οὕτω δʼ ἀποθανόντος αὐτοῦ Βροῦτος μὲν εἰς μέσον προελθὼν ἐβούλετο λέγειν καὶ κατεῖχε θαρρύνων τὴν σύγκλητον· ἡ δʼ ὑπὸ δέους ἔφευγεν ἀτάκτως, καὶ περὶ τὰς θύρας ὠθισμὸς ἦν καὶ τάραχος, οὐδενὸς διώκοντος οὐδὲ κατεπείγοντος.
Caesar thus slain, Brutus went out into the middle of the session-room and tried to speak, and would have detained the senators there with encouraging words; but they fled in terror and confusion, and there was a tumultuous crowding at the door, although no one pressed upon them in pursuit.
ἰσχυρῶς γὰρ ἐδέδοκτο μηδένα κτείνειν ἕτερον, ἀλλὰ πάντας ἐπὶ τὴν ἐλευθερίαν ἀνακαλεῖσθαι.
For it had been firmly decided not to kill any one else, but to summon all to the enjoyment of liberty.
καὶ τοῖς μὲν ἄλλοις πᾶσιν, ὁπηνίκα διεσκοποῦντο τὴν πρᾶξιν, ἤρεσκεν Ἀντώνιον ἐπισφάττειν Καίσαρι, μοναρχικὸν ἄνδρα καὶ ὑβριστὴν, ἰσχύν τε πεποιημένον ὁμιλίᾳ καὶ συνηθείᾳ πρὸς τὸ στρατιωτικόν, καὶ μάλισθʼ ὅτι τῷ φύσει σοβαρῷ καὶ μεγαλοπράγμονι προσειλήφει τὸ τῆς ὑπατείας ἀξίωμα τότε Καίσαρι συνάρχων.
All the rest of the conspirators, indeed, when they were discussing their enterprise, had been minded to kill Antony as well as Caesar, since he was a lawless man and in favour of a monarchy, and had acquired strength by familiar association with the soldiery; and particularly because to his natural arrogance and ambition he had added the dignity of the consulship, and was at that time a colleague of Caesar.
ἀλλὰ Βροῦτος ἐνέστη πρὸς τὸ βούλευμα, πρῶτον μὲν ἰσχυριζόμενος τῷ δικαίῳ, δεύτερον δʼ ὑποτιθεὶς ἐλπίδα τῆς μεταβολῆς.
But Brutus opposed the plan, insisting in the first place on a just course, and besides, holding out a hope of a change of heart in Antony.
οὐγὰρ ἀπεγίνωσκεν εὐφυᾶ καὶ φιλότιμον ἄνδρα καὶ δόξης ἐραστὴν τὸν Ἀντώνιον, ἐκποδὼν Καίσαρος γενομένου, συνεφάψεσθαι τῇ πατρίδι τῆς ἐλευθερίας, ἐπισπασθέντα τῷ ζήλῳ πρὸς τὸ καλὸν ὑπʼ αὐτῶν.
For he would not give up the belief that Antony, who was a man of good parts, ambitious, and a lover of fame, if once Caesar were out of the way, would assist his country in attaining her liberty, when their example had induced him to follow emulously the nobler course.
οὕτω μὲν Ἀντώνιον Βροῦτος περιεποίησεν ἐν δὲ τῷ τότε φόβῳ μεταβαλὼν ἐσθῆτα δημοτικὴν ἔφυγεν.
Thus Antony’s life was saved by Brutus; but in the fear which then reigned, he put on a plebeian dress and took to flight.
οἱ δὲ περὶ Βροῦτον εἰς τὸ Καπετώλιον ἐχώρουν, ᾑμαγμένοι τὰς χεῖρας, καὶ τὰ ξίφη γυμνὰ δεικνύντες ἐπὶ τὴν ἐλευθερίαν παρεκάλουν τοὺς πολίτας.
And now Brutus and his associates went up to the Capitol, their hands smeared with blood, and displaying their naked daggers they exhorted the citizens to assert their liberty.
τὸ μὲν οὖν πρῶτον ἦσαν ἀλαλαγμοί, καὶ διαδρομαὶ τῷ πάθει κατὰ τύχην ἐπιγινόμεναι πλείονα τὸν θόρυβον ἐποίησαν·
At first, then, there were cries of terror, and the tumult was increased by wild hurryings to and fro which succeeded the disaster;
ὡς δʼοὔτε φόνος ἄλλος οὔθʼ ἁρπαγή τινος ἐγίνετο τῶν κειμένων, θαρροῦντες ἀνέβαινον οἵ τε βουλευταὶ καὶ τῶν δημοτῶν πολλοὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἄνδρας εἰς τὸ Καπετώλιον.
but since there were no further murders and no plundering of property, the senators and many of the common people took heart and went up to the men on the Capitol.
ἁθροισθέντος δὲ τοῦ πλήθους διελέχθη Βροῦτος ἐπαγωγὰ τοῦ δήμου καὶ πρέποντα τοῖς πεπραγμένοις.
When the multitude was assembled there, Brutus made a speech calculated to win the people and befitting the occasion.
ἐπαινούντων δὲ καὶ κατιέναι βοώντων θαρροῦντες κατέβαινον εἰς ἀγοράν, οἱ μὲν ἄλλοι συνεπόμενοι μετʼ ἀλλήλων, Βροῦτον δὲ πολλοὶ τῶν ἐπιφανῶν περιέποντες ἐν μέσῳ πάνυ λαμπρῶς κατῆγον ἀπὸ τῆς ἄκρας καὶ κατέστησαν ἐπὶ τῶν ἐμβόλων.
The audience applauding his words and crying out to him to come down from the Capitol, the conspirators took heart and went down into the forum. The rest of them followed along in one another’s company, but Brutus was surrounded by many eminent citizens, escorted with great honour down from the citadel, and placed on the rostra.
πρὸς δὲ τὴν ὄψιν οἱ πολλοί, καίπερ μιγάδες ὄντες καὶ παρεσκευασμένοι θορυβεῖν, διέτρεσαν καὶ τὸ μέλλον ἐδέχοντο κόσμῳ καὶ σιωπῇ.
At sight of him the multitude, although it was a mixed rabble and prepared to raise a disturbance, was struck with awe, and awaited the issue in decorous silence.
προελθόντος δʼ αὐτοῦ πάντες ἡσυχίαν τῷ λόγῳ παρέσχον ὅτι δʼ οὐ πᾶσι πρὸς ἡδονὴν ἐγεγόνει τὸ ἔργον, ἐδήλωσαν ἀρξαμένου λέγειν Κίννα καὶ κατηγορεῖν Καίσαρος ἀναρρηγνύμενοι πρὸς ὀργὴν καὶ κακῶς τὸν Κίνναν λέγοντες, ὥστε πάλιν τοὺς ἄνδρας εἰς τὸ Καπετώλιον ἀπελθεῖν.
Also when he came forward to speak, all paid quiet attention to his words; but that all were not pleased with what had been done was made manifest when Cinna began to speak and to denounce Caesar. The multitude broke into a rage and reviled Cinna so bitterly that time conspirators withdrew again to the Capitol.
ἔνθα δὴ δεδιὼς πολιορκίαν ὁ Βροῦτος ἀπέπεμπε τοὺς ἀρίστους τῶν συναναβάντων, οὐκ ἀξιῶν τῆς αἰτίας μὴ μετέχοντας αὐτοὺς συνυποδύεσθαι τὸν κίνδυνον.
There Brutus, who feared that they would be besieged, sent away the most eminent of those who had come up with them, not deeming it right that they should incur the danger too, since they had no share in the guilt.
οὐμὴν ἀλλὰ τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ τῆς βουλῆς συνελθούσης εἰς τὸ τῆς Γῆς ἱερόν, Ἀντωνίου δὲ καὶ Πλάγκου καὶ Κικέρωνος εἰπόντων περὶ ἀμνηστίας καὶ ὁμονοίας, ἔδοξε μὴ μόνον ἄδειαν εἶναι τοῖς ἀνδράσιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ γνώμην ὑπὲρ τιμῶν προθεῖναι τοὺς ὑπάτους, καὶ ταῦτʼ ἐπιψηφισάμενοι διελύθησαν.
However, on the following day the senate met in the temple of Tellus, and Antony, Plancus, and Cicero spoke in favour of amnesty and concord. It was then voted not only that the conspirators should have immunity, but also that the consuls should lay before the people a measure to pay them honours. After passing these votes, the senate broke up.
Ἀντωνίου δὲ τὸν υἱὸν εἰς τὸ Καπετώλιον ὁμηρεύσοντα πέμψαντος κατῆλθον οἱ περὶ Βροῦτον, ἀσπασμοί τε καὶ δεξιώσεις ἐγένοντο πάντων ἀναμειχθεντων.
Then, when Antony had sent his son to the Capitol as a hostage, Brutus and his associates came down, and there were salutations and greetings for all without discrimination.
καὶ Κάσσιον μὲν Ἀντώνιος εἱστία παραλαβών, Βροῦτον δὲ Λέπιδος, τοὺς δὲ ἄλλους, ὥς τις εἶχε πρὸς ἕκαστον ἢ συνηθείας ἢ φιλοφροσύνης.
Cassius was taken home and entertained by Antony, Brutus by Lepidus, and the rest by their several comrades or friends. Early next morning the senate assembled again
ἅμα δʼ ἡμέρᾳ πάλιν συνελθόντες οἱ βουλευταὶ πρῶτον μὲν Ἀντωνίῳ τιμὰς ἔδοσαν ὡς καταπαύσαντι πολέμων ἐμφυλίων ἀρχήν ἔπειτα τῶν περὶ Βροῦτον ἦσαν ἔπαινοι τῶν παρόντων, καὶ τέλος ἐπαρχιῶν διανομαί.
In the first place, they gave a vote of thanks to Antony for having stopped an incipient civil war; next, they passed a vote of commendation for the followers of Brutus who were present; and finally, they distributed the provinces.
Βρούτῳ μὲν γὰρ ἐψηφίσαντο Κρήτην, Κασσίῳ δὲ Λιβύην, Τρεβωνίῳ δὲ Ἀσίαν καὶ Κίμβρῳ Βιθυνίαν, τῷ δʼ ἑτέρῳ Βρούτῳ τὴν περὶ τὸν Ἠριδανὸν Γαλατίαν.
It was voted that Brutus should have Crete, Cassius Africa, Trebonius Asia, Cimber Bithynia, and the other Brutus Cisalpine Gaul.
μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα περὶ τῶν Καίσαρος διαθηκῶν καὶ ταφῆς αὐτοῦ λόγων ἐμπεσόντων, καὶ τῶν περὶ τὸν Ἀντώνιον ἀξιούντων τάς τε διαθήκας ἀναγνωσθῆναι καὶ τοῦ σώματος ἐκφορὰν γενέσθαι μὴ κεκρυμμένην μηδʼ ἄτιμον, ὡς μὴ καὶ τοῦτο παροξύνῃ τὸν δῆμον, Κάσσιος μὲν ἰσχυρῶς ἀντέλεγεν, εἶξε δὲ Βροῦτος καὶ συνεχώρησε, δεύτερον ἁμαρτεῖν τοῦτο δόξας.
After this, the subjects of Caesar’s will and of his burial came up for discussion. Antony demanded that the will should be read publicly, and that the body should be carried forth to burial, not secretly, nor without honours, lest this also should exasperate the people. Cassius, indeed, vehemently opposed these measures, but Brutus yielded and agreed to them, thus making a second mistake, as it was thought.
καὶ γὰρ Ἀντωνίου φεισάμενος αἰτίαν ἔσχεν ἐπιτειχίσαι τῇ συνωμοσίᾳ βαρὺν καὶ δύσμαχον πολέμιον, καὶ τὰ περὶ τὴν ταφὴν ὃν ὁ Ἀντώνιος ἠξίου τρόπον ἐάσας γενέσθαι τοῦ παντὸς σφαλῆναι.
For by sparing Antony’s life as he had done he incurred the charge of raising up against the conspirators a bitter and formidable foe; and now, in allowing Caesar’s funeral rites to be conducted as Antony demanded, he committed a fatal error.
πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ ἐν ταῖς διαθήκαις δεδομένων κατʼ ἄνδρα Ῥωμαίοις πᾶσι δραχμῶν ἑβδομήκοντα πέντε καὶ τῷ δήμῳ τῶν πέραν τοῦ ποταμοῦ κήπων ἀπολελειμμένων, οὗ νῦν ἐστι Τύχης ἱερόν, εὔνοια θαυμαστὴ καὶ πόθος αὐτοῦ τοὺς πολίτας εἷλεν·
For, in the first place, when it was found that the will of Caesar gave to every single Roman seventy-five drachmas, and left to the people his gardens beyond the Tiber, where now stands a temple of Fortune, an astonishing kindliness and yearning for Caesar seized the citizens;
ἔπειτα τοῦ σώματος εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν κομισθέντος Ἀντώνιος ἔπαινον, ὥσπερ ἔθος ἐστὶ, διεξελθών, καὶ τὰ πλήθη κινούμενα πρὸς τὸν λόγον ὁρῶν, εἰς οἶκτον μετέβαλε, καὶ τὴν ἐσθῆτα λαβὼν τὴν Καίσαρος ᾑμαγμένην ἀνέπτυξεν, ἐπιδεικνύμενος τάς διακοπὰς καὶ τῶν τραυμάτων τὸ πλῆθος.
and in the second place, after Caesar’s body had been brought to the forum, Antony pronounced the customary eulogy, and when he saw that the multitude were moved by his words, changed his tone to one of compassion, and taking the robe of Caesar, all bloody as it was, unfolded it to view, pointing out the many places in which it had been pierced and Caesar wounded.
ἦνοὖν ἰδεῖν οὐδὲν ἔτι κόσμῳ γινόμενον· ἀλλʼ οἱ μὲν ἐβόων τοὺς ἀνδροφόνους ἀναιρεῖν, οἱ δʼ, ὥσπερ ἐπὶ Κλωδίου τοῦ δημαγωγοῦ πρότερον, ἀπὸ τῶν ἐργαστηρίων τὰ βάθρα καὶ τάς τραπέζας ἀνασπῶντες καὶ συγκομίζοντες εἰς ταὐτό παμμεγέθη πυρὰν ἔνησαν·
All further orderly procedure was at an end, of course; some cried out to kill the murderers, and others, as formerly in the case of Clodius the demagogue, dragged from the shops the benches and tables, piled them upon one another, and thus erected a huge pyre;
καὶ τὸν νεκρὸν ἐπιθέντες ἐν μέσῳ πολλῶν μὲν ἱερῶν, πολλῶν δʼ ἀσύλων καὶ ἀβεβήλωντόπων καθήγιζον.
on this they placed Caesar’s body, and in the midst of many sanctuaries, asylums, and holy places, burned it.
ὡς δὲ τὸ πῦρ ἐξέλαμψεν, ἀλλαχόθεν ἄλλος προσφερόμενοι καὶ δαλοὺς ἀνασπῶντες ἡμιφλέκτους διέθεον ἐπὶ τάς οἰκίας τῶν ἀνῃρηκότων αὐτὸν ὡς ἐμπρήσοντες.
Moreover, when the fire blazed up, people rushed up from all sides, snatched up half-burnt brands, and ran round to the houses of Caesar’s slayers to set them on fire. These men, indeed, having previously barricaded themselves well, repelled the danger;
ἀλλʼ ἐκεῖνοι μὲν εὖ πεφραγμένοι πρότερον ἀπεκρούσαντο τὸν κίνδυνον ἦν δέ τις Κίννας, ποιητικὸς ἀνὴρ, οὐδὲν τῆς αἰτίας μετέχων, ἀλλὰ καὶ φίλος Καίσαρος γεγονώς.
but there was a certain Cinna, a poet, who had no share in the crime, but was actually a friend of Caesar’s.
οὗτος ὄναρ ᾤετο καλούμενος ὑπὸ Καίσαρος ἐπὶ δεῖπνον ἀρνεῖσθαι, τὸν δὲ λιπαρεῖν καὶ βιάζεσθαι, τέλος δʼ ἄγειν λαβόμενον τῆς χειρὸς εἰς ἀχανῆ τόπον καὶ σκοτεινόν, αὐτὸν δʼ ἄκοντα καὶ τεθαμβημένον ἕπεσθαι.
This man dreamed that he was invited to supper by Caesar and declined to go, but that Caesar besought and constrained him, and finally took him by the hand and led him into a yawning and darksome place, whither he followed unwilling and bewildered.
ταύτην ἰδόντι τὴν ὄψιν αὐτῷ συνέβη πυρέττειν διὰ νυκτός· ὅμως δʼ ἕωθεν ἐκκομιζομένου τοῦ σώματος αἰδούμενος μὴ παρεῖναι προῆλθεν εἰς τὸν ὄχλον ἤδη διαγριαινόμενον.
After having this vision, he fell into a fever which lasted all night; but in the morning, nevertheless, when the funeral rites were held over Caesar’s body, he was ashamed not to be present, and went out into the crowd when it was already becoming savage.
ὀφθεὶς δὲ καὶ δόξας οὐχ ὅσπερ ἦν Κίννας εἶναι, ἀλλʼ ἐκεῖνος ὁ Καίσαρα πρὸς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ἔναγχος λοιδορήσας, διεσπάσθη.
He was seen, however, and being thought to be, not the Cinna that he really was, but the one who had recently reviled Caesar before the assembled people, he was torn in pieces.
τοῦτο τὸ πάθος μάλιστα μετά γε τὴν Ἀντωνίου μεταβολὴν δείσαντες οἱ περὶ Βροῦτον ἀνεχώρησαν ἐκ τῆς πόλεως· καὶ διέτριβον ἐν Ἀντίῳ τὸ πρῶτον ὡς, ὅταν παρακμάσῃ καὶ μαρανθῇ τὸ τῆς ὀργῆς, αὖθις εἰς Ῥώμην κατιόντες.
This incident more than anything else, except, perhaps, Antony’s change of heart, frightened Brutus and his adherents, and they withdrew from the city. At first they spent some time in Antium, with the idea of returning to Rome when the people’s wrath had passed its climax and subsided.
ὃ ῥᾳδίως ἔσεσθαι προσεδόκων ἐν πλήθεσι φορὰς ἀσταθμήτους καὶ ταχείας φερομένοις, καὶ τὴν σύγκλητον εὔνουν ἔχοντες, ἣ τοὺς Κίνναν διασπασαμένους χαίρειν ἐάσασα τοὺς ἐπὶ τὰς οἰκίας τὰς ἐκείνων ἐπελθόντας ἀνεζήτει καὶ συνελάμβανεν,
This they thought would readily come to pass, since multitudes are fickle and impetuous, and, besides, they had the senate in their favour, which let those who tore Cinna to pieces go unpunished, and yet tried to seek out and arrest those who had assaulted the houses of the conspirators.
ἤδη δὲ καὶ ὁ δῆμος ἀχθόμενος, Ἀντωνίου σχεδὸν εἰς μοναρχίαν καθισταμένου, Βροῦτον ἐπόθει καὶ προσεδοκᾶτο τὰς θέας ἄξειν παρὼν αὐτός, ἃς ὤφειλε στρατηγῶν παρασχεῖν.
Already, too, the people were disturbed because Antony was assuming almost absolute power, and they longed for Brutus; it was also expected that he would be present in person and conduct the spectacles which it was his duty as praetor to furnish.
αἰσθόμενος δὲ πολλοὺς τῶν ὑπὸ Καίσαρος ἐστρατευμένων καὶ γῆν καὶ πόλεις παρʼ ἐκείνου λαβόντων ἐπιβουλεύοντας αὐτῷ καὶ κατʼ ὀλίγους παρεισρέοντας εἰς τὴν πόλιν οὐκ ἐθάρρησεν ἐλθεῖν, ἀλλʼ ὁ δῆμος ἐθεᾶτο μὴ παρόντος ἐκείνου τὰς θέας, ἀφειδῶς πάνυ χορηγουμένας καὶ περιττῶς.
But Brutus learned that many of the veteran soldiers of Caesar who had received land and cities from their commander, were now plotting against his life and in small bands streaming in to the city. He therefore had not the courage to come. The people, however, had their spectacles, in spite of his absence, and these were very lavishly and magnificently appointed.
θηρία τε γὰρ πάμπολλα συνεωνημένος ἐκέλευσε μηδὲν ἀποδόσθαι μηδʼ ὑπολιπεῖν, ἀλλὰ πᾶσι καταχρήσασθαι, καὶ τῶν περὶ τὸν Διόνυσον τεχνιτῶν αὐτὸς εἰς Νέαν πόλιν καταβὰς ἐνέτυχε πλείστοις·
For Brutus had purchased a great number of wild beasts, and now gave orders that not one should be sold or left behind, but that all should be used; and he himself went down to Naples and conferred with a very large number of actors;
περὶ δὲ Κανουτίου τινὸς εὐημεροῦντος ἐν τοῖς θεάτροις ἔγραφε πρὸς τοὺς φίλους ὅπως πείσαντες αὐτὸν εἰσαγάγωσιν Ἑλλήνων γὰρ οὐδένα βιασθῆναι προσήκειν. ἔγραφε δὲ καὶ Κικέρωνι, πάντως παρατυχεῖν ταῖς θέαις δεόμενος.
and regarding Canutius, an actor who enjoyed great fame, he wrote to his friends that they should persuade him to go to Rome; for no Greek could properly be compelled to go. He wrote also to Cicero, begging him by all means to attend the spectacles.
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