Page:The Children's Plutarch, Romans.djvu/203

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CÆSAR'S FRIEND AND ENEMY

And as she bent over him he murmured that, if he must be vanquished, he was willing that a Roman should vanquish him.

I lived, the greatest prince of the world,
The noblest, and do now not basely die.
Not cowardly put off my helmet to
My countryman; a Roman by a Roman
Valiantly vanquished. Now my spirit is going,
I can no more.
Shakespeare.

Thus he died. He had seemed so strong; and he was indeed strong in body. But he had not a strong will to go the way that was best for himself and Rome.


CAESAR'S FRIEND AND ENEMY

YOU remember how Brutus, Cassius, and other Romans of high position stabbed Julius Cæsar to death. Some people think that Brutus did well to help in the slaying of Cæsar. Others think he did evil.

He had been a friend of Pompey the Great. When Pompey had formed his camp, ready for the last struggle with Cæsar, Brutus entered as a friend. Pompey was much pleased. Instead of waiting for Brutus to bow low before him, he rose

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