They had not gone very
far into the wood but they smelt an unusual smell, as of a dead
body; for stinks must be very noisome that can be distinguished
among such a quantity of natural sweets as every inch of that land
produces: so that they concluded they should find him dead, or some
body that was so; they passed on towards it, as loathsome as it was,
and made such rustling among the leaves that lie thick on the
ground, by continual falling, that Caesar heard he was approached: and
though he had, during the space of these eight days, endeavored to
rise, but found he wanted strength, yet looking up, and seeing his
pursuers, he rose, and reeled to a neighboring tree, against which
he fixed his back; and being within a dozen yards of those that
advanced and saw him, he called out to them, and bid them approach
no nearer, if they would be safe. So that they stood still, and hardly
believing their eyes, that would persuade them that it was Caesar that
spoke to 'em, so much was he altered; they asked him what he had
done with his wife, for they smelt a stink that almost struck them
dead. He, pointing to the dead body, sighing, cried, "Behold her
there." They put off the flowers that covered her, with their
sticks, and found she was killed, and cried out, "O monster! that hast
murdered thy wife." Then asking him why he did so cruel a deed; he
replied, he had no leisure to answer impertinent questions. "You may
go back," continued he, "and tell the faithless Governor he may
thank Fortune that I am breathing my last; and that my arm is to
feeble to obey my heart, in what it had designed him.
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