sketches new and old-第56节
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century； for in our experience we have never even been able to choose a
dog…pelter without celebrating the event with a dozen knockdowns and a
general cramming of the station…house with drunken vagabonds overnight。
It is said that when the immense majority for Caesar at the polls in the
market was declared the other day； and the crown was offered to that
gentleman； even his amazing unselfishness in refusing it three times was
not sufficient to save him from the whispered insults of such men as
Casca； of the Tenth Ward； and other hirelings of the disappointed
candidate； hailing mostly from the Eleventh and Thirteenth and other
outside districts； who were overheard speaking ironically and
contemptuously of Mr。 Caesar's conduct upon that occasion。
We are further informed that there are many among us who think they are
justified in believing that the assassination of Julius Caesar was a put…
up thinga cut…and…dried arrangement； hatched by Marcus Brutus and a lot
of his hired roughs； and carried out only too faithfully according to the
program。 Whether there be good grounds for this suspicion or not； we
leave to the people to judge for themselves； only asking that they will
read the following account of the sad occurrence carefully and
dispassionately before they render that judgment。
The Senate was already in session； and Caesar was coming down the street
toward the capitol； conversing with some personal friends； and followed；
as usual； by a large number of citizens。 Just as he was passing in front
of Demosthenes and Thucydides' drug store； he was observing casually to a
gentleman； who； our informant thinks； is a fortune…teller； that the Ides
of March were come。 The reply was； 〃Yes； they are come； but not gone
yet。〃 At this moment Artemidorus stepped up and passed the time of day；
and asked Caesar to read a schedule or a tract or something of the kind；
which he had brought for his perusal。 Mr。 Decius Brutus also said
something about an 〃humble suit〃 which he wanted read。 Artexnidorus
begged that attention might be paid to his first； because it was of
personal consequence to Caesar。 The latter replied that what concerned
himself should be read last； or words to that effect。 Artemidorus begged
and beseeched him to read the paper instantly！ ＇Mark that： It is hinted
by William Shakespeare； who saw the beginning and the end of the
unfortunate affray； that this 〃schedule〃 was simply a note discovering to
Caesar that a plot was brewing to take his life。＇ However； Caesar
shook him off； and refused to read any petition in the street。 He then
entered the capitol； and the crowd followed him。
About this time the following conversation was overheard； and we consider
that； taken in connection with the events which succeeded it； it bears an
appalling significance： Mr。 Papilius Lena remarked to George W。 Cassias
（commonly known as the 〃Nobby Boy of the Third Ward〃）； a bruiser in the
pay of the Opposition； that he hoped his enterprise to…day might thrive；
and when Cassias asked 〃What enterprise？〃 he only closed his left eye
temporarily and said with simulated indifference； 〃Fare you well；〃 and
sauntered toward Caesar。 Marcus Brutus； who is suspected of being the
ringleader of the band that killed Caesar； asked what it was that Lena
had said。 Cassias told him； and added in a low tone； 〃I fear our purpose
is discovered。〃
Brutus told his wretched accomplice to keep an eye on Lena； and a moment
after Cassias urged that lean and hungry vagrant； Casca； whose reputation
here is none of the best； to be sudden； for he feared prevention。 He
then turned to Brutus； apparently much excited； and asked what should be
done； and swore that either he or Caesar would never turn backhe would
kill himself first。 At this time Caesar was talking to some of the back…
country members about the approaching fall elections； and paying little
attention to what was going on around him。 Billy Trebonius got into
conversation with the people's friend and Caesar'sMark Antonyand
under some pretense or other got him away； and Brutus； Decius； Casca；
Cinna； Metellus Cimber； and others of the gang of infamous desperadoes
that infest Rome at present； closed around the doomed Caesar。 Then
Metellus Cimber knelt down and begged that his brother might be recalled
from banishment； but Caesar rebuked him for his fawning conduct； and
refused to grant his petition。 Immediately； at Cimber's request； first
Brutus and then Cassias begged for the return of the banished Publius；
but Caesar still refused。 He said he could not be moved； that he was as
fixed as the North Star； and proceeded to speak in the most complimentary
terms of the firmness of that star and its steady character。 Then he
said he was like it； and he believed he was the only man in the country
that was； therefore； since he was 〃constant〃 that Cimber should be
banished； he was also 〃constant〃 that he should stay banished； and he'd
be hanged if he didn't keep him so！
Instantly seizing upon this shallow pretext for a fight； Casca sprang at
Caesar and struck him with a dirk； Caesar grabbing him by the arm with
his right hand； and launching a blow straight from the shoulder with his
left； that sent the reptile bleeding to the earth。 He then backed up
against Pompey's statue； and squared himself to receive his assailants。
Cassias and Cimber and Cinna rushed； upon him with their daggers drawn；
and the former succeeded in inflicting a wound upon his body； but before
he could strike again； and before either of the others could strike at
all； Caesar stretched the three miscreants at his feet with as many blows
of his powerful fist。 By this time the Senate was in an indescribable
uproar； the throng of citizens is the lobbies had blockaded the doors in
their frantic efforts to escape from the building； the sergeant…at…arms
and his assistants were struggling with the assassins； venerable senators
had cast aside their encumbering robes； and were leaping over benches and
flying down the aisles in wild confusion toward the shelter of the
committee…rooms； and a thousand voices were shouting 〃Po…lice！ Po…lice！〃
in discordant tones that rose above the frightful din like shrieking
winds above the roaring of a tempest。 And amid it all great Caesar stood
with his back against the statue； like a lion at bay； and fought his
assailants weaponless and hand to hand； with the defiant bearing and the
unwavering courage which he had shown before on many a bloody field。
Billy Trebonius and Caius Legarius struck him with their daggers and
fell； as their brother…conspirators before them had fallen。 But at last；
when Caesar saw his old friend Brutus step forward armed with a murderous
knife； it is said he seemed utterly overpowered with grief and amazement；
and； dropping his invincible left arm by his side； he hid his face in the
folds of his mantle and received the treacherous blow without an effort
to stay the hand that gave it。 He only said； 〃Et tu； Brute？〃 and fell
lifeless on the marble pavement。
We learn that the coat deceased had on when he was killed was the same
one he wore in his tent on the afternoon of the day he overcame the
Nervii； and that when it was removed from the corpse it was found to be
cut and gashed in no less than seven different places。 There was nothing
in the pockets。 It will be exhibited at the coroner's inquest； and will
be damning proof of the fact of the killing。 These latter facts may be
relied on； as we get them from Mark Antony； whose position enables him to
learn every item of news connected with the one subject of absorbing
interest of…to…day。
LATER： While the coroner was summoning a jury； Mark Antony and other
friends of the late Caesar got hold of the body； and lugged it off to the
Forum； and at last accounts Antony and Brutus were making speeches over
it and raising such a row among the people that； as we go to press； the
chief of police is satisfied there is going to be a riot； and is taking
measures accordingly。
THE WIDOW'S PROTEST
One of the saddest things that ever came under my notice （said the
banker's clerk） was there in Corning during the war。 Dan Murphy enlisted
as a private； and fought very bravely。 The boys all liked him； and when
a wound by and by weakened him down till carrying a musket was too heavy
work for him； they clubbed together and fixed him up as a sutler。 He
made money then； and sent it always to his wife to bank for him。 She was
a washer and ironer； and knew enough by hard experience to keep money
when she got it。 She didn't waste a penny。
On the contrary； she began to get miserly as her bank…account grew。 She
grieved to part with a cent； poor creature； for twice in her hard…working
life she had known what it was to be hungry； cold； friendless； sick； and
without a dollar in the world； and she had a haunting dread of suffering
so again。 Well； at last Dan died； and the boys； in testimony of their
esteem and respect for him； telegraphed to Mrs。 Murphy to know if she
would like to have him embalmed and sent home； when you know the usual
custom was to dump a poor devil like him into a shallow hole； and then
inform his friend
