Brutus

It was no easy matter, however, to stop Favonius when he sprang to do anything, for he was always vehement and rash. The fact that he was a Roman senator was of no importance in his eyes, and by the cynical boldness of his speech he often took away its offensiveness, and therefore men put up with his impertinence as a joke.

And so at this time he forced his way through the bystanders and entered the room, reciting in an affected voice the verses wherein Homer[*](Iliad, i. 259.) represents Nestor as saying:—

1. But do ye harken to me, for ye both are younger than I am,

At this Cassius burst out laughing; but Brutus drove Favonius out of the room, calling him a mere dog, and a counterfeit Cynic.[*](A follower of Antisthenes was called a Cynic, or dog-like, probably from the coarse and brutal manners affected by the school.) However, at the time, this incident put an end to their quarrel, and they separated at once.

Furthermore, Cassius gave a supper, to which Brutus invited his friends. And as the guests were already taking their places at the feast, Favonius came, fresh from his bath. Brutus protested that he had come without an invitation, and ordered the servants to conduct him to the uppermost couch; but Favonius forced his way past them and reclined upon the central one. And over the wine mirth and jest abounded, seasoned with wit and philosophy.

But on the following day Lucius Pella, a Roman who had been praetor and had enjoyed the confidence of Brutus, being denounced by the Sardians as an embezzler of the public moneys, was condemned by Brutus and disgraced;

and the matter vexed Cassius beyond measure. For a few days before, when two friends of his had been convicted of the same misdeeds, he had privately admonished them but publicly acquitted them, and continued to employ them.

He therefore found fault with Brutus on the ground that he was too observant of law and justice at a time which demanded a policy of kindness.