| LIVES OF THE NOBLE | | |
| | | |
| MARCUS | and quenche the heate of their enterprise, the which speciallie | |
| BRUTUS | required hotte and earnest execucion, seeking by perswasion | |
| to bring all thinges to suche safetie, as there should be no | |
| perill. Brutus also did let other of his frendes alone, as | |
| Statilius Epicurian, and Faonius, that made profession to | |
| followe Marcus Cato. Bicause that having cast out wordes | |
| a farre of, disputing together in Philosophie to feele their | |
| Civill warre | mindes: Faonius aunswered, that civill warre was worse | |
| worse then | then tyrannicall government usurped against the lawe. | |
| tyrannicall | And Statilius tolde him also, that it were an unwise parte | |
| government. | of him, to put his life in daunger, for a sight of ignoraunt | |
| fooles and asses. Labeo was present at this talke, and main- | |
| tayned the contrarie against them both. But Brutus helde | |
| his peace, as though it had bene a doubtfull matter, and a | |
| harde thing to have decided. But afterwardes, being out | |
| of their companie, he made Labeo privie to his intent: who | |
| verie readilie offered him selfe to make one. And they | |
| thought good also to bring in an other Brutus to joyne | |
| with him, surnamed Albinus: who was no man of his | |
| handes him selfe, but bicause he was able to bring good | |
| force of a great number of slaves, and fensers at the sharpe, | |
| whome he kept to shewe the people pastime with their | |
| fighting, besides also that Caesar had some trust in him. | |
| Cassius and Labeo tolde Brutus Albinus of it at the first, | |
| but he made them no aunswere. But when he had spoken | |
| with Brutus him selfe alone, and that Brutus had tolde | |
| him he was the chiefe ringleader of all this conspiracie: | |
| then he willinglie promised him the best aide he coulde. | |
| Furthermore, the onlie name and great calling of Brutus, | |
| did bring on the most of them to geve consent to this | |
| The wonder- | conspiracie. Who having never taken othes together, nor | |
| full faith and | taken or geven any caution or assuraunce, nor binding them | |
| secresie of the | selves one to an other by any religious othes: they all kept | |
| Conspirators | the matter so secret to them selves, and coulde so cunninglie | |
| of Caesars | handle it, that notwithstanding the goddes did reveale it | |
| death. | by manifest signes and tokens from above, and by predic- | |
| tions of sacrifices: yet all this woulde not be beleved. Nowe | |
| Brutus, who knewe verie well that for his sake all the noblest, | |
| valliantest, and most couragious men of Rome did venter | |
| 192 | |