Note 82 — THE CHARACTER OF CAESAR
Reading edition
It is interesting to note the fascination which this remark of Caesar’s had for the dramatists of his fortunes. No doubt they drew their direct inspiration from Plutarch, who relates that Caesar, on being urged to have a bodyguard, retorted, “It is better to die once, than always to be afraid of death.” (J. C., p. 92.) Skeat.
Thus Muretus says (Act III., verse 386):
“Sed tamen quando semel
Vel cadere praestat, quam metu longo premi.”
And Grévin, Act III., v. 791:
“. . . . . . . et si j’aime bien mieux
Mourir tout en un coup, qu’estre tousjours paoureux.”
Also Act I., v. 13:
“Il vault bien mieux mourir
Asseure de tout poinct, qu’incessamment perir.
Faulsement par la peur.”
In Garnier’s “Cornelie” (Kyd’s trans.) we read:
“The fear of evil doth afflict us more
Than the evil itself, though it be neer so sore.”