Not only is Antony’s desire for vengeance intimated, but the ultimate fate of the conspirators, and the failure of their cause is distinctly foreshadowed. But most significant is the fact that Pescetti, here almost literally following Appian, makes Antony take refuge in his own house. In Shakespeare Antony is also made to take refuge in his own house. Cassius inquires:
“Where is Antony?
Trebonius—Fled to his house amazed.”—(Act III., Sc. I, 96.)
This touch is certainly not derived from Plutarch. The biographer says (Julius Caesar, p. 101): “But Antonius and Lepidus, which were two of Caesar’s chiefest friends, secretly conveying themselves away, fled into other men’s houses and forsook their own.” Appian says: “Antony went to his owne house, entending to take advice for this case of Cesars.” (Appian, 1578, p. 141.)[[21]]
But one more supposed loan from Appian remains for investigation. This is to be found in the behavior of the conspirators immediately after the murder. Plutarch’s account is as follows: “Brutus and his confederates on the other side, being yet hot with this murder they had committed, having their swords drawn in their hands, came all in a troup together out of the Senate and went into the market-place, not as men that made countenance to fly, but otherwise boldly holding up their heads like men of courage, and called to the people to defend their liberty, and stayed to speak with every great personage whom they met on their way.” (Julius Caesar, p. 101, Skeat’s Ed.)
In Shakespeare we read:
“Caes.— Et tu Brute? Then fall, Caesar. (Dies) Cinna.— Liberty! freedom! Tyranny’s dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. Cas.— Some to the common pulpits and cry out
‘Liberty, freedom and enfranchisement!’”
A little farther on Brutus exclaims:
“Stoop, Romans, stoop,
And let us bathe our hands in Caesar’s blood