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The Death of Caesar The place destined for the scene of this murder, in which the
senate met that day, was the same in which Pompey's statue stood,
and was one of the edifices which Pompey had raised and dedicated
with his theatre to the use of the public, plainly showing that
there was something of a supernatural influence which guided the
action, and ordered it to that particular place. Cassius, just
before the act, is said to have looked towards Pompey's statue,
and silently implored his assistance, though he had been inclined
to the doctrines of Epicurus. But this occasion and the instant
danger, carried him away out of all his reasonings, and filled him
for the time with a sort of inspiration. As for Antony, who was
firm to Caesar, and a strong man, Brutus Albinus kept him outside
the house, and delayed him with a long conversation contrived on
purpose. When Caesar entered, the senate stood up to show their
respect to him, and of Brutus's confederates, some came about his
chair and stood behind it, others met him, pretending to add their
petitions to those of Tillius Cimber, in behalf of his brother,
who was in exile; and they followed him with their joint
supplications till he came to his seat. When he had sat down, he
refused to comply with their requests, and upon their urging him
further, began to reproach them severally for their importunities,
when Tillius, laying hold of his robe with both his hands, pulled
it down from his neck, which was the signal for the assault. Casca
gave him the first cut, in the neck, which was not mortal nor
dangerous, coming, as it did, from one who at the beginning of
such a bold action was probably very much disturbed. Caesar
immediately turned about, and laid his hand upon the dagger and
kept hold of it. And both of them at the same time cried out, he
that received the blow, in Latin, "Vile Casca, what does this
mean?" and he that gave it, in Greek, to his brother, "Brother,
help!" Upon this first onset, those who were not privy to the
design were astounded, and their horror and amazement at what they
saw were so great, that they durst not fly nor assist Caesar, nor
so much as speak a word. But those who came prepared for the
business inclosed him on every side, with their naked daggers in
their hands. Which way soever he turned, he met with blows, and
saw their swords leveled at his face and eyes, and was
encompassed, like a wild beast in the toils, on every side. For it
had been agreed that they should each make a thrust at him, and
flesh themselves with his blood; for which reason Brutus also gave
him one stab in the groin. Some say that he fought and resisted
all the rest, shifting his body to avoid the blows, and calling
out for help, but that when he saw Brutus's sword drawn, he
covered his face with his robe and submitted, letting himself
fall, whether it were by chance, or that he was pushed in that
direction by his murderers, at the foot of the pedestal on which
Pompey's statue stood, and which was thus wet with his blood. So
that Pompey himself seemed to have presided, as it were, over the
revenge done upon his adversary, who lay here at his feet, and
breathed out his soul through his multitude of wounds, for they
say he received three and twenty. And the conspirators themselves
were many of them wounded by each other, whilst they all leveled
their blows at the same person. When Caesar's will was opened, and it was found that he had left a
considerable legacy to each one of the Roman citizens, and when
his body was seen carried through the marketplace all mangled with
wounds, the multitude could no longer contain themselves within
the bounds of tranquility and order, but heaped together a pile of
benches, bars, and tables, upon which they placed the corpse, and
setting fire to it, burnt it on them. Then they took brands from
the pile, and ran some to fire the conspirators, others up and
down the city, to find out the men and tear them to pieces, but
met, however, with none of them, they having taken effectual care
to secure themselves. Caesar died in his fifty-sixth year, not having survived Pompey
above four years. That empire and power which he had pursued
through the whole course of his life with so much hazard, he did
at last with much difficulty compass, but reaped no other fruits
from it than the empty name and invidious glory. But the great
genius which attended him through his lifetime, even after his
death remained as the avenger of his murder, pursuing through
every sea and land all those who were concerned in it, and
suffering none to escape, but reaching all who in any sort or kind
were either actually engaged in the fact, or by their counsels any
way promoted it. The most remarkable of mere human coincidences was that which
befell Cassius, who, when he was defeated at Philippi, killed
himself with the same dagger which he had made use of against
Caesar. The most signal preternatural appearances were the great
comet, which shone very bright for seven nights after Caesar's
death, and then disappeared, and the dimness of the sun, whose orb
continued pale and dull for the whole of that year, never showing
its ordinary radiance at its rising, and giving but a feeble heat.
The air consequently was damp and gross, for want of stronger rays
to open and rarefy it. The fruits, for that reason, never properly
ripened, and began to wither and fall off for want of heat, before
they were fully formed.
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