majority withdrew。 But when it was ordered again for those to withdraw
whose vote was that both should lay down their arms； and neither
command； there were but twenty…two for Pompey； all the rest remained
on Curio's side。 Whereupon he； as one proud of his conquest； leaped
out in triumph among the people； who received him with as great tokens
of joy； clapping their hands and crowning him with garlands and
flowers。 Pompey was not then present in the senate； because it is
not lawful for generals in command of an army to come into the city。
But Marcellus rising up； said； that he would not sit there hearing
speeches； when he saw ten legions already passing the Alps on their
march toward the city； but on his own authority would send some one to
oppose them in defence of the country。
Upon this the city went into mourning； as in a public calamity；
and Marcellus； accompanied by the senate； went solemnly through the
forum to meet Pompey； and made him this address： 〃I hereby give you
orders； O Pompey； to defend your country； to employ the troops you now
command； and to levy more。〃 Lentulus； consul elect for the year
following； spoke to the same purpose。 Antony； however； contrary to the
will of the senate； having in a public assembly read a letter of
Caesar's； containing various plausible overtures such as were likely
to gain the common people； proposing； namely； that both Pompey and he；
quitting their governments and dismissing their armies； should
submit to the judgment of the people； and give an account of their
actions before them； the consequence was that when Pompey began to
make his levies； he found himself disappointed in his expectations。
Some few； indeed； came in； but those very unwillingly； others would
not answer to their names； and the generality cried out for peace。
Lentulus； notwithstanding he was now entered upon his consulship；
would not assemble the senate； but Cicero； who was lately returned
from Cilicia； laboured for a reconciliation； proposing that Caesar
should leave his province of Gaul and army； reserving two legions
only； together with the government of Illyricum； and should thus be
put in nomination for a second consulship。 Pompey disliking this
motion； Caesar's friends were contented that he should surrender one
of the two； but Lentulus still opposing； and Cato crying out that
Pompey did ill to be deceived again； the reconciliation did not take
effect。
In the meantime； news was brought that Caesar had occupied Ariminum；
a great city in Italy； and was marching directly towards Rome with all
his forces。 But this latter was altogether false； for he had no more
with him at that time than three hundred horse and five thousand foot；
and he did not mean to tarry for the body of his army； which lay
beyond the Alps； choosing rather to fall in on a sudden upon his
enemies； while they were in confusion； and did not expect him； than to
give them time； and fight them after they had made preparations。 For
when he came to the banks of the Rubicon； a river that made the bounds
of his province； there he made a halt； pausing a little； and
considering； we may suppose； with himself the greatness of the
enterprise which he had undertaken； then； at last； like men that are
throwing themselves headlong from some precipice into a vast abyss；
having shut； as it were； his mind's eyes and put away from his sight
the idea of danger； he merely uttered to those near him in Greek the
words； 〃Anerriphtho kubos〃 （let the die be cast）； and led his army
through it。 No sooner was the news arrived； but there was an uproar
throughout all the city； and a consternation in the people even to
astonishment； such as never was known in Rome before； all the senate
ran immediately to Pompey； and the magistrates followed。 And when
Tullus made inquiry about his legions and forces； Pompey seemed to
pause a little； and answered with some hesitation that he had those
two legions ready that Caesar sent back； and that out of the men who
had been previously enrolled he believed he could shortly make up a
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； we