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and that not of his own。 The young lady hearing this； fell down in a
swoon； and continued a long time senseless and speechless。 And when
with some trouble she was brought to her senses again； being conscious
to herself that this was no time for lamentation and tears； she
started up and ran through the city towards the seaside； where
Pompey meeting and embracing her； as she sank down； supported by his
arms； 〃This； sir；〃 she exclaimed； 〃is the effect of my fortune； not of
yours； that I see you thus reduced to one poor vessel； who before your
marriage with Cornelia were wont to sail in these seas with a fleet of
five hundred ships。 Why therefore should you come to see me； or why
not rather have left to her evil genius one who has brought upon you
her own ill fortune？ How happy a woman had I been if I had breathed
out my last before the news came from Parthia of the death of Publius；
the husband of my youth； and how prudent if I had followed his
destiny； as I designed！ But I was reserved for a greater mischief；
even the ruin of Pompey the Great。〃
Thus； they say； Cornelia spoke to him； and this was Pompey's； reply：
〃You have had； Cornelia； but one season of a better fortune； which； it
may be； gave you unfounded hopes； by attending me a longer time than
is usual。 It behooves us； who are mortals born； to endure these
events； and to try fortune yet again； neither is it any less
possible to recover our former state than it was to fall from that
into this。〃 Thereupon Cornelia sent for her servants and baggage out
of the city。 The citizens also of Mitylene came out to salute and
invite Pompey into the city； but he refused； advising them to be
obedient to the conqueror and fear not； for that Caesar was a man of
great goodness and clemency。 Then turning to Cratippus； the
philosopher； who came among the rest out of the city to visit him；
he began to find some fault； and briefly argued with him upon
Providence； but Cratippus modestly declined the dispute； putting him
in better hopes only； lest by opposing he might seem too austere or
unseasonable。 For he might have put Pompey a question in his turn in
defence of Providence； and might have demonstrated the necessity there
was that the commonwealth should be turned into a monarchy； because of
their ill government in the state； and could have asked； 〃How； O
Pompey； and by what token or assurance can we ascertain； that if the
victory had been yours； you would have used your fortune better than
Caesar？ We must leave the divine power to act as we find it do。〃
Pompey having taken his wife and friends aboard； set sail； making no
port； or touching anywhere； but when he was necessitated to take in
provisions or fresh water。 The first city he entered was Attalia； in
Pamphylia； and whilst he was there； there came some galleys thither to
him out of Cilicia； together with a small body of soldiers； and he had
almost sixty senators with him again； then hearing that his navy was
safe too； and that Cato had rallied a considerable body of soldiers
after their overthrow； and was crossing with them over into Africa； he
began to complain and blame himself to his friends that he had allowed
himself to be driven into engaging by land； without making use of
his other forces； in which he was irresistibly the stronger； and had
not kept near enough to his fleet； that failing by land； he might have
reinforced himself from the sea； and would have been again at the head
of a power quite sufficient to encounter the enemy on equal terms。
And； in truth； neither did Pompey during all the war commit a
greater oversight； nor Caesar use a more subtle stratagem； than in
drawing the fight so far off from the naval forces。
As it now was； however； since he must come to some decision and
try some plan within his present ability； he despatched his agents
to the neighbouring cities； and himself sailed about in person to
others； requiring their aid in money and men for his ships。 But；
fearing lest the rapid approach of the enemy might cut off all his
preparations； he began to consider what place would yield him the
safest refuge and retreat at present。 A consultation was held； and
it was generally agreed that no province of the Romans was secure
enough。 As for foreign kingdoms； he himself was of opinion that
Parthia would be the fittest to receive and defend them in their
present weakness； and best able to furnish them with new means； and
send them out again with large forces。 Others of the council were
for going into Africa； and to King Juba。 But Theophanes the Lesbian
thought it madness to leave Egypt； that was but at a distance of three
days' sailing； and make no use of Ptolemy； who was still a boy； and
was highly indebted to Pompey for the friendship and favour he had
shown to his father； only to put himself under the Parthian； and trust
the most treacherous nation in the world； and rather than make any
trial of the clemency of a Roman； and his own near connection； to whom
if he would but yield to be second he might be the first and chief
over all the rest； to go and place himself at the mercy of Arsaces；
which even Crassus had not submitted to while alive； and； moreover； to
expose his young wife； of the family of the Scipios； among a barbarous
people； who govern by their lusts； and measure their greatness by
their power to commit affronts and insolences； from whom； though she
suffered no dishonour； yet it might be thought she did； being in the
hands of those who had the power to do it。 This argument alone； they
say； was persuasive enough to divert his course； that was designed
towards Euphrates； if it were so indeed that any counsel of
Pompey's； and not some superior power； made him take this other way。
As soon； therefore； as it was resolved upon that he should fly
into Egypt； setting sail from Cyprus in a galley of Seleucia； together
with Cornelia； while the rest of his company sailed along near him；
some in ships of war； and others in merchant vessels； he passed over
sea without danger。 But on hearing that King Ptolemy was posted with
his army at the city of Pelusium； making war against his sister； he
steered his course that way； and sent a messenger before to acquaint
the king with his arrival； and to crave his protection。 Ptolemy
himself was quite young； therefore Pothinus； who the principal
administration of affairs； called a council of the chief men； those
being the greatest whom he pleased to make so； and commanded them
every man to deliver his opinion touching the reception of Pompey。
It was； indeed； a miserable thing that the fate of the great Pompey
should be left to the determinations of Pothinus the eunuch； Theodotus
of Chois； the paid rhetoric master； and Achillas the Egyptian。 For
these； among the chamberlains and menial domestics that made up the
rest of the council； were the chief and leading men。 Pompey； who
thought it dishonourable for him to owe his safety to Caesar； riding
at anchor at a distance from shore； was forced to wait the sentence of
this tribunal。 It seems they were so far different in their opinions
that some were for sending the man away； and others； again； for
inviting and receiving him； but Theodotus； to show his cleverness
and the cogency of his rhetoric； undertook to demonstrate that neither
the one nor the other was safe in that juncture of affairs。 For if
they entertained him； they would be sure to make Caesar their enemy
and Pompey their master； or if they dismissed him； they might render
themselves hereafter obnoxious to Pompey； for that inhospitable
expulsion； and to Caesar； for the escape； so that the most expedient
course would be to send for him and take away his life； for by that
means they would ingratiate themselves with the one； and have no
reason to fear the other； adding； it is related； with a smile； that 〃a
dead man cannot bite。〃
This advice being approved of； they committed the execution of it to
Achillas。 He； therefore； taking with him as his accomplices one
Septimius； a man that had formerly held a command under Pompey； and
Salvius； another centurion； with three or four attendants； made up
towards Pompey galley。 In the meantime； all the chiefest of those
wh