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preparations； he began to consider what place would yield him the
safest refuge and retreat at present。 A consultation was held； and
it was generally agreed that no province of the Romans was secure
enough。 As for foreign kingdoms； he himself was of opinion that
Parthia would be the fittest to receive and defend them in their
present weakness； and best able to furnish them with new means； and
send them out again with large forces。 Others of the council were
for going into Africa； and to King Juba。 But Theophanes the Lesbian
thought it madness to leave Egypt； that was but at a distance of three
days' sailing； and make no use of Ptolemy； who was still a boy； and
was highly indebted to Pompey for the friendship and favour he had
shown to his father； only to put himself under the Parthian； and trust
the most treacherous nation in the world； and rather than make any
trial of the clemency of a Roman； and his own near connection； to whom
if he would but yield to be second he might be the first and chief
over all the rest； to go and place himself at the mercy of Arsaces；
which even Crassus had not submitted to while alive； and； moreover； to
expose his young wife； of the family of the Scipios； among a barbarous
people； who govern by their lusts； and measure their greatness by
their power to commit affronts and insolences； from whom； though she
suffered no dishonour； yet it might be thought she did； being in the
hands of those who had the power to do it。 This argument alone； they
say； was persuasive enough to divert his course； that was designed
towards Euphrates； if it were so indeed that any counsel of
Pompey's； and not some superior power； made him take this other way。
As soon； therefore； as it was resolved upon that he should fly
into Egypt； setting sail from Cyprus in a galley of Seleucia； together
with Cornelia； while the rest of his company sailed along near him；
some in ships of war； and others in merchant vessels； he passed over
sea without danger。 But on hearing that King Ptolemy was posted with
his army at the city of Pelusium； making war against his sister； he
steered his course that way； and sent a messenger before to acquaint
the king with his arrival； and to crave his protection。 Ptolemy
himself was quite young； therefore Pothinus； who the principal
administration of affairs； called a council of the chief men； those
being the greatest whom he pleased to make so； and commanded them
every man to deliver his opinion touching the reception of Pompey。
It was； indeed； a miserable thing that the fate of the great Pompey
should be left to the determinations of Pothinus the eunuch； Theodotus
of Chois； the paid rhetoric master； and Achillas the Egyptian。 For
these； among the chamberlains and menial domestics that made up the
rest of the council； were the chief and leading men。 Pompey； who
thought it dishonourable for him to owe his safety to Caesar； riding
at anchor at a distance from shore； was forced to wait the sentence of
this tribunal。 It seems they were so far different in their opinions
that some were for sending the man away； and others； again； for
inviting and receiving him； but Theodotus； to show his cleverness
and the cogency of his rhetoric； undertook to demonstrate that neither
the one nor the other was safe in that juncture of affairs。 For if
they entertained him； they would be sure to make Caesar their enemy
and Pompey their master； or if they dismissed him； they might render
themselves hereafter obnoxious to Pompey； for that inhospitable
expulsion； and to Caesar； for the escape； so that the most expedient
course would be to send for him and take away his life； for by that
means they would ingratiate themselves with the one； and have no
reason to fear the other； adding； it is related； with a smile； that 〃a
dead man cannot bite。〃
This advice being approved of； they committed the execution of it to
Achillas。 He； therefore； taking with him as his accomplices one
Septimius； a man that had formerly held a command under Pompey； and
Salvius； another centurion； with three or four attendants； made up
towards Pompey galley。 In the meantime； all the chiefest of those
who accompanied Pompey in this voyage were come into his ship to learn
the event of their embassy。 But when they saw the manner of their
reception； that in appearance it was neither princely nor
honourable； nor indeed in any way answerable to the hopes of
Theophanes； or their expectation （for there came but a few men in a
fisherman's boat to meet them）； they began to suspect the meanness
of their entertainment； and gave warning to Pompey that he should
row back his galley； whilst he was out of their reach； and make for
the sea。 By this time the Egyptian boat drew near； and Septimius
standing up first； saluted Pompey； in the Latin tongue； by the title
of imperator。 Then Achillas； saluting him in the Greek language；
desired him to come aboard his vessel； telling him that the sea was
very shallow towards the shore； and that a galley of that burden could
not avoid striking upon the sands。 At the same time they saw several
of the king's galleys getting their men on board； and all the shore
covered with soldiers； so that even if they changed their minds； it
seemed impossible for them to escape； and besides； their distrust
would have given the assassins a pretence for their cruelty。 Pompey；
therefore； taking his leave of Cornelia； who was already lamenting his
death before it came； bade two centurions； with Philip； one of his
freedmen； and a slave called Scythes； go on board the boat before him。
And as some of the crew with Achillas were reaching out their hands to
help him； he turned about towards his wife and son； and repeated those
iambics of Sophocles…
〃He that once enters at a tyrant's door
Becomes a slave； though he were free before。〃
These were the last words he spoke to his friends； and so he went
aboard。 Observing presently that notwithstanding there was a
considerable distance betwixt his galley and the shore； yet none of
the company addressed any words of friendliness or welcome to him
all the way； he looked earnestly upon Septimius； and said； 〃I am not
mistaken； surely； in believing you to have been formerly my
fellow…soldier。〃 But he only nodded with his head； making no reply
at all； nor showing any other courtesy。 Since； therefore； they
continued silent； Pompey took a little book in his hand； in which
was written out an address in Greek； which he intended to make to King
Ptolemy； and began to read it。 When they drew near to the shore；
Cornelia； together with the rest of his friends in the galley； was
very impatient to see the event； and began to take courage at last
when she saw several of the royal escort coming to meet him；
apparently to give him a more honourable reception； but in the
meantime； as Pompey took Philip by the hand to rise up more easily。
Septimius first stabbed him from behind with his sword； and after
him likewise Salvius and Achillas drew out their swords。 He；
therefore； taking up his gown with both hands； drew it over his
face； and neither saying nor doing anything unworthy of himself；
only groaning a little； endured the wounds they gave him； and so ended
his life； in the fifty…ninth year of his age； the very next day
after the day of his birth。
Cornelia； with her company from the galley； seeing him murdered；
gave such a cry that it was heard on the shore； and weighing anchor
with all speed； they hoisted sail； and fled。 A strong breeze from
the shore assisted their flight into the open sea； so that the
Egyptians； though desirous to overtake them； desisted from the
pursuit。 But they cut off Pompey's head； and threw the rest of his
body overboard； leaving it naked upon the shore； to be viewed by any
that had the curiosity to see so sad a spectacle。 Philip stayed by and
watched till they had glutted their eyes in viewing it； and then
washing it with sea…water； having nothing else； he wrapped it up in
a shirt of his own for a winding…sheet。 Then seeking up and down about
the sands； at last he found some rotten planks of a little
fisher…boat； not much； but yet enough to make up a funeral pile for
a naked body； and that not quite entire。 As Philip was busy in
gathering and putting these old planks together； an old Roman citizen；
who in his youth had served in the wars under Pompey； came up to him
and demanded who he was that was preparing the funeral of Pompey the
Great。 And Philip making answer that he was his freedman； 〃Nay； then；〃
said he； 〃you shall not have this honour alone； let even me； too； I
pray you； have my share in such a pious office； that I may not
altogether repent me of this pilgrimage in a strange land； but in
compensation of many misfortunes may obtain this happiness at last；
even with mine own hands to touch the body of Pompey； and do the
last duties to the greatest general among the Romans。〃 And in this
manner were the obsequies of Pompey performed。 The next day Lucius
Lentulus； not knowing what had passed； came sailing from Cyprus
along the shore of that coast； and seeing a funeral pile； and Philip
standing by； exclaimed； before he was yet seen by any one； 〃Who is
this t