He accordingly pressed up near to Caesar, refusing to allow any one else to pass the paper in; and when, at last, he obtained an opportunity, he gave it directly into Caesar's hands saying to him, "Read this immediately: it concerns yourself, and is of the utmost importance" Caesar took the paper and attempted to read it, but new petitions and other interruptions constantly prevented him; finally he gave up the attempt, and went on his way, receiving and passing to his secretary all other papers, but retaining this paper of Artemidorus in his hand.
[Sidenote: Caesar and Spurinna.] Caesar passed Spurinna on his way to the senate-house--the soothsayer who had predicted some great danger connected with the Ides of March.

As soon as he recognized him, he accosted him with the words, "Well, Spurinna, the Ides of March have come, and I am safe." "Yes," replied Spurinna, "they have come, but they are not yet over." [Sidenote: Caesar arrives at the senate house.] At length he arrived at the senate-house, with the paper of Artemidorus still unread in his hand.

The senators were all convened, the leading conspirators among them.

They all rose to receive Caesar as he entered.
Caesar advanced to the seat provided for him, and, when he was seated, the senators themselves sat down.

The moment had now arrived, and the conspirators, with pale looks and beating hearts, felt that now or never the deed was to be done.
[Sidenote: Resolution of the Conspirators.] It requires a very considerable degree of physical courage and hardihood for men to come to a calm and deliberate decision that they will kill one whom they hate, and, still more, actually to strike the blow, even when under the immediate impulse of passion.