“O, he sits high in all the people’s hearts.”[101]
“... and no man here But honors you; and every one doth wish You had but that opinion of yourself Which every noble Roman bears of you.”[102]
“Soul of Rome, Brave son, derived from honorable loins.”[103]
“Set on your foot, And with a heart new-fired I follow you, To do I know not what; but it sufficeth That Brutus leads me on.”[104]
The same confidence in Brutus is manifested by the Cassius of “Cesare.” As Brutus and he come out of the temple, Cassius says:
“Scritta nel volto tuo veggio, e per gli occhi Scintillar fuor tal tua baldanza scorgo. Quindi felice augurio io prendo; quindi Anch’ io tutto m’inanimo, e rincuoro E certissima speme io concepisco, Ch’aver felice fin deggia la cosa.”—P. 23.
Like Shakespeare, Pescetti lays great stress upon Brutus’ lack of foresight. As is evident from the discussion regarding Antony, he utterly fails to see the fatal mistake he makes in sparing that subtle opportunist. That it is a mistake, Pescetti shows, when, near the end of the drama, the Messenger announced that Antony and Lepidus are about to avenge Caesar’s death. Brutus’ whole argument is characteristic of the closet philosopher; books, not men, have been the object of his studies. He can dissect sagely the motives of his own actions, but he is helpless to penetrate the purposes of other men. In glaring contrast to the Brutus of the famous soliloquy, yet akin in his impracticability, here is a Brutus who speaks thus, when a cautious, worldly Cassius reminds him (in regard to Antony),
“A me più saggio Sembra colui che l’ suo nemico uccide Pria che l’ offenda, che lui, che dopo Ch’ è stato offeso, vendica l’ingiuria. Bruto—Non il pensier, ma l’opra punir vuolsi. Oltra, che chi m’accerta, ch’ei tal mente Abbia, qual dici? Chi può dentro il petto Suo penetrar? e ciò, che vi nasconde Veder? Gli uman pensier sol Giove intende.”—P. 26.
He would spare Antony because he is a reveller and given to the pleasures of the flesh. How could such a man, he asks, triumph over those who have devoted their lives to study and toil? He fatuously believes that Caesar’s death will so intimidate Antony as to drive all desire of domination out of the head of that wily schemer.