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he was forced to feed the horses with seaweed； which he washed
thoroughly to take off its saltness； and mixed with a little grass
to give it a more agreeable taste； The Numidians； in great numbers；
and well horsed； whenever he went； came up and commanded the
country。 Caesar's cavalry； being one day unemployed； diverted
themselves with seeing an African； who entertained them with dancing
and at the same time played upon the pipe to admiration。 They were
so taken with this； that they alighted； and gave their horses to
some boys； when on a sudden the enemy surrounded them； killed some；
pursued the rest and fell in with them into their camp； and had not
Caesar himself and Asinius Pollio come to their assistance； and put
a stop to their flight； the war had been then at an end。 In another
engagement； also； the enemy had again the better； when Caesar； it is
said； seized a standard…bearer； who was running away； by the neck； and
forcing him to face about； said； 〃Look； that is the way to the enemy。〃
Scipio； flushed with this success at first； had a mind to come to
one decisive action。 He therefore left Afranius and Juba in two
distinct bodies not far distant and marched himself towards Thapsus；
where he proceeded to build a fortified camp above a lake； to serve as
a centre…point for their operations； and also as a place of refuge。
Whilst Scipio was thus employed； Caesar with incredible despatch
made his way through thick woods； and a country supposed to be
impassable； cut off one part of the enemy and attacked another in
the front。 Having routed these； he followed up his opportunity and the
current of his good fortune； and on the first carried Afranius's camp；
and ravaged that of the Numidians； Juba； their king； being glad to
save himself by flight； so that in a small part of a single day he
made himself master of three camps； and killed fifty thousand of the
enemy； with the loss only of fifty of his own men。 This is the account
some give of that fight。 Others say he was not in the action； but that
he was too far disordered his senses； when he was already beginning to
shake under its influence； withdrew into a neighbouring fort where
he reposed himself。 Of the men of consular and praetorian dignity that
were taken after the fight； several Caesar put to death； others
anticipated him by killing themselves。
Cato had undertaken to defend Utica； and for that reason was not
in the battle。 The desire which Caesar had to take him alive made
him hasten thither； and upon the intelligence that he had despatched
himself； he was much discomposed； for what reason is not so well
agreed。 He certainly said； 〃Cato； I must grudge you your death； as you
grudged me the honour of saving your life。〃 Yet the discourse he wrote
against Cato after his death is no great sign of his kindness； or that
he was inclined to be reconciled to him。 For how is it probable that
he would have been tender of his life when he was so bitter against
his memory？ But from his clemency to Cicero； Brutus； and many others
who fought against him； it may be divined that Caesar's book was not
written so much out of animosity to Cato； as in his own vindication。
Cicero had written an encomium upon Cato； and called it by his name。 A
composition by so great a master upon so excellent a subject was
sure to be in every one's hands。 This touched Caesar； who looked
upon a panegyric on his enemies as no better than an invective against
himself； and therefore he made in his Anti…Cato a collection of
whatever could be said in his derogation。 The two compositions； like
Cato and Caesar themselves； have each of them their several admirers。
Caesar； upon his return to Rome； did not omit to pronounce before
the people a magnificent account of his victory； telling them that
he had subdued a country which would supply the public every year with
two hundred thousand attic bushels of corn and three million pounds'
weight of oil。 He then led three triumphs for Egypt； Pontus； and
Africa； the last for the victory over； not Scipio； but King Juba； as
it was professed； whose little son was then carried in the triumph；
the happiest captive that ever was； who； of a barbarian Numidian； came
by this means to obtain a place among the most learned historians of
Greece。 After the triumphs； he distributed rewards to his soldiers；
and treated the people with feasting and shows。 He entertained the
whole people together at one feast； where twenty…two thousand dining
couches were laid out； and he made a display of gladiators； and of
battles by sea； in honour； as he said； of his daughter Julia； though
she had been long since dead。 When these shows were over； an account
was taken of the people who； from three hundred and twenty thousand；
were now reduced to one hundred and fifty thousand。 So great a waste
had the civil war made in Rome alone； not to mention what the other
parts of Italy and the provinces suffered。
He was now chosen a fourth time consul； and went into Spain
against Pompey's sons。 They were but young； yet had gathered
together a very numerous army； and showed they had courage and conduct
to command it； so that Caesar was in extreme danger。 The great
battle was near the town of Munda； in which Caesar； seeing his men
hard pressed； and making but a weak resistance； ran through the
ranks among the soldiers； and crying out； asked them whether they were
not ashamed to deliver him into the hands of boys？ At last； with great
difficulty； and the best efforts he could make； he forced back the
enemy； killing thirty thousand of them； though with the loss of one
thousand of his best men。 When he came back from the fight； he told
his friends that he had often fought for victory； but this was the
first time he had ever fought for life。 This battle was won on the
feast of Bacchus； the very day in which Pompey； four years before； had
set out for the war。 The younger of Pompey's sons escaped； but Didius；
some days after the fight； brought the head of the elder to Caesar。
This was the last war he was engaged in。 The triumph which he
celebrated for this victory displeased the Romans beyond anything； for
he had not defeated foreign generals or barbarian kings； but had
destroyed the children and family of one of the greatest men of
Rome； though unfortunate； and it did not look well to lead a
procession in celebration of the calamities of his country； and to
rejoice in those things for which no other apology could be made
either to gods or men than their being absolutely necessary。 Besides
that； hitherto he had never sent letters or messengers to announce any
victory over his fellow…citizens； but had seemed rather to be
ashamed of the action than to expect honour from it。
Nevertheless his countrymen； conceding all to his fortune； and