To this triple
relation of the bird his dream covertly appears to point. And a singular
coincidence appears between this dream and a little anecdote brought down
to us, as having actually occurred in Rome about twenty-four hours before
his death. A little bird, which by some is represented as a very small
kind of sparrow, but which, both to the Greeks and the Romans, was known
by a name implying a regal station (probably from the ambitious courage
which at times prompted it to attack the eagle), was observed to direct
its flight towards the senate-house, consecrated by Pompey, whilst a crowd
of other birds were seen to hang upon its flight in close pursuit. What
might be the object of the chase, whether the little king himself, or a
sprig of laurel which he bore in his mouth, could not be determined. The
whole train, pursuers and pursued, continued their flight towards Pompey's
hall. Flight and pursuit were there alike arrested; the little king was
overtaken by his enemies, who fell upon him as so many conspirators, and
tore him limb from limb.
If this anecdote were reported to Caesar, which is not at all improbable,
considering the earnestness with which his friends labored to dissuade him
from his purpose of meeting the senate on the approaching Ides of March,
it is very little to be doubted that it had a considerable effect upon his
feelings, and that, in fact, his own dream grew out of the impression
which it had made.
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