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bulwark in front of Italy against the other tribes of Gaul。 There
the enemy came upon him； and surrounded him with many myriads； whom he
also was eager to engage； and at last； after some time and with much
slaughter； gained on the whole a complete victory； though at first
he appears to have met with some reverse； and the Aruveni show you a
small sword hanging up in a temple； which they say was taken from
Caesar。 Caesar saw this afterwards himself； and smiled； and when his
friends advised it should be taken down； would not permit it；
because he looked upon it as consecrated。
After the defeat； a great part of those who had escaped fled with
their king into a town called Alesia； which Caesar besieged； though
the height of the walls； and number of those who defended them； made
it appear impregnable； and meantime； from without the walls； he was
assailed by a greater danger than can be expressed。 For the choice men
of Gaul； picked out of each nation； and well armed； came to relieve
Alesia； to the number of three hundred thousand； nor were there in the
town less than one hundred and seventy thousand。 So that Caesar
being shut up betwixt two such forces； was compelled to protect
himself by two walls； one towards the town； the other against the
relieving army； as knowing if these forces should join； his affairs
would be entirely ruined。 The danger that he underwent before Alesia
justly gained him great honour on many accounts； and gave him an
opportunity of showing greater instances of his valour and conduct
than any other contest had done。 One wonders much how he should be
able to engage and defeat so many thousands of men without the town；
and not be perceived by those within； but yet more； that the Romans
themselves； who guarded their wall which was next to the town；
should be strangers to it。 For even they knew nothing of the
victory； till they heard the cries of the men and lamentations of
the women who were in the town； and had from thence seen the Romans at
a distance carrying into their camp a great quantity of bucklers；
adorned with gold and silver； many breastplates stained with blood；
besides cups and tents made in the Gallic fashion。 So soon did so vast
an army dissolve and vanish like a ghost or dream； the greatest part
of them being killed upon the spot。 Those who were in Alesia； having
given themselves and Caesar much trouble； surrendered at last； and
Vergentorix； who was the chief spring of all the war； putting his best
armour on； and adorning his horse； rode out of the gates； and made a
turn about Caesar as he was sitting； then quitting his horse； threw
off his armour； and remained quietly sitting at Caesar's feet until he
was led away to be reserved for the triumph。
Caesar had long ago resolved upon the overthrow of Pompey； as had
Pompey； for that matter； upon his。 For Crassus； the fear of whom had
hitherto kept them in peace； having now been killed in Parthia； if the
one of them wished to make himself the greatest man in Rome； he had
only to overthrow the other； and if he again wished to prevent his own
fall； he had nothing for it but to be beforehand with him whom he
feared。 Pompey had not been long under any such apprehensions；
having till lately despised Caesar； as thinking it no difficult matter
to put down him whom he himself had advanced。 But Caesar had
entertained this design from the beginning against his rivals； and had
retired； like an expert wrestler； to prepare himself apart for the
combat。 Making the Gallic wars his exercise…ground； he had at once
improved the strength of his soldiery； and had heightened his own
glory by his great actions； so that he was looked on as one who
might challenge comparison with Pompey。 Nor did he let go any of those
advantages which were now given him both by Pompey himself and the
times； and the ill…government of Rome； where all who were candidates
for offices publicly gave money； and without any shame bribed the
people； who； having received their pay； did not contend for their
benefactors with their bare suffrages； but with bows； swords； and
slings。 So that after having many times stained the place of
election with blood of men killed upon the spot； they left the city at
last without a government at all； to be carried about like a ship
without a pilot to steer her； while all who had any wisdom could
only be thankful if a course of such wild and stormy disorder and
madness might end no worse than in a monarchy。 Some were so bold as to
declare openly that the government was incurable but by a monarchy；
and that they ought to take that remedy from the hands of the gentlest
physician； meaning Pompey； who； though in words he pretended to
decline it； yet in reality made his utmost efforts to be declared
dictator。 Cato； perceiving his design； prevailed with the senate to
make him sole consul； that with the offer of a more legal sort of
monarchy he might be withheld from demanding the dictatorship。 They
over and above voted him the continuance of his provinces； for he
had two； Spain and all Africa； which he governed by his lieutenants；
and maintained armies under him； at the yearly charge of a thousand
talents out of the public treasury。
Upon this Caesar also sent and petitioned for the consulship and the
continuance of his provinces。 Pompey at first did not stir in it；
but Marcellus and Lentulus opposed it； who had always hated Caesar；
and now did everything； whether fit or unfit； which might disgrace and
affront him。 For they took away the privilege of Roman citizens from
the people of New Comum； who were a colony that Caesar had lately
planted in Gaul； and Marcellus； who was then consul； ordered one of
the senators of that town； then at Rome； to be whipped； and told him
he laid that mark upon him to signify he was no citizen of Rome；
bidding him； when he went back again； to show it to Caesar。 After
Marcellus's consulship； Caesar began to lavish gifts upon all the
public men out of the riches he had taken from the Gauls； discharged
Curio； the tribune； from his great debts； gave Paulus； then consul；
fifteen hundred talents； with which he built the noble court of
justice adjoining the forum； to supply the place of that called the
Fulvian。 Pompey； alarmed at these preparations； now openly took steps；
both by himself and his friends； to have a successor appointed in
Caesar's room； and sent to demand back the soldiers whom he had lent
him to carry on the wars in Gaul。 Caesar returned them； and made
each soldier a present of two hundred and fifty drachmas。 The
officer who brought them home to Pompey spread amongst the people no
very fair or favourable report of Caesar； and flattered Pompey himself
with false suggestions that he was wished for by Caesar's army； and
though his affairs he