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that came from all parts to meet him was so numerous that no place was
able to contain them； but the villages； seaport towns； and the very
highways were all full of people； feasting and sacrificing to the
gods。 Nay； many went to meet him with garlands on their heads； and
flambeaux in their hands； casting flowers and nosegays upon him as
he went along； so that this progress of his； and reception； was one of
the noblest and most glorious sights imaginable。 And yet it is thought
that this very thing was not one of the least causes and occasions
of the civil war。 For Pompey； yielding to a feeling of exultation；
which in the greatness of the present display of joy lost sight of
more solid grounds of consideration； and abandoning that prudent
temper which had guided him hitherto to a safe use of all his good
fortune and his successes； gave himself up to an extravagant
confidence in his own contempt of Caesar's power； insomuch that he
thought neither force of arms nor care necessary against him； but that
he could pull him down much easier than he had set him up。 Besides
this； Appius； under whose command those legions which Pompey lent to
Caesar were returned； coming lately out of Gaul； spoke slightingly
of Caesar's actions there； and spread scandalous reports about him； at
the same time telling Pompey that he was unacquainted with his own
strength and reputation if he made use of any other forces against
Caesar than Caesar's own； for such was the soldiers' hatred to Caesar；
and their love to Pompey so great； that they would all come over to
him upon his first appearance。 By these flatteries Pompey was so
puffed up； and led on into such a careless security； that he could not
choose but laugh at those who seemed to fear a war； and when some were
saying； that if Caesar should march against the city； they could not
see what forces there were to resist him； he replied with a smile；
bidding them be in no concern； 〃for；〃 said he； 〃whenever I stamp
with my foot in any part of Italy there will rise up forces enough
in an instant； both horse and foot。〃
Caesar； on the other side； was more and more vigorous in his
proceedings； himself always at hand about the frontiers of Italy；
and sending his soldiers continually into the city to attend all
elections with their votes。 Besides； he corrupted several of the
magistrates； and kept them in his pay； among others； Paulus； the
consul； who was brought over by a bribe of one thousand and five
hundred talents； and Curio； tribune of the people； by a discharge of
the debts with which he was overwhelmed； together with Mark Antony；
who； out of friendship to Curio； had become bound with him in the same
obligations for them all。 And it was stated as a fact； that a
centurion of Caesar's； waiting at the senate…house； and hearing that
the senate refused to give him a longer term of his government；
clapped his hand upon his sword； and said； 〃But this shall give it。〃
And indeed all his practices and preparations seemed to bear this
appearance。 Curio's demands； however； and requests in favour of
Caesar； were more popular in appearance； for he desired one of these
two things； either that Pompey also should be called upon to resign
his army； or that Caesar should not be taken away from him； for if
both of them became private persons； both would be satisfied with
simple justice； or if both retained their present power； each being
a match for the other； they would be contented with what they
already had； but he that weakens one； does at the same time strengthen
the other； and so doubles that very strength and power which he
stood in fear of before。
Marcellus； the consul； replied nothing to all this； but that
Caesar was a robber； and should be proclaimed an enemy to the state if
he did not disband his army。 However； Curio； with the assistance of
Antony and Piso； prevailed； that the matter in debate should be put to
the question； and decided by those to withdraw who were of opinion
that Caesar only should lay down his army； and Pompey command； the
majority withdrew。 But when it was ordered again for those to withdraw
whose vote was that both should lay down their arms； and neither
command； there were but twenty…two for Pompey； all the rest remained
on Curio's side。 Whereupon he； as one proud of his conquest； leaped
out in triumph among the people； who received him with as great tokens
of joy； clapping their hands and crowning him with garlands and
flowers。 Pompey was not then present in the senate； because it is
not lawful for generals in command of an army to come into the city。
But Marcellus rising up； said； that he would not sit there hearing
speeches； when he saw ten legions already passing the Alps on their
march toward the city； but on his own authority would send some one to
oppose them in defence of the country。
Upon this the city went into mourning； as in a public calamity；
and Marcellus； accompanied by the senate； went solemnly through the
forum to meet Pompey； and made him this address： 〃I hereby give you
orders； O Pompey； to defend your country； to employ the troops you now
command； and to levy more。〃 Lentulus； consul elect for the year
following； spoke to the same purpose。 Antony； however； contrary to the
will of the senate； having in a public assembly read a letter of
Caesar's； containing various plausible overtures such as were likely
to gain the common people； proposing； namely； that both Pompey and he；
quitting their governments and dismissing their armies； should
submit to the judgment of the people； and give an account of their
actions before them； the consequence was that when Pompey began to
make his levies； he found himself disappointed in his expectations。
Some few； indeed； came in； but those very unwillingly； others would
not answer to their names； and the generality cried out for peace。
Lentulus； notwithstanding he was now entered upon his consulship；
would not assemble the senate； but Cicero； who was lately returned
from Cilicia； laboured for a reconciliation； proposing that Caesar
should leave his province of Gaul and army； reserving two legions
only； together with the government of Illyricum； and should thus be
put in nomination for a second consulship。 Pompey disliking this
motion； Caesar's friends were contented that he should surrender one
of the two； but Lentulus still opposing； and Cato crying out that
Pompey did ill to be deceived again； the reconciliation did not take
effect。
In the meantime； news was brought that Caesar had occupied Ariminum；
a great city in Italy； and was marching directly towards Rome with all
his forces。 But this latter was altogether false； for he had no more
with him at that time than three hundred horse and five thousand foot；
and he did not mean to tarry for the body of his army； which lay
beyond the Alps； choosing rather to fall in on a sudden upon his
enemies； while they were in confusion； and did not expect him； than to
give them time； and fight them after they had made preparations。 For
when he came to the banks of the Rubicon； a river that made the bounds
of his province； there he made a halt； pausing a little； and
considering； we may suppose； with himself the greatness of the
enterprise which he had undertaken； then； at last； like men that are
throwing themselves headlong from some precipice into a vast abyss；
having shut； as it were； his mind's eyes and put away from his sight
the idea of danger； he merely uttered to those near him in Greek the
words； 〃Anerriphtho kubos〃 （let the die be cast）； and led his army
through it。 No sooner was the news arrived； but there was an uproar
throughout all the city； and a consternation in the people even to
astonishment； such as never was known in Rome before； all the senate
ran immediately to Pompey； and the magistrates followed。 And when
Tullus made inquiry about his legions and forces； Pompey seemed to
pause a little； and answered with some hesitation that he had those
two legions ready that Caesar sent back； and that out of the men who
had been previously enrolled he believed he could shortly make up a
body of thirty thousand men。 On which Tullus crying out aloud； 〃O
Pompey； you have deceived us；〃