fruit of the connection between Julius and Servilia, mentioned before
[see p. 33]. But it appears very improbable that Caesar, who had never
before acknowledged Brutus to be his son, should make so unnecessary an
avowal, at the moment of his death. Exclusively of this objection, the
apostrophe seems too verbose, both for the suddenness and urgency of the
occasion. But this is not all. Can we suppose that Caesar, though a
perfect master of Greek, would at such a time have expressed himself in
that language, rather than in Latin, his familiar tongue, and in which he
spoke with peculiar elegance? Upon the whole, the probability is, that
the words uttered by Caesar were, Et tu Brute! which, while equally
expressive of astonishment with the other version, and even of
tenderness, are both more natural, and more emphatic.
[98] Men' me servasse, ut essent qui me perderent?
[99] The Bulla, generally made of gold, was a hollow globe, which boys
wore upon their breast, pendant from a string or ribbon put round the
neck. The sons of freedmen and poor citizens used globes of leather.
[100] Josephus frequently mentions the benefits conferred on his
countrymen by Julius Caesar. Antiq. Jud. xiv. 14, 15, 16.
[101] Appian informs us that it was burnt by the people in their fury,
B. c. xi. p. 521.
[102] Suetonius particularly refers to the conspirators, who perished at
the battle of Philippi, or in the three years which intervened. The
survivors were included in the reconciliation of Augustus, Antony, and
Pompey, A.U.C. 715.
[103] Suetonius alludes to Brutus and Cassius, of whom this is related
by Plutarch and Dio.
[104] For observations on Dr. Thomson's Essays appended to Suetonius's
History of Julius Caesar, and the succeeding Emperors, see the Preface to
this volume.
[105] He who has a devoted admiration of Cicero, may be sure that he has
made no slight proficiency himself.
End of Project Gutenberg's Caius Julius Caesar, by C. Suetonius Tranquillus
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