The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-06-18
DEATH OF JULIUS CESAR.

day on which the the conspiracy was 10 20
executed, arrived, and there was yet no sus-
.picion. The conspirators had been already
together at the house of ono of the prntors.
Gassius was to present his son that morn
ing to the people, with the ceremony usual
in assuming the habit of manhood; and
he was, upon this account, to be attended by
his friends into the place Of assembly. He
was afterwards. together with Brutus, in
their capacity Of magistrates, employed as
usual, in giving Judgment OH the causes
that were brought before them. As they
sat in the prator's chair, they received in
timation that Cesar, having been indisposed
over night, was not to be abroad and that
he had commissioned Antony: in his name,
to adjourn the senate to another day
Upo, this report, they suspected dis
covery; and while they were deliberating
what should be done, Popilius Lnnas, a
senator whom they had not entrusted with
their design, whispered them as he passed,
81 pray that God may prosper what you
have in view. Above all things despatch"
Their suspicious Of a discovery being thus
still farther confirmed, the intention soon
after appeared to be public. An acquain-
tance told Casca, "You have concealed
this business from me, but Brutus told me
Of it." They were struck with surprise
but Brutus presently recollectcd that he
had mentioned to this person no moro than
Casca's intention Of standing for ndile, and
that the words which he spoke probably re-
ferred only to that business; they accord.
ingly determined to wait the issue of these
alarms.
In the meantime Caesar, at the persua-
sion Of Decimus Brutus. though once de-
termined-t to remain at home, had changed
mis- mind, and was already i'll the streets,
being carried to the senate in his litter
Soon after ho had left his own house,
slave came thithcr in haste, desired protec-
tion, and said he had a secret to impart.-
He had probably overheard the conspira-
tors, or had observed that they were armed
but not being aware how pressing tho time
was, he suffered himself to he detained till
Caesars return. Others, probably, had OBJ
served circumstances which led to lis.
,covery of the plot, and Cesar had billet
TO this effect, given to linn as he passed in
the streets he was intrcated by the person
who gave it instantly to read it and lie
endeayored TO do so, but was prevented by
the multituccs who crowded around him
with numberless applications; and he still
carried this paper in his hand when lie en-
tered the senate.
Brutus and most of the conspirators had
taken their places little while before the
arrival Of Caesar, and continued to be
alarmed ly many circumstances Which
tended to shake their resolution. Porcia,
inthe same moments, being in great agita.
ton, exposed herself to public notice. She
listened with anxiety to every noise in the
streets; she despatched, without any pre-
tence Of business, continual messages to-
wards the place where the senate was as
sembled; she asked every person who came
from that quarter if they observed what
her husband was doing. Her spirit at last
sunk under the effect of such violent emo
tions; she tainted away, and was carried
for dead into her apartment. A message
came to Brutus i'll the senate with this ac-
count. He was much affected, but kept
his place. Popilius Lnnas, who little
before seemed, from tho expression hc had
dropped, to have got notice Of their design,
appeared to be in earnest conversation with
Cesar, as he lighted from his carriage
Bhis left the conspirators no longer in doub.
that they were discovered and they made
signs 70 each other, that it would be better
to dieTby their own hands than to fall in
the Of hands of their enemy. But the,
saw of a sudden the countenance Of Lenas
change into a smile, and perceived that his
conversation with Caesar could not relate to
such q business as theirs.
Caesars chair of state had been placed
near to the pedestal of Pompey's statute.
Numbers Of the conspirators had seated
themselves around it. Trabonius, under
pretence of business, had taken Antony
aside. at the entrance of the threatre. Cim-
ber who, with others of the conspirators,
met Caesar in the portico, presented him
with . petition in favor of his brother, who
had been excepted from the late indemnity ::
and lin urging the prayer of this petition,
attendedFthe dictator to his place. Having
tbere received denial from Caesar, uttered
with some expressions of impatience at be-
ing 80 much importuned, he took hold of
his robe, as if to press the intreaty. Nay,
said qCessr, this is violence. While he