accused, that thereby he had saved and
strengthened a strong and grievous enemie
of their conspiracy. The second fault was,
when he agreed that Caesar's funerals should be
as Antonius would have them, the which indeed
marred all." •

The superior penetration of Cassius, a cir-
cumstance extremely curious in itself, has not
been overlooked by Shakspeare, who, in his ju-
dicious use of it, has reaped the twofold advan-
tage of raising Cassius to something like an
equality with Brutus, and of adhering strictly
to historic truth, t

The dramatist hazarded much of the respect
so skilfully obtained fqr Cassius by touching
upon so delicate a point as the rapacity of a
man " that would oftentimes be carried away
from justice for gainc^t In the celebrated
scene of Cassius' quarrel with Brutus, he has,
however, risked its introduction. The fact of



* Life of Brutus, p. 999.
^ « _— - 1 think it is not meet,

Mark Antony, so well belov'd of Caesar,

Should outlive Caesar," &c. Act II, sc. 1.
" I have a mind that fears him much."

Act III. sc. 1.
" Brutus, a word with you," &c. Act III. sc. 1.
^1 Life of Brutus, p. 1003.
JULIUS CJESAR. 225

the angry encounter of the chieftains, with
several particulars of their altercation, Shak-
speare learned from Sir Thomas North, who
relates the circumstance in his usual simple
language. " Now, as it commonly happeneth
in great affaires between two persons, both of
them having many friends, and so many cap-
taines under them, there ranne tales and com-r
plaints betwixt them. Therefore, before they
fell in hand with any other matter, they went
into a little chamber together, and bade every
man avoid, and did shut the dores to them.
