The ancient world, from the earliest times to 800 AD . had won the favor of the Roman populace, the sympathy ofthe respectable classes in Italy, and the enthusiastic reverenceof the provinces. He was still in the prime of a strong andactive manhood, and had every reason to hope for time tocomplete his work. No public enemy could be raised against him within theempire. One danger there was: lurking assassins beset hispath. But with characteristic dignity he quietly refused abodyguard, declaring it better to die at any time than to livealways in fear ofdeath. And so, inthe midst of prep-aration
The ancient world, from the earliest times to 800 AD . had won the favor of the Roman populace, the sympathy ofthe respectable classes in Italy, and the enthusiastic reverenceof the provinces. He was still in the prime of a strong andactive manhood, and had every reason to hope for time tocomplete his work. No public enemy could be raised against him within theempire. One danger there was: lurking assassins beset hispath. But with characteristic dignity he quietly refused abodyguard, declaring it better to die at any time than to livealways in fear ofdeath. And so, inthe midst of prep-aration for expedi-tions against theParthians and Ger-mans to secure thefrontiers, the daggersof men whom he hadspared struck himdown. A group of irrecon-cilable nobles plottedto take his life, — ledby the envious Cas-sius and the weakenthusiast Brutus,whom Caesar hadheaped with accomplishedtheir crime in theSenatehouse, on theIdes of March (March 15), 44 Crowding around him, andfawning upon him as if to ask a favor, the assassins suddenly. Marcus Brutus. — A bust now in the Capito-line Museum. 456 ROME : FOUNDING THE EMPIRE [§ 562 drew their daggers. According to an old story Caesar at first,calling for help, stood on his defense and wounded Cassius; butwhen he saw the loved and trusted Brutus in the snarling pack,he cried out sadly, Thou, too, Brutus! and drawing his togaabout him with calm dignity, he resisted no longer, but sank atthe foot of Pompeys statue, bleeding from three and twenty stabs. 562. Caesars Character. — Caesar has been called the oneoriginal genius in Roman history. His gracious courtesy andunrivaled charm won all hearts, so that it is said his enemiesdreaded personal interviews, lest they be drawn to his his friends he never wearied in forbearance and the civil war young Curio, a dashing but reckless lieutenant,lost two legions and undid much good M^ork — to Caesars greatperil. Curio refused to survive his blunder, an
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