from whence ventring out in the Night he got safe to Larissa From Larissa he writ to Caesar who express'd a great deal of Joy to hear that he was safe and having sent for him not only forgave him freely but honour'd and esteem'd him equal at least to his chiefest Friends Now when no-body could give any certain Account which way Pompey had fled Caesar took a little Journey alone with Brutus to try what was his Opinion herein and believing by some Discourses which pass'd between them that he could give a good guess which way Pompey had taken in his Flight laying aside all other thoughts he fell directly to pursue him towards Aegypt But Pompey having reach'd Aegypt as Brutus guess'd his Design was to do was there barbarously murder'd Brutus had so much power with Caesar that he pacify'd and reconcil'd him to his Friend Cassius nay when he pleaded in defence of the King of the Lybyans tho' he was overwhelm'd with the greatness of the Crimes alledg'd against him yet by his Entreaties and Applications to Caesar in his behalf he preserv'd to him agreat part of his Kingdom It is reported that Caesar when he first heard Brutus speak in publick said to his Friends I know not what this young man intends but whatever he intends he intends vehemently For his natural firmness of Mind not easily yielding or complying in favour of every one that entreated him when it was set on work by the Motives of right Reason and the Principles of Honesty which way soever it turn'd it self mov'd with great Vigour and Impetuosity and generally effected its Designs No Flattery could ever prevail with him to listen to unjust Petitions and reckon'd that to be overcome by the Impotunities of shameless and fawning Flatteries tho' some complement it with the Name of Modesty and Bashfulness was the foulest disgrace a great Man could suffer And he us'd to say That he shrewdly suspected that they who could deny nothing had not very honestly employ'd the flower of their Youth Caesar being about to take an Expedition into Africa against Cato and Scipio committed to Brutus the Government of Gallia Cisalpina to the great Happiness and Advantage of that Province For while those of other Provinces labour'd under the Violence and Avarice of their Governors and suffer'd as much Oppression as if they had been Slaves and Captives of War Brutus put an end to all such Insolencies here and by his easie Government made them amends for all their former Calamities and reconcil'd and fix'd all their Affections to Caesar insomuch that it was a most welcom and pleasant Spectacle to Caesar when in his Return he pass'd through Italy to see the Cities that were under Brutus his Command and Brutus himself increasing his Train and Honour and most obligingly attending him in his Progress Now several Praetorships being void it was all mens opinion that that of the