312 MARCUS BRUTUS. in this design against Caesar, all whom he tried readily consented, if Brutus would be head of it; for their opinion was that the enterprise wanted not hands or res- olution, but the reputation and authority of a man such as he was, to give as it were the first religious sanction, and by his presence, if by nothing else, to justify the un- dertaking; that without him they should go about this action with less heart, and should lie under greater suspi- cions when they had done it, for, if their cause had been just and honorable, people would be sure that Brutus would not have refused it. Cassius, having considered these things with himself, went to Brutus, and made him the first visit after their falling out ; and after the compliments of reconciliation had passed, and former kind- nesses were renewed between them, he asked him if he designed to be present in the senate on the Calends of March, for it was discoursed, he said, that Caesar's friends intended then to move that he might be made king. Wben Brutus answered, that he would not be there, " But what," says Cassius, " if they should send for us ? " " It will be my business then," replied Brutus, " not to hold my peace, but to stand up boldly, and die for the liberty of my country." To which Cassius with some emotion answered, " But what Roman will suffer you to die ? What, do you not know yourself, Brutus? Or do you think that those writings that you find upon your praetor's seat were put there by weavers and shop- keepers, and not by the first and most powerful men of Rome ? From other praetors, indeed, they expect lar- gesses and shows and gladiators, but from you they claim, as an hereditary debt, the extirpation of tyranny ; they are all ready to suffer any thing on your account, if you will but show yourself such as they think you are and expect you should be." Which said, he fell upon Brutus, and embraced him ; and after this, they parted each to try their several friends.
