Brutus himself was the cause of these murmurs, being of a gentle and kindly disposition toward all — not like Cassius, who had been austere and imperious in every way, for which reason the army obeyed his orders promptly, not interfering with his authority, and not criticising them when they had learned them. But in the case of Brutus they expected nothing else than to share the command with him on account of his mildness of temper. Finally, the soldiers began more and more openly to collect together in companies and groups and to ask each other, " How have we offended lately — we who conquered the enemy and put him to flight; we who slaughtered those opposed to us and took their camp?" Brutus
took no notice of these murmurs,nor did he call an assembly,lest he should be forced from his position,contrary to his dignity,by the unreasoning multitude,and especially by the mercenaries,who,like fickle slaves seeking new masters,always rest their hopes of safety on desertion to the enemy.His officers also kept irritating him and urging him to make use of the eagerness of the army now, which would speedily bring glorious results. If the battle should turn out adversely, they could fall back to their walls and put the same fortifications between themselves and the enemy. Brutus was especially vexed with these, for they were his officers, and he grieved that they, who were exposed to the same peril as himself,
should capriciously side with the soldiers in preferring a quick and doubtful chance to a victory without danger,but, to the ruin of himself and them, he yielded, chiding them with these words, "I seem likely to carry on war like Pompey, not so much commanding now as commanded." I think that Brutus restricted himself to these words in order to conceal his greatest fear, lest those of his soldiers who had formerly served under Caesar should become disaffected and desert to the enemy. This both himself and Cassius had suspected from the beginning, and they had been careful not to give any excuse for such disaffection toward themselves.So Brutus led out his army unwillingly and formed them in line of battle.
