Che, se l’atto è profano, il cuor è pio,
E pietà sola è di tal atto madre.”—P. 13.
He considers himself the unworthy instrument of Jove’s vengeance. He feels that the act itself is impious,[[105]] but his lofty motives must plead his excuse.
“O conspiracy,
Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night,
When evils are most free? O, then, by day
Where will thou find a cavern dark enough
To mask thy monstrous visage?”[[106]]
Just before this he says:
“Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar