WaybackWire

ROME, three days after the Liberalia.—Caesar has adopted Octavius, the grandson of his sister, as his son and left him three-quarters of his estate, by the terms of his will, read yesterday.

Pinarius and Pedius, also grandsons of Caesar’s sisters, share the remaining quarter.

Every citizen is left 300 sesterces, and the people are given Caesar’s gardens across the Tiber as a place of recreation.

The will was opened and read at the house of Antony, the consul, at the request of Lucius Piso, Caesar’s father-in-law, as the Senate had ordered. Caesar drew it up last September and lodged it with the chief of the Vestal Virgins.

Several of the men who killed Caesar are named in it as guardians of a son, should one be born to him. Decimus Brutus, one of the men who struck him, stands among the heirs in the second degree.

The people were moved to pity that a man Caesar had named among his heirs was one of his killers.

ROME, three days after the Liberalia.—Antony, the consul, stood over Caesar’s body in the Forum today and read out the decrees by which the Senate and people had voted him honours, divine as well as human, turning to the body at each one.

Lucius Piso had brought the body into the Forum, where it was laid in the gilded shrine on the Rostra, made in the likeness of the temple of Venus Genetrix, and a large armed crowd gathered to guard it.

When he had recited the oaths by which all were bound to guard Caesar, Antony raised his voice and stretched out his hand towards the Capitol. “Jupiter, guardian of this city, and ye other gods, I stand ready to avenge him as I have sworn and vowed, but since those who are of equal rank with me have considered the decree of amnesty beneficial, I pray that it may prove so.” A stir went through the senators present.

Of the deed itself he said: “It seems to me, fellow-citizens, that this deed is not the work of human beings, but of some evil spirit.”

He closed with a call to mourn: “Let us then conduct this sacred one to the abode of the blest, chanting our accustomed hymn of lamentation for him.”

Then he lifted Caesar’s bloodied robe on a spear, and the crowd broke into lamentation. A wax image of Caesar, showing his wounds, was turned about for all to see, and the people could bear the sight no longer.

Many in the crowd have begun to regret the amnesty.

ROME, three days after the Liberalia.—Helvius Cinna, a poet and a friend of Caesar, was killed by the crowd today, taken for the praetor Cornelius Cinna.

He had no part in the deed against Caesar, and came to the Forum to do honour to the body.

Those who heard his name took him for the praetor, who had called Caesar a tyrant in the Forum. They fell on him, killed him, and carried his head about on a spear.

The mob, grown violent, was out hunting the men who struck Caesar.

ROME, three days after the Liberalia.—So great a crowd was expected that mourners had been told they might bring their offerings by whatever street they chose. Musicians and actors tore off their triumphal robes and threw them into the flames. Veterans of Caesar’s legions threw in their arms.

Women gave up their jewels, and their children’s amulets.

Strangers in the city went about lamenting, each after the fashion of his own country. The Jews above all have come to the pyre, and are gathered beside it tonight.