Xanthians； begged of them that they would spare themselves and save
the town。 Yet none regarded his entreaties； but； by all manner of
ways； strove to destroy themselves； not only men and women； but even
boys and little children； with a hideous outcry； leaped some into
the fire； others from the walls； others fell upon their parents'
swords； baring their throats and desiring to be struck。 After the
destruction of the city； there was found a woman who had hanged
herself with her young child hanging from her neck； and the torch in
her hand with which she had fired her own house。
It was so tragical a sight that Brutus could not endure to see it；
but wept at the very relation of it and proclaimed a reward to any
soldier that could save a Xanthian。 And it is said that an hundred and
fifty only were found； to have their lives saved against their
wills。 Thus the Xanthians after a long space of years； the fated
period of their destruction having； as it were； run its course；
repeated by their desperate deed the former calamity of their
forefathers； who after the very same manner in the Persian war had
fired their city and destroyed themselves。
Brutus； after this； finding the Patareans resolved to make
resistance and hold out their city against him； was very unwilling
to besiege it； and was in great perplexity lest the same frenzy
might seize them too。 But having in his power some of their women； who
were his prisoners； he dismissed them all without any ransom； who；
returning and giving an account to their husbands and fathers； who
were of the greatest rank； what an excellent man Brutus was； how
temperate and how just； persuaded them to yield themselves and put
their city into his hands。 From this time all the cities round about
came into his power； submitting themselves to him； and found him
good and merciful even beyond their hopes。 For though Cassius at the
same time had compelled the Rhodians to bring in all the silver and
gold that each of them privately was possessed of； by which he
raised a sum of eight thousand talents； and besides this had condemned
the public to pay the sum of five hundred talents more； Brutus； not
having taken above a hundred and fifty talents from the Lycians； and
having done them no other manner of injury； parted from thence with
his army to go into Ionia。
Through the whole course of this expedition； Brutus did many
memorable acts of justice in dispensing rewards and punishments to
such as had deserved either； but one in particular I will relate；
because he himself； and all the noblest Romans； were gratified with it
above all the rest。 When Pompey the Great； being overthrown from his
great power by Caesar； had fled to Egypt； and landed near Pelusium；
the protectors of the young king consulted among themselves what was
fit to be done on that occasion； nor could they all agree in the
same opinion； some being for receiving him； others for driving him
from Egypt。 But Theodotus； a Chian by birth； and then attending upon
the king as a paid teacher of rhetoric； and for want of better men
admitted into the council； undertook to prove to them that both
parties were in the wrong； those that counselled to receive Pompey；
and those that advised to send him away； that in their present case
one thing only was truly expedient； to seize him and to kill him；
and ended his argument with the proverb； that 〃dead men don't bite。〃
The council agreed to his opinion； and Pompey the Great （an example of
incredible and unforeseen events） was slain； as the sophister
himself had the impudence to boast； through the rhetoric and
cleverness of Theodotus。 Not long after； when Caesar came to Egypt；
some of the murderers received their just reward and suffered the evil
death they deserved。 But Theodotus； though he had borrowed on from
fortune a little further time for a poor； despicable； and wandering
life； yet did not lie hid from Brutus as he passed through Asia； but
being seized by him and executed； had his death made more memorable
than was his life。
About this time； Brutus sent to Cassius to come to him at the city
of Sardis； and； when he was on his journey； went forth with his
friends to meet him； and the whole army in array saluted each of
them with the name of Imperator。 Now （as it usually happens in
business of great concern； and where many friends and many
commanders are engaged）； several jealousies of each other and
matters of private accusation having passed between Brutus and
Cassius； they resolved； before they entered upon any other business；
immediately to withdraw into some apartment； where； the door being
shut and they two alone； they began first to expostulate； then to
dispute hotly； and accuse each other； and finally were so
transported into passion as to fall to hard words； and at last burst
out into tears。 Their friends who stood without were amazed； hearing
them loud and angry； and feared lest some mischief might follow； but
yet durst not interrupt them； being commanded not to enter the room。
However； Marcus Favonius； who had been an ardent admirer of Cato； and；
not so much by his learning or wisdom as by his wild； vehement manner；
maintained the character of a philosopher； was rushing in upon them；
but was hindered by the attendants。 But it was a hard matter to stop
Favonius； wherever his wildness hurried him； for he was fierce in
all his behaviour； and ready to do anything to get his will。 And
though he was a senator； yet； thinking that one of the least of his
excellences； he valued himself more upon a sort of cynical liberty
of speaking what he pleased； which sometimes； indeed； did away with
the rudeness and unseasonableness of his addresses with those that
would interpret it in jest。 This Favonius； breaking by force through
those that kept the doors； entered into the chamber； and with a set
voice declaimed the verses that Homer makes Nestor use…
〃Be ruled； for I am older than ye both。〃
At this Cassius laughed； but Brutus thrust him out； calling him
impudent dog and counterfeit Cynic； but yet for the present they let
it put an end to their dispute； and parted。 Cassius made a supper that
night； and Brutus invited the guests； and when they were set down；
Favonius； having bathed； came in among them。 Brutus called out aloud
and told him he was not invited； and bade him go to the upper couch；
but he violently thrust himself in； and lay down on the middle one；
and the entertainment passed in sportive talk； not wanting either
wit or philosophy。
The next day after； upon the accusation of the Sardians； Brutus
publicly disgraced and condemned Lucius Pella； one that had been
censor of Rome； and employed in offices of trust by himself； for
having embezzled the public money。 This action did not a little vex
Cassius； for but a few days before； two of his own friends being
accused of the same crime； he only admonished them in private； but
in public absolved them； and continued them in his service； and upon
this occasion he accused Brutus of too much rigour and severity of
justice in a time which required them to use more policy and favour。
But Brutus bade him remember the Ides of March； the day when they
killed Caesar； who himself neither plundered nor pillaged mankind； but
was only the support and strength of those that did； and bade him
consider that if there was any colour for justice to be neglected；
it had been better to suffer the injustice of Caesar's friends than to
give impunity to their own； 〃for then；〃 said he； 〃we would have been
accused of cowardice only； whereas now we are liable to the accusation
of injustice； after all our pain and dangers which we endure。〃 By
which we may perceive what was Brutus's purpose； and the rule of his
actions。
About the time that they were going to pass out of Asia into Europe；
it is said that a wonderful sign was seen by Brutus。 He was
naturally given to much watching； and by practice and moderation in
his diet had reduced his allowance of sleep to a very small amount
of time。 He never slept in the daytime； and in the night then only
when all his business was finished； and when； every one else being
gone to rest； he had nobody to discourse with him。 But at this time；
the war being begun； having the whole state of it to consider； and
being solicitous of the event； after his first sleep； which he let
himself take after his supper； he spent all the rest of the night in
settling his most urgent affairs； which if he could despatch early and
so make a saving of any leisure； he employed himself in reading
until the third watch； at which time the centurions and tribunes
were used to come to him for orders。 Thus one night before he passed
out of Asia； he was very late all alone in his tent； with a dim
light burning by him； all the rest of the camp being bushed and
silent； and reasoning about something with himself and very
thoughtful； he fancied some one came in； and； looking up towards the
door； he saw a terrible and strange appearance of an unnatural and
frightful body standing by him without speaking。 Brutus boldly asked
it； 〃What are you； of men or gods； and upon what business come to me？〃
The figure answered 〃I am your evil genius； Brutus； you