Non ti sie mai contraria sì nel crine
Avvolte l’hai le mani. Dall’insidie
Ben t’esort’ io guardarti de’ nemici.
Molti offesi da te si tengon: molti
Portano invidia alla tua gloria; alcuni
Abbaglia il tuo splendore: altri patire,
Che tu lor sii superior, non ponno.”—P. 67.
As far as most of the conspirators in “Julius Caesar” are concerned, this seems to fit them; but, strange to say, it is difficult to see where it applies in “Cesare.” Of the many offenses of which Caesar is held responsible we get very little beyond this bare statement.
As far as Brutus is concerned, he evidently blames Caesar for Pompey’s death and burns to avenge it. Just why, is nowhere apparent. He longs to restore the ancient liberties, but in what degree they have been destroyed, and above all, just what part Caesar played[[113]] in their destruction is not very clear. In the very first scene, Brutus apostrophises the shade of Pompey, who had appeared to him during the night, and had said,
“. . . Tu puoi dunque,