THE BRUTUS-CASSIUS SCENES Especially important for our purpose is the fact that Pescetti makes use of materials and situations not found in the historians but later used by Shakespeare. Of these perhaps the most significant is to be found in the conversation between Brutus and Cassius regarding Antony. This is one of the most striking parallels to be found in the play. In Pescetti, as later in Shakespeare, Cassius strenuously favors the killing of Antony along with Caesar, and the reasons he advances are almost exactly those found in Shakespeare. As in the latter's tragedy, Brutus allows his magnanimity to overbalance his prudence, so in Pescetti, Brutus uses almost the same arguments against Cassius' plan as he uses in Shakespeare's work. Plutarch nowhere specifically states that Cassius opposed Antony's entry into the conspiracy, or suggested his death.* Thus in the life of Marcus Antonius we read: "This was a good encouragement for Brutus and Cassius to conspire his death, who fell into a consort with their trustiest friends, to execute their enterprise, but yet stood doubtful whether they should make Antonius privy to it or not. All the rest liked of it, saving Trebonius only. He told them that, when they rode to meet Caesar on his return out of Spain, Antony and he always keeping company, and lying together by the way, he felt his mind afar off; but Antonius finding his meaning, would hearken no more unto it, and yet notwithstanding, never made Caesar acquainted with this talk, but had faithfully kept it to himself. After that, they consulted whether they should kill Antonius with Caesar. But Brutus would in nowise consent to it, saying, that venturing on such an enterprise as that, for the maintenance of law and justice, it ought to be clear from all villany." In the life of Marcus * Neither does Appian. † Shakespeare's Plutarch. Ed. by W. W. Skeat, page 164. Brutus, Plutarch writes: "For it was set down and agreed between them, that they should kill no man but Caesar only, and should entreat all the rest to look to defend their liberty. All the conspirators, but Brutus,* determining upon this matter, thought it good also to kill Antonius, because he was a wicked man, and that in nature favored tyranny; besides, also, for he was in great estimation with soldiers, having been conversant of long time amongst them; and especially having a mind bent to great enterprises, he was also of great authority at that time, being Consul with Caesar. But Brutus would not agree to it. First, for that he said it was not honest; secondly, because he told them that there was hope of change in him. For he did not mistrust but that Antonius, being a noble-minded and courageous man (when he should know that Caesar was dead), would willingly help his country to recover her liberty, having them an example unto him to follow their courage and virtue."t In Pescetti the conspiracy has been hatched before the play begins, as is evident from the following lines. Thus Cassius, finding Brutus in the gloom of early morning apostrophizing the shade of Pompey, asks: "Qual pensier ti molesta, e si per tempo to which Brutus replies, "Oggi, Cassio, disposto ho di dar fine A quel, che già per noi s'è divisato."-P. 16. namely, the death of the tyrant. Brutus and Cassius enter the temple to pray for the success of their enterprise, while the Priest, and then the Chorus holds the stage. On their reappearance immediately thereafter, the two conspirators discuss the details of the assassination. I will quote the entire dialogue relating to Antony. * Appian says: "Some of the Conspirators" (1578 Ed.). Cas.-Parmi d'avere scorto in Marcantonio Vogliam la patria assicurar, spegniamo Nè perciò a noi gran fatto avrem giovato; Subito spegnerassi. Cas.-È Marcantonio Quando e'fa d'uopo; onde si poca stima Il volgo, il volgo sciocco, ben dovemo Per le voci del volgo, è più del volgo Lieve, e incostante. Br. In somma e'non si deve L'animo di dar morte a chi nocciuto Non m'hà, nè fatto ingiuria. Cas. A me più saggio Pria, che l'offenda, che colui, che dopo Bru.-Non il pensier, ma l'opra punir vuolsi; Oltra, che chi m'accerta, ch'ei tal mente Cas.-Bruto, tu se' troppo pietoso: voglia Il Ciel, che questa tua pietà non sia La piaga, e spesso tutto il corpo infetta. Cas. Nell' Idra ov'una testa si troncava, Bru.-Pur alla fine anch'ella estinta giacque. Ma ciò lasciam da parte, et ogni nostro Alla morte di Giulio.*-Pp. 25-27. *This scene goes far beyond Muret and Grévin. In Muretus the scene In Shakespeare we have the following: Dec.-Shall no man else be touched but only Caesar? Cas. Decius, well urged: I think it is not meet, Let Antony and Caesar fall together. Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. Bru.-Jam saepe dixi, id esse consilium mihi, Ne quando post hac caesa rursum pullulet. Tibi pareatur; te sequimur omnes ducem. Vide modo, ut, cum opus erit, adsis. Brut. videro. Lines 184 ff. Grévin differs but slightly. Cassius says: Mais j'ay je ne sçay quoy qui mi detient pensif. M. Brute. Je vous ay tousjours dict que ce n'est mon advis. Si seroit-ce bien faict, arrachans la racine, M. Brute. C'est assez, soyez prest, pendant que je regarde, Que chascun de mes gens se tienne sur sa garde. Lines 508 ff. Cassius exults in the prospect of liberty and the scene closes. It is curious to remark the simile regarding Antony's relations to Caesar which runs through Muretus, Grévin, Pescetti and Shakespeare. In all Caesar is likened to a trunk of which Antony is simply an appendage. |