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) 191.

GRECIANS AND ROMANS 
  
 
     Romane is he alive that will suffer thee to dye for theMARCUS
     libertie? What, knowest thou not that thou art Brutus?BRUTUS
     Thinkest thou that they be cobblers, tapsters, or suche like
     base mechanicall people, that wryte these billes and scrowles
     which are founde dayly in thy Praetor's chaire, and not the
     noblest men and best citizens that doe it? No, be thou
     well assured, that of other Praetors they looke for giftes,
     common distribucions amongest the people, and for common
     playes, and to see fensers fight at the sharpe, to shew the
     people pastime: but at thy handes, they specially require
     (as a due det unto them) the taking away of the tyranny,
     being fully bent to suffer any extremity for thy sake, so
     that thou wilt shew thy selfe to be the man thou art taken
     for, and that they hope thou art. Thereuppon he kissed
     Brutus, and imbraced him: and so each taking leave of
     other, they went both to speake with their frendes about
     it. Nowe amongest Pompeys frendes, there was one called
     Caius Ligarius,* who had bene accused unto Caesar for*In an other
     taking parte with Pompey, and Caesar discharged him.place they cal
     But Ligarius thanked not Caesar so muche for his dis-him Quintus.
     charge, as he was offended with him for that he was
     brought in daunger by his tyrannicall power. And there-Brutus
     fore in his hearte he was alway his mortall enemie, and wasmaketh
     besides verie familiar with Brutus, who went to see himLigarius
     beinge sicke in his bedde, and sayed unto him: O Ligarius,one of the
     in what a time art thou sicke! Ligarius risinge uppe in hisconspiracie.
     bedde, and taking him by the right hande, sayed unto him:
     Brutus, sayed he, if thou hast any great enterprise in hande
     worthie of thy selfe, I am whole. After that time they
     beganne to feele all their acquaintaunce whome they trusted,
     and layed their heades together consultinge uppon it, and
     did not onelie picke out their frendes, but all those also
     whome they thought stowt enough to attempt any de-
     sperate matter, and that were not affrayed to loase their
     lives. For this cause they durst not acquaint Cicero withThey do hide
     their conspiracie, although he was a man whome theythe conspir-
     loved dearelie, and trusted best: for they were affrayed thatacy against
     he being a coward by nature, and age also having increasedCaesar, from
     feare, he woulde quite turne and alter all their purpose,Cicero.
 191