and reducing the country to complete subjection. Leaving Gaul for a season, he crossed over to Britain and subdued the island. Meanwhile Pompey, at Rome, had become jealous of Cæsar, whose victories had made him a popular idol and he succeeded in getting the Senate to pass a decree ordering Cæsar to disband his army. This Cæsar refused to do, and instead he led his soldiers across the Rubicon, the river which separated Gaul from Italy, and advanced toward Rome. Pompey and his supporters fled, and Cæsar speedily became master of the state. crossed into Greece and defeated Pompey, and the Senate, subservient to Cæsar as it had been to Pompey, conferred upon him all the offices in its powers. Wars in Spain, in Africa and in Pontus increased his fame, and he became undisputed master of the Roman world.

Cæsar was great not only in war. He was an author as well as a general, and his Commentaries on the Gallic and Civil Wars is a masterly history. One of his acts which conferred most benefit on the people was the revision of the Calendar. Many were the projects for the improvement of the city which he planned, but he was not allowed to carry them out. While he was at the height of his power, his death came in the manner which Plutarch describes in the following selection.

A

T that time, the feast Lupercalia2 was celebrated, the which in old time men say was the feast of shepherds or herd men, and is much like unto the feast of the Lycæans in Arcadia. But howsoever it is, that day there are divers noblemen's sons, young men (and some of them magistrates themselves that govern then), which run naked through the city, striking in sport them they meet in their way, with leather thongs, hair and all on, to make them give place.

2. The Lupercalia was a Roman festival held annually on Febru. ary 15th, in honor of the pastoral deity Lupercus.

3

Cæsar sat to behold that sport upon the pulpit for orations, in a chair of gold, apparelled in triumphing manner. Antonius, who was Consul at that time, was one of them that ran this holy course. So when he came into the market-place, the people made a lane for him to run at liberty, and he came to Cæsar, and presented him a diadem wreathed about with laurel. Whereupon there rose a certain cry of rejoicing, not very great, done only by a few, appointed for the purpose. But when Cæsar refused the diadem, then all the people together made an outcry of joy. Then Antonius offering it him again, there was a second shout of joy, but yet of a few. But when Cæsar refused it again the second time, then all the whole people shouted. Cæsar, having made this proof, found that the people did not like of it, and thereupon rose out of his chair, and commanded the crown to be carried unto Jupiter in the Capitol.

After that, there were set up images of Cæsar in the city with diadems upon their heads, like kings. Those, the two Tribunes, Flavius and Marullus, went and pulled down: and furthermore, meeting with them that first saluted Cæsar as king, they committed them to prison. The people followed them rejoicing at it, and called them Brutes:* because of Brutus, who had in old time driven the kings out of Rome, and that brought the kingdom of one person, unto the government of the Senate

3. Marcus Antonius, or Mark Antony (83-30 B. C.) had helped Cæsar in his contest with Pompey and was his colleague in the consulship.

4. That is, Brutuses. Lucius Junius Brutus was an ancient Roman hero who had taken a chief part in driving Tarquin the King from Rome, and in abolishing the kingly office (509 B. C.).

and people. Cæsar was so offended withal, that he deprived Marullus and Flavius of their Tribuneships, and accusing them, he spake also against the people, and called them Bruti, and Cumani, to wit, beasts and fools.

Hereupon the people went straight until Marcus Brutus, who from his father came of the first Brutus, and by his mother, of the house of the Servilians, a noble house as any was in Rome, and was also nephew and son-in-law of Marcus Cato. Notwithstanding, the great honors and favor Cæsar showed unto him, kept him back that of himself alone he did not conspire nor consent to depose him of his kingdom. For Cæsar did not only save his life, after the battle of Pharsalia when Pompey fled, and did at his request also save many more of his friends besides: but furthermore, he put a marvellous confidence in him. For he had already preferred him to the Prætorship for that year, and furthermore was appointed to be Consul, the fourth year after that, having through Cæsar's friendship obtained it before Cassius, who likewise made suit for the same: and Cæsar also, as it is reported, said in this contention, "Indeed Cassius hath alleged best reason, but yet shall he not be chosen before Brutus." Some one day accusing Brutus while he practiced this conspiracy, Cæsar would not hear of it, but clapping his hand on his body, told them, "Brutus will look for this skin:" meaning thereby,

5. This was the battle in Greece at which Cæsar finally defeated Pompey.

6. Cassius has been a friend of Pompey, whom he had aided in his struggle against Cæsar. After the Battle of Pharsalia, Cæsar pardoned him, as he did many of Pompey's supporters and they were to all appearance fully reconciled.

that Brutus for his virtue deserved to rule after him, but yet, that for ambition's sake, he would not show himself unthankful or dishonorable.

Now they that desired change, and wished Brutus only their prince and governor above all other: they durst not come to him themselves to tell him what they would have him to do, but in the night did cast sundry papers into the Prætor's seat where he gave audience, and the most of them to this effect. "Thou sleepest Brutus, and art not Brutus indeed." Cassius finding Brutus' ambition stirred up the more by these seditious bills, did prick him forward, and egg him on the more, for a private quarrel he had conceived against Cæsar. Cæsar also had Cassius in great jealousy, and suspected him much: whereupon he said on a time to his friends, "What will Cassius do, think ye? I like not his pale looks."

Another time when Cæsar's friends complained unto him of Antonius and Dolabella,' that they pretended some mischief toward him: he answered them again, "As for those fat men and smoothcombed heads," quoth he, "I never reckon of them: but these pale-visaged and carrion lean people, I fear them most," meaning Brutus and Cassius.

Certainly, destiny may easier be foreseen than avoided: considering the strange and wonderful signs that were said to be seen before Cæsar's death. For, touching the fires in the element, and spirits running up and down in the night, and also

7. Dolabella was a Roman politician who had given Cæsar some aid at the Battle of Pharsalia and who therefore felt himself entitled to great rewards. Since, owing to his turbulence and his profligate character, he was constantly stirring up strife at Rome, Cæsar gave him appointments in Spain and in Africa.

the solitary birds to be seen at noondays sitting in the great market-place: are not all these signs perhaps worth the noting, in such a wonderful chance as happened?

But Strabo the Philosopher writeth, that divers men were seen going up and down in fire: and furthermore, that there was a slave of the soldiers, that did cast a marvellous burning flame out of his hand, insomuch as they that saw it thought he had been burned, but when the fire was out, it was found he had no hurt. Cæsar himself also doing sacrifice unto the gods, found that one of the beasts which was sacrificed had no heart: and that was a strange thing in nature, how a beast could live without a heart. Furthermore, there was a certain soothsayer that had given Cæsar warning long time afore, to take heed of the day of the Ides of March (which is the fifteenth of the month), for on that day he should be in great danger.

That day being come, Cæsar going unto the Senate-house, and speaking merrily unto the soothsayer, told him, "The Ides of March be come:" "So be they," softly answered the soothsayer, "but yet are they not past.' And the very day before, Cæsar supping with Marcus Lepidus, sealed certain letters as he was wont to do at the board: so talk falling out among them, reasoning what death was best: he preventing their opinions, cried out aloud, "Death unlooked for."

8. Strabo (about 64 B. C.-19 A. D.) was a Greek historian and geographer. His Geography, in seventeen books, is still extant, but of the forty-three books of his History, there remain but fragments.

9. Marcus Æmilius Lepidus had served as consul with Cæsar, and had been appointed by Cæsar governor of Nearer Spain. After Cæsar's death he joined himself with Antony.