SECTION II. But chief, oh! chiefly, thou majestic Rome! Oh! favour thou my cause, and on thy soldier smile. LUCAN'S PHARSALIA, b. 1. 4. Pon'dered, part. considered, thought seriously. 5. Prompt'itude, s. readiness. 7. Supine'ness, s. carelessness, indolence. Sarcast'ically, ad. tauntingly, severely. 8. Bo'ding, part. foretelling. 10. Lieu'tenants, s. (pron. liftenants) subordinate commanders, officers second in rank. 19. Intelligence, s. information. Retar'd, v. to hinder, to keep back. 23. Men'ace, s. a threat. 24. Vet'eran, s. an old experienced soldier. 25. Joco'sely, ad. jestingly, good humouredly. 26. Drought, s. thirst. 27. Clem'ency, s. mercy, kindness. 1. CESAR, however, seemed no way disturbed at these violent proceedings; the night before his intended expedition into Italy, he sat down to table cheerfully, conversing with his friends on subjects of literature and philosophy; and apparently disengaged from every ambitious concern. After some time, rising up, he desired the company to make themselves joyous in his absence, and that he would be with them in a moment: in the mean time, having ordered his chariot to be prepared, he immediately set out, attended by a few friends, for Arim'inum, a city upon the confines of Italy, whither he had dispatched a part of his army the morning before. 2. This journey by night, which was very fatiguing, he performed with great diligence, sometimes walking, and sometimes on horseback; till at the break of day, he came up with his army, which consisted of about five thousand men, near the Rubicon, a little river which separates Italy from Gaul, and which marked the limits of his command. 3. The Romans had ever been taught to consider the river as the sacred boundary of their domestic empire. 4. Cæsar, therefore, when he advanced at the head of his army to the side of it, stopped short upon the bank, as if impressed with terror at the greatness of his enterprise. He could not pass it without transgressing the laws: he therefore pondered för some time in fixed melancholy, looking and debating with himself whether he should venture in. "If I pass this river," said he to one of his generals, "what miseries shall I bring upon my country! and if I now stop short, I am undone." 5. After a pause he exclaimed, "Let us go where the gods and the injustice of our enemies call us." Thus saying, and resuming all his former alacrity, he plunged in, crying out, "The die is cast." His soldiers followed him with equal promptitude; and having passed the Rubicon, quickly arrived at Arim'inum, and made themselves masters of the place without any resistance. 6. This unexpected enterprise excited the utmost terror in Rome; every one imagining that Cæsar was leading his army to lay the city in ruins. At the same time were to be seen the citizens flying into the country for safety, and the inhabitants of the country coming to seek shelter in the city. 7. In this universal confusion, Pompey felt all that repentance and self-condemnation, which must necessarily arise from the remembrance of having advanced his rival to his present pitch of power: wherever he appeared, many of his former friends were ready to tax him with his supineness, and sarcastically to reproach his illgrounded presumption. 8. "Where is now," cried Favo'nius, a ridiculous senator of his party," the army that is to rise at your command? let us see if it will appear by stamping '." Cato reminded him of the many warnings 1 This alludes to a boasting speech made some time before by Pompey, when he told the senate not to be alarmed at the news of Cæsar's ap he had given him; which, however, as he was continually boding nothing but calamities, Pompey might very justly be excused from attending to. 9. Being at length wearied with these reproaches, which were offered under colour of advice, he did all that lay in his power to encourage and confirm his followers: he told them that they should not want an army, for that he would be their leader. He confessed, indeed, that he had all along mista ken Cæsar's aims, judging only from what they ought to have been; however, if his friends were still inspired with the love of freedom, they might yet enjoy it in whatever place their necessities should happen to conduct them. 10. He let them know that their affairs were in a very promising situation: that his two lieutenants were at the head of a very considerable army in Spain, composed of veteran troops that had made a conquest of the east: besides these, there were infinite resources, both in Asia and Africa, together with the succours they were sure to receive from all the kingdoms that were in alliance with Rome. 11. This speech served in some measure to revive the hopes of the confederacy. The greatest part of the senate, his private friends and dependents, with all those who expected to make their fortunes by espous ing his cause, agreed to follow him. But being in no capacity to resist Cæsar at Rome, he resolved to lead his forces to Cap'ua; where the two legions that served under Cæsar in Gaul were stationed. 12. Cæsar in the mean time, after having vainly attempted to bring Pompey to an accommodation, resolved to pursue him into Cap'ua before he could collect his forces. Accordingly, he marched on to take possession of the cities that lay between him and his rival, not regarding Rome, which he knew would fall of course to the conqueror. proach, for that he had only to stamp, and an army would rise at his command. 1 13. Corfin'ium 1 was the first city that attempted to stop the rapidity of his march. It was defended by Domi'tius, who had been appointed by the senate to succeed him in Gaul. Cæsar quickly invested it; and though Domi'tius sent frequently to Pompey, exhorting him to come and raise the siege, he was at length obliged to endeavour to escape privately. 14. His intentions being divulged, the garrison resolved to consult their own safety by delivering him up to the besiegers 2. Cæsar readily accepted their offers, but kept his men from immediately entering the town. 15. After some time, Len'tulus the consul, who was one of the besieged, came out to implore forgiveness for himself and the rest of his confederates, putting Cæsar in mind of their ancient friendship, and acknowledging the many favours he had received at his hands. 16. To this Cæsar, who would not wait the conclusion of his speech, generously replied, that he came into Italy not to injure the liberties of Rome and its citizens, but to restore them. 17. This humane reply being quickly carried into the city, the senators and the knights, with their children, and some officers of the garrison, came out to claim the conqueror's protection, who just glancing at their ingratitude, gave them their liberty, with permission to go wheresoever they should think proper. 18. But while he dismissed the leaders, he took care upon this, as upon all other occasions, to attach the common soldiers to his interest, sensible that he might stand in need of the army; but that while he lived, the army could never stand in need of a commander. 19. Pompey, who was unable to continue in Rome, having intelligence of what had passed upon this occasion, 1 Now San Ferino. 2 Domitius, fearing the resentment of the conqueror, ordered one of his slaves, who acted as his physician, to give him a dose of poison. On experiencing the clemency of Cæsar, he regretted his rashness, but was relieved from his uneasiness by the confession of the slave, that he had merely given him a sleeping draught. (Plutarch.) retreated to Brundu'sium', where he resolved to stand a siege, in order to retard the enemy, until the forces of the empire should be united to oppose him. 20. His aim in this succeeded to his wish; and after having employed Cæsar for some time in a fruitless siege, he privately carried his forces over to Dyracch'ium 2, where the consul had levied a body of troops for his assistance. 21. However, though he made good his escape, he was compelled to leave all Italy at the mercy of his rival, without a town or an army that had strength to oppose his progress. 22. Cæsar, who could not follow Pompey for want of shipping, went back to Rome, to take possession of the public treasures, which his opponent, by a most unaccountable oversight, had neglected to take with him. 23. Upon his coming up to the door of the treasury, Metellus, the tribune, who guarded it, refused to let him pass; but Cæsar, with emotion, laying his hand upon his sword, threatened to strike him dead: "Know, young man," cried he, "it is easier to do this than say it." This menace had its effect; Metellus retired, and Cæsar took out of the treasury three hundred thousand pounds weight of gold, and an immense quantity of silver. 24. Having thus provided for continuing the war, he departed from Rome, resolved to subdue Pompey's lieutenants, Afra'nius and Petrei'us, who had been long in Spain at the head of a veteran army, which had ever been victorious. 25. Cæsar, however, who knew the abilities of its present commanders, jocosely said, as he was preparing to march, "I am going to fight an army 1 A town of Cala'bria, with an excellent harbour. (Strabo.) It is now called Brin'disi. 2 Dyracch'ium, a town on the coast of Illyr'icum, originally called Epidam'nus; but that being an inauspicious name, it was changed by the Romans to Dyrrach'ium. (Pliny.)-The port of this town answered to that of Brundu'sium, and the passage between both was very ready and expeditious. It was a place of great trade. The people were first called Epidam'nii; afterwards Dyracchi'ni. (Cicero. Livy.) |