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great slaughter in the camp among the servants and those that
guarded the tents； but of the soldiers themselves there were not above
six thousand slain； as is stated by Asinius Pollio； who himself fought
in this battle on Caesar's side。 When Caesar's soldiers had taken
the camp； they saw clearly the folly and vanity of the enemy； for
all their tents and pavilions were richly set out with garlands of
myrtle； embroidered carpets and hangings； and tables laid and
covered with goblets。 There were large bowls of wine ready； and
everything prepared and put in array； in the manner rather of people
who had offered sacrifice and were going to celebrate a holiday；
than of soldiers who had armed themselves to go out to battle； so
possessed with the expectation of success and so full of empty
confidence had they gone out that morning。
When Pompey had got a little way from the camp； he dismounted and
forsook his horse； having but a small retinue with him； and finding
that no man pursued him； walked on softly afoot； taken up altogether
with thoughts； such as probably might possess a man that for the space
of thirty…four years together had been accustomed to conquest and
victory； and was then at last； in his old age； learning for the
first time what defeat and flight were。 And it was no small affliction
to consider that he had lost in one hour all that glory and power
which he had been getting in so many wars and bloody battles； and that
he who but a little before was guarded with such an army of foot； so
many squadrons of horse； and such a mighty fleet； was now flying in so
mean a condition； and with such a slender retinue； that his very
enemies who fought him could not know him。 Thus； when he had passed by
the city of Larissa； and came into the pass of Tempe； being very
thirsty； he kneeled down and drank out of the river； then rising up
again； he passed through Tempe； until he came to the seaside； and
there he betook himself to a poor fisherman's cottage； where he rested
the remainder of the night。 The next morning about break of day he
went into one of the river boats； and taking none of those that
followed him except such as were free； dismissed his servants；
advising them to go boldly to Caesar and not be afraid。 As he was
rowing up and down near the shore； he chanced to spy a large
merchant ship； lying off。 just ready to set sail； the master of
which was a Roman citizen； named Peticius； who； though he was not
familiarly acquainted with Pompey； yet knew him well by sight。 Now
it happened that this Peticius dreamed； the night before； that he
saw Pompey； not like the man he had often seen him； but in a humble
and dejected condition； and in that posture discoursing with him。 He
was then telling his dream to the people on board； as men do when at
leisure； and especially dreams of that consequence； when of a sudden
one of the mariners told him he saw a river boat with oars putting off
from shore； and that some of the men there shook their garments； and
held out their hands； with signs to take them in； thereupon
Peticius； looking attentively； at once recognized Pompey； just as he
appeared in his dream； and smiting his hand on his head； ordered the
mariners to let down the ship's boat； he himself waving his hand；
and calling to him by his name； already assured of his change and
the change of his fortune by that of his garb。 So that without waiting
for any further entreaty or discourse he took him into his ship；
together with as many of his company as he thought fit； and hoisted
sail。 There were with him the two Lentuli and Favonius； and a little
after they spied King Deiotarus； making up towards them from the
shore； so they stayed and took him in along with them。 At supper time；
the master of the ship having made ready such provisions as he had
aboard； Pompey； for want of his servants； began to undo his shoes
himself； which Favonius noticing； ran to him and undid them； and
helped him to anoint himself； and always after continued to wait upon；
and attended him in all things； as servants do their masters； even
to the washing of his feet and preparing his supper。 Insomuch that any
one there present； observing the free and unaffected courtesy of these
services； might have well exclaimed…
〃O heavens； in those that noble are；
Whate'er they do is fit and fair。〃
Pompey； sailing by the city of Amphipolis； crossed over from
thence to Mitylene； with a design to take in Cornelia and his son； and
as soon as he arrived at the port in that island； he despatched a
messenger into the city with news very different from Cornelia's
expectation。 For she； by all the former messages and letters sent to
please her； had been put in hopes that the war was ended at
Dyrrhachium； and that there was nothing more remaining for Pompey
but the pursuit of Caesar。 The messenger； finding her in the same
hopes still； was not able to salute or speak to her； but declaring the
greatness of her misfortune by his tears rather than his words；
desired her to make haste if she would see Pompey； with one ship only；
and that not of his own。 The young lady hearing this； fell down in a
swoon； and continued a long time senseless and speechless。 And when
with some trouble she was brought to her senses again； being conscious
to herself that this was no time for lamentation and tears； she
started up and ran through the city towards the seaside； where
Pompey meeting and embracing her； as she sank down； supported by his
arms； 〃This； sir；〃 she exclaimed； 〃is the effect of my fortune； not of
yours； that I see you thus reduced to one poor vessel； who before your
marriage with Cornelia were wont to sail in these seas with a fleet of
five hundred ships。 Why therefore should you come to see me； or why
not rather have left to her evil genius one who has brought upon you
her own ill fortune？ How happy a woman had I been if I had breathed
out my last before the news came from Parthia of the death of Publius；
the husband of my youth； and how prudent if I had followed his
destiny； as I designed！ But I was reserved for a greater mischief；
even the ruin of Pompey the Great。〃
Thus； they say； Cornelia spoke to him； and this was Pompey's； reply：
〃You have had； Cornelia； but one season of a better fortune； which； it
may be； gave you unfounded hopes； by attending me a longer time than
is usual。 It behooves us； who are mortals born； to endure these
events； and to try fortune yet again； neither is it any less
possible to recover our former state than it was to fall from that
into this。〃 Thereupon Cornelia sent for her servants and baggage out
of the city。 The citizens also of Mitylene came out to salute and
invite Pompey into the city； but he refused； advising them to be
obedient to the conqueror and fear not； for that Caesar was a man of
great goodness and clemency。 Then turning to Cratippus； the
philosopher； who came among the rest out of the city to visit him；
he began to find some fault； and briefly argued with him upon
Providence； but Cratippus modestly declined the dispute； putting him
in better hopes only； lest by opposing he might seem too austere or
unseasonable。 For he might have put Pompey a question in his turn in
defence of Providence； and might have demonstrated the necessity there
was that the commonwealth should be turned into a monarchy； because of
their ill government in the state； and could have asked； 〃How； O
Pompey； and by what token or assurance can we ascertain； that if the
victory had been yours； you would have used your fortune better than
Caesar？ We must leave the divine power to act as we find it do。〃
Pompey having taken his wife and friends aboard； set sail； making no
port； or touching anywhere； but when he was necessitated to take in
provisions or fresh water。 The first city he entered was Attalia； in
Pamphylia； and whilst he was there； there came some galleys thither to
him out of Cilicia； together with a small body of soldiers； and he had
almost sixty senators with him again； then hearing that his navy was
safe too； and that Cato had rallied a considerable body of soldiers
after their overthrow； and was crossing with them over into Africa； he
began to complain and blame himself to his friends that he had allowed
himself to be driven into engaging by land； without making use of
his other forces； in which he was irresistibly the stronger； and had
not kept near enough to his fleet； that failing by land； he might have
reinforced himself from the sea； and would have been again at the head
of a power quite sufficient to encounter the enemy on equal terms。
And； in truth； neither did Pompey during all the war commit a
greater oversight； nor Caesar use a more subtle stratagem； than in
drawing the fight so far off from the naval forces。
As it now was； however； since he must come to some decision and
try some plan within his present ability； he despatched his agents
to the neighbouring cities； and himself sailed about in person to
others； requiring their aid in money and men for his ships。 But；
fearing lest the rapid approach of the enemy might cut off all his
preparations； he began to consider what place would yield him the
safest refuge an