Plutarch. Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans
Englished by Sir Thomas North. Trans. Sir Thomas North. Vol. 6 (1579; London: David Nutt, 1896) 222.

LIVES OF THE NOBLE 
 
MARCUS    first, and sayd: The gods graunt us, O Brutus, that this 
BRUTUS    day we may winne the field, and ever after to live all 
    the rest of our life quietly, one with another. But sith 
    the gods have so ordeyned it, that the greatest and chiefest 
    things amongest men are most uncertaine, and that if the 
    battell fall out otherwise to daye then we wishe or looke 
Brutus    for, we shall hardely meete againe: what art thou then 
aunswer to    determined to doe, to flye, or dye? Brutus aunswered him, 
Cassius.    being yet but a young man, and not overgreatly experi- 
    enced in the world: I trust, (I know not how) a certaine 
    rule of Philosophie, by the which I did greatly blame and 
    reprove Cato for killing of him selfe, as being no lawfull 
    nor godly acte, touching the gods, nor concerning men, 
    valliant, not to give place and yeld to divine providence, 
    and not constantly and paciently to take whatsoever it 
    pleaseth him to send us, but to drawe backe, and flie: 
    but being nowe in the middest of the daunger, I am of 
    a contrary mind. For if it be not the will of God, that 
    this battell fall out fortunate for us: I will looke no more 
    for hope, neither seeke to make any new supply for warre 
    againe, but will rid me of this miserable world, and content 
    me with my fortune. For, I gave up my life for my contry 
    in the Ides of Marche, for the which I shall live in another 
    more glorious worlde. Cassius fell a laughing to heare what 
    he sayde, and imbracing him, Come on then sayde he, let 
    us goe and charge our enemies with this mynde. For eyther 
    we shall conquer, or we shall not neede to feare the Con- 
    querors. After this talke, they fell to consultacion amonge 
    their friendes for the ordering of the battell. Then Brutus 
    prayed Cassius he might have the leading of the right 
    winge, the which men thought was farre meeter for Cassius: 
    both bicause he was the elder man, and also for that he 
    had the better experience. But yet Cassius gave it him, 
    and willed that Messala (who had charge of one of the 
The battell    warrelikest legions they had) shoulde be also in that winge 
at Philippes,    with Brutus. So Brutus presently sent out his horsemen, 
against Octa-    who were excellently well appoynted, and his footemen also 
vius Caesar,    were as willing and readye to give charge. Nowe Antonius 
and Antonius.    men did cast a trenche from the marishe by the which they 
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