The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-27

and In adherinS to justice. rectitude and mo-
rality, not As a matter Of custom merely. but
rather from high-souled considerations. He
had married Marcia. the daughter OF Philip
pus when she was a virgin. He was extremely
fond OF her. and had had children by her. New
ertheless, he gave her TO Hortcnsius. one Of his
friends, who desired to have children, but was
married to a barren wife. until she bore a child
to him also. when Cato took her back TO his own
house rs though he had merely lent hei."
Mr.. White points out ina foot note that Plu-
tarch gives a longer account OF this afair.
showing that IL was attended by formalities
in accord with Roman law. Marcia's father
was consulted. but her own consent seems not
to have been needed. The criticism made
upon the transaction by Cesar In his Anti
Cato was not based upon moral considerations.
He directed attention to the fact that Hortensins
who WAS very rich, left his estate 10 Marcia in
his will. and that Cato took her back as an
opnlent widow; the implication, Of course, was
that the whole transaction had been prompted
by a desire 10 make money.
Appian's description Of C@sar's assassination
differs somewhat from PlutaYch'sa and also from
that given by Suetonius. II il evident that
shakespeare followed Plutarch: indeed. there
is no reason to believe that he ever saw the
English translation Of Appian published in
1873, Appian's account Of the scene in the
chamber where the Senate was assembled
runs as follows. The conspirators had left
Trebonius. one Of their number, TO engage
Antony In conversation at the door. The
others with concealed daggers stood around
Cesar. like friends. az he sat in his chair. Then
one Of them. Titus Climber. came up In front
Of him and petitioned him for the recall OF his
brother. who had been banished. When Cssar
answered that the matter must be deferred
Climber seized hold Of his purple robe as though
still urging his petition. and pulled 1t away 40
"a 10 expose his neck. exclaimina: Friends,
what are you waiting for?' Then first. Casca.
who was standins over CRsar's head. drove
a dagger AT his throat. but missed the aim
and wounded him in the breast, CRsar sna'ched
his toga from Climber. seized Casca's hand,
sprang from his chair. turned around and
hurled Casca with great violence. While he was
in this position another one stabbed him with
a dagger in the side. which was exposed by his
turning around, Cassius wounded him in the
face. BrItus smote him In the thigh and Bucoli-
anus between the shoulder blades. With rage
and outcries Cesar turned now upon one and
now upon another like a wild animal. but, after
receiving the wound from Brutus. he despaired,
and yelling himself with his robe he fell in a de-
cent position at the foot of Pompey's statue.
They continued their attack after he had fallen
until he had received thirty-ihree wounds. Sew
eral Of them. while thrustlng with their swords.
wounded each other" II may prove interesting
to collate the corresponding passage in Sue
tonins The conspirators stood around him
a. he was seated. pretending TO pay their re-
spects. and directly Titus Climber. who had
assumed the initiative, advanced nearer as If
10 ask some favor. and when Caesar made n
motion with his head TO signify that the matter
must he deferred. he seized his toga at both
shoulders. Cesar exclaimed. This is vio-
lence.' and then another Of Cesar's party
wounded him In the back. a little below the
neck. Cesar seized Casca's arm and pierced
II with a stylus. and while trying TO rush for
ward was hindered by another wound. When
he saw himself assaled on all sides with drawn
daggers. he drew his toga around his head and
at the same time with his left hand arranged
the fold over his lower limbs so that he might
fall more decently. with the lower part Of
his body covered. In this way he was stabbed
with twenty-three wounds. having uttered no
cry. but only a single groan at the first blow,
although some say that when Marcus Bru,us
attacked him. he exclaimed: Koi su. teknon'
land thou, too, my son?l He lay there dead
for some time, all having fed. until three of
his slaves placed him on a litter. with his arm
hanging down. and carried him home. Among
so many wounds, according TO the physician
Antistius. there was only one that was mortal. |
and that was the second one. which he had
received in the breast" or course, the words,
kdi 80 teknon, refer to the belief current in
Rome that Marcus Brutus was Cesar's son by
Servi1ia, Cato's sister.