the statue of one whom, now dead, he had defeated when he was alive. And fate becomes a still stronger force if indeed one acknowledges her part in these things: on that day his friends, drawing conclusions from certain auguries, tried to prevent him from going to the senate room, as did also his physicians on account of vertigoes to which he was sometimes subject, and from which he was at that time suffering; and especially his wife Calpurnia, who was terrified by a dream that night. She clung to him and said that she would not let him go out that day. But Brutus, one of the conspirators, though he was at that time thought to be one of his most intimate friends, came up to him and said: ‘What do you say, Caesar? Are you going to pay any attention to a woman’s dreams and foolish men’s omens, a man such as you? Are you going to insult the senate which has honored you and which you yourself convened, by not going out? No; if you take my advice you will dismiss from your mind the dreams of these people and go, for the senate has been in session since morning, and is awaiting you.’ He was persuaded and went out. 24. Meanwhile the assassins were making ready, some of them stationing themselves beside his chair, others in front of it, others behind it. The augurs brought forward the victims for him to make his final sacrifice before his entry into the senate room. It was manifest that the omens were unfavorable. The augurs substituted one animal after another in the attempt to secure a more auspicious forecast. Finally they said that the indications from the gods were unfavorable and that there was plainly some sort of curse hiding in the victims. In disgust, Caesar turned away toward the setting sun,[114] and the augurs interpreted this action still more unfavorably. The assassins were on hand and were pleased at all this. Caesar’s friends begged that he postpone the present session on account of what the soothsayers had said; and for his part, he was just giving the order[115] to do this, but suddenly the attendants came to summon him, saying that the senate had a quorum. Then Caesar cast a look toward his friends. And Brutus approached him again and said: ‘Come, sir, turn your back on these people’s nonsense and do not postpone the business that deserves the attention of Caesar and of the great empire but consider your own worth a favorable omen.’ Thus persuading him, he at the same time took him by the hand and led him in, for the senate-chamber was near by. Caesar followed in silence. When he came in and the senate saw him, the members rose out of respect to him. Those who intended to lay hands on him were all about him.