ittle heed. He had always
taken his life in his hand. He knew that he walked in constant danger.
When a soothsayer warned him to beware the Ides of March he only
laughed; and when the Ides (March 15) came and his wife implored him to
stay indoors, he paid no attention but set out for a meeting of the
Senate as usual to transact his daily business, hearing petitions and
so on.

It was the day chosen by the conspirators. One of them detained Marcus
Antonius, who generally watched over his chief's safety: the others
gathered round Caesar. At a sudden signal, they fell upon him with their
daggers. Caesar was unarmed. At the foot of the statue of Pompeius,
which he had himself caused to be set up in a place of honour, he fell.
Pierced by six and thirty wounds he died. Marcus Brutus raised his
dagger, dyed with Caesar's blood, and holding it aloft declared that he
had freed Rome from a tyrant.

So Caesar fell (44). Years of bitter civil war followed. Then at last
Caesar's nephew and adopted son, Caius Julius Caesar Octavianus, did
that which Brutus had slain Caesar to prevent--changed the Roman
Republic into the Roman Empire. All the Emperors bore the name of
Caesar. Throughout the vast world over which the Roman eagles flew,
Julius Caesar was worshipped almost as a god.

[Illustration: A CINERARY URN]

[Illustration: A ROMAN WATER-CARRIER
with his water-skin on his back]

Printed in England at the Oxford University Press

* * * * *
* * * *
* * * * *

Errata:

The word "invisible" means that there is an appropriately sized blank
space, but no printed character. The repeated words in "From her her
sons and daughter learned" and "be recognized as as big a man as
Pompeius" are not errors.

the long and bitter wars that followed. [_final . invisible_]
CHAPTER III [_anomalous title format unchanged_]
He was an organizer of consummate ability [comsummate]
Rome has risen to its height of power.' [_close quote missing_]
the Roman people was indebted to many leaders
[_text unchanged: expected "were"_]
[Illustration: JULIUS CAESAR The Brit. Mus. gem] [Brit. Mus gem]
which rose at times when they were called upon [at time]

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ancient Rome, by Mary Agnes Hamilton

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANCIENT ROME ***

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