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) 235.

GRECIANS AND ROMANS 
  
     our hands, not with our feete. Then taking every man byMARCUS
     the hand, he sayd these words unto them with a cheerefullBRUTUS
     countenance: It rejoyceth my hart that not one of my
     frends hath failed me at my neede, and I do not complaine
     of my fortune, but only for my contries sake: for, as for me,
     I thinke my selfe happier than they that have overcome,
     considering that I leave a perpetuall fame of our corage and
     manhoode, the which our enemies the conquerors shall never
     attaine unto by force nor money, neither can let* their pos-
     teritie to say, that they being naughtie and unjust men,
     have slaine good men, to usurpe tyrannical power not per-
     taining to them. Having sayd so, he prayed everie man
     to shift for them selves, and then he went a litle aside with
     two or three only, among the which Strato was one, with
     whom he came first acquainted by the studie of Rethoricke.
     He came as neere to him as he coulde, and taking his sword
     by the hilts with both his hands, and falling downe uponBrutus slue
     the poynt of it, ran him selfe through. Others say, that nothim selfe.
     he, but Strato (at his request) held the sword in his hand,
     and turned his head aside, and that Brutus fell downe uponStrato,
     it: and so ranne him selfe through, and dyed presently.Brutus
     Messala, that had bene Brutus great frend, became after-familiar
     wards Octavius Caesars frend. So, shortly after, Caesar beingand frend.
     at good leasure, he brought Strato, Brutus frende unto him,
     and weeping sayd: Caesar, bebolde, here is he that did theStrato
     last service to my Brutus. Caesar welcomed him at thatreceived into
     time, and afterwards he did him as faithfull service in allCaesars frend-
     his affaires, as any Graecian els he had about him, untill theship.
     battell of Actium. It is reported also, that this Messala
     him selfe aunswered Caesar one day, when he gave him great   Messala
     praise before his face, that he had fought valliantlie, andCorvinus,
     with great affection for him, at the battell of Actium:Brutus frend.
     (notwithstanding that he had bene his cruell enemy before,
     at the battell of Philippes, for Brutus sake) I ever loved,
     sayd be, to take the best and justest parte. Now, Antonius
     having found Brutus bodie, he caused it to be wrapped upBrutus
     in one of the richest cote armors he had. Afterwards also,funeralls.
     Antonius understanding that this cote armor was stollen, he
     put the theefe to death that had stollen it, and sent the
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