Free Julius Caesar by Tony Bradman Page A

This way, everyone…’
    Caesar moved on, heading for the Forum, the great open space that had always been the heart of the ancient city. Most of the crowd followed him, but Brutus didn’t, staying behind instead, his face thoughtful. Cassius saw him stop, and hung back, too. They ended up standing together by one of Rome’s many temples to the gods, its tall white columns rising high above them.
    â€˜Aren’t you going to watch any more of the fun, Brutus?’ said Cassius. He was thin and bony and had the face of a hawk, his nose like a sharp beak.
    â€˜No, I’m not interested,’ said Brutus. ‘Don’t let me stop you, though.’
    He turned to leave, but Cassius held his arm. ‘Wait, Brutus,’ he said. ‘I’ve wanted to speak to you for a while. You’ve seemed rather …
distant
recently.’
    â€˜I’m sorry, Cassius,’ said Brutus, sighing.‘It’s just that I’ve had a lot on my mind. But don’t worry, I still think of you as a friend.’
    â€˜That’s good, because what I have to say is very important,’ Cassius said quietly, glancing over his shoulder to make sure nobody could overhear their conversation. ‘Many of the best men in Rome have enormous respect for your judgement, Brutus, and wish you could see the truth of what’s going on.’
    â€˜Are you leading me into danger, Cassius?’ Brutus said, glancing over his shoulder, too. ‘Perhaps my judgement isn’t as good as you think.’
    â€˜You’re too modest, Brutus,’ said Cassius. ‘And you know me too well to think I’m trying to trick you. I don’t flatter men to gain their confidence then betray them afterwards to all and sundry. Now that
would
be dangerous…’
    Suddenly, there was a clamour of people cheering in the distance. Brutus and Cassius exchanged a look, but they both knew the noise came from the Forum.
    â€˜What does that shouting mean?’ Brutus murmured, gripping Cassius by the arm himself now. ‘I fear the people may have chosen Caesar as their king.’
    â€˜Oh, so you
fear
such a thing, do you?’ said Cassius, his eyes glittering, a smile on his lips. ‘Then I’m guessing that you don’t want it to happen.’
    â€˜I don’t, even though Caesar and I have always been friends,’ said Brutus, his face clouded, his eyes downcast. Then he looked up and frowned. ‘Just what are you getting at, Cassius?’ he said impatiently. ‘Come on, out with it.’
    â€˜Very well,’ said Cassius, shrugging. ‘It’s simple. I’m tired of being made to live in awe of somebody who is no better than me. I was born just as free as Caesar, and so were you, Brutus. Did you know he once challenged me to a swimming race across the River Tiber, and would have drowned if I hadn’t saved him? I saw him shaking with cold and fear, and Iheard him whining like a sick girl. I can’t believe the same man now lords it over the rest of us.’
    There was another burst of shouting in the Forum, much louder this time. ‘It seems even more honours are being heaped on Caesar,’ Brutus muttered.
    â€˜Why, he strides over our little world like a giant, while we tiny men dodge his huge feet,’ said Cassius with a sour laugh. ‘But
we
should be masters of our fates. It’s our own fault if we allow ourselves to be ruled. Your name is as good as Caesar’s, so why should his be spoken more? When has Rome been a city big enough for only one man? Was there not another Brutus in the past, a great ancestor of yours, who rose up against a tyrant king? I think there was…’
    Once Rome had been ruled by kings, but the people had thrown them out. Since then it had been a Republic governed by the Senate, a body of men who debated important issues and appointed the chief officers of the state. The senators were mostly rich, older