-Now could I, Casca, A man no nightier than thyself, or me, In personal action; yet prodigious grown, And fearful as these strange eruptious are.*** Ir was soon after the defeat and death of Pompoy, and the victorious Cæsar's return, that the inhabitants of Rome were thrown into consternation by various prodigies! At noonday, in the marketplace, the bird of night sat hooting and shrieking; and on the following evening a storm arose so dreadful, that the earth itself seemed to totter! Living fire dropped from the heavens. A slave held up his hand, which seemed to flame, as if twenty torches were burning; and yet the hand remained unscorched. The graves yawned, and yielded up their dead. The noise of battle was heard in the air; with the neighing of horses, and groans of the dying. The forms of warriors were seen in the clouds, engaged in dreadful combat. A lioness whelped in the streets; and a lion paraded near the Capitol, glaring on all who passed him, yet not touching any one. Wandering ghosts flitted about, uttering piercing shrieks. Women, with heads uncovered, were raving through the city, who declared they had seen men walk up and down the streets enveloped in flame; and more than possible horrors seemed accumulated! All trembled as they looked on one another, and seemed afraid to speak the dreadful horrors which filled their minds, at the sight and sound of these strange prodigies, which too surely foretold that some awful event, in the womb of fate, was ready to burst forth. Yet, though so many hearts were filled with horror, some there were that enjoyed the scene, and insolently felt that their enormities were the cause of these emotions in the earth and heavens; calling themselves the glorious projectors of their country's freedom, instead of treacherous assassins, without justice or mercy, who under the specious mask of imputed service to the state, were only indulging their own spleen, envy, and ambition. These men, who feared not the storm, were dark conspirators, plotting against the life of Cæsar; whose glories they envied, whose virtues they hated; making the charge of ambition stand as a plea against him, and an extenuation of their own vile intentions. Amongst the foremost of these, was Cassius Sabaco, husband of Junia, the sister of Marcus Brutus. This man, a warrior of eminence, and one who had rendered the state much service, conceived the most inveterate hatred against Cæsar, because he had bestowed the first vacant prætorship on Brutus, and only the second on him. The gallant services of Cassius, in the Parthian war, certainly gave him a superior claim. This, even Cæsar admitted yet he had bestowed the situation on Brutus, as a tribute to his many virtues, and because he personally loved him; well knowing also that he had sure and speedy means of rewarding Cassius for the delay. But the preference was an offence which Cassius could not forgive. Cæsar's great fame had long excited his envy; and now that envy was aroused to a thirst for vengeance: whilst the indulgence of these despicably selfish feelings induced him even to seek the life of Cæsar, though he veiled his own abject motives under the specious pretence of love to the commonwealth of Rome, and fear, lest the ambition of Cæsar should aim at the sovereignty, and transform the republic to a monarchy. This had indeed for some time been an expedient thought advisable by many, as the only mode of checking the progress of civil discord, and restoring peace to Rome and Italy; but others were of a different opinion and the vindictive Cassius, taking advantage of the unsettled state of the public feeling, pleaded the cause of Rome and liberty, amongst many of those discontented spirits, who require no greater stimulus to excite their malice, than the fame and prosperity of one above them. Cassius, brave, manly, and eloquent, was well calculated to take the lead of a factious multitude; but then he had judgment sufficient to point out to him the danger of any hazard. Cæsar was popular, was beloved, and looked up to with reverence: Cassius therefore, bold as he was, dared not venture any open steps against the object of his hatred, without the sanction of some one whose power and authority would put a colouring of justice upon his actions, and disarm the resentment which might follow. There was, in Rome, one only man thus calculated to aid his plots; and this one was the friend of Cæsar; loving and beloved by him: yet Cassius did not despair of gaining his assistance. Marcus Brutus was a descendant from the illustrious Lucius Junius Brutus; he who expelled the Tarquins. Marcus was a great and exalted char acter, universally respected and beloved; so truly noble in his sentiments, and upright in his conduct, that no one would suspect even for a moment, that irutus could be won from honour. If, therefore, he could be gained to aid the projected enterprise, all would be safe: the Romans would feel assured that he must be ight; and he being also the friend of Cæsar, they would suppose that victorious general must be guilty of some wrong, or Brutus would not turn against him. Cassius was well aware that the sentiments of Brutus were decidedly against monarchy; yet, how far his personal regard for Cæsar might operate to influence his political opinions, it was impossible to say, or how far his own interest might induce him to keep silence. Of this latter, Cassius was most in doubt. A monitor within whispered, that interest would be able to sway himself; and that Cæsar's greatest crime was in being the first man in Rome, a crime of which he would willingly have been himself guilty, had he possessed the means. But he effectually deceived his fellow conspirators, by a show of manly virtue; probably deceived himself: whilst, to the thinking mind, his motives were at once evidently selfish and contemptible. Were Cæsar removed, Cassius must, under the sanction of Brutus, stand high. Honours, wealth, and power, would fall upon him; and, though it was a vice in Cæsar to aim at being first in Rome, Cassius thought it virtue in himself to feel content with the idea of being second! He had already taken some opportunities of speaking to Brutus, hinting obliquely at Cæsar's ambition in wishing to obtain the crown; and he had gained some hope from Brutus's answers, when he spoke of Cæsar being King, mentioning it as an event likely to occur; and Brutus replied, "I fear it.” "Ay, do you fear it?" returned Cassius hastily. "Then must I think you would not have it so." To which Brutus replied: I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well; The name of honour more than I fear death.** Cassius upon this hint spoke more freely-and with little ceremony vented his dislike of Cæsar. Amongst other charges he expressed contempt of the uncertainty of his health,* but spoke of it as a crime, rather than a misfortune, and in his bitterness of spleen forbore to praise the fortitude and strength of mind with which Cæsar had contended against a dreadful infirmity of nature, and how by the most. powerful exertions, both of mind and body, he had frequently conquered its direful effects, nor ever in any instance suffered it to interfere with his least duty yet this resolution claimed no merit in the jaundiced eye of Cassius. Perceiving that Brutus heard him with deep attention, and did not attempt any vindication, he gained more courage, and hoping to awaken the fire of ambition, interlarded his censures of Cæsar, with praises of himself. Brutus and Cesar: What should be in that Cæsar? ✦ Julius Cæsar was subject to epilepsy |