προγραφείσης δὲ βουλῆς, εἰς ἣν ἐπίδοξος ἦν ἀφίξεσθαι Καῖσαρ, ἔγνωσαν ἐπιχειρεῖν· καὶ γὰρ ἁθρόοι μετʼ ἀλλήλων ἀνυπόπτως ἔσεσθαι τότε, καὶ πάντας ἕξειν ὁμοῦ τοὺς ἀρίστους καὶ πρώτους ἄνδρας, ἔργου μεγάλου πραχθέντος εὐθὺς ἀντιλαμβανομένους τῆς ἐλευθερίας.
A meeting of the senate having been called, to which it was expected that Caesar would come, they determined to make their attempt there; for they could then gather together in numbers without exciting suspicion, and would have all the best and foremost men in one place, who, once the great deed was done, would straightway espouse the cause of liberty.
ἐδόκει δὲ καὶ τὸ τοῦ τόπου θεῖον εἶναι καὶ πρὸς αὐτῶν στοὰ γὰρ ἦν μία τῶν περὶ τὸ θέατρον, ἐξέδραν ἔχουσα ἐν ᾗ Πομπηΐου τις εἰκὼν εἱστήκει, τῆς πόλεως στησαμένης ὅτε ταῖς στοαῖς καὶ τῷ θεάτρῳ τὸν τόπον ἐκεῖνον ἐκόσμησεν.
It was thought, too, that the place of meeting was providentially in their favour; for it was one of the porticoes about the theatre, containing a session-room in which stood a statue of Pompey.
εἰς ταύτην οὖν ἡ σύγκλητος ἐκαλεῖτο τοῦ Μαρτίου μηνὸς μάλιστα μεσοῦντος ʽεἰδοὺς Μαρτίας τὴν ἡμέραν Ῥωμαῖοι καλοῦσιν̓, ὥστε καὶ δαίμων τις ἐδόκει τὸν ἄνδρα τῇ Πομπηΐου δίκῃ προσάξειν.
This statue the city had erected in his honour when he adorned that place with the porticoes and the theatre. Hither, then, the senate was summoned about the middle of March (the Romans call the day the Ides of March), so that some heavenly power seemed to be conducting Caesar to Pompey’s vengeance.
ἐλθούσης δὲ τῆς ἡμέρας Βροῦτος μὲν ὑποζωσάμενος ἐγχειρίδιον μόνης συνειδυίας τῆς γυναικὸς προῆλθεν, οἱ δʼ ἄλλοι πρὸς Κάσσιον ἁθροισθέντες τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸ καλούμενον ἀνδρεῖον ἱμάτιον ἀναλαμβάνοντα κατῆγον εἰς ἀγοράν.
When the day came, Brutus girt on a dagger, to the knowledge of his wife alone, and went forth, while the rest assembled at the house of Cassius and conducted his son, who was about to assume what was called the toga virilis, down to the forum.
ἐκεῖθεν δὲ πάντες εἰς τὴν Πομπηΐου στοὰν ἐμβαλόντες διέτριβον, ὡς αὐτίκα Καίσαρος ἀφιξομένου πρὸς τὴν σύγκλητον.
Thence they all hastened to the portico of Pompey and waited there, expecting that Caesar would straight-way come to the meeting of the senate.
ἔνθα δὴ μάλιστα τῶν ἀνδρῶν τὸ ἀπαθὲς καὶ παρὰ τὰ δεινὰ καθεστηκὸς ἐθαύμασεν ἄν τις εἰδὼς τὸ μέλλον, ὅτι πολλοῖς διὰ τὸ στρατηγεῖν ἀναγκαζόμενοι χρηματίζειν οὐ μόνον πρᾴως ἠκροῶντο τῶν ἐντυγχανόντων καὶ διαφερομένων ὥσπερ σχολάζοντες, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰς κρίσεις ἑκάστοις ἀκριβεῖς καὶ μετὰ γνώμης ἐδίδοσαν, ἐπιμελῶς προσέχοντες.
There any one who knew what was about to happen would have been above all things astonished at the indifference and composure of the men on the brink of this terrible crisis. Many of them were praetors and therefore obliged to perform the duties of their office, wherein they not only listened calmly to those who had petitions to offer or quarrels to compose, as if they had ample time, but also took pains to give their verdicts in every case with accuracy and judgment.
ἐπεὶ δέ τις μὴ βουλόμενος δίκην ὑποσχεῖν ἐπεκαλεῖτο Καίσαρα καὶ πολὺς ἦν βοῶν καὶ μαρτυρόμενος, ἀποβλέψας ὁ Βροῦτος εἰς τοὺς παρόντας, ἐμὲ Καῖσαρ, εἶπεν, οὔτε κωλύει ποιεῖν τὰ κατὰ τοὺς νόμους οὔτε κωλύσει.
And when a certain man who was unwilling to submit to the verdict of Brutus appealed to Caesar with loud cries and attestations, Brutus turned his gaze upon the bystanders and said: Caesar does not prevent me from acting according to the laws, nor will he prevent me.
καίτοι πολλὰ θορυβώδη κατὰ τύχην αὐτοῖς προσέπεσε· πρῶτον μὲν καὶ μάλιστα τὸ βραδύνειν τὸν Καίσαρα τῆς ἡμέρας προηκούσης καὶ δυσιεροῦντα κατέχεσθαι μὲν ὑπὸ τῆς γυναικὸς οἴκοι, κωλύεσθαι δὲ προελθεῖν ὑπὸ τῶν μάντεων.
And yet many things occurred to surprise and disturb them. First and foremost, though the day was advancing, Caesar delayed his coming, being detained at home by his wife because his omens were unpropitious, and prevented from going forth by the soothsayers.
δεύτερον δὲ Κάσκᾳ τῶν συνειδότων ἑνὶ προσελθών τις καὶ λαβόμενος τῆς δεξιᾶς, σὺ μὲν, εἶπεν, ἀπεκρύψω τὸ ἀπόρρητον, ὦ Κάσκα, πρὸς ἡμᾶς, Βροῦτος δέ μοι πάντα μεμήνυκεν.
In the second place, some one came up to Casca, one of the conspirators, took him by the hand, and said: You hid the secret from us, Casca, but Brutus has told me everything.
ἐκπλαγέντος δὲ τοῦ Κάσκα γελάσας ἐκεῖνος, πόθεν, ἔφη, ταχέως οὕτως, ὦ μακάριε, πεπλούτηκας ὥστʼ εἰς ἀγορανομίαν ἀποδύεσθαι; παρὰ τοσοῦτον μὲν ὁ Κάσκας ἦλθε σφαλεὶς ἀμφιβολίᾳ προέσθαι τὸ ἀπόρρητον·
And when Casca was dumb with amazement, the man burst out laughing and said: How did you get so rich on a sudden, my good fellow, as to stand for the aedileship? So near did Casca come, in the mistake caused by the man’s ambiguity, to disclosing the secret.
αὐτὸν δὲ Βροῦτον καὶ Κάσσιον ἀνὴρ βουλευτικὸς Ποπίλιος Λαίνας ἀσπασάμενος προθυμότερον καὶ ψιθυρίσας ἠρέμα, συνεύχομαι, φησὶν, ὑμῖν ἐκτελεῖν ἃ κατὰ νοῦν ἔχετε καὶ παρακελεύομαι μὴ βραδύνειν· οὐ γὰρ σιωπᾶται τὸ πρᾶγμα. καὶ ταῦτʼ εἰπὼν ἀπέστη πολλὴν ὑποψίαν ἐμβαλὼν τοῦ πεπύσθαι τὴν πρᾶξιν.
Moreover, Brutus and Cassius were greeted more warmly than, usual by Popilius Laenas, a senator, who then whispered quietly to them: I join you in praying for the accomplishment of what you have in mind, and exhort you not to delay, for the matter is on men’s tongues. Having said this, he went away, leaving them full of suspicion that their undertaking had become known.
ἐν τούτῳ δέ τις οἴκοθεν ἔθει πρὸς τὸν Βροῦτον ἀγγέλλων αὐτῷ τὴν γυναῖκα θνῄσκειν.
At this juncture, too, a messenger from his house came running to Brutus with the tidings that his wife was dead.
ἡγὰρ Πορκία πρὸς τὸ μέλλον ἐκπαθὴς οὖσα καὶ τὸ μέγεθος μὴ φέρουσα τῆς φροντίδος ἑαυτήν τε μόλις οἴκοι κατεῖχε, καὶ πρὸς πάντα θόρυβον καὶ βοήν, ὥσπερ αἱ κατάσχετοι τοῖς βακχικοῖς πάθεσιν, ἐξᾴττουσα τῶν μὲν εἰσιόντων ἀπʼ ἀγορᾶς ἕκαστον ἀνέκρινεν ὅ τι πράττοι Βροῦτος, ἑτέρους δὲ συνεχῶς ἐξέπεμπε.
For Porcia, being distressed about what was impending and unable to bear the weight of her anxiety, could with difficulty keep herself at home, and at every noise or cry, like women in the Bacchic frenzy, she would rush forth and ask every messenger who came in from the forum how Brutus was faring, and kept sending out others continually.
τέλος δὲ τοῦ χρόνου μῆκος λαμβάνοντος οὐκέτʼ ἀντεῖχεν ἡ τοῦ σώματος δύναμις, ἀλλʼ ἐξελύθη καὶ κατεμαραίνετο τῆς ψυχῆς ἀλυούσης διὰ τὴν ἀπορίαν καὶ παρελθεῖν μὲν εἰς τὸ δωμάτιον οὐκ ἔφθη, περιΐστατο δʼ αὐτὴν, ὥσπερ ἐτύγχανεν, ἐν μέσῳ καθεζομένην λιποθυμία καὶ θάμβος ἀμήχανον, ἥ τε χρόα μεταβολὴν ἐλάμβανε καὶ τὴν φωνὴν ἐπέσχητο παντάπασιν.
Finally, as the time grew long, her bodily powers could no longer endure the strain, but were relaxed and enfeebled as her perplexities threatened to drive her mad. She had not time to go to her chamber, but just as she was, sitting in the midst of her servants, she was overwhelmed with faintness and helpless stupor, her colour fled, and her speech was utterly stayed.
αἱ δὲ θεράπαιναι πρὸς τὴν ὄψιν ἀνωλόλυξαν, καὶ τῶν γειτόνων συνδραμόντων ἐπὶ θύρας ταχὺ προῆλθε φήμη καὶ διεδόθη λόγος ὡς τεθνηκυίας αὐτῆς.
Her maids shrieked at the sight, and since the neighbours came running in a crowd to the door, a report speedily went forth and a story was spread abroad that she was dead.
οὐ μὴν ἀλλʼ ἐκείνην μὲν ἀναλάμψασαν ἐν βραχεῖ καὶ παρʼ ἑαυτῇ γενομένην αἱ γυναῖκες ἐθεράπευον ὁ δὲ Βροῦτος ὑπὸ τοῦ λόγου προσπεσόντος αὐτῷ συνεταράχθη μὲν, ὡς εἰκός, οὐ μήν γε κατέλιπε τὸ κοινὸν οὐδʼ ἐρρύη πρὸς τὸ οἰκεῖον ὑπὸ τοῦ πάθους.
However, she revived in a short time, came to herself, and was cared for by her women; but Brutus, though he was confounded, naturally, by the startling tale, nevertheless did not abandon his public duty, nor was he driven by his affliction to dwell on his private concerns.
ἤδη δὲ Καῖσαρ ἀπηγγέλλετο προσιών ἐν φορείῳ κομιζόμενος. ἐγνώκει γὰρ ἐπὶ τοῖς ἱεροῖς ἀθυμῶν μηδὲν ἐπικυροῦν τότε τῶν μειζόνων, ἀλλʼ ὑπερβάλλεσθαι σκηψάμενος ἀσθένειαν.
And now word was brought that Caesar was coming, borne on a litter. For in consequence of the dejection caused by his omens, he had determined not to sanction any important business at that time, but to postpone it, under pretext of indisposition.
ἐκβάντι δʼ αὐτῷ τοῦ φορείου προσρυεὶς Ποπίλιος Λαίνας, ἐκεῖνος ὁ μικρῷ πρόσθεν εὐξάμενος τοῖς περὶ Βροῦτον ἐπιτυγχάνειν καί κατορθοῦν, διελέγετο πλείω χρόνον ἐφισταμένῳ καί προσέχοντι τὸν νοῦν.
As he descended from his litter, Popilius Laenas, who, a little while before, had wished Brutus success in his enterprise, hurried up to him and conversed with him for some time, and Caesar stood and listened to him.
οἱ δὲ συνωμόται ʽλεγέσθω γὰρ οὕτωσʼ τῆς μὲν φωνῆς οὐκ ἐπαΐοντες αὐτοῦ, τεκμαιρόμενοι δʼ ἀφʼ ὧν ὑπενόουν μήνυσιν εἶναι τῆς ἐπιβουλῆς τὴν κοινολογίαν, ἀνέπεσόν τε ταῖς γνώμαις, καί πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἔβλεψαν ἀνθομολογούμενοι διὰ τῶν προσώπων ὡς χρὴ μὴ περιμένειν σύλληψιν, ἀλλʼ εὐθὺς ἀποθνῄσκειν διʼ αὑτῶν.
The conspirators (for so they shall be called) could not hear what he said, but judging from their suspicions that what he told Caesar was a revelation of their plot, they were disconcerted in their plans, and mutually agreed by looks which passed between them that they must not await arrest, but at once dispatch themselves.
Κασσίου δʼ ἤδη καί τινων ἄλλων τὰς χεῖρας ἐπιβεβληκότων ταῖς λαβαῖς ὑπὸ τὰ ἱμάτια καί σπωμένων τὰ ἐγχειρίδια, Βροῦτος ἐγκατιδὼν τῷ τοῦ Λαίνα σχήματι δεομένου σπουδὴν καί οὐχὶ κατηγοροῦντος, ἐφθέγξατο μὲν οὐδὲν διὰ τὸ πολλοὺς ἀλλοτρίους ἀναμεμῖχθαι, φαιδρῷ δὲ τῷ προσώπῳ τοὺς περὶ Κάσσιον ἐθάρρυνε.
Cassius and some others, indeed, had already grasped the handles of the daggers beneath their robes and were about to draw them, when Brutus observed from the mien of Laenas that he was asking eagerly for something and not denouncing anyone. Brutus said nothing, because many were about him who were not in the plot, but by the cheerfulness of his countenance gave courage to Cassius and his friends.
καί μετὰ μικρὸν ὁ Λαίνας τὴν δεξιὰν τοῦ Καίσαρος καταφιλήσας ἀπέστη, φανερὸς γενόμενος ὡς ὑπὲρ ἑαυτοῦ καί τῶν αὑτῷ τινος διαφερόντων ἐποιεῖτο τὴν ἔντευξιν.
And after a little while Laenas kissed Caesar’s hand and withdrew. He had made it clear that it was in his own behalf and on something which closely concerned himself that he had consulted Caesar.
τῆς δὲ βουλῆς εἰς τὴν ἐξέδραν προεισελθούσης οἱ μὲν ἄλλοι τὸν δίφρον τοῦ Καίσαρος περιέστησαν ὡς ἐντυγχάνειν τι μέλλοντες αὐτῷ.
When the senate had preceded Caesar into the session-room, the rest of the conspirators stationed themselves about Caesar’s chair, as if they intended to have some conference with him,
καὶ Κάσσιον μὲν λέγεται τρέποντα τὸ πρόσωπον εἰς τὴν εἰκόνα τοῦ Πομπηΐου παρακαλεῖν ὥσπερ αἰσθανόμενον, Τρεβώνιος δὲ περὶ τὰς θύρας Ἀντώνιον ἐπισπασάμενος καὶ προσομιλῶν ἔξω κατέσχε.
and Cassius is said to have turned his face towards the statue of Pompey and to have invoked it, as if it had understanding; but Trebonius drew Antony into conversation at the door and kept him outside.
Καίσαρι δὲ εἰσιόντι μὲν ἡ σύγκλητος ὑπεξανέστη, καθεζόμενον δʼ εὐθὺς ἐκεῖνοι περιέσχον ἁθρόοι, Τίλλιον Κίμβρον ἐξ ἑαυτῶν προβάλλοντες ὑπὲρ ἀδελφοῦ φυγάδος δεόμενον· καὶ συνεδέοντο πάντες, ἁπτόμενοί τε χειρῶν καὶ στέρνα καὶ κεφαλὴν κατεφίλουν.
As Caesar entered, the senate rose in his honour, but as soon as he was seated the conspirators surrounded him in a body, putting forward Tullius Cimber of their number with a plea in behalf of his brother, who was in exile. The others all joined in his plea, and clasping Caesar’s hands, kissed his breast and his head.
ἀποτριβομένου δὲ τὰς δεήσεις τὸ πρῶτον, εἶθʼ, ὡς οὐκ ἀνίεσαν, ἐξανισταμένου βίᾳ, Τίλλιος μὲν ἀμφοτέραις ταῖς χερσὶν ἐκ τῶν ὤμων κατέσπασε τὸ ἱμάτιον, Κάσκας δὲ πρῶτος ʽεἱστήκει γὰρ ὄπισθενʼ ἀνασπάσας τὸ ξίφος διελαύνει, οὐκ εἰς βάθος, παρὰ τὸν ὦμον.
At first, Caesar merely rejected their pleas, and then, when they would not desist, tried to free himself from them by force. At this, Tullius tore Caesar’s robe from his shoulders with both hands, and Casca, who stood behind him, drew his dagger and gave him the first stab, not a deep one, near the shoulder.
ἀντιλαμβανομένου δὲ τῆς λαβῆς τοῦ Καίσαρος καὶ μέγα Ῥωμαϊστὶ ἀνακραγόντος, ἀνόσιεΚάσκα, τί ποιεῖς; ἐκεῖνος Ἑλληνιστὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν προσαγορεύσας ἐκέλευσε βοηθεῖν.
Caesar caught the handle of the dagger and cried out loudly in Latin: Impious Casca, what doest thou? Then Casca, addressing his brother in Greek, bade him come to his aid.
ἤδη δὲ παιόμενος ὑπὸ πολλῶν καὶ κύκλῳ περιβλέπων καὶ διώσασθαι βουλόμενος, ὡς εἶδε Βροῦτον ἑλκόμενον ξίφος ἐπʼ αὐτόν, τὴν χεῖρα τοῦ Κάσκα κρατῶν ἀφῆκε, καὶ τῷ ἱματίῳ τὴν κεφαλὴν ἐγκαλυψάμενος παρέδωκε τὸ σῶμα ταῖς πληγαῖς.
And now Caesar had received many blows and was looking about and seeking to force his way through his assailants, when he saw Brutus setting upon him with drawn dagger. At this, he dropped the hand of Casca which he had seized, covered his head with his robe, and resigned himself to the dagger-strokes.
οἱ δʼἀφειδῶς ἀναπεπλεγμένοι πολλοῖς περὶ τὸ σῶμα χρώμενοι τοῖς ξίφεσιν ἀλλήλους ἐτίτρωσκον, ὥστε καὶ Βροῦτον εἰς τὴν χεῖρα πληγὴν λαβεῖν τοῦ φόνου συνεφαπτόμενον, πίμπλασθαι δὲ τοῦ αἵματος ἅπαντας.
The conspirators, crowding eagerly about the body, and plying their many daggers, wounded one another, so that Brutus also got a wound in the hand as he sought to take part in the murder, and all were covered with blood.
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