" [23]
Antony, who was in attendance, was detained, as had been arranged, by
Trebonius. Caesar entered, and took his seat. His presence awed men, in
spite of themselves, and the conspirators had determined to act at once,
lest they should lose courage to act at all. He was familiar and easy of
access. They gathered round him. He knew them all. There was not one from
whom he had not a right to expect some sort of gratitude, and the movement
suggested no suspicion. One had a story to tell him; another some favor to
ask. Tullius Cimber, whom he had just made governor of Bithynia, then came
close to him, with some request which he was unwilling to grant. Cimber
caught his gown, as if in entreaty, and dragged it from his shoulders.
Cassius,[24] who was standing behind, stabbed him in the throat. He
started up with a cry, and caught Cassius's arm. Another poniard entered
his breast, giving a mortal wound. He looked round, and seeing not one
friendly face, but only a ring of daggers pointing at him, he drew his
gown over his head, gathered the folds about him that he might fall
decently, and sank down without uttering another word,[25] Cicero was
present. The feelings with which he watched the scene are unrecorded, but
may easily be imagined. Waving his dagger, dripping with Caesar's blood,
Brutus shouted to Cicero by name, congratulating him that liberty was
restored.
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