marcus brutus-第4部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


spread　abroad　that　Porcia　was　dead；　though　with　her　women's　help　she
recovered　in　a　little　while；　and　came　to　herself　again。　When　Brutus
received　this　news；　he　was　extremely　troubled；　not　without　reason；　yet
was　not　so　carried　away　by　his　private　grief　as　to　quit　his　public
purpose。
　　For　now　news　was　brought　that　Caesar　was　coming；　carried　in　a
litter。　For；　being　discouraged　by　the　ill…omens　that　attended　his
sacrifice；　he　had　determined　to　undertake　no　affairs　of　any　great
importance　that　day；　but　to　defer　them　till　another　time；　excusing
himself　that　he　was　sick。　As　soon　as　he　came　out　of　his　litter；
Popilius　Laenas；　he　who　but　a　little　before　had　wished　Brutus　good
success　in　his　undertaking；　coming　up　to　him；　conversed　a　great
while　with　him；　Caesar　standing　still　all　the　while；　and　seeming　to　be
very　attentive。　The　conspirators　（to　give　them　this　name）；　not　being
able　to　hear　what　he　said；　but　guessing　by　what　themselves　were
conscious　of　that　this　conference　was　the　discovery　of　their
treason；　were　again　disheartened；　and；　looking　upon　one　another；
agreed　from　each　other's　countenances　that　they　should　not　stay　to
be　taken；　but　should　all　kill　themselves。　And　now　when　Cassius　and
some　others　were　laying　hands　upon　their　daggers　under　their　robes；
and　were　drawing　them　out；　Brutus；　viewing　narrowly　the　looks　and
gesture　of　Laenas；　and　finding　that　he　was　earnestly　petitioning　and
not　accusing；　said　nothing；　because　there　were　many　strangers　to　the
conspiracy　mingled　amongst　them：　but　by　a　cheerful　countenance
encouraged　Cassius。　And　after　a　little　while；　Laenas；　having　kissed
Caesar's　hand；　went　away；　showing　plainly　that　all　his　discourse　was
about　some　particular　business　relating　to　himself。
　　Now　when　the　senate　was　gone　in　before　to　the　chamber　where　they
were　to　sit；　the　rest　of　the　company　placed　themselves　close　about
Caesar's　chair；　as　if　they　had　some　suit　to　make　to　him；　and
Cassius；　turning　his　face　to　Pompey's　statue；　is　said　to　have
invoked　it；　as　if　it　had　been　sensible　of　his　prayers。　Trebonius；　in
the　meanwhile；　engaged　Antony's　attention　at　the　door；　and　kept　him　in
talk　outside。　When　Caesar　entered；　the　whole　senate　rose　up　to　him。　As
soon　as　he　was　sat　down；　the　men　all　crowded　round　about　him；　and
set　Tillius　Cimber；　one　of　their　own　number；　to　intercede　in　behalf　of
his　brother　that　was　banished；　they　all　joined　their　prayers　with　his；
and　took　Caesar　by　the　hand；　and　kissed　his　head　and　his　breast。　But
he　putting　aside　at　first　their　supplications；　and　afterwards；　when　he
saw　they　would　not　desist；　violently　rising　up；　Tillius　with　both
hands　caught　hold　of　his　robe　and　pulled　it　off　from　his　shoulders；
and　Casca；　that　stood　behind　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　around　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
towards　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　pursued　or　followed。　For　they　had　come　to　an　express
resolution　to　kill　nobody　beside　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　execution　of　their　design；　that　it　was
necessary　to　cut　off　Antony　with　Caesar；　looking　upon　him　as　an
insolent　man；　an　affecter　of　monarchy；　and　one　that；　by　his　familiar
intercourse；　had　gained　a　powerful　interest　with　the　soldiers。　And
this　they　urged　the　rather；　because　at　that　time　to　the　natural
loftiness　and　ambition　of　his　temper　there　was　added　the　dignity　of
being　counsel　and　colleague　to　Caesar。　But　Brutus　opposed　this　consul；
insisting　first　upon　the　injustice　of　it；　and　afterwards　giving　them
hopes　that　a　change　might　be　worked　in　Antony。　For　he　did　not
despair　but　that　so　highly　gifted　and　honourable　a　man；　and　such　a
lover　of　glory　as　Antony；　stirred　up　with　emulation　of　their　great
attempt；　might；　if　Caesar　were　once　removed；　lay　hold　of　the
occasion　to　be　joint　restorer　with　them　of　the　liberty　of　his　country。
Thus　did　Brutus　save　Antony's　life。　But　he；　in　the　general
consternation；　put　himself　into　a　plebeian　habit；　and　fled。　But　Brutus
and　his　party　marched　up　to　the　capitol；　in　their　way　showing　their
hands　all　bloody；　and　their　naked　swords；　and　proclaiming　liberty　to
the　people。　At　first　all　places　were　filled　with　cries　and　shouts；　and
the　wild　running　to　and　fro；　occasioned　by　the　sudden　surprise　and
passion　that　every　one　was　in；　increased　the　tumult　in　the　city。　But
no　other　bloodshed　following；　and　no　plundering　of　the　goods　in　the
streets；　the　senators　and　many　of　the　people　took　courage　and　went
up　to　the　men　in　the　capitol；　and　a　multitude　being　gathered　together；
Brutus　made　an　oration　to　them；　very　popular；　and　proper　for　the　state
that　affairs　were　then　in。　Therefore；　when　they　applauded　his
speech；　and　cried　out　to　him　to　come　down；　they　all　took　confidence
and　descended　into　the　forum；　the　rest　promiscuously　mingled　with
one　another；　but　many　of　the　most　eminent　persons；　attending　Brutus；
conducted　him　in　the　midst　of　them　with　great　honour　from　the　capitol；
and　placed　him　in　the　rostra。　At　the　sight　of　Brutus；　the　crowd；
though　consisting　of　a　confused　mixture　and　all　disposed　to　make　a
tumult；　were　struck　with　reverence；　and　expected　what　he　would　say
with　order　and　with　silence；　and；　when　he　began　to　speak；　heard　him
with　quiet　and　attention。　But　that　all　were　not　pleased　with　this
action　they　plainly　showed　when；　Cinna　beginning　to　speak　and　accuse
Caesar；　they　broke　out　into　a　sudden　rage；　and　railed　at　him　in　such
language　that　the　whole　party　thought　fit　again　to　withdraw　to　the
capitol。　And　there　Brutus；　expecting　to　be　besieged；　dismissed　the
most　eminent　of　those　that　had　accompanied　them　thither；　not
thinking　it　just　that　they　who　were　not　partakers　of　the　fact　should
share　in　the　danger。
　　But　the　next　day；　the　senate　being　assembled　in　the　temple　of　the
Earth；　and　Antony　and　Plancus　and　Cicero　having　made　orations
recommending　concord　in　general　and　an　act　of　oblivion；　it　was　decreed
that　the　men　should　not　only　be　put　out　of　all　fear　or　danger；　but
that　the　consuls　should　see　what　honours　and　dignities　were　proper
to　be　conferred　upon　them。　After　which　done；　the　senate　broke　up；　and；
Antony　having　sent　his　son　as　an　hostage　to　the　capitol；　Brutus　and
his　company　came　down；　and　mutual　salutes　and　invitations　passed
amongst　them；　the　whole　of　them　being　gathered　together。　Antony
invited　and　entertained　Cassius；　Lepidus　did　the　same　to　Brutus；　and
the　rest　were　invited　and　entertained　by　others；　as　each　of　them　had
acquaintance　or　friends。　And　as　soon　as　it　was　day；　the　senate　met
again；　and　voted　thanks　to　Antony　for　having　stifled　the　beginning
of　a　civil　war；　afterwards　Brutus　and　his　associates　that　were　present
received　encomiums；　and　had　provinces　assigned　and　distributed　among
them。　Crete　was　allotted　to　Brutus；　Africa　to　Cassius；　Asia　to
Trebonius；　Bithynia　to　Cimber；　and　to　the　other　Brutus　Gaul　about
the　Po。
　　After　these　things；　they　began　to　consider　of　Caesar's　will；　and　the
ordering　of　his　funeral。　Antony　desired　that　the　will　might　be　read；
and　that　the　body　should　not　have　a　private　or　dishonourable
interment；　lest　that　should　further　exasperate　the　people。　This
Cassius　violently　opposed；　but　Brutus　yielded　to　it；　and　gave　leave；
in　which　he　seems　to　have　a　second　time　committed　a　fault。　For　as
before　in　sparing　the　life　of　Antony　he　could　not　be　without　some
blame　from　his　party；　as　thereby　setting　up　against　the　conspiracy　a
dangerous　and　difficult　enemy；　so　now；　in　suffering　him　to　have　the
ordering　of　the　funeral；　he　fell　into　a　total　and　irrevocable　error。
For　first；　it　appearing　by　the　will　that　Caesar　had　bequeathed　to
the　Roman　people　seventy…five　drachmas　a　man；　and　given　to　the
public　his　gardens　beyond　Tiber　（where　now　the　temple　of　Fortune
stands）；　the　whole　city　was　fired　with　a　wonderful　affection　for
him；　and　a　passionate　sense　of　the　loss　of　him。　And　when　the　body
was　brought　forth　into　the　forum；　Antony；　as　the　custom　was；　making
a　funeral　oration　in　the　praise　of　Caesar；　and　finding　the　multitude
moved　with　his　speech；　passing　into　the　pathetic　tone；　unfolded　the
bloody　garment　of　Caesar；　showed　them　in　how　many　places　it　was
pierced；　and　the　number　of　his　wounds。　Now　there　was　nothing　to　be
seen　but　confusion；　some　cried　out　to　kill　the　murderers；　others　（as
was　formerly　done　when　Clodius　led　the　people）　tore　away　the　benches
and　tables　out　of　the　shops　round　about；　and；　heaping　them　altogether；
built　a　great　funeral　pile；　and　having　put　the　body　of　Caesar　upon　it；
set　it　on　fire；　the　spot　where　this　was　done　being　moreover　surrounded
with　a　great　many　temples　and　other　consecrated　places；　so　that　they
seemed　to　burn　the　body　in　a　kind　of　sacred　solemnity。　As　soon　as
the　fire　flamed　out；　the　multitude；　flocking　in　some　from　one　part　and
some　from　another；　snatched　the　brands　that　were　half　burnt　out　of　the
pile；　and　ran　about　the　city　to　fire　the　houses　of　the　murderers　of
Caesar。　But　they；　having　beforehand　well　fortified　themselves；
repelled　this　danger。
　　There　was；　however；　a　kind　of　poet；　one　Cinna；　not　at　all
concerned　in　the　guilt　of　the　conspiracy；　but　on　the　contrary　one　of
Caesar's　friends。　This　man　dreamed　that　he　was　invited　to　supper　by
Caesar；　and　that　he　declined　to　go；　but　that　Caesar　entreated　and
presse