or see that which we suppose we do both see
and feel, but that our senses, being credulous and therefore
easily abused ... imagine they see and conjecture that which
in truth they do not.'"--Plutarch, _Marcus Brutus_.]

[Note 80: /former:/ first. Cf. "former things passed away."
"When they raised their camp there came two eagles, that,
flying with a marvellous force, lighted upon two of the
foremost ensigns, and always followed the soldiers, which gave
them meat and fed them, until they came near to the city of
Philippes; and there, one day only before the battle, they
both flew away."--Plutarch, _Marcus Brutus_.]

[Page 150]

MESSALA. Believe not so.

CASSIUS. I but believe it partly; 90
For I am fresh of spirit, and resolv'd
To meet all perils very constantly.

BRUTUS. Even so, Lucilius.

CASSIUS. Now, most noble Brutus,
The gods to-day stand friendly, that we may,
Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age! 95
But, since the affairs of men rests still incertain,
Let's reason with the worst that may befall.
If we do lose this battle, then is this
The very last time we shall speak together:
What are you then determined to do? 100

[Note 92: /perils/ F1 | peril F2 F3 F4.]

[Note 96: /rests/ Ff | rest Rowe.]

[Page 151]

BRUTUS. Even by the rule of that philosophy
By which I did blame Cato for the death
Which he did give himself: I know not how,
But I do find it cowardly and vile,
For fear of what might fall, so to prevent 105
The time of life: arming myself with patience
To stay the providence of some high powers
That govern us below.

CASSIUS. Then, if we lose this battle,
You are contented to be led in triumph
Thorough the streets of Rome? 110

[Note 102: /By/ F1 | Be F2.]

[Note 110: /Thorough/ | Thorow F1 F2 | Through F3 F4 | Along
Pope.--/Rome?/ Theobald | Rome Ff.]

[Note 111: Two lines in Ff.]

[Note 105-106: /prevent The time:/ anticipate the full,
natural period. To the understanding of this speech, it must
be observed that the sense of the words, 'arming myself,'
etc., follows next after the words, 'which he did give
himself.' In this passage, as Dr. Wright (Clar.) has pointed
out, Shakespeare was misled by an error in North's version of
Amyot's Plutarch, where we have _feis_ (=