The Story of British Aviation 1903-1939 Taking to the Skies.

He was taken prisoner after the Battle of Thapsus, but was pardoned by Caesar after he had been brought to trial, with Cicero as his defender. Ligarius would have joined the conspiracy sooner but he is sick. As soon as he hears of the details, however, he says: By all the gods that Romans bow before, 1 here discard my sickness!   —Act II, scene i, lines 320-21 This story too is from Plutarch, and it is another example of the kind of heroism Romans loved to find in their historical accounts. The heavens themselves… That same night on which Casca has seen supernatural prodigies and Brutus has joined the conspiracy, Caesar himself has had a restless sleep. His wife, Calphurnia, has had nightmares. What's more, she has heard of the sights men have seen and she doesn't want Caesar to leave the house the next day, fearing that all these omens foretell evil to him. Caesar refuses to believe it, maintaining the omens are to the world generally and not to himself in particular. To which Calphurnia replies: When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.   —Act II, scene ii, lines 30-31 The comets, appearing in the skies at irregular intervals, and, with then-tails, taking on a most unusual shape, were wildly held to presage unusual disasters ...»