The Roman History, Foundation of Rome to Battle of Actium, VOL 9 of 10 - Ed. Charles Rollin (1768)

7/28/2019 The Roman History, Foundation of Rome to Battle of Actium, VOL 9 of 10 - Ed. Charles Rollin (1768)

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THE

ROMAN HISTORYFROM THEFOUNDATION of ROME

T O T H E

BATTLE of ACTIUMT H A T I S,

To the End of the COMMONWEALTH.By Mr. C R E V I E R,

Profeflbr of Rhetorick in the College of BeauvaisBeing the Continuation of Mr, ROLLIN's Work.

Tranflated from the French.VOL. IX.

THE THIRD EDITION.ILLUSTRATED WITH MAPS AND COPPER-PLATES.LONDON,

Printed for J. R i v i n g t o n, R. B a l d w i n, H a w e s Clarkeand Collins, R. Horsfield, W. Johnston, W. Ovvkn,T. Caslon, S. Crowder, B. Law, Z.Stuart, Robinsom*nd Roberts, and Newbery and Car nan.MDCCLXVIII.


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CONTENTS of Vol. IX.BOOK XLIII.

S E C T. I.cp'HE true caiife of the war between Cafar and Pompey*- uas their auMtmi. Pompey^ from his third Coiful-

Jhip, enjcytd c.n ahnofi ahfcUte authority in Rome, de-Jar's poll Iy to prevent laying down his Command, whenhe tad once got poffeffion of it. He makes a- e '..tiresevery where. It was no longer time to attack him.,when Pompey refolved upon it. Saying of Cicero uponthat [wjecl. The Confd M. Marcellus propofes to re-call Ccffar. Some 'Tribunes^ and the Conful Sulpiciusôppcfe it. Cafar gains to his party L. Pau'us and Cu-rio, one defrgned Conful., and the ether Tribune, for thene-xtyear. Divers refoluticns of the Senate., which areoppojcd by the Tribunes in Cafar^s interefi. Two re-markable fayings of Pompey upon thefe oppofitions. Truepoint from whence to view Cêfar's caufe. Subtle con-dul of Curio. When it is propofed to divefi Cafar ofhis Command, he demands that Pompey Jljould be alfodivefled oj his Command at thefame time, j^ffeêd mo-deration of Pompey. Curio pufoes him home. The Cen-for Appius endeavours to Jiigmatize Curio, but fails.Pompey sfickn~fs. Rejoicings all over Italy on his re-(oviry. Two legions took from C^rfar, and deliveredover to Pompey. Pompefs prefumption. Cafar, onthe contrary^ takes prudent meafures. The Confu's eleUenemies to Cafar, He writes to the Smate, Curiousaddrefs in bringijig the Senate to what Cêfar wanted.The Conful Marcellus orders Pompey to defend the Re-public againjl Cafar. Curio retires from Rome., andgoes to Cdefar. Mark Anthony^ being made Tribune^replaces Curio. Cafar makes propofals for an accom-modation. No agreement could poffbly take place be-tween defar and Pompey, becaufe they both wanted a,war. Other letters from Cafar to the Senate. TheConful Lentulus animates the Senate againji defar. De-cree of the Senate, by which Co'far is ordered to difbandhis troops. Anthony oppofes it. Violent debate. TheSenatufconfiiltum, iifedin the greateji extremities, is


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CONTENTS.ijfued. Anthony makes off. defar exhorts his foldiersto revenge the violated rights of the 'TriluueJJjip. Withafv'gle legion he begins the war. Paffage of the Rubi-con. CJfar makes bimfelf mafier of Rimini. 'Terribleconfternation at Rome. Ponipey is univerfalty reproached^mid qutte difconcerted. Pompey leaves Rome ; and isfollowed by the Magijirates, and the whole Senate. Thepartisans of Pompey and Cafar compared. Cato alonea friend to the Republic. Pretended frefages. Deathcj Perperna. Pompey raifes forces throughout Italy.Differe}it Chiefs who atl undtr him. Infincere and .fruitlefs negotiation between Pompey and defar, La-bienus goes over to Pompey. Cafar's progrefs. He be-Jteges Domitius in Corfinium. Domitius^s troops promifeto deliver him into Cafar^s hands. Lentulus Spintherywho was in Corfinium., obtains pardon. Domitius re-fohes to poifon himfelf. His Phyfician^ infiead of poi-fon, gives him afoporific. C^farpardons Domitius^ andthe f'ther prifomrs. C


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CONTENTS.^t leaves the condu5f of the fitge toTrebonlus, a?id con^tmaes his route to Spain. Pompey^s forces in Spain,

yjfrdnius and Petreius encamp on the Segre, near Le-r/da. It appears^ that dejar's army was Jlrcng andTiumerous. Ganlip cavalry. He Jtraitens the enemy.Fight^ in which be does not Jucced. Be is in greatdifficulties. He recovers hisjuperiority. He obliges theenemy to have their camp. He purfues them^ and pre-vents their fajf^ng the EhrCi^- He /pares his enemies^when he has it in hispower to cut them to pieces j chuftngio reduce them to lay down their arms. 'Treaty almojiconcluded between the foidiers of the izvo armies, Pc*treius prevents its execution. Cruelty of that Lieutenantof Ponipey. Cafar^s clemency. 'The war renewed. Ca-far.) by harraffing and diftreffing his enemies., compelsthem to furrender. Interview of Afranius and Ccefar iwho injtft only on the difhanding. of the adverfary troops.That condition is agreed to., and executed, C^far eaftlyfubdues Ulterior Spain -, after which he goes before Mar-feilles. .Account of 'what hudpaffed at thefnge of Mar^feilles., in C^far's abfence. Ptrfuly charged on the inha-bitants of Marfeilles., with little probability. CffafsfeverCy but not cruel, behaviour to them. Ga-fafspc-rtyreceives a check in Illyricum. Thefoidiers of one of C^-fa/s cohorts kill one another, rather than furrender.Curio paffes over into Africa, to wage war with AttiusVarus, and Juba, King of Mauritania. Curio's fuc-'cefs at firfl. Varus endeavours to' debauch his troops.Curious conflancy in that danger. His difcourfes to theCouncil of Voar, and the foldiery. The foidiers prcmJfe.fidelity. He defeats Varus. Juba comes to the ajfifianceof Varus. Curio's prefumption. Battle, in which Cu-rio's army is entirely routed. Curio makes hhnfelf bekilled on the fpot. Unhappy fate of almojt all who were.not Jlain in the battle. Juba's cruelty and arrogance,Hefiexion on the misfortune and raJJmefs of Curio, 59BOOK XLIV.

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CONTENTS.return to their duty. Pride and indecency of Anthony''conduEl. defar comes to Rome^ takes pofjejjion of theT)'i3atorfhip^ caufeshimjelf to be eleEfedCcnful^ and pre-Jides at the eUoiton of the other Magiftrates . Rrgula-tian infavour of dibtors. Recall of exiles. The chil-dren of prcfcribed perfons refloredto the capacity offC'V-ing public offices. Motions of delius and Milo. Theirdeath. Pompey^s preparations i his land army. Pom-pey encourages miiitary^êxercifes by his own example.General zeal and affetllon for Pompefs caufe. Afjemblyof the Senate held by the L onfuls at Thffjalonic'a. Pom-pey declared fok Chief. Pompey's fecunty as to C^far^spajfage into Greece. Cafar's eagernefs to get there. Hsgoes into Greece with twenty thoujand legionary folditrsandfix hundred horfe. He difpatcLes Vibullius to Pom-p&y^ with propofals for an acccminodatioyi. He makeshimfelf mafter of almcfi all Epirus. Pompey comes uptime enough to fave Dyrrachium^ and encamps ovcr-againft his adverfary., with the river Apfus between-them. Pompefs fleet hinders the troops Cafar had leftin Italy from crcffing thefea, Bibuhts^s death. Pom-pey''s harfh anfwer to Vibullius. New advances of Ca-far^ alwa^^s rejeêd. Cafafs forces at Brunduhum aredilatory in joining him. He goes himfelf to fetch ihem.Famous fpeech of C^far to the mafter of the bark. Ar-dour of Cafar^s foldiers. On receiving 7uw ordirs^ An-thonypaffesfrom Italy into Greece withfour legions. Me-tellus Scipio brings to Pompey the Syrian lencns. Ty-rannical behaviour of that Proconful. C^fcir fendsthree detachmentsfrom his army into AEtclia., Thejfaliit,and Macedonia. Pompey avoids an engagement-, (â-far attempts to inclofe Pompey in lines. Divers actionsahout the lines. Prodigious valour of one of Ca'far''scohorts^ and above all of the Centurion Sctfva. Incre^dible patience of Ccefar^s trcops, when in want. Fruit-lefs negotiation began by C^far with Scipio. Pompefsarmy f'ffers much. Two GaullfJo Officers of Cffar'sparty defert^ and acquaint Pompey with the weak partiof his adverfary*s lines. Pompey forces defer''s lines.Ca^far determines to retreat into Theffalia. Shame andgrief of hisfoldiers. Pompey^ advifed to go overto Ilafyt


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CONTENTS.choofes to ftay in Greece. C^far joins Calvinus. Hisvarious difpcfitions according to the different def.gus 'Pom-pey might jorm. Cafar jiorms the city cf Gam-phi inTheffalia. He[pares that cf Metropolis, He comes toPharfalia. Pcmpeyfollows him^ P5

^tOi. II. Ridiculous prefumpti-n and cruelly of thepa^ti-fans of Pompey. ^heir murmurings at the prudent de-lay of their General. Secret views of Pompey in fjch de-lay. He leaves Cato at Dyrrachium. 'The reafohs forthis procedure. Cicero alfo continues at DyrrachiumHisfharp and peevifh railkries. Cêfar endeavours tocome to a general engagement. Pompey^ after many de-lays, at length advances to meet him. Battle of / har~falia. Strange conduct of Pompey. His flight Cafarforces the enemfs camp. Remarkable faying of Cafar.He purfuesfuch as had floeltered tkemfelves in the adja-cent mountains^ and compels them to furrender. Thelofs Cefar fuftained in the battle of Pharfalia. H's ge-iierojity after viulory. He is well pleafed with favingBrutus. The hat tie of Pharfalia foretold at Dyrrachiumând known at Padua, in a very extraordinary, and aUmoft miraculous manner: Pompey s flvt^ht. He goes toMytelene to fetch his wfe. Dtfccurfe with Cratippuson Providence. Continues his journey, and determinesto feek protection in Egypt. Goes there, and is affaf-finated. Reflexions on his death ar:d character. Hismurderers cut off his head. His body is meanly buriedby one of his freedmen. L. Lentulus arrives in E^ypt,and is there killed. The conqueredfollow vc.ricus inte-refts. Cicero goes to Brundiifium, where he waits aconftderable time for defar. Cato, at the head cf thegreateft part of thefleet, advances towards Libya forintelligence. He hears cf Pompey^s death by S. x. Pom-peiiis and by Cornelia. Takes upon him the commandând is received at Cyrene, 1 3 1BOOK XLV.

Sefl. I. C


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CONTENTS.'Takes into conjideration the difference betwixt the Kingcf Egypt f,nd Cleopatra his Jij'ter. The caufe of this^mijunder/landing. ' Difcontent of the Egyptian minifiers,particularly of the eunuch Pothinus. Cleopatra comes toAkxayidria^ and is introduced to Ccffar. Their adulte-rous commerce. C^far declares Ptolemy and Cleopatrajointly King and êen of Egypt. Achillas with theRoyal army comes to befiege defar in Alexandria. Firfibattle. Afire confumes thegreatefl part of the Alexan-drian library. The war continued. Cafar caufes Po-thinus to be affaffinated. He is afecond time appointedDictator. Arfmoe, Cleopatra''s Jifler^ having intro-duced herfelf into Achillas's camp, procures his death.The war carried on under the direction of the eunuchGanimed. C/cfar in great danger, faves himfelf byfwimming. The Alexandrians demand their King of de-far, who returns him. Cafar receives fupplies. Mi-thridates of Pergamus brings him a confideraUe reinforce-went. Cêfar goes to join him. Laft battle, whereinPtolemy is defeated and afterwards drozvned in the Nile,Rtdutiion of Alexandria and Egypt. The kingdom ofEgypt given to Cleopatra and herfecond brother. Cafardevotes himfelfforfome time to the charms of Cleopatra.He is obliged to quit E.gypt on the report of the prcgreficf Phamfees in Afia. Conclufion of the amours of Ca-far and Cleopatra. Cêfar fettles the affairs of Syriaand Cilicia. Dejotarus fues for pardon, and partly ob-tains it. Pharnaces, taking advantage cf the civil wafto commence Hofiilities, gains confiderable advantages.Defeats Domitius Calvinus, Cêfar^s Lieutenant. Ca-far comes and gains a viôry. Remarkable faying ofCafar thereon. Total ruin and death of Pharnaces.Cafar, in hij return to Rome,fettles the affairs ofAfta andraifes great contributions. His maxim on that head, 166

Seft. II. The war in Illyricum between the parti]ans ofdefar and Pompey. Calenus takes Athens, Megaraand Pelofonnefus, for Cczfar. Death of Appius Clau-dius. PrediSiion of the Pythian oracle, Sulpicius andMarcellus make choice of a voluntary exile. Conjfancyof Marcellus. Cicero is ill treated by his brother andnephew* An account of Cicero's difquiettid-e during his


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CONTENTS.Jlay at Brunduftum. He goes to defar'Hi^ fs favour->ably received. State of Rome after the battle of Phar-falia. Cicfar appointed Dilator^ and M. Anihony Ge-neral of the horfe. Mifccftdutl of Anthony. His rapineand injuftice. Commotions in Rome occafioned by Dola-bella the Tribune. Cafar^ on his return to Romeyquells thefe troubles^ without examining into paji fa5Is.defar endeavours to raife money at any rate. He makesa fale of the effetis of the defeated party, particularlyPompey''s., zvkicb are bought by Anthony. Difcontentsbetwixt Cafar and Anthony on this head, defar in-gratiates himfdf with the people. Rezvards the leadersof his party. Calenus and Vatinias appointed Confuls.C^far caufes himfeif to be nominated Diclaior and Con-fulfor the enfuing year, and takes Lepidus for his Col-legue in the Confiilfhip, andfor his General of the horfe.Sedition among the veteran foldiers. Cafar appeafes itby his refolution. The principles of his cvnduSt in re-gard to his foldiers, i^ 8BOOK XLVI.

Seel* I. Metellus Scipio comes into Africa, to meet Varusand Juba. His charcoler. They arejoined by Cato.Catd's fnarch through the deferts of Libya. He makesJuba fenftble of Scipio's authority, by himfeiffuhmittiiigto ferve under him. He faves Utica^ which Jubawould have demolijljed^ and fhuls himfeif up there.Strength of the vanquifcedparly in Africa. Co:far goesinto Africa. His inconceivaile difpatch. His cautionto obviate the vulgar fuperftitions. He had at firfi butJew troops with him, and ihofe very ill provided. La-bienus attacks him. A great battle, wherein Cjjar isput to great dijfculties. Magnanimity of one of Labie-nus^s foldiers, who was lately co?ne out ofJlavery. C


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CONTENTS.Cato cidvifes Sci.'-:o to p^oiraB the war., hut feeing hiscotinfel reje5ied^ repents having given up the commandsScipG^s cruelty to a Centurion and feme veteran foldierscf the energy. A terrible jtorm^ which greatly incom-modes Cajar''s army. Panic among C^pfars troops^ onthe approach of Juha. Singular expedient made ufe cfby C^fcir, to encourage them. Juba's pride and arro'gance. Jun5fion of all C(zfar*sforccS. He punifhesfivecfficers. A remarkable inflame of Ccefar's activity Heputs P. Ligurius to death, for having continued in arms^gainji him., notwithfianding the pardon granted him inSpain, Ccsfar particularly applies himfdf to the difci-plining of his troops. Battle of Thapfus. Memorableengagement of a foldier with an elephant. Cafar pro-ceeds to attack Utica. Cato is willing to defend thetown., but finds nobody difpofed to fecond him. Where-upon having taken a refclution to difpatch himfelf hiswhole attention is employed in fecuring the retreat of theSenators that had accompanied him. Gate's hiji fupper.His death. Reflexions thereon. Cato truly valuablefor the mildnefs, which accompanied his refotution. Hemay be confulered as one of the moft virtuous mm Pagan-ifm ever prcduced. Inexcufable behaviour to his wifeMarcia. Plis funeral. Commendations bejiowed on himby the Uticans. Exprefion of defar, en the news cfhis death. IVhat may be thought of C^fafs concern, innot having been able to fave his life. Cafar entersUtica. Pardons Cato''s fen t and impofes a heavy tax onthe P^omans., fettled in that city, Juba'sflight. Zama,the metropolis of his kingdom^ Jhuts its gates againfl him.Plis death. The conqueror meets with no further cppo-fition. Metellus Scipiofalls on his own Jzvord. Numi-dia reduced to a Roman province. Salliift appointedGovernor of it, where he rules ziith great tyranny. Ca-far^s diftribution of rewards and punifljments. He putsto death Fauftus Sylla and Afranius. His clemency tothe reft. He fets out for Rome, having put an end tothe African war, in little v.;ore thanfive months, 227Seft. II. Flattering decrees cf the Senate. C^far havingrcfolved to make a mild ufe cf the fupreme power, fo-

to it in his to the Senate^


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C O N T E N T S.Refie5lions on C^far^s plan of conduct. He celebratesfour triumphs ; for the vi5fories gained over the Gaulsîn Alexandria and Egypt^ over Pharnaces and overJuba. Satirical refle5lions on Cafar^ of an uncommonlicence^ fung by the foldiers during the triumph. Re-wards bejiowed by Cafar on his foldiers. His bounty tothe people. Roman Knightsfight as Gladiators. Ca^farengages Laberius toplay a part in the Mimi of his com-pofition. haberius'sfnart repartee to Cicero. 'Templeof Venus Genetrix. defar^s forum. Amount of thefi'ms carried by Cafar in his triumphs. Regulation.made by Cafar., for repairing the diminution of the num-ber of citizens : againfi luxury : in favour ofphyficians,and profeffors of the liberal arts. The Calendar reformed,C^far^s conduct blameable^ in what. He confents toMarcellus's return. Cicero's oration on that occafion.Unhappy death of Marcellus. The affair of Ligarius.Cicero pleads for him. C^far pardons him. Cicero'sconfirained leifure. He employs it in the compofttion offeveral works. His concern^ cccafioned by the prefentfiate of affairs^ abates. His political conduct towardsCafar. He gains the affection of Cafar^sfriends. Eu-Ionium on Cato compofed by Cicero. Cafar's AnticatonesCicero's exceffivegriefon account of the death ofhis daugh-ter Tullia, 282BOOK XLVII.

Sefb. T. The troubles in Spain provefavourable to youngPompcy. Cêfar comes into Spain. Hd compofes afmallpoem during the voyage. Obliges Pompey to raife thefiege of Ulia. Bejieges and takes Ategua. Reciprocalcruelties. Battle of Mu7ida. Death of Cn. Pompeius.Sextus Pompeius faves himfelf among the moutitains ofCeltiberia. Total reduction of Batica. Voluntary deathcf Scapula, Co'far's dfiribiilion of rewards and pu-vifidments in Spain. Young Oâvius is ferviceable to fe-nêral with his uncle. Cafar takes all cccafions tofhewhim in public. C^far's triumph, and the citizens dif-content on that account. C^far fpoilt by the Senate'sflattery. He is declared Imperator, perpetual Diiatorî^c. Extraordinary honours conferred cn him. Theprivilege of confiantiy wearing a crown of laurel gives


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CONTENTS.hmjingular fatisfaBion. The reafon defar appoifiti'Fahius and I'rebonius Conful for the three retnainingmonths. Caninius Conful forfeventeen hours.. Cicero\switticifms on that occafion. defar arbitrarily difpofesof all offices and employments. New Patricians. Con-fular ornaments granted to ten who had paffed the Pre-torian dignity. Cafar appointed Conful for the fifthtime and Anthony for his Collegue. Nomination of otherMagiftrates. defar prepares to make war againfi theParthians. He forms feveralfchemes, all equallygrandand magnificent, , 306

Seel. II. C^far's clemency. He refufes to accept of aguard. Several circumftances which render him odious.His readinefs to accept of honours^ and exorbitant pri-vileges. Arrogance in his difcourfe, and behaviour."Defire of Royalty. Mark Anthony tenders the Diademto Ccsjar. Public refentment to C^far. Confpiracyagainfi his life. Brutus's character . Caffius the firficontriver of the confpiracy. He engages Brutus, whobecomes the principal manager. Ttey arejoined by Li-garius andfeveral of Cafar's former friends. Brutus^sprudence in the choice of his affociates. Cicero is not letinto the ftcret. 'Trebonius prevents the affair being pro-pofed to Anthony : and Brutus oppofes his being put todeath with Cafar. The number of the Confpirators in-reafes to upwards ofjixty. Several of their na?nes: Sur^priftng courage of Porcia the wife of Brutus. Her huf-hand lets her into thefecret. The Confpirators determineto kill Cafar in full Senate. Citfar begins to havefomefufpicions of Brutus and Caffius. He reje^s the pre-dihtons of a Soothfayer. Cafafs opinion as to whatkind of death is mojl eligible. His wife Calphw ma'sfrightful dream. C^cfar is inclined not to go to the Se-nate-houfe, till perfuaded to the contrary by D. Brutus.An intimation fent him of the confpiracy, which neverfame to his knowledge. Refulution and tranquillity inthe Confpirators. They meet with feveral difappoint-ments. Cafar''s death. He falls at thefoot of Pompefsftatue. Different opinions in relation to C^far^s murtbcr.Without doult he defrved death. Brutus's condiil re-proachable. Short reflexions ondefafs chara^er, 330


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CONTENTS.Se6l. III. Qffeir's death occafions a great conjlernation in

the Senate and among the people. 'The Confpiratorstake pojjejfton of the Capitol. They are favoured bythe Senate. A confideraUe body of the people and thefoldiery declare for Anthony and Lepidus, the chiefs ofthe contrary party. Brutus endeavours to appeafe thepeople^ and treats with Anthony. The Senate meets,

< and decrees that C fur's death ffjall pafs unrevenged^ hutthat his a^s fhall he confirmed. His will is to takeplace., and his funeral is ordered to be celebrated withall imaginable honours. Reconciliation between Brutusand Anthony. The Governments of the provinces con-ferred on the principal Confpirators. Cafars will opened.The people's affe^ion towards him revives. His fune-ral. Anthony fpeaks his funeral oration. The peopWsrefentment to the Confpirators. Helvius Cinna is mif-takenfor the olher Cinna, Cafar'^s enemy ^ and torn topieces. Anthony endeavours to regain the Senate. Heprocures a decree to prevent a7iy abufe hei?ig made ofCafafs memorandums or papers. AholifJoes the Diolator-fhip. Futs thepretendedMarius to death. The Senategrantshim a guard, which he extends to J:x thoufand men. Hevends forged ad.s,puhlifhed in C^efai-'s name, and by thatand olher means, amaffes immenfefunis of money. Brutusis in want of troops and money. The projeui of a militarychejl for the ufe of the Confpirators fails by Atticus''srefufiL They endeavour to Jtrengthen their party in theprovinces. The Confpirators quit Rome. Anthony takestheir governments from them -, gives Syria to Dolabellaymd takes Macedonia for himfelf. Oclavius's arrival atRoine difconcerts his fchernes, ^63BOOK XLVIII.

Seft. I. The Confpirators imprudent conduit the caufe ofAnthonfs rife. 05iaviiis comes and forms a party.From Apollonia, where he firjl heard of his UncUsdeath, he comes into Italy and takes the name of defar.He tries his Jkill, by deceiving Cicero, who joins him.His Mother is not able to prevail on him to renounce thefuccefficn to C^far. His firfi interview with Anthony,%vbo receives him very ill, Hs wants to be made Tri-


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CONTENTS.hme of the people : but Anthony prevents it. He gainsthe mull/tude by his liberality^ and by the feajls he givesthem. Comet during Oâvius's fporls. He fells all hisinheritance from defar. Difficulties Jiarted by the Con-ful. 'Their falling out andrecomiliation. Oâvim isaccufed by Anthony ofan attempt to have him ojfaffinated.They take arms. Anthony fends for the Macedonian le-gions into Italy. He affeis to be popular. OSlaviusgains his Father^s veterars. Brutus and Coffius quitItaly ar:d go beyond fea. Porcia and Brutus's fpara-iion. Cicero fets out on a voyage to Greece. Butchanges his mind and returns to Rome. Cicero's firjlPhilippic. His fecond Philippic. Anthony being cometo Bfundu/ium offends the foldiers by his feveyity. He{irrivcs at Rome with the legion called the Larks. Hethere firikes a terror. Troops affembled by 0iavius.He is forjaken by the greateflpart ofthem. He recoversthem by his prudence and mildjiefs. Two of Antho:y''s le-giens come over to Gâvius, Anthony leaves Rome. Thejorcescf Anthony, of Becimus, and of Oâvius. Oâ-vius tenders his fa vice to the Senate againft Anthony.They accept his offer. Cicero's lajl engagements withOoiavius. A decree cf the Senate which authorifes De-cimus and Oâv'ius's mihtary freparations. Anthonyhefieges Decimv.s in Mcdena. State of the Republicanparty in Bay. Brulus and Caffius go to /Ithens. Bru-tus engages the young Roman ft i. dents into his fervlce^He in ajhort lime raffes a powerful army., and makes him-felf majler of Greece^ ^c. Caffius goes into Syria, whilftDo'ahellaftops in Afm Minor, whire he putsTrebonius todet'th. Ccffais wakes himfelf rr.after of Syria and cf twelvelegions. He is ccmmiffioned by the Senate to carry en thewar with Dolabella^ whom he reduces to fuch ftreightsthat he kills himfelf. The horfe Sejanus. State ofthe Ro- 'man armies. The difpcfitions of their Commanders,Palenefs of the fun during the whole year of Cafar'sdeath. Servilius Ifauricus's death, A remarkable in-fta?:ce cf his gravity, 387

Sed. II. The difp'fitions of the two Confuls, with regardto thefate cf the Repuhlick. The Senate, orders a de-putation to Anthony. 05iavius is invefted with the title


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CONTENTS.and authority of Pro-prator. Cice^-o becomes furet^ forhim to the Senate. InJiruSfions given to the deputies of theSenate. Thebadfuccefs ofthe deputation. Atumult declaredhy the Senate. Aftatue is decreed to Sulpitius. A new de-putation to Anthohy by the Senate. Cicero^ whom they putin the number cf the dputies, excufes himfelf and thusrenders the affair ab. rtive. Lepidus writes to the Se-nate to exhort them to peace. Cicero oppofes it. An-thonfs letter to Hirtius and 05lavius. Hirtius andOtiavius approach to Modena. Pigeons employed tocarry and bring back difpatches. Afight wherein Panjais wounded. Anthony in returning to his camp ^ is at-tacked., and overcome by Hirtius. 0lav:us, who wasleft to guard the camp., defends himfelf agairfi Lucius.,brother cf Anthony. The Senate extols prodigioufiy theadvantage gained over Anthony. A new battle, wherethe lines of Anthony areforced. Hirtius is killed. An-thony raifes thefiege^ and gains the Alps. OSiaviusdoes notpnrfue him. Difficulties in unravelling the in-trigues of the times whichfollowed the raifing of thefiegeof Modena. The d:ath of Panfa. Anthony is declaredan enemy to the Publick. The genercfity of Atticus. TheSenate endeavours to pull down Oâvius. An equivo-cal exprejfion of Cicero, with regard to young Cafar.The oppqfite projeBs and interefls of Oâvius and theSenate. ' The Senate gives Oîavius a pretext, which hemakes ufs of to declare himfelf Ohavius approachestowards Anthony. He invites Lepidus and Pollio tojoin with him. He afpires to the Confulfhip. Cicerobecomes his dupe, andfupports him. The Senate rejectsthe demand of Oâvius. The junciion of Lepidus andAnthony. The Senate has recourfe to 05iavius : whotakes that opportunity to ufurp the Confulfhip. Com-plaints of Brutus againji Cicero. The foundation of thetown of Lyons, 434BOOK XLIX.

Set. I. 05lavius legally condemns all thofe who had killedCafar. Sextus Pompeius and Cn. Domitius, who hadtio part in the action, are comprehended in the condem-nation. 05lavius puts to death^ Gallius Prator of thecity. He makes the Senate revoke the decree againfi An*


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CONTENTS.thony and Lepidus. The misfortune and death of De-cimus, - 05iavius, Anthony, and Lepidus, unite toge-ther. Their interview in an ijland of the Reno. Theywrangle about thofe whom they ought to prcfcribe. Theexchange of Cicero's head, againft thofe of the uncle ofAnthony, and the brother of Lepidus, The project of aTriumvirate. The marriage of Oâvius with Anthony*daughter-in-law is refohed upon. Prelude to the maf-facres. Great terror in Rome. The death of the Con-ful Pedius. The entry of the three Generals into Rome.A law to eftablifh the Triumvirate. The ediui of theprofcription. The profcription of the Triumviri morenumerous than that of Sylla. A great many are pro^fcribed on account of their riches. Affectation in thechoice of the names placed at the head of the catalogue ofthe profcription. OStavius as cruel as his coUegues, orrather more fo. The death of Cicero. Inveîves ofwriters of all forts againfi Anthony, upon the fub)e5l ofCicero's death. The reafon why 0iavius has beenfpared. Character of Cicero. An expreffion of Brutusconcerning his death. C. Antonius killed by way of re-prifal. The death of întius Cicero and his fon. Z,C^farfaved by hisjijtcr, Anthonfs mother. Lepidus con-fents to the efcape of his brother Paulus. The death ofPbllio''s father in law^ of the brother of Plancus, andcf Toranius tutor to Oâvius. Verres is profcribed. Anexample of thepiety ofMneas renewed by thefon of Op-pius. Varro put into cujtody by Calenus. Atticusfcratched out of the lift of the profcribed. An elogiumof his prudence and humanity. Meffalla blotted out ofthe number of the profcribed. Particular obfervationsuponfome of the profcribed. Fulvia makes a figure inthe profcription. The public hatred falls particularlyupon Anthony. The Qdious triumphs of Lepidus andPlancus, Refuges opened to the profcribed out of Italyêfpecially with Sextus Pompeius. Exactions of the Tri'umvirate. A tax impofed by them on the ladles. Hor-tenfta s fpeech upon this fubjeSl, Ventidius is made Con-ful. His furprizing fortune. Civic crozvns decreed to theTriumviri. The triumvirifwear to obferve the ails ofC


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[ I 3

THEROMAN HISTORY,

FROM THEFOUNDATION of ROME

T O T HE

BATTLE of ACTIUM.BOOK THE FORTY-THIRD.

PReliminaries to the civil war betweenCaefar and Pompey. Firfl campaign of

that war. Years of Rome 701 jo^*SECT. I.

The true caufe of the war between defar and Pompey wastheir ambition. Pompey^ from his third Confulffjipyenjoyed an almoll abfolute authority in Rome. Ca:far*spolicy to prevent laying down his Com?nand, when hehad once got poffeffion of it. He makes creatures eierywhere. It was no longer time to attack him, whenPompey refohed upon it. Saying of Cicero upon thatfubjei. The Conful M. Marcellus propofes to recallCafar. Some Tribunes, and the Conful Sulpicius, cp-Vol. IX. B p fe


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2 CONTENTS.cpofe it, Cd:far gains to hisparty L. Patilus and Curio^ one

. dejfigned Conful^ and the other Tril^une^ fur the next year.Divers rejolutions of the Senate^ which are cppofed bythe 'Tribunes in Ccefar''s interefl Two remarkable fay-ings of Pompey upon thrfe oppofttions. True point fromwhence to view C^efar^s caiife. Subtle condti^ of Curio.When it is pr>poled to diveft Cafar of his Command,he demands that Pompey fhould be alfo divefted of hisCommand at the fame time. Affected moderation ofPcmpiy. Curio pufhes him home. The Cenfor AppiusendcYiVcurs to fligmatize Curio, but fails. Pompefsficknefs. Rejoicings all over Italy on his recovery. Twolegicns took from Cdpfar, and delivered over to Pompey.Pcmpey^s prefumption. C^far, on the contrary, takesprudent meafures. The Confuls elc5l enemies to C^far.He writes to the Senate. Curio's addrefs in bringingthe Senate to what Caefar wanted. The Ccnful Mar-cellus orders Pompey to defend the Republic againftCd:far. Curio retires from Rome, and goes to defar.Mdrk An'hony, being made Tribune, replaces Curio.defar makes propofalsfor an accommodation. No agree-ment could poffibly take place between defar and Pom-pey, becaufe they both wanted a war. Other lettersfrom Cafar to the Senate. The Conful Lentulus ani-mates the Senate againfi Cafar. Decree of the Senate,by which Cafar is crdered to dipand his troops. An-thony oppoji's it. Violent debate. The Senatufcon-fukum, ttfed in the greateft extremities, is ijfued. An-thony makes off. Cdfrr exhorts his Joldiers to revengethe violated rights oftheTribunefloip. IVith a finglelegicn he begins the war. Paffage of the Rubicon.Cafar makes himfelf majter of Rimini. Terrible con-Jlernatlon at Rome. Pompey is univerfally reproached,a'.id quite difconcerted. Pompey leaves Rome -, and isfollowed by tte Magiflrates, and the whole Senate. Thepartizans of Pompey and C^far compared. Cato alonea friend to the Republic. Pretended prefages. "Deathof Perpirna. Pompey. raifes forces throughout Italy.Different Chiefs who atl ur.der him. Infincere andfruitlefs negotiation between Pompey and Cccfar. Labie-

fius


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CONTENTS.ftus goes over to Pompey. C^fa>'''s prcgrefs. He he*Jteges Domilius in Corfinium. Domitius's troops pro-mife to deliver him into Cafafs hands, Le'itulns Spin-ther, who was in Corfinium, obtains pardon. Domi^tins refolves to poifon himfeJf. His Phyji' ian, injiend ofpoifon, gives him a foporific. Cafar pardons Domitius^and the other prifoners. dsfur purj'ues Pompey, whoJhuts himfelf up in Brundujium. NtW Jieps taken byCafar towards a peace. He has fometimes difguifed thetruth offais in his Commentaries. Cafar bejicges Po?n~pey, who goes over to Epirus. Reflexion on Pompsfsflight. Cafar, determined to go into Spain, fends Vale-rius into Sardinia , and Cwio into Sicify. The Sardi-nians drive out Cotta, and receive VaUr'.us. Cato re-tires out of Sicily, withoutflaying for Curio. Cicero'sperplexity and uncertavity. C^far wants Cicero to gowith him to Rome., and appear in the S^.nate. Cicerorefufes. Cicero, after much delay, at lafl goes to Porupty^s camp. Cato jujlly blames that ftep. Cafar covesto Rome, and affeis great muderationin his fpecches tothe Senate and People. He is not able to d-> any thinghe intended. He breaks open the public trenfury, fpiieof the Tribune Metellus''s oppofition ; and talus away allthe gold andftlver hefinds there. His clemency is thoughtaffected -, but wrongfully.

ADVERTISEMENT,Concerning C^far^s Commentaries on the Civil War.

THE mofl: compleat and authentic account wehave of the two firil: campaigns of t'ne war be-tween C^far and Pompey, is, wuhout doubt, thework univerfaliy known under the tide of " Commen-" taries of Cslar concerning the Civil War." TheieCommentaries carry Caefar's name, they have for agc3paffcd for his work, and Suetonius q^uQtes them aswrote by him.

B 2 Notwith-


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4 ADVERTISEMENT.Suet.Casf. Notwithftanding, many learned men fufped they"' ^^ are not legitimate. The Grammarians, and thofe

whole refined tafte enters deep into the delicacy of theLatin tongue, pretend to find in them many incorreftexpreffjons, or which at leaft come not up to the ftan-dard of elegancy. This is one good way of detectingthings that are fpurious ; and which, fuppofing thefad, is of great weight ; fince, it is certain that no-body fpoke purer Latin than Caefar.

Jufrus Lipfius, a good judge in thefe matters, au-thorizes this reproach to the diftion of the work wefpeak of. * He obferved, in this pretended Casfar,he fays, many pafTages unworthy of the true Casfar.Befides, he attacks in general the ftyle, and mannerbf the narration. " How cold," adds he, " is thewhole compofition of this author, how unconne6bed,how negligent ! He rather endeavours to fay fome-thing, than really fays any thing : and is confe-quently obfcure, and intricate. The proper faultof this writer is to fay little in many words."

Thefe conjedurcs are certainly not to be defpifed.And what adds to their force, is a paffage in the thirdbook, where the writer plainly diftinguijfhes himfelf

Tih.iii.de from C^far. He fpeaks of propofals made by Libo,B. c!v. n. ^ Lieutenant-general of Pompey,, for a truce. " Cse-far (it follows) did not think proper to give any an-fwer to Libo's demands, nor do we now think it ne-ceffary to give an account of them to pofterity. ^i-bus rebus neque tunc refpondendum C^far exijlifnavit : nequenunc ui memori^ prodattir fatis caufce putamus** Theperfons, and times, are both diftinguiflied : and I donot fee how any one can doubt, but that the pafTage Iquote is of another hand than Csefar's.The expreffion itfelf, in the firil perfon, is enoughto create fufpicion. For we find no fuch thing in the

* Multa in Csefare ifto legi Csefare veteri parum di^na. Plufcularotavi : feci univerfa qurim frigida, aut inhians & fupina, fepe totaIcriptiu clt ! quam conatur potius aliquid dicere, qnani dicit ! Itaqueobfci'iitas & intricatio.Proprium in eo icriptore vitium, dicere inul-lis, nee multa. Lips. 1, I. Poliorcet. Dial. 9, Com-

7


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SULPICIUS, CLAUDIUS, Confuis. 5Commentaries on the Gaulifh wars j where Csefar al-ways fpeaks of himfelf in the third perfon. And yetthis fufpicioLis turn is repeated, . 92. of the famethird book of the Commentaries on the Civil WanTherefore it is, I think, clear, that this laft work isnot wholly Csefar's. I fay not wholly : for I will notextend my fufpicions beyond what is proved. Aftera prefcription of ages, after the teftimony of Suetonius,who lived fo near the time of its compofition, howcan we wholly take it from Csefar ? Without doubt hedireded the work, he furnifhed the materials, he over-looked it ; but fome body elfe held the pen. On thisfuppofition, I have made no difficulty to cite thefeCommentaries as C^far's, both in my text, and margin.Surely he may be called their author, fmce they werewrote in his name, on his memoirs, by his order, andaccording to his mind.

Ser. Sulpicius Rufus. a. 11.701.M. Claudius Marcellus. Ant. c.5^-The true caufe of the war between Casfar and Pom-

pey was, as every body knows, the ambition of thefetwo rivals in power and glory. This is what Lucan^ meant, when he fays, that C^far could not bear afuperior, nor Pompey an equal. But this thought,like many others of this poet, who was more ingeniousthan judicious, is not juft and exa


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6 SULFICIUS, CLAUDIUS, Confuls.A.R. 701. Pompey had attained that envied height by trim-'"^51. ' "''i^g between the Senate and People. Without ab-

foliuely trpoufmg either party, he had alternatelymade ufe of both, as befl agreed wirh his own intereft' and elevation. ,His third Conlullhip made fome al-

teration in his condutft. Pleafed with the confidencethe Senate had fhewn him, by putting the whole pub-lic authority into his hands, he entered into a flridtvinion with that augnfi: body ; and endeavoured to me-rit their good opinion by making a proper ufe of theentrufted power, and by taking efficacious meafures toreftore peace and tranquillity in Rome. When out ofoflice, he preferved an authority inherent as it v/ere inhis perfon. Though he had no title of Magiftracy,and was obliged as Proconful of Spain to keep out ofthe city, yet he governed all affairs, and influencedall deliberations. Pie reigned indeed almoft , but itwas by the voluntary deference of his countrymen,not by force.

Svet. Cccf. In tlief" circumfiances, if Caefar had returned to


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SULPICIUS, CLAUDIUS, Ccnfuls. 7ately from the Command of an army to this fecond A-l^- 701.Confuhliip, he had procured the unufual privilege of ^"'^;,^*being excufed from demanding the Confulfliip inperfon, and of being capable of a nomination, thoughabfent.

Thefe fteps made Casfar's defigns fo evident, that id ibid.the bhndeft could not miilake them : and the reft of ^^' ^^*his codidu6l was of a piece. He ufed all forts ofmeans to make himfelf creatures : always attentiveto ingratiate himfelf with the People, he exhibitedgames and gave an entertainment to their whole bodyon account of his daughter's death : he began tobuild a fquare, the ground of which, including Vvith-out doubt the edifices he was to buy and pull down,coft above a million fterling : he doubled the pay ofhis legions : he enriched his foldiers by immoderatebooty : in a word, he endeavoured by his unlimitedgenerofity to gain to his party the Military, the Ma-giftracy, foreign Kings, Cities throughout the Em-pire ; and, had it been po0ible, the whole World.So that it was very properly faid, that he fubjededthe Gauls with the iron of the Romans, and the Ro-mans with the gold of the Gauls.

It was no longer time to attack fo formidable apower, when Pompey undertook it. He had com-mitted one fault in leaguing with Caefar, and givinghim means of acquiring fuch ftrength ; he commit- ^ted another in breaking with him. INothing can bemore judicious than the laying of Cicero Vv^hich is inevery body's mouth : * " Would to God, Pompey,that you had never united with Caefar , or thatyou had never broke with him ! The firft becameyour dignity and probity ^ the other your pru-dence."

However, Pompey a6led at firft very cautioufly. Suet. Ca-r.It was the Conful Marcellus, who (doubtlefs in con- ^.fpian.cert with him) commenced hoftilities. This Magif- ^y^^^ j ^'^^

Plut. Cxf.* Utinam, Cn. Pompei, cum C. Casfare focietatem aut nunquam ^ Pomu.coifles, aut nunquam diremillcs ! Fuit alterum gr.wilatis, alterum

prudentiae tuae, Cic. Phil. II. u. 24.B 4 trate.


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8 SULPICIUS, CLAUDIUS, Confuls.A.R.70T. trate, who was haughty and bold, publilhed an of-

Ku^' dinance ; by which he declared, that he had fome-thing to propofe of the utmoft importance to theCommonwealth : and in confequence of it propofedto the affembled Senate to recall Casfar, and to orderhim to quit the Government of Gaul on the firft ofMarch of the year they were then entering on ; andalfo to oblige him to demand the Confulfhip inperfon, and not by proxy. This was pujfhing Csefarhome ; who would have been ruined, if the twopoints propofed by the Conful had been carried a-gainft him, and put in execution. But it is plain hewas able to make a good defence under the fafe-guardof two laws, of whoTe benefit they endeavoured to de-prive him. They cut off two years of his Commandfrom the term enlarged by the law of Trebonius jand they, took from him a privilege granted by ano-ther lav/, made by the whole college of the Tribunes,and with Pompey's confent.Under thefe favourable circumftances, it was notdifficult for C^far to procure afliftance from manyof the Magiftrates. Not only fome of the Tribunesdeclared for him , but even the Conful Sulpicius, apeaceable man, who by his profeflion of a Lawyerwas accuftomed to refpeil fcrupulouOy whatever borethe name of a law, oppofed his Collegue. Pompeyhimfelf, inured to hypocrify and tergiverfation inwhat he mod delired, affefled to fay, that Marcelluswent too far ; and that it Avas not proper to affront fogrofsly fuch a perfon as Cjcfar, whofe exploits hadbeen fo glorious and ferviceable to the Republic, Andtruly Marcelius's zeal was extravagant ; and fometimeafavoured of animofity and hatred. Cjefir had grantedto the city of Come in Cifalpine Gaul the freedom ofItaly ; by the means of which, thofe who had bornethe office of firft Mi.giftrate among them, becameRoman citizens. Marcellus had a mind to ftrip theinhabitants of Come of this privilege -, pretending ithad been given them v/ithout lawful caufe, merelythrough Cieiav's an:ibition and defire to make crea*

tures.


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SULPICIUS, CLAUDIUS, Confuls. ptures. Perhaps he was in the right. But he went fo A. R. yot,far as to caufe a Burgefs of that town, who had been '^"^' ^'its firft Magiftrate, to be fcourged ; bidding him goto Casfar, and fhew him the marks of the ftripes.This was a punifhment from which Roman citizenswere always exempt : therefore by this aftion Mar-cellus annihilated the privileges of the colony Csefarhad founded. But he got nothing by fo doing : it wasonly a wanton, fruitlel's, infult.Pompey, who outwardly preferved more modera-

tion, aimed at the fame mark. Though he had feem-ingly difapproved the Conful's propofal, he labouredto get it pafled the next year. In this view he goteleded Conful C. Marcellus, coufin to Marcus, whowas a man of the fame principles. He thought hehad carried a great point too in procuring the famousCurio, whom we have had occafion to mention feveraltimes, to be made Tribune : he was a young Gentle-man of fire, one of the firft Orators of his time, andhad always afted as Csefar's enemy.

Csefar, who was at leaft as artful as his competitor, piut, ôppofed a counter-battery. He tried to gain over C. Appian,Marcellus ; but finding him incorruptible, he eflayed S^'' ^^L. Paulus, who had been appointed his Collegue -, ' '^*and bought his filen'ê for about three hundred thou-fand pounds fterling. Paulus was paid this great fumfor only not ading againft Csefar : and he employedit in building a magnificent Hall at Rome, as if heintended to eternize his venality and bafenefs.

Curio fold himfelf at a yet higher price. He hadnever the publick at heart, and had only joined Pom-pey, bccaufe he had been (lighted by Csefar. It is 'furprizing that Csefar fhould have made fuch a mif-take, contrary to his maxims , he who ufed all meansto attach to his party even fometimes the lowed men.He perceived his error, and fpared no coft to redifyit. Curio had hurt his fortune by his debaucheryand prodigality , he owed then above fix hundred 'âl- Max.thoufand pounds fterling. Caefar paid all his ^^' *'debts ; and thus fixed in his incereft a man who

did


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JO SULPICIUS, CLx'^UDIUS, Confuls.A. R.701. did him the greater fervice, as he affefled (as wefhaii^l'/^' fee) a fort of impartiality.

Cjel. ad Mean while the Conful M. Marcellus purfued hisC1C.4&2. p]an, which he had only moderated and qualified.He doubtlefs conformed in this to Pompey's advice,who did not chufe that any refolution Ihould be made

3,bout Cicfar, before the firil day of March of the nextyear ; after which tim.e he thought a fucceffor mightbe fent him. I cannot fee what foundation Pompeyhad to believe that he fhould be fuffered to take one,any more than two years, from Ca^far's Command.However, his will was lo much the rule of all things,that, as he had a journey to make to Rimini, the Se-nate waited till his return , and on the lad of Sep-tember came, in his prefence, to a refolution agreeableto his wifhes.

In this refolution it was faid, that the Confuls eledl,L. Paulus and C. Marcellus, fhould on the firft ofMarch on the year then entering upon propofe tothe Senate, to deliberate on the affair of the Confularprovinces. (Which was a ftudied expreflion, to avoidlaying plainly that they were to deliberate on Casfar'srevocation.) It was alfo added, that, when the firftof March was come, nothing fliould be propofed pre-vious to, or in concurrence with, that of the Confularprovinces. And as an oppofition was apprehended tothe decree, which was aftually drawing , the Senatedeclared, that none of thofe who had a right to puta negative on its decrees, ought to exert that privi-lege on this occafion : and, if any one did, he wouldbe confidered as guilty of an attempt on the tranquil-lity and fafety of the Republick. That this refolutionfhould be regiftered : and that the Senate fliould con-fider what courfe to take with its oppofers. All thefedeclarations, and menaces, did not hinder four Tri-bunes, among whom was Panfa, who had long fervedunder Casfar, from making their formal oppofition.By afecond refolution of the fame day, the Senateendeavoured to weaken Ca^far, by offering difcharges

tio fuch of his fgldiers whofe time of fervjce was com-pleated,


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SULPICIUS, CLAUDIUS, Confuls. upleated, or who for other reafons defired to be dif- A.R.701.banded. And laftly, a third refolution took into '^ 'confideration the choice of Governors of the Propr^-torial provinces, and conformed it to the regulationslaft made under the Confulfhip of Calvinus and Mef-fala, and ratified the following year. Things werenov/ in order. But we have elfewhere lliewed whatreafon Ca-far pretended to have to complain of thefenew refolutions. The two lafl: met with the fame fateas the firfl y Panfa and another Tribune oppofedthem.

It was eafy to forelee that thefe oppofitions wouldprevent the effeil of the deliberations projedted forthe next year with refpeft to Ca;far. Some-bodyhaving made this objection to Pompey, he openedhimfelf by this anfwer : " I fee no difference between" C?efar's difobeying the decrees of the Senate, and^' his hindering the Senate from making what decrees!' they think neceffary." " What if he is determin-*' ed," replied another, " to be at the fame time Con-" ful and have the Command of an army .^" " And" what," returned Pompey brifkly, " if my fon was^' determined to beat me ?"

Thefe anfwers of Pompey, particularly the lafl, ap-peared harfh to Crelius , who mentions them in aletter to Cicero, But I will venture to affirm, thatthey fix the true point from whence we ought to viewCasfar's condud, in order to make a proper judgmentof it. He aimed at the Sovereignty of the Common-wealth ; the event proves it. He was then the fonwho intended to beat his father. But he fkilfullyconceals, as much as pofTible, the odious defign. Heicovers him.felf by the laws he gets made by force orintrigue. He fcreens himfelf by the authority ofvenal Magiftrates, corrupted by his bounty. Bythefe means he throws a colour of legality over hisambitious proceedings. What is all this but the be-haviour of an undutiful fon ; who, being refolved todifobey his father, and willing alfo to avoid the im-putation of difobedience, {lops his mouth to prevent

his


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Vint.

12 JEMILIUS, CLAUDIUS, Confuk.A R.7oi.}iis fpeaking ? It is by the light of thefe refledions^î. * that we ought to view all the chicanery by which

Ciefar defended himfelf againft the Senate aboveanother year, before he proceeded to take up arms.And, that we may not be impoled on by fpeciousappearances, it is fufBcient to call to mind the fa-vourite maxim he always had in his mouth, borrowedfrom Eteocles in Euripides : * ' If juilice may beviolated, it is to acquire Sovereignty that it is glori-ous to violate it ; in all other things acft honeflly."

A.R.702. L. ^MiLius Paulus.Ant. L. r^ /- Tvyrô. C Claudius Marcellus.Dio. Curio was the inflrument Csefar made ufe of to dif-^ppian. pute the ground with, under the Conlullliipof Paulus

and C. Marcellus. This Tribune, v/ho was a man offenfe, fkilfully concealed his fhameful defertion of hisparty. He was very quiet at the entrance into hisoffice ; fpeaking even occafionally againft Csefar ; yetthrowing out frequently untoward propofitions, thatcould not but be difpleafmg to Pompey and the Arif-tocratic party. But foon after he fought occafions tobreak with them ; and, in order thereto, propofeddivers laws, which he knew they would not fail tooppofe. One of thefe laws regarded the high-ways :another was a fort of Agrarian law, little different fromthat of Rullus, which had been thrown out in Cicero'sConfulfhip : and a third concerned corn and provi-fions. And, in the new regulations he projected onall thefe heads, he referred to himfelf the chiefmanagement and authority. Tlie Senate oppofedthele laws. This was what the Tribune wanted , hethought himfelf now freed from all confideration fora bod}^ by which he pretended he was aggrieved.He would not however appear an abfolute partizanof Cacfar: wherefore, when the firft of March was

Ei7rtoyufit(fiKiiv ;îii*i, Tvpantitct mpt xaXX/rof aîMiy- 'rnWet ^'vjTiQitv -xkuv.Thefe two Greek verfes have bern thui trauflated by Cicero. " Namfi violandiim eit jus, Regnandi gratia violandivov^ft : aUis rsbus pieta-f^m colas." Cic. de Off. III. %%,

come


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JEMILIUS, CLAUDIUS, Confuls. i^come; and the Confiil C. Marcellus, in conformity A. R. 702.to the refolution of the laft of the preceding Septem- ^^^' ^'ber, had propofed to fend a new Proconful to Gaul ; ^ 'his Collegue Paulus, according to agreement, hold-ing his peace ; Curio fpoke. He praifed the propo-fal of the Conful Marcellus j but added, that theyought, at the fame time that they recalled C^efar, toorder Pompey too to refign the Government of Spainand the Command of the Legions in that province.

This was a fpecious, favourable, turn ; it was thelanguage of a zealous Republican. The dexterousTribune reprefented, " that what he propofed was theonly means left to infure the publick liberty. That,if they difarmed Caefar only, Pompey with the forceshe had the Command of would become abfolute maf-ter of the Empire : whereas, if they were both re^duced to a private condition, the Republick wouldhave nothing more to fear from either. But that, ifthey continued one in Command, they ought to leavethe other wherewith to preferve the balance.'* Thefearguments, fet in the ftrongefl light by one of themoft eloquent men Rome ever produced, made a deepimprefiion. The People, among whom Pompey hadloft ground by his laws againft Corruption, approvedand applauded Curio ; who thus did C^far the greateftfervice, by affedling to be neuter, and foiely attachedto the good of the Republick.

I fay he did Csfar the greateft fervice ; for he knewPompey would never refign. This was neither his in-tention, nor that of the beft heads in the Senate. Andindeed the terms were not equal, as Pompey did notenter on the Government of Spain until four yearsafter Csefar had commanded in Gaul. But the chiefand moft elTential difference arofe from the diverfityof their character and condufl. Every thing was tobe feared from Casfar's unbounded ambition ; whereasthat of Pompey was more moderate, more circum-fpedl, more capable of refpe6ting the laws. Curio'spropofal was accordingly rejeded : but he hindered,

2 . by


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14 ^MILIUS, CLAUDIUS, Canfuls.A.R. Toi.by his authority as Tribune, that of the Conful from

palling.Pompey, on this attack of the Tribune, affedled atiirft great moderation. As he was in Campania, he

wrote to the Senate, " that whatever title, or power,he had, was the effed of the good-will of his fellow-citizens ; not of his own follicitation. That, withouthis feeking, they had offered him a third Confulfliip,and a prolongation of his Command in Spain. Thathe was ready freely and voluntarily to refign, whathe had accepted againft his inclination." At his re-turn to Rome, he talked in the fame ftrain -, and as ifhe, as the old friend and father-in-law of Casfar, wasbetter acquainted with his difpofition than any one ; heaffirmed, and made it a matter of honour to himfelf,that he too had the fame way of thinking. He faidthat Cfefar, fatiated with war and viftory, defired re-pofe alone ; and wilhed for nothing more than to re-turn to Rom.e, and enjoy in the bofom of his countrythe reward of his labours, and the honours he hadmerited.He fpoke not what he thought either as to himfelf,or Cffifar. But he defigned to render odious by hismoderation the tenacity of Casfar. He gave up fivewhole years of Command, and Cxfar refufed to laydown his, though expiring, unlefs he entered diredlyon the Confulfhip. Curio was not to be thus impofedon. He called upon him to fulfil his promife by animmediate refignation. He renewed his former de-claration about the only means of prelerving the li-berty of the Republick ; which was to take, at thefame time, all Command both from Pompey andCsefar. He exhorted the Senate to order them bothto refign, under pain of difobedience -, and, in cafeof refufal, to declare them enemies to their country,and raife forces to reduce them. And, as he perceivedhis advice would not be followed, he broke up the af-fembly, without fuffering any refolution to be takenas to Csefar.


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^MILIUS, CLAUDIUS, Confuls. t5Pompey now repented heartily that he had raifcd A. R. 70^*the Tribunefhip out of the Irate of humiliation to ^^^-^^which Sylia had reduced it. But it was too late, and ^

'

all he could do was to endeavour to revenge him-felf on the Tribune, by the miniftry of the CenforAppius.

For all circumflances induce a belief, that this Ma- jjjj,giftrate undertook by agreement with Pompey to ftig-matize Curio. He had great openings, had he attack-ed him on account of the condud of his youth, whichhad been wafted in luxury, extravagance, and de-bauchery. But Appius was Hopped fhort by the op-pofition of his Collegue Pifo, and of the ConfulFauius. The other Conful Marcellus, always readyto aft againft Casfar and all his Partizans, refumedthe affair ; and pretended to bring it before the Se-nate. Curio oppofed at firft fo unufual a proceeding.But afterwards, finding the generality inclined to fa-vour him, he accepted the condition, and fubmittedhimfelf to the animadverfion of the Senate. He wasnot deceived. In vain the Conful Marcellus made abitter invedive againft him ; the majority of the Se-nators declared for Curio: and the Conful would notgo through a deliberation that could not turn out tohis honour.

While the difference between Pompey and Csfarincreafed every day, it had like to ha^e been on a fud-den terminated by an unforefeen accident ; this wasa dangerous illnefs that was near taking Pompey offwhich, as Juvenal fays, * would have been verylucky for him, had it fo happened, that when he wasat the height of profperity and glory ; as it wouldhave fpared him the cruel misfortunes, which twoyears more of life made him experience. It was atNaples he fell ill ; and, when he recovered, the Nea-^'"^-^*politans fhewed their joy by feftivals and folemn

Provida Pompeio dederat Campania fchresOptandas : fed multcc urbes & publico votaVicerunt. Igitur fortuna ipfius Sc url)isServ:ilum vioto caput abftulit. Juv. Sat. x.

thankf-


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i6 JEMILIUS, CLAUDIUS, ConfukA. R. 702- thankfglvings to the Gods. No fuch thing had beed^^^' ^' done before to any Roman. Bur, the example once

kt, it ended not where it began. The neighbouringcities firll foltewed it, and afterwards ail Italy. Par-ticularly on Pompey's route to Rome, when he re-turned, no place was large enough to hold the crowdsthat came to meet him. The roads, the villages, theports, were filled with an incredible multitude of per-fons of all ages and conditions ; who offered facrifices,and amidft their wine and good cheer extolled himwhom Heaven had rellored to them. Many adornedwith garlands, having flambeaux in their hands, metand accompanied him -, throwing flowers on him withgeneral applaufe : fo that his whole progrefs was oneof the iineil fights that could be imagined. Thefe re-joicings, which feemed to exprefs the greatefl: efl:eemfor, and attachment of all the Italian people to, Pom-pey, encouraged him much ; and for that reafon maybe confidered as one of the chief caufes of the civilwar. Until this time an extraordinary prudence, ap-proaching fometimes to timidity, had guided, and fe-cured, his fteps. But now, dazzled with joy and con-fidence, he no more faw any reafon to fear, or doubt.He thought himfelf flirong enough to defpife Csefar jand flattered himfelf that he ftiould be able to ruinhim, as eafily as he had raifed him.

Thefe notions, which took up his thoughts, wereconfirmed by the difcourfes of thofe who brought himtwo Legions, that had ferved under Csefar. Thefa6b is thisThe Senate, taking advantage of the general ap-prehenfion of an irruption of the Parthians into Syria,

ordered that Pompey and Caefar (hould each of themfurnilh a Legion to be fent into that province. Thispretence was fo well imagined and feemed fo fair, thatthe decree paffed without oppofition or difficulty. ButPompey obeyed that decree, only |py giving the Le-crion he lent Csfar after the difafter of Titurius andCotta. Casfar was obliged to give one of his own, fothat this was in reality taking from him two Legions.He


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^MILIUS, CLAUDIU?, Confuls. lyHe was aware of it ; yet he fcnt the two j_^c^ijns with A. R 702*that g^nerofity which always gave him an air of fupe- ^-riority over his adverfaries ; having .firft prefented thefoldiers with about ten pounds each. The perfonsPompey fent to condu6l theie Legions to him reported,that Csefar was extremely hated in his army : that hisfoldiers, tired out with a long, laborious, war, couldnot bear a General, who had never fuffered them toenjoy any reft : that Pompey would not have occafionfor any other forces than thofe of Csfar to vanquiihand ruin him , becaufe they would certainly abandonhim the moment they fet foot in Italy. About thefame time L'abienus, the moft experienced and beftefteemed of C^far's Lieutenant-generals, liftened tooffers for changing fides, which he adually didafterwards.

Thefe various events made Pompey fo prefump-tuous, that he took no care to affemble a force fuffi-cient to make head againft the enem.y he had to dealwith. He even laughed at thole who were afraid ofa war ; and fomebody telling him, that, if Csfar tookit in his head to march to Rome, there was nothing:to hinder him ; Pompey anfwered, " In Whatever pare" of Italy I ftamp with my foot, there will come up" Legions."

CceTar's condud was very different. Without tak- ^^ B* _^^ing any glaring ftep which might be confidered as an "*'hofiility, he prepared every thing fo as to be able toa6t with vigour, when the time was come. Gaul wasin a ftate of perfed tranquillity. His legions, intheir feveral quarters, only waited his orders. Hehimfelf came into Cifalpine Gaul early in the fprinp;,that he might be nearer Rome, and have an eye onwhat paffed there , but under pretence of affifting withhis intereft Mark Anthony, who had been his Qiisef-tor, in his application for the office of Augur. For

. that country was full of municipal towns and colonies,; whofe inhabitants had the privilege of Roman citizens,,and confequently influenced the nomination of Ma-giftrates and Priefts, Csefar learnt on his way, that

Vol. IX. C Anthony


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iS JEMILIUS, CLAUDIUS, Confuls.A.R. 702* Anthony was appointed Augur. This pretence therc-Ant.^ c. ^^^ failing, he fubfcituted another ; which was to

take that opportunity to engage the votes of the peo-ple of thefe cantons for himlelf, with refpedt to theConfulfhip ; for which he intended to be a Candidatethe following year. He even fent to Rome many ofhis officers and loldiers, who had leave of abfencefrom him as it were to look after their private affairs,

Piut. And hiftory mentions among others a Centurion, who^"^P" being at the door of the Senate while they were deli-berating about Csefar, and informed that they re-

fufed him the time he demanded ; put his hand tohis fword, faying, " This Ihall give him what the" Senate denies."

Pg g Casfar was the more cautious, as the Confuls eledtGalli.viii. were of the contrary party. Ser. Galla, who had ferved

under him as Lieutenant-general in Gaul, had madea fruitlefs effort ; and Pompey's interefl had fixed thelltiFrages of the People in favour of L. Lentulus andC. Marcellus, both enemies to Caefar, but particu-larly the firft ; who kept no terms with him, andn:iewed himfelf determined to carry things to extremi-ties. However, as Curio was a good check on everyone, Csefar thought he might return to Gaul. Therehe reviewed his army, and fpent the remainder of thefummcrj and at the approach of winter, leaving inGaul eight legions, (four in Belgium, and four in thecountry of the ^dui) he returned into Italy, where hediftributed the thirteenth legion in all the importantpofts of Cifalpine Gaui.When he came there, he was informed, that thelegions that had been took from him under pretence

of fending them againft the Parthians, had been de-tained in Italy, and tranfmitted to Pompey by theConful Marcellus. This was little lefs than a decla-

guet.Csef. ration of war. He diffembled however his refentment,^' *9* and contented himfelf with writing to the Senate ; de-

firing that they would not deprive him of the benefitconferred on him by the People , or that the otherGenerals, as well as he, might be obliged to difband

their


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^MILIUS, CLAUDIUS, Confuls. 19their troops. This language, conformable to Curio's A. R. 702.jpropofal, could not prejudice Caefar, as we have ob- A"^-*^*ferved ; and befides Suetonius remarks, that hehoped, if he was took at his word, to be able to re-aflemble his veterans, before Pompey could make newlevies.

It appears, that this letter from Caefar gave occa- Applaa,fion to a lail deliberation of the Senate on the refpeclivepretenfions of the two rivals. Marcellus put tliepro-pofition in a light, that was advantageous to his viewsand afked the opinions concerning Pompey and Cas-far feparateiy. The majority were for fending Csefarii fuccefTor ; and, when the queftion was put as toPompey, the majority were for continuing him inCommand.

But Curio, reuniting what theConful had feparated,infilled that the Senate fhould be afked, Whether itwas their plealure that Pompey and Csefar fhould bothat once refign ? The queflion thus flated took anotherturn ; and the Tribune had three hundred and feventyvoices againfl twenty-two. This threw Marcellus intodefpair ; who broke up the AfTembly immediately,crying out aloud, " Ay, triumph over us, and make" Csefar your Mafler.'* The Tribune, on the otherfide, retired full of glory ; and was received by thePeople with great acclamations. They even threwflowers on him, as a victorious champion who defervedgarlands.

Marcellus, when he difmiffed the Senate, toldthem, that it was no longer time to amufe them.felveswith vain harangues, when ten legions were ready topafs the Alpes ; and that the Commonwealth wanteda proted;or able to refift fuch an attack. In confe-quence of this declaration, being accompanied by theConfuls eled (the better to authorize the im.portantftep he \va.s going to take^i he v/ent to Pompey, whowas in the fuburbs, becaufe, as Proconful, he couldnot come into the city ; and, giving him a fword,faid, " We order you to ufe this fword in the defence" of your Country againfl Csefar : v/e iavefl you withC i the


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20 jEMILIUS, CLAUDIUS, Confuls.A.R. 701. " the Command of all the forces in Italy, and give

o * " y^^ power to raife what forces more you may think" proper." Pompey anfwered, he would obey theConfuls , adding, however, " unlefs fomething better" may be thought of." This was a common expref-fion with him, and was lefs a fign of irrefolution, than

' . of a fly caution that loved to fave appearances, thatfeared engagements, and always chofe to have a powerof declining them, if necelTary. There is no reafonto doubt but that Pompey was on this occafion fullydetermined , and he declared himfelf to this purpofe

Cic. ad to Cicero, who was then juft returned from Cilicia, and^"* ^* ''* with whom he had two conferences in the month of

December that year.Curio made fome other attempts in Caefar's favour,

and endeavoured to hinder Pompey from raifingforces. But he got nothing by thefe frelli efforts, andonly incenfed the Senate more and more againft him ;and as his Tribunefhip was near expired, and hethought his perfon would be in danger as foon as hewas out of office ; he fled from Rome, and went toCasfar at Ravenna ; full of animofity, and importu-,nate to have him immediately fend for his legions andbegin the wan

Csefar; who was as determined as he, but moredifcreet, did not think it was yet time for adbion.

., He feared the odium of beginning a war, which toall the world could appear to have no other objed:than his perfonal interell. He waited for fome eventwhich might give a better colour to his hoftilitiesagainft his Country ; and chofe to be thought to havetried every means of accommodation before he had re-courfe to force. He therefore negotiated on one handand, on the other, raifed up againft Pompey and theSenate a new Tribune, at leaft as violent and pafTionateas Curio.

This Tribune was the famous Mark Anthony,who, at his return from Syria and Egypt, had em-braced Caefar's party. Being nominated Quasftor, hefet out immediately for Gaul ; without ftaying for the

Senate's


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JEMILIUS, CLAUDIUS, Confuls. 21:Senate's decree, the People's order, or the decifion A. R. yo^*of the lots. '^ He knew, as Cicero has very juftly ^s^.-'obferved, that C^far's camp was the only afylum forthofe, whom indigence, debauchery, and heavy debts,made difcontented, and enemies of the public tran-quillity. He behaved there gallantly ; and we havehad occafion to mention him fcveral times in relatingthe Gaulifh wars. Having this year obtained the Tri-bunefhip by Casfar's intereii, and money, he employedall the authority of his office in the fervice of him towhom he was obliged for it.He began, by demanding that the two legions de-Piut. Ant\figned to be fent againft the Parthians ffiould be or-,dered to Bibulus in Syria ; that Pompey fhould beforbid raifing any forces ; and that fuch as he inlifted-fhould be freed from military obedience. On thetwenty-firft of December, that is, twelve days afterhe entered on his office, he made an harangue to thePeople , in which he infulted, and inveighed againft,Pompey , reaping up his whole life, ffom his in-fancy. At the fame time, he deplored the fate ofthofe who had been condemned in confcquence of thelaws made by Pompey in his third Confulfhip. Toall this he added plain menaces of a civil war. Onoccafion of which harangue Pompey, reafoning withCicero, faid very juftly : f " What would not Ccefar*' himfelf do, if he was at the head of affairs , fmce" his Quseftor, who has neither money nor credit,*' dares talk in this ftrain ?"

In the midft of this ill-blood, negotiations (as I Pint. Cxfthave faid) were fet on foot. Csefar offered to difband îc^âd"'eight of his legions, and to quit Tranlalpine Gaul, Pam. i5.provided he was left in poffeffion of the other Gaul 'ând lUyricum, with two legions, until he was appointedConful. Afterwards, by the mediation of Cicero, whoardently defired peace, Casfar's friends made a further

* Id enim unum in terris egeftatis, aeris alieni, nequitiae, peri.fugium effe ducebas. Cic. Phil. II. n. 50.f Qiiid cenies,fa(5luium effe ipfum, ii in pofleilionem Reijmblicseyenerit ; quuni hsc Qji^ftor ejus, infirmus & mops, iudeat dicere ? ,Q 3 concef-


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a2 CLAUDIUS, CORNELIUS, Confuls.f^-^^- 7C2. conceflion, and engaged he fhould be fatisfied with 11-

^o, * lyricnm and one legion.Cic adAt. But what method could be found to make two men^' ^' agree, who both chofe a war ? Cfar*s offers, by no

means, evince a fincere intention for peace. If hehad really defired it, there was a fure way to have obr.tained it ; which was to have refigned his Command,on c-ondition he was appointed Conful. Cicero ex-prefsly declares, that, if he had infilled on nothingmore, he could not have been poflibly refufed. ButCsfar would never reduce his pretenfions to thefeterms. Pompey on his fide had as little inclination tQ.leave Rome, and go to his province of Spain.The difpofition then of Pompey and Casfar to warwas equal , with this difference, that Pompey, whohad with him all the majefty of the Republic, anddoubted not of the goodnefs of his caufe, pretended to.give law, affeded feverity, and avowed his refolution;to oblige Csefar b) force to fubmit to the Senate :whereas Ceefar, taking advantage of the known inten-tion of his rival, made continually conceffions whicl^he was fure would be reje6led ; hoping by fo doing to.throw the blame on Pompey, and give to his own pro-ceedings an air of moderation, which might in fomcfort compenfate for their injuftice.

A. R. 703, C. Claudius Marcellus.^ *" L. Cornelius Lentulus.49.CxC deli ^" ^^^ ^^^'^ of January Curio came to Rome, withCiv. I. letters from Casfar addreffed to the Senate, whichJ*J- '5^^- contained ^ very fair and moderate propofals, in thei*iur. " opinion of him who made them, and which were pro-

bably agreeable to the conditions of the accommoda-tion Lift mentioned. Thefe letters were fo ill received,that the Confuls, not being able to lupprefs them, asCurio had delivered them in full Senate, had a mindto return them unopened : and the Tribunes Anthony

f (Caefar) cxpeftabat Icniflimis fuis poftulatis refponfa, C^s.de B,Civ. I. 5.


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CLAUDIUS, CORNELIUS, Confuls. a^and Q^ Caflius were forced to exert their wliole an- A.R. 703^thority to procure them a reading. After they were ^^^" ^*read, the Conful Lentulus propoled to deliberate, not "on their contents, but on the prefent ftate of affairs,and on the meafures proper to be taken for the fecu-rity of the Republic. He exhorted the Senators torpeak their minds freely , telling them, that, if theycooled, he knew what he had to do ; and doubtednot but he could find means to make his peace withCsefar.He fpoke the truth. Cfefar would have been well-pleafed to have gained him over , and profecuted fo

obftinately his foilicitations and offers, that afterwards,when war had been declared, and the armies were infight of one another in Epirus, Balbus Hill negotiatedby Casfar's order with Lentulus, and wtnt on that ac-count into Pompey's camp at the hazard of his libertyand life. Lentulus was not averfe to liftening to C^- Veli. II, 5.far*s promifes. His ruined fortune, and heavy debts,were powerful incentives thereto. But he thoughtviftory could not forfake Pompey ; and that thofe onhis fide had the more certain profpedt of riches andpromotion. For this reafon he was always untraclable;and Csefar names him as having contributed morethan any one to the rupture. Metellus Scipio, Pom-pey's father-in-law, neceffariiy followed his fteps.Cato would not hear of compromifing the intereft anddignity of the Republic. Thus, notwithilandingfome cooler opinions, which tended at leaft to tempo-rizing, it paffed by a majority of voices, " That Cse- far ihould be ordered to difband his army before acertain day then fixed ; and that, in cafe of difobe-dience, he fhould be declared an enemy to the Re-public."Anthony and Q^ Caffius oppofe this decree. Uporv

this the quarrel recommences. The Conful propofesto deliberate on the method to be taken to bring tareafon the oppofing Tribunes. The fevered refolu-tions pafs againft them. The Tribunes intrench them-felves in th inviolable right of their office. At laft \C 4 night


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24 CLAUDIUS, CORNELIUS, Confuls;A.R. 703 night parts the combatants. The conteft was renewed

'^^^ ' the following days, and continued until the feventhof January. Daring this time Pifo the Cenfor, fa-ther-in-law to Casfar, and L. Rofcius the Praetor, whohad ferved under Casfar in Gaul, offered to go to him,and inform him of the Senate's difpofition. Theirproffer was rejefled -, the Tribunes were extremelythreatened ; and the Senate had recourfe to that de-cree which was never ufed but in the greateft extre-mities. It was therein faid, " that the Confuls, thePn-Etors, the Tribunes of the People, and the Pro-confuls that were near Rome (which took in Pompeyand Cicero) were ordered to be careful of the fafetyof the Republic." After this, Anthony and Caffiushad every thing to fear. They therefore fled bynight, dilguifed as ilaves, in an hired carriage -, norflopped until they got to Rhemi. Curio and Csliusfollowed them. The Governors of the provinces werethen appointed, which had been hindered above a yearby the oppofition of the Tribunes. Caefar had twofuccefiors given him, L. Domitius Ahenobarbus forTranfalpine Gaul, and M. Confidius for the Cifalpine.Metellus Scipio had the Government of Syria ; whichBibulus quitted. Of the reft I Ihall fpeak, as occafionoffers.

Casfar's enemies, by putting the Tribunes in dan-ger, gave him the pretext he had long waited for.He was then at Ravenna, the laft town in his pro-vince , and he was no fooner informed of what hadhappened at Rome, but he affembled what foldiers hehad about him, which were thofe of the thirteenth le-gion In the harangue he made them, he infifted onnothing fo much as the violation of the Tribunitialprivileges in the perfons of Anthony and Caffius. Hecomplained, as he himfelf relates, of the new prece-dent introduced into the Commonwealth by thofe whochecked and hindered by the terror of arms the oppo-fition of the Tribunes. He added, that Sylla, whomade it his bufinefs to humble, and had almoft anni-hilatedj the Tribunefl:iip, had yet left it the liberty ofoppo^


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CLAUDIUS, CORNELIUS, Confuls. 25-oppofition , but that Pompey, who valued himfelf A.R.yos*- - - ^nt. ^

49for having reftored to that office all its prerogatives,^*

deprived it now of that privilege, which it had alwaysenjoyed.

It is, therefore, with great reafon that Cicero makesAnthony refponfible for all the calamities of the civilwar. He fays to be fure too much, as Plutarch ob-ferves-, when he accufes * him of having been the caufeof that unfortunate war, as much as Helen was of theTrojan. But it is ftridly true, that Anthony fur-nifhed Csfar with the moft plaufible pretext he could .wifh, and the moll likely to impofe on the Peoplea neceffary pretext, without which perhaps C^farmight have found it difficult to have come to extremi-ties, or at leait to have fecured the affiftance of all histroops.He certainly apprehended great difficulty in per-fuading them to follow him ; lince as Suetonius re- Suet. Cist,lates, when he harangued them the next day at Ri- ^' ^''mini, he ufed the, mod fubmiffive intreaties, had re-courfe to tears, tore his cloaths before, to fhew hisgreat concern, and the extreme danger he was ex-pofed to. Caefar fays nothing like this in his relationof what pafTed at Ravenna, and entirely omits hisharangue at Rimini. But it is certain that he fup-preffes many things ; and the pafTage of the Rubi-con, fo famous with all other hiftorians, is not men-tioned in his Commentaries.When he had done fpeakingto the legion aflembledby his orders at Ravenna, the officers and foldierscried out, that they were determined to maintain thehonour of their General, and to revenge the wrongsdone to the Tribunes. He accepted their offers ; and,with five thoufand foot and three hundred horfe, un-dertook (according to an expreffion of Livy, whichOrofius has preferved) to attack the Univerfe. Hismaxim and conftant pra6tice, as we know, was to

Ut Helena Trojanis, lie ifte huic reipublicae, caufa belli j caufaneftis, atque exitii, fuit. Cic. Phil. JI, n. 55.place


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26 CLAUDIUS, CORNELIUS, Cohfuls.A.R. 703. place his chief hopes of fuccefs in expedition ; and he^"^' ^' was convinced, that, on this occafion, it would be

eafier for him to intimidate with a fmall force, by ap-pearing when he was leafi: expected ; than to conquer,by flaying th time necefiary for great preparations.Contenting hitnffelf therefore with writing to his Lieu-tenant-generals in Gaul to bring up the legions leftthere, he deterniii^ed to commence the war by the fur-prize of Rimini, which was the firft city of Italy inthe way from his province. In order to fucceed, fe-criecy was neceffary. Wherefore he fent away, with-out noife, his ten cohorts under the Command ofHortenfius's fon. As for himfelf, he ftaid in the town;went to a public fpedacle ; examined the plan of ao-ladiator*s fchool, which h-e intended tobuild ', andin the evening fat down to fupper with much com-pany. But, when night was come, he ftole away onpretence of illnefs > went out of Ravenna, unper-ceived ; and, getting mules to put in his chaife fromthe firft mill, took a by-way in which he loft himfelf.At day-break he procured a guide, by whofe alTiftancehe overtook his cohorts near the Rubicon, a rivuletthat bounded his province ; fo that he could not pafsit without tranfgrefTing the laws, and taking off themafk.

Determined, though he was, and without doubtthe boldeft of men ; the idea of the evils he was go-ing to bring on the world, and of the dangers towhich he was going to cxpofe himfelf, ftruck him inthat critical moment fo forcibly, as to intimidate himin a manner, and for a while fufpend his adivity.He ftopped fhort on the bank j and turning towardshis friends, among whom was the famous AfmiusPollio, faid to them : "^ " We may yet go back : but,** if we pafs over this little bridge, we put every'* thing to the decifion of arms."

Suetonius relates a pretended omen that happenedat that inftant. A man of extraordinary fize and

* Etiam nunc regredi pofTumus : quod fi poAticulum tranfierimus,omnia arrois agenda crunt, Sukt. Caef. 31.ftiape


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Julius Cesar's ^aJ^a^.c^'M^TluBicon.


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CLAUDIUS, CORNELIUS, Confuls. 27fhape appeared on a fudden, fitting in the neighbour- A. R. 703^hood, and playing on a rural flute. Not only the ^f'.^\fliepherds, but fome of the foldiers and trumpeters,got about him to hear his mufic. This man fnatchesthe trumpet from one near him, puts it to his mouth,founds a charge, and pafles to the other fide of theriver. If the facfb is true, it was perhaps of Casfar'sown contrivance, in order to hearten his troops.However that be, he immediately cried out, * *' Let^' us go where the Gods, and the injuftice of our ene-^' mies call us, The die is call." It was thus hemade that decifive, dangerous. Hep ; ftifling all re-flexions of its terrible confequences : f like a man,fays Plutarch, who fhuts his eyes, and muffles his head,to avoid feeing the abyfs, into which he is going toprecipitate himfelf.

Casfar, having pafled the Rubicon, marched di-redlly to Rimini, and made himfelf matter of it. Therehe found the two Tribunes, Anthony and Cafliusand he took care to ftiew them to his foldiers in thefervile habit they had been obliged to put on for theirfecurity. This fight extremely exafperated the fol-diery, who made frefh proteft:ations to their General,that they would follow him wherever he Ihould leadthem.What Casfar forefaw fell out. When the furprizeof Rimini was known at Rome, it threw the wholecity into the greateft confternation. This was notproportioned to the reality of the evil, which indeedwas confiderable. They expefted every minute tofee Casfar at the gates of Rome, with his ten legions,and crouds of Gauls and Germans. Pompey himfelfloft his prefence of mind. He had more troops abouthim than his rival. But he was fo harraficd and teazedby the reproaches of every body, that he could notpreferve the tnanquillity neceflTary on extraordinary oc-

* Eatur, quo deorum oftenta, & inimicorum iniquitas, vocat jjafta eft alea.

f 'Clrmp 01 frp@^ /?ct6' ap/iVTSf axKC am y-f>if*v!t >* Ixv^its, /uurns tut'kty^r,ul, xj TtAfxK^Kv-^niMtl^ TtflQf t* Tj/voif. Plwt. Pomp.

cafions.


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2 8 CLAUDIUS, CORNELIUS, Confuls;A.R. 703'cafions, nor come to a refolution worthy of his cou-'"^^" ^' rage and prudence. Every one complained of his

condudt : that he fhoiild raife C^far to fuch a, heightof power as made him formidable to his Country ; andthat, when he knew he was in no condition to makehead againft him, he fhould rejeft all means of accom-modation. They demanded of him where the forceswere that he ought to have aflem bled. For, a. theythought Casfar. had with him his ten legions, theywould have been glad that Pompey had at leaft asmany , and, as he had nothing like fuch a force, Fa-vonius (alkid.ng infultingly to the fpeech that efcapedhim fome time before) advifed him to ftamp on theground

Documents

The Roman History, Foundation of Rome to Battle of Actium, VOL 9 of 10 - Ed. Charles Rollin (1768)