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！
this； and protested； with a great deal of warmth； that it was
intolerable the government should be prostituted by marriages； and
that they should advance one another to the commands of armies；
provinces； and other great posts； by means of women。 Bibulus； Caesar's
colleague； finding it was to no purpose to oppose his bills； but
that he was in danger of being murdered in the forum； as also was
Cato； confined himself to his house； and there let the remaining
part of his consulship expire。 Pompey； when he was married； at once
filled the forum with soldiers； and gave the people his help in
passing the new laws； and secured Caesar the government of all Gaul；
both on this and the other side of the Alps； together with
Illyricum； and the command of four legions for five years。 Cato made
some attempts against these proceedings； but was seized and led off on
the way to prison by Caesar； who expected that he would appeal to
the tribunes。 But when he saw that Cato went along without speaking
a word； and not only the nobility were indignant； but the people also；
out of respect for Cato's virtue； were following in silence； and
with dejected looks； he himself privately desired one of the
tribunes to rescue Cato。 As for the other senators； some few of them
attended the house； the rest； being disgusted； absented themselves。
Hence Considius； a very old man； took occasion one day to tell
Caesar that the senators did not meet because they were afraid of
his soldiers。 Caesar asked； 〃Why don't you； then； out of the same
fear； keep at home？〃 To which Considius replied； that age was his
guard against fear； and that the small remains of his life were not
worth much caution。 But the most disgraceful thing that was done in
Caesar's consulship was his assisting to gain the tribuneship for
the same Clodius who had made the attempt on his wife's chastity and
intruded upon the secret vigils。 He was elected on purpose to effect
Cicero's downfall； nor did Caesar leave the city to join his army till
they two had overpowered Cicero and driven him out of Italy。
Thus far have we followed Caesar's actions before the wars of
Gaul。 After this； he seems to begin his course afresh； and to enter
upon a new life and scene of action。 And the period of those wars
which he now fought； and those many expeditions in which he subdued
Gaul； showed him to be a soldier and general not in the least inferior
to any of the greatest and most admired commanders who had ever
appeared at the head of armies。 For if we compare him with the
Fabii； the Metelli； the Scipios； and with those who were his
contemporaries； or not long before him； Sylla； Marius； the Luculli； or
even Pompey himself； whose glory； it may be said； went up at that time
to heaven for every excellence in war； we shall find Caesar's
actions to have surpassed them all。 One he may be held to have outdone
in consideration of the difficulty of the country in which he
fought； another in the extent of territory which he conquered； some；
in the number and strength of the enemy whom he defeated； one man；
because of the wildness and perfidiousness of the tribes whose
good…will he conciliated； another in his humanity and clemency to
those he overpowered； others； again； in his gifts and kindnesses to
his soldiers； all alike in the number of the battles which he fought
and the enemies whom he killed。 For he had not pursued the wars in
Gaul full ten years when he had taken by storm above eight hundred
towns； subdued three hundred states； and of the three millions of men；
who made up the gross sum of those with whom at several times he
engaged； he had killed one million and taken captive a second。
He was so much master of the good…will and hearty service of his
soldiers that those who in other expeditions were but ordinary men
displayed a courage past defeating or withstanding when they went upon
any danger where Caesar's glory was concerned。 Such a one was Acilius；
who； in the sea…fight before Marseilles； had his right hand struck off
with a sword； yet did not quit his buckler out of his left； but struck
the enemies in the face with it； till he drove them off and made
himself master of the vessel。 Such another was Cassius Scaeva； who； in
a battle near Dyrrhachium； had one of his eyes shot out with an arrow；
his shoulder pierced with one javelin； and his thigh with another； and
having received one hundred and thirty darts upon his target； called
to the enemy； as though he would surrender himself。 But when two of
them came up to him； he cut off the shoulder of one with a sword；
and by a blow over the face forced the other to retire； and so with
the assistance of his friends； who now came up； made his escape。
Again； in Britain； when some of the foremost officers had accidentally
got into a morass full of water； and there were assaulted by the
enemy； a common soldier； whilst Caesar stood and looked on； threw
himself in the midst of them； and after many signal demonstrations
of his valour； rescued the officers and beat off the barbarians。 He
himself； in the end； took to the water； and with much difficulty；
partly by swimming； partly by wading； passed it； but in the passage
lost his shield。 Caesar and his officers saw it and admired； and
went to meet him with joy and acclamation。 But the soldier； much
dejected and in tears； threw himself down at Caesar's feet and
begged his pardon for having let go his buckler。 Another time in
Africa； Scipio having taken a ship of Caesar's in which Granius Petro；
lately appointed quaestor； was sailing； gave the other passengers as
free prize to his soldiers； but thought fit to offer the quaestor
his life。 But he said it was not usual for Caesar's soldiers to take
but give mercy； and having said so； fell upon his sword and killed
himself。
This love of honour and passion for distinction were inspired into
them and cherished in them by Caesar himself； who； by his unsparing
distribution of money and honours； showed them that he did not heap up
wealth from the wars for his own luxury； or the gratifying his private
pleasures； but that all he received was but a public fund laid by
the reward and encouragement of valour； and that he looked upon all he
gave to deserving soldiers as so much increase to his own riches。
Added to this also； there was no danger to which he did not
willingly expose himself； no labour from which he pleaded an
exemption。 His contempt of danger was not so much wondered at by his
soldiers because they knew how much he coveted honour。 But his
enduring so much hardship； which he did to all appearance beyond his
natural strength； very much astonished them。 For he was a spare man；
had a soft and white skin； was distempered in the head and subject
to an epilepsy； which； it is said； first seized hi