按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
who was the chief favourite and had lately killed Pompey； who had
banished Cleopatra； and was now secretly plotting Caesar's destruction
（to prevent which； Caesar from that time began to sit up whole nights；
under pretence of drinking； for the security of his person）； while
openly he was intolerable in his affronts to Caesar； both by his words
and actions。 For when Caesar's soldiers had musty and unwholesome corn
measured out to them； Pothinus told them they must be content with it；
since they were fed at another's cost。 He ordered that his table
should be served with wooden and earthen dishes； and said Caesar had
carried off all the gold and silver plate； under pretence of arrears
of debt。 For the present king's father owed Caesar one thousand
seven hundred and fifty myriads of money。 Caesar had formerly remitted
to his children the rest； but thought fit to demand the thousand
myriads at that time to maintain his army。 Pothinus told him that he
had better go now and attend to his other affairs of greater
consequence； and that he should receive his money at another time with
thanks。 Caesar replied that he did not want Egyptians to be his
counsellors； and soon after privately sent for Cleopatra from her
retirement。
She took a small boat； and one only of her confidants；
Apollodorus； the Sicilian； along with her； and in the dusk of the
evening landed near the palace。 She was at a loss how to get in
undiscovered； till she thought of putting herself into the coverlet of
a bed and lying at length； whilst Apollodorus tied up the bedding
and carried it on his back through the gates to Caesar's apartment。
Caesar was first captivated by this proof of Cleopatra's bold wit； and
was afterwards so overcome by the charm of her society that he made
a reconciliation between her and her brother； on the condition that
she should rule as his colleague in the kingdom。 A festival was kept
to celebrate this reconciliation； where Caesar's barber； a busy
listening fellow； whose excessive timidity made him inquisitive into
everything； discovered that there was a plot carrying on against
Caesar by Achillas； general of the king's forces； and Pothinus； the
eunuch。 Caesar； upon the first intelligence of it； set a guard upon
the hall where the feast was kept and killed Pothinus。 Achillas
escaped to the army； and raised a troublesome and embarrassing war
against Caesar； which it was not easy for him to manage with his few
soldiers against so powerful a city and so large an army。 The first
difficulty he met with was want of water； for the enemies had turned
the canals。 Another was； when the enemy endeavoured to cut off his
communication by sea； he was forced to divert that danger by setting
fire to his own ships； which； after burning the docks； thence spread
on and destroyed the great library。 A third was； when in an engagement
near Pharos； he leaped from the mole into a small boat to assist his
soldiers who were in danger； and when the Egyptians pressed him on
every side； he threw himself into the sea； and with much difficulty
swam off。 This was the time when； according to the story； he had a
number of manuscripts in his hand； which； though he was continually
darted at； and forced to keep his head often under water； yet he did
not let go； but held them up safe from wetting in one hand； whilst
he swam with the other。 His boat in the meantime； was quickly sunk。 At
last； the king having gone off to Achillas and his party； Caesar
engaged and conquered them。 Many fell in that battle； and the king
himself was never seen after。 Upon this； he left Cleopatra queen of
Egypt； who soon after had a son by him； whom the Alexandrians called
Caesarion； and then departed for Syria。
Thence he passed to Asia； where he heard that Domitius was beaten by
Pharnaces； son of Mithridates； and had fled out of Pontus with a
handful of men； and that Pharnaces pursued the victory so eagerly；
that though he was already master of Bithynia and Cappadocia； he had a
further design of attempting the Lesser Armenia； and was inviting
all the kings and tetrarchs there to rise。 Caesar immediately
marched against him with three legions； fought him near Zela； drove
him out of Pontus； and totally defeated his army。 When he gave
Amantius； a friend of his at Rome； an account of this action； to
express the promptness and rapidity of it he used three words； I came；
saw； and conquered； which in Latin； having all the same cadence； carry
with them a very suitable air of brevity。
Hence he crossed into Italy； and came to Rome at the end of that
year； for which he had been a second time chosen dictator； though that
office had never before lasted a whole year； and was elected consul
for the next。 He was ill spoken of； because upon a mutiny of some
soldiers； who killed Cosconius and Galba； who had been praetors； he
gave them only the slight reprimand of calling them Citizens instead
of Fellow…Soldiers； and afterwards assigned to each man a thousand
drachmas； besides a share of lands in Italy。 He was also reflected
on for Dolabella's extravagance； Amantius's covetousness； Antony's
debauchery； and Corfinius's profuseness； who pulled down Pompey's
house； and rebuilt it； as not magnificent enough； for the Romans
were much displeased with all these。 But Caesar； for the prosecution
of his own scheme of government； though he knew their characters and
disapproved them； was forced to make use of those who would serve him。
After the battle of Pharsalia； Cato and Scipio fled into Africa； and
there； with the assistance of King Juba； got together a considerable
force； which Caesar resolved to engage。 He accordingly passed into
Sicily about the winter solstice； and to remove from his officers'
minds all hopes of delay there； encamped by the seashore； and as
soon as ever he had a fair wind； put to sea with three thousand foot
and a few horse。 When he had landed them； he went back secretly； under
some apprehensions for the larger part of his army； but met them
upon the sea； and brought them all to the same camp。 There he was
informed that the enemies relied much upon an ancient oracle； that the
family of the Scipios should be always victorious in Africa。 There was
in his army a man； otherwise mean and contemptible； but of the house
of the Africani； and his name Scipio Sallutio。 This man Caesar
（whether in raillery to ridicule Scipio； who commanded the enemy； or
seriously to bring over the omen to his side； it were hard to say）；
put at the head of his troops； as if he were general； in all the
frequent battles which he was compelled to fight。 For he was in such
want both of victualling for his men and forage for his horses； that
he was forced to feed the horses with seaweed； which he washed
thoroughly to take off its saltness；