Read the excerpt from act 4, scene 3, of the tragedy of julius caesar.

[brutus.] messala, i have here receivèd letters,
that young octavius and mark antony
come down upon us. .

messala. myself have letters of the selfsame tenor.

brutus. with what addition?

messala. that by proscription and bills of outlawry,
octavius, antony, and lepidus
have put to death an hundred senators.

brutus. therein our letters do not well agree.
mine speak of seventy senators that died
by their proscriptions, cicero being one.

cassius. cicero one!

messala. ay, cicero is dead,
and by that order of proscription.

what is the central idea of this excerpt?

the impact of fate
the extent of loyalty
the ruthlessness of power
the importance of compromise