All the conspirators, but Brutus, determining upon this matter, thought it good also to kill Mark Antony,[102] because he was a wicked man, and that in nature favoured tyranny: besides also, for that he was in great estimation with soldiers, having been conversant of long time amongst them: and specially having a mind bent to great enterprises, he was also of great authority at that time, being Consul with Caesar. But Brutus would not agree to it. First, for that he said it was not honest: secondly, because he told them there was hope of change in him. For he did not mistrust, but that Mark Antony being a noble-minded and courageous man (when he should know that Caesar was dead) would willingly help his country to recover her liberty, having them an example unto him, to follow their courage and virtue. So Brutus by this means saved Mark Antony's life, who at that present time disguised himself, and stole away. But Brutus and his consorts, having their swords bloody in their hands, went straight to the Capitol, persuading the Romans, as they went, to take their liberty again. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 96: From the "Life of Julius Caesar." Translated by North.] [Footnote 97: Marcus Junius Brutus had originally been an adherent of Pompey, but after the battle at Pharsalia in 48 B.C., went over to Caesar, and in 46 became governor of Cisalpine Gaul.] [Footnote 98: Gaius Cassius Longinus, general and politician, had won distinction in the Parthian war of 53-51 B.C.] [Footnote 99: Lucius Junius Brutus under whose leadership the Tarquins were expelled and the republic established in 510 B.C.] [Footnote 100: Brutus first married Claudia, daughter of Appius Claudius, who was Consul in 54 B.C. It was probably in 55 B.C., after Cato's death, that he put away Claudia (for which he was much blamed), and married Porcia, daughter of Cato. Portia was the widow of Bibulus, a colleague of Caesar in the Consulship of 59 B.C.] [Footnote 101: Daughter of Calpurnius Piso Caesonius and married to Caesar in 59 B.C. She was his second wife, Pompeia, a relative of Pompey the Great, being the first.] [Footnote 102: Mark Antony was then about forty-four years old. He had commanded the left wing of Caesar at Pharsalia and became Consul in 44.] III CLEOPATRA'S BARGE[103]