fate. Three and twenty swords had pierced him ; and he fell on the pavement, deluged in his blood.

One universal shout from the conspirators, cf "Liberty-Freedom!-Tyranny is dead!" reverberated through the senate house as Cæsar fell. Brutus attempted to address the senate; but they fled. Mark Antony, the bosom friend of Cæsar, was absent during this horrible transaction: for the conspirators fearing lest his valour might have aided his master, he had been detained in conversation by one of the party, at a distance from the scene of action. Cassius, indeed, considering Mark Antony as dangerous to their cause, had doomed his death; but Brutus's desire was that his life should be preserved, and none dared disobey, When Antony heard of the murder of Cæsar, he fled to his own house, from whence he presently despatched a messenger to Brutus to solicit an audience in safety, that he might learn the cause of Cæsar's death. This Brutus granted, hoping to gain his friendship, and goodwill to their cause: Cassius, however, murmured, and declared openly his suspicions; but he was silenced by Brutus.

Antony soon made his appearance, and by for bearance, and a seeming confidence in their justice, led them to suppose he might be won: yet the sight

of Cæsar overpowered him; and drawing the mantle from his face, he knelt and uttered the bitterest lamentations over his body. Cassius in displeasure

checked him. "Be patient, Cassius, (he replied.,' The enemies of Cæsar shall praise him, and lament his fall; and shall a friend be silent? Yet I am friends with you, upon this hope, that you will give me reasons wherein you judged Cæsar dangerous."

Brutus assured him, reasons of a nature so cogent should be given, that though he were the son of Cæsar, yet he should be satisfied; when Antony, pretending to be convinced their intentions were just, however they might have erred in the execution, entreated permission to produce the body in the market place, as was the custom, and speak the funeral oration. To this Brutus readily consented; but Cassius, alarmed at a permission so dangerous to their enterprise, drew him aside, and strenuously remonstrated against it. Brutus, nevertheless, was positive in his opinion, feeling assured that such respect paid to the remains of Cæsar, by their permission, would throw a lustre on their actions; whereas a contrary conduct would lay them open to animadversion and resentment. He therefore declared his intention of going first into the pulpit, to impart t

reason of Cæsar's death, and also inform the people that Antony spoke by their free permission: but / Cassius was still discontented; he thought Mark Antony, pleading the cause of Cæsar dead, was little less dangerous than Cæsar living. It was a cause to inspire eloquence; and Antony was eloquent: but Brutus's word was law, and with a reluctant spirit he was compelled to submit. The conspirators now departed, leaving Antony to mourn over the body of his friend and master, whose spirit he invoked to pardon him that he, though for the more effectual purpose of revenge, had dissembled with his murderers.

The citizens of Rome were so confounded by the late occurrences, that they appeared stupified, and totally incapable either of acting or thinking. At the sight of the conspirators, they however, demanded satisfaction; and Brutus promised they should be satisfied by the explanation which would be given. They followed to the forum, where Brutus mounted the pulpit, and addressed them. He avowed his love for Cæsar; but that his love for Rome was greater : and in the cause of freedom he had struck the bosom of a friend. He appealed to them to know whether they wished to be bondmen ?-Whether they did not love their country ?—and whether he had offended in wishing to preserve them and their country from the bonds of slavery? Then drawing his dagger forth, told them, that as he had slain his best friend for the good of Rome, he had the same dagger ready for himself whenever it should please his country to need his death.

So great was the respect in which Brutus was held by the Romans, that all resentment was lost sight of, in veneration for his character; and they were about to carry him in triumph to his own house, bat he forbade them.

Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony:
Do grace to Cæsar's corpse, and grace
his speech,
Tending to Cæsar's glories; which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allow'd to make.
I do entreat you, not a man depart,

Save I alone, till Antony have spoke. ***

gave

Brutus departed; and now the body of Cæsar, in slow and solemn procession, advanced, preceded by the weeping Antony. At sight of this horrid spectacle, the indignation, which respect for Brutus had suppressed, now broke forth again; and when Antony addressed them, they listened in mute attention. He forbore to speak against the conspirators; to that forbearance he was bound, when Brutus him permission to speak: but he spoke of Cæsar with tender affliction, pointed out his wounds, calling them poor dumb mouths, and bidding them speak for him. He then displayed his mantle, showed every stab, and marked the name of him who struck; but most he dwelt on the rent which Brutus's dagger made-Brutus, whose ingratitude quite vanquished the noble Cæsar; and his mighty heart had burst with anguish, even before the wounds had opened the gates of life.

So eloquently did Antony plead the cause of Cæsar murdered-so horribly the mangled form of murdered Cæsar looked, that tears and lamentations were succeeded by rage and fury; while the people swore to tear the limbs of every conspirator, and burn the house of Brutus to the ground. Antony detained them yet a while longer, to hear the testament of Cæsar; wherein he had bequeathed to every citizen of Rome seventy-five drachmas, with free liberty also to use all his walks, private arbours, and new-planted orchards, as a privilege to them and their heirs for ever.

This striking instance of Cæsar's kindness to them, even after his death, added the force of grat

itude to their previous indignation; and nothing could now restrain their rage. They tore up the benches, tables, and doors of the forum-making a funeral pile; and, having collected his ashes, and paid all honour to his memory, they began the work of vengeance. Their first fury was vented on an innocent victim. Cinna, a poet, had dreamed that he was at supper with Cæsar, who took him by the hand and led him away. The poor man was so powerfully affected by this dream, that it threw him into a fever; yet his love for Cæsar's memory overpowered his bodily sufferings, he went to join the procession, and do honour to his funeral. The citizens questioned him as to who he was; and he saying his name was Cinna, they mistook him for Cinna the conspirator. In vain he appealed: the name was enough; and the hapless poet fell a victim to the infuriated mob. This caused such alarm to the conspirators, that they fled different ways, fearful of the popular indignation excited against them.

At this eventful period Octavius, Cæsar's nephew, arrived in Rome, and united with Mark Antony and Lipidus, forming a triumvirate, to revenge Cæsar's murder. They accordingly met at the house of Antony, and arranged their plans, examined the will