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against the enemy; paused a long while before he would fight; for as
he was reviewing the troops; suspicions were excited and
informations laid against some of them。 Besides; he saw his horse
not very eager to begin the action; and waiting to see what the foot
would do。 Then suddenly Camulatus; a very good soldier; and one whom
for his valour he highly esteemed; riding hard by Brutus himself; went
over to the enemy; the sight of which grieved Brutus exceedingly。 So
that partly out of anger; and partly out of fear of some greater
treason and desertion; he immediately drew on his forces upon the
enemy; the sun now declining; about three of the clock in the
afternoon。 Brutus on his side had the better; and pressed hard on
the left wing; which gave way and retreated; and the horse too fell in
together with the foot; when they saw the enemy in disorder。 But the
other wing; when the officers extended the line to avoid its being
encompassed; the numbers being inferior; got drawn out too thin in the
centre; and was so weak here that they could not withstand the charge;
but at the first onset fled。 After defeating these; the enemy at
once took Brutus in the rear; who all the while did all that was
possible for an expert general and valiant soldier; doing everything
in the peril; by counsel and by hand; that might recover the
victory。 But that which had been his superiority in the first fight
was to his prejudice in the second。 For in the first; that part of the
enemy which was beaten was killed on the spot; but of Cassius's
soldiers that fled; few had been slain; and those that escaped;
daunted with their defeat; infected the other and larger part of the
army with their want of spirit and their disorder。 Here Marcus; the
son of Cato; was slain; fighting and behaving himself with great
bravery in the midst of the youth of the highest rank and greatest
valour。 He would neither fly nor give the least ground; but still
fighting and declaring who he was and naming his father's name; he
fell upon a heap of dead bodies of the enemy。 And of the rest; the
bravest were slain in defending Brutus。
There was in the field one Lucilius; an excellent man and a friend
of Brutus; who; seeing some barbarian horse taking no notice of any
other in the pursuit; but galloping at full speed after Brutus;
resolved to stop them; though with the hazard of his life; and;
letting himself fall a little behind; he told them that he was Brutus。
They believed him the rather; because he prayed to be carried to
Antony; as if he feared Caesar; but durst trust him。 They; overjoyed
with their prey; and thinking themselves wonderfully fortunate;
carried him along with them in the night; having first sent messengers
to Antony of their coming。 He was much pleased; and came to meet them;
and all the rest that heard that Brutus was taken and brought alive
flocked together to see him; some pitying his fortune; others accusing
him of a meanness unbecoming his former glory; that out of too much
love of life he would be a prey to barbarians。 When they came near
together; Antony stood still; considering with himself in what
manner he should receive Brutus; but Lucilius; being brought up to
him; with great confidence said: 〃Be assured; Antony; that no enemy
either has taken or ever shall take Marcus Brutus alive (forbid it;
heaven; that fortune should ever so much prevail above virtue!); but
he shall be found; alive or dead; as becomes himself。 As for me; I
am come hither by a cheat that I put upon your soldiers; and am ready;
upon this occasion; to suffer any severities you will inflict。〃 All
were amazed to hear Lucilius speak these words。 But Antony; turning
himself to those that brought him; said: 〃I perceive; my
fellow…soldiers; that you are concerned; and take it ill that you have
been thus deceived; and think yourselves abused and injured by it; but
know that you have met with a booty better than that you sought。 For
you were in search of an enemy; but you have brought me here a friend。
For indeed I am uncertain how I should have used Brutus; if you had
brought him alive; but of this I am sure; that it is better to have
such men as Lucilius our friends than our enemies。〃 Having said
this; he embraced Lucilius; and for the present commended him to the
care of one of his friends; and ever after found him a steady and a
faithful friend。
Brutus had now passed a little brook; running among trees and
under steep rocks; and; it being night; would go no further; but sat
down in a hollow place with a great rock projecting before it; with
a few of his officers and friends about him。 At first; looking up to
heaven; that was then full of stars; he repeated two verses; one of
which; Volumnius writes; was this:…
〃Punish; great Jove; the author of these ills。〃
The other he says he has forgot。 Soon after; naming severally all
his friends that had been slain before his face in the battle; he
groaned heavily; especially at the mentioning of Flavius and Labeo;
the latter his lieutenant; and the other chief officer of his
engineers。 In the meantime; one of his companions; that was very
thirsty and saw Brutus in the same condition; took his helmet and
ran to the brook for water; when a noise being heard from the other
side of the river; Volumnius; taking Dardanus; Brutus's armour…bearer;
with him; went out to see what it was。 They returned in a short space;
and inquired about the water。 Brutus; smiling with much meaning;
said to Volumnius。 〃It is all drunk; but you shall have some more
fetched。〃 But he that had brought the first water; being sent again;
was in great danger of being taken by the enemy; and having received a
wound; with much difficulty escaped。
Now Brutus guessing that not many of his men were slain in the
fight; Statyllius undertook to dash through the enemy (for there was
no other way); and to see what was become of their camp; and promised;
if he found all things there safe; to hold up a torch for a signal;
and then return。 The torch was held up; Statyllius got safe to the
camp; but when after a long time he did not return; Brutus said; 〃If
Statyllius be alive; he will come back。〃 But it happened that in his
return he fell into the enemy's hands; and was slain。
The night now being far spent; Brutus; as he was sitting; leaned his
head towards his servant; Clitus; and spoke to him; he answered him
not; but fell a weeping。 After that he drew aside his armour…bearer;
Dardanus; and had some discourse with him in private。 At last;
speaking to Volumnius in Greek; he reminded him of their common
studies and former discipline and begged that he would take hold of
his sword with him; and help him to thrust it through him。 Volumnius
put away his request; and several others did the like; and some one
saying; that there was no staying there; but they needs must fly;
Brutus; rising up; said; 〃Yes; indeed; we must fly; but not with our
feet; but with our hands。〃 Then giving each of them his right hand;
with a countenance full of pleasure; he said; that he found an
infinite satisfaction in this; that none of his friends had been false
to him; that as for fortune; he was a