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body of thirty thousand men。 On which Tullus crying out aloud； 〃O
Pompey； you have deceived us；〃 gave his advice to send off a
deputation to Caesar。 Favonius； a man of fair character； except that
he used to suppose his own petulance and abusive talking a copy of
Cato's straightforwardness； bade Pompey stamp upon the ground； and
call forth the forces he had promised。 But Pompey bore patiently
with this unseasonable raillery； and on Cato putting him in mind of
what he had foretold from the very beginning about Caesar； made this
answer only； that Cato indeed had spoken more like a prophet； but he
had acted more like a friend。 Cato then advised them to choose
Pompey general with absolute power and authority； saying that the same
men who do great evils know best how to cure them。 He himself went his
way forthwith into Sicily； the province that was allotted him； and all
the rest of the senators likewise departed every one to his respective
government。
Thus all Italy in a manner being up in arms； no one could say what
was best to be done。 For those that were without came from all parts
flocking into the city； and they who were within； seeing the confusion
and disorder so great there； all good things impotent； and
disobedience and insubordination grown too strong to be controlled
by the magistrates； were quitting it as fast as the other came in。
Nay； it was so far from being possible to allay their fears； that they
would not suffer Pompey to follow out his own judgment； but every
man pressed and urged him according to his particular fancy； whether
it proceeded from doubt； fear； grief； or any meaner passion； so that
even in the same day quite contrary counsels were acted upon。 Then；
again； it was as impossible to have any good intelligence of the
enemy； for what each man heard by chance upon a flying rumour he would
report for truth； and exclaim against Pompey if he did not believe it。
Pompey； at length； seeing such a confusion in Rome； determined with
himself to put an end to their clamours by his departure； and
therefore commanding all the senate to follow him； and declaring
that whosoever tarried behind should be judged a confederate of
Caesar's； about the dusk of the evening he went out and left the city。
The consuls also followed after in a hurry； without offering the
sacrifices to the gods usual before a war。 But in all this； Pompey
himself had the glory that； in the midst of such calamities； he had so
much of men's love and good…will。 For though many found fault with the
conduct of the war； yet no man hated the general； and there were
more to be found of those that went out of Rome； because that they
could not forsake Pompey； than of those that fled for love of liberty。
Some few days after Pompey was gone out Caesar came into the city；
and made himself master of it； treating every one with a great deal of
courtesy； and appeasing their fears； except only Metellus； one of
the tribunes； on whose refusing to let him take any money out of the
treasury； Caesar threatened him with death； adding words yet harsher
than the threat； that it was far easier for him to do it than say
it。 By this means removing Metellus； and taking what moneys were of
use for his occasions； he set forward in pursuit of Pompey；
endeavouring with all speed to drive him out of Italy before his army；
that was in Spain； could join him。
But Pompey arriving at Brundusium； and having plenty of ships there；
bade the two consuls embark immediately； and with them shipped
thirty cohorts of foot； bound before him for Dyrrhachium。 He sent
likewise his father…in…law； Scipio； and Cnaeus； his son； into Syria；
to provide and fit out a fleet there； himself in the meantime having
blocked up the gates； placed his lightest soldiers as guards upon
the walls； and giving express orders that the citizens should keep
within doors； he dug up all the ground inside the city； cutting
trenches； and fixing stakes and palisades throughout all the streets
of the city； except only two that led down to the seaside。 Thus in
three days' space having with ease put all the rest of his army on
shipboard； he suddenly gave the signal to those that guarded the
walls； who nimbly repairing to the ships were received on board and
carried off。 Caesar meantime perceiving their departure by seeing
the walls unguarded； hastened after； and in the heat of pursuit was
all but entangled himself among the stakes and trenches。 But the
Brundusians discovering the danger to him； and showing him the way； he
wheeled about； and taking a circuit round the city； made towards the
haven； where he found all the ships on their way excepting only two
vessels that had but a few soldiers aboard。
Most are of opinion that this departure of Pompey's is to be counted
among the best of his military performances； but Caesar himself
could not but wonder that he； who was thus engarrisoned in a city well
fortified； who was in expectation of his forces from Spain； and was
master of the sea besides； should leave and abandon Italy。 Cicero
accuses him of imitating the conduct of Themistocles； rather than of
Pericles； when the circumstances were more like those of Pericles than
they were like those of Themistocles。 However； it appeared plainly；
and Caesar showed it by his actions； that he was in great fear of
delay； for when he had taken Numerius； a friend of Pompey's； prisoner；
he sent him as an ambassador to Brundusium； with offers of peace and
reconciliation upon equal terms； but Numerius sailed away with Pompey。
And now Caesar having become master of all Italy in sixty days；
without a drop of bloodshed； had a great desire forthwith to follow
Pompey； but being destitute of shipping； he was forced to divert his
course and march into Spain； designing to bring over Pompey's forces
there to his own。
In the meantime Pompey raised a mighty army both by sea and land。 As
for his navy； it was irresistible。 For there were five hundred
men…of…war； besides an infinite company of light vessels；
Liburnians； and others； and for his land…forces； the cavalry made up a
body of seven thousand horse； the very flower of Rome and Italy； men
of family； wealth； and high spirit； but the infantry was a mixture
of inexperienced soldiers drawn from different quarters； and these
he exercised and trained near Beroea； where he quartered his army；
himself noways slothful； but performing all his exercises as if he had
been in the flower of his youth； conduct which raised the spirits of
his soldiers extremely。 For it was no small encouragement for them
to see Pompey the Great； sixty years of age wanting two； at one time
handling his arms among the foot； then again mounted among the
horse； drawing out his sword with ease in full career； and sheathing
it up as easily； and in darting the javelin； showing not only skill
and dexterity in bitting the mark； but also strength and activity in
throwing it so far that few of the young men went beyond him。
Several kings and princes of nations came thither to him； and
there was a concourse of Roman citizens who had held the magistracies；
so numerous that they made up a complete senate。 Labienus forsook
his old friend Caesar； whom he had served throughout all his wars in
Gaul； and came over to Pompey； and Brutus； son to that Brutus that was
put to death in Gaul； a man of a high spirit； and one that to that day
had never so much as saluted or spoke to Pompey； looking upon him as
the murderer of his father； came then and submitted himself to him
as the defender of their liberty。 Cicero likewise； though he had
written and advised otherwise； yet was ashamed not to be accounted
in the number of those that would hazard their lives and fortunes
for the safeguard of their country。 There came to him also into
Macedonia； Tidius Sextius； a man extremely old； and lame of one leg；
so that others indeed mocked and laughed at the spectacle； but Pompey；
as soon as he saw him； rose and ran to meet him； esteeming it no small
testimony in his favour； when men of such age and infirmities should
rather choose to be with him in danger than in safety at home。
Afterwards in a meeting of their senate they passed a decree； on the
motion of Cato； that no Roman citizen should be put to death but in
battle； and that they should not sack or plunder any city that was
subject to the Roman empire； a resolution which gained Pompey's
party still greater reputation； insomuch that those who were noways at
all concerned in the war； either because they dwelt afar off； or
were thought incapable of giving help； were yet； in their good wishes；
upon his side； and in all their words； so far as that went；
supported the good or just cause； as they called it； esteeming those
as enemies to the gods and men that wished not victory to Pompey。
Neither was Pompey's clemency such but that Caesar likewise showed
himself as merciful a conqueror； for when he had taken and
overthrown all Pompey's forces in Spain； he gave them easy terms；
leaving the commanders at their liberty； and making a running march
through Italy； he came to Brundusium about the winter solstice； and
crossing the sea there； landed at the port of Oricum。 And having
Jubius； an intimate fr