Plutarch informs us, that when Cxsar saw the dagger of Brutus pointed against him, he covered his head with nis robe, and resigned himself to the swords of his murderers; and that Brutus, in attempting to nave his share in the sacrifice, received a wound in the hand from one of the weapons. The sequel proved, how greatly Brutus erred in advising, contrary to the opinion of his companions, that Antony should be spared. His great popularity, both in the city and army, added to his military talents, consular authority, and unprincipled ambition, rendered him scarcely less formidable in a free state than Czesar lumsek. Brutus, confiding too much in conscious integrity, erred again in conceding to Antony that C:esar's will should be read publicly, and that he should nave the direction of Ctosar's fune ral. The use which he made of the opportunity thus put into his hands, of exciting the multitude, was such, that Brutus and his party thought it prudent to retire from Rome to Antium. Cicero, who was in the interest of the senate, remained in the city, and opposed the whole weight of his authority and eloquence to the usur pation of Antony. Brutus also, courting popular favour, after the manner of the times, caused magnificent shows to be exhibited in Rome in his name, but in his absence.
The arrival of Octavius Cxsar at Rome, and the adroitness with which he appeared to manage Cicero, and win him to his interest, convinced Brutus that Italy afforded no means of serving the cause of freedom. At the maritime town of Elea he took leave of Portia, whose Roman fortitude was again subdued by the sight of a picture, which described the parting of Hector and Andromache. Brutus sailed for Greece, where he be gan his preparations for the impending war.
A new triumvirate was now formed in Italy,—Cxsar, Antony, and Lepidus, having agreed to divide the em pire betwixt them. To meet the rising storm, it was necessary that the two republican leaders, Brutus and Cassius, should unite. Smyrna was the place of their first interview; on which occasion Brutus, knowing that Cassius had collected a vast treasure, by such means as are usual in war, but which himself, either from huma nity, or the love of popularity, had refused to employ, desired Cassius to furnish hint with the sinews of war, by dividing his treasure with hint. The friends of Cas sius remonstrated, but he at length consented, that Bru tus should take for his use the third part of what he had. Their next interview was at Sardis, where mutual dis satisfaction produced angry altercation, which was, how ever, amicably terminated. Cassius, being more of a practical man than Brutus, connived at offences which it was not safe to punish, and was less scrupulous of the means by which grand purposes were to be accomplish ed. Brutus did not refuse to profit by the exactions of Cassius ; but, at the same time, insisted, that the mal practices of their partizans should not he suffered to pass with impunity. \Vhen the combined army was about to leave Asia, and pass over into Greece, to op pose the forces of the triumvirate, Brutus, sitting alone in his tent by a dim light, and at a late hour, the whole army sleeping around him, was surprised by the sudden appearance of a tremendous spectre at his side. Ile demanded, What art thou ? God or man ? and what is thy business with me ? To which the phantom replied, I am thy evil genius, Brutus ; thou shalt see me at Philippi. Cassius, who was of the Epicurean school,
accounted for the appearance philosophically, by re marking, that when the body, as in the case of his friend, was exhausted with labour and vigilance, the regular functions of the mind are naturally suspended or disturbed. The day of decision was now last ap proaelung, and the plains of Philippi were the destined scene ol conflict. Belore the attack, Brutus and Cassius met on the plain betwixt the two armies, and there, it is said, expressed their common resolution, that it the day proved unfortunate, they would die as Cato died. Brutus commanded the right wing, which was opposed to Octavianus in the left, and there obtained a complete victory.
The attack of his soldiers was ardent but irregular ; and while they pursued the flying enemy into his camp, and even proceeded to plunder, Cassius, chagrined, ex posed, and routed, was obliged to retire with a small number to a hill that overlooked the plain. There, ignorant of the success of Brutus, and believing that the enemy were advancing to take him prisoner, he ordered his freedman, Pindarus, to strike off his head. Soon alter, Brutus, who had hastened to his relief with a de tachment of horse, entered his camp, and weeping over his lifeless trunk, pronounced him the last of the Ro mans. Tidings of the death ol Cassius soon reached the camp of the triumvirs, and so animated their cou rage, that, notwithstanding the disasters of that day, they resolved to offer battle the ensuing morning. Brutus, however, declined the challenge, and directed his attention to securing in his interest the remainder of Cassius' array. Ile now found that it had been easier to reprove his friend for connivance at injustice which he could not prevent, than it was to act up to the rigour of his own principles. Before he ventured upon a se cond engagement, he thought it necessary to promise his soldiers, that if they acquitted themselves to his satisfaction, he would give them up the cities of Lace dxmon and Thessalonica to plunder. In this interval of preparation, Cxsar and Antony received certain intelli gence, that their fleet, which was sailing from Italy with a large supply of soldiers, had been defeated by that of Brutus. As they also knew that this intelligence had not reached Brutus, they were anxious to bring on a se cond engagement before he should be informed of his naval success. Their offer of battle was accepted ; the triumvirs were victorious; and Brutus, that he might not fall into the hands of his enemies, threw himself upon his sword. \Vhen Antony found the body, he ordered it to be enveloped in a rich robe; and he after wards sent the ashes to his mother Scrvilia. Historians differ in their report of the time and circumstances of the death of Portia. According to some testimonies, she died before her husband ; while others record, that being resolved not long to survive the tidings of his death, though her friends deprived her of every instru ment of destruction, she accomplished her purpose by taking burning coals from the fire, and retaining theta in her mouth till she was suffocated. Sec Plutarch's Lives and Universal History. (s.