Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/351

MARCUS BRUTUS. 343 should have human shape or voice or power that can reach to vis, there is no reason for beheving; though I confess I could wish that there were such beings, that we might not rely upon our arms only, and our horses and our navy, all which are so numerous and powerful, but might be confident of the assistance of gods also, in this our most sacred and honorable attempt." With such dis- courses as these Cassius soothed the mind of Brutus. But just as the troops were going on board, two eagles flew and lighted on the first two ensigns, and crossed over the water with them, and never ceased following the soldiers and being fed by them till they came to Phihppi, and there, but one day before the fight, they both flew away. Brutus had already reduced most of the places and people of these parts ; but they now marched on as far as to the coast opposite Thasos, and, if there were any city or man of power that yet stood out, brought them all to subjection. At this point Norbanus was encamped, in a place called the Straits, near Symbolum. Him they surrounded in such sort that they forced him to dis- lodge and quit the place; and Norbanus narrowly escaped losing his whole army, Caesar by reason of sickness being too far behind ; only Antony came to his relief with such wonderful swiftness that Brutus and those with him did not believe when they heard he was come. Caesar came up ten days after, and encamped over against Brutus, and Antony over against Cassius. The space between the two armies is called by the Romans the Campi Philippi. Never had two such large Roman armies come together to engage each other. That of Brutus was somewhat less in number than that mologically — dasmons, unseen, pre- per word (tkeos, the Latin deus) terhuman agencies ; gods is the pro- usually so rendered.