all these accomplishments, she possessed a great share of the learning of the times, and could give audience to the ambassadors of seven different naticns, without an interpreter. 17. The difficulty was, how to gain admission to Cæsar, as her enemies were in possession of all the avenues that led to the palace. For this purpose she went on board a small vessel, and, in the evening, landed near the palace : where, being wrapped up in a coverlet, she was carried as a bundle of clothes into the very chamber of Cæsar. Her address instantly struck him; her wit and understanding fanned the flame; but her caresses, which were carried beyond the bounds of innocence, entirely brought him over to second her claims. 18. 19. While Cleopa'tra was thus employed in forwarding her own views, her sister Arsin'oe was also strenuously engaged in the camp, in pursuing a separate interest. She had found means, by the assistance of one Ganymede, her confidant, to make a large division in the Egyptian army in her favour; and, soon after, by one of those sudden revolutions, which are common in barbarian camps to this day, she caused Achillas to be murdered, and Gan'ymede to take the command in his stead, and to carry on the siege with greater vigour than before. 20. Gan'ymede's principal effort was by letting the sea upon those canals which supplied the palace with fresh water; but this inconvenience Cæsar remedied by digging a great number of wells. His next endeavour was to prevent the junction of Cæsar's twenty-fourth legion, which he twice attempted in vain. He soon after made himself master of a bridge which joined the isle of Pharos to the continent, from which post Cæsar was resolved to dislodge him. 21. In the heat of the action some mariners, partly through curiosity, and partly through ambition, came and joined the combatants; but, being seized with a panic, instantly fled, and spread a general terror through the army. All Cæsar's endeavours to rally his forces were in vain, the confusion was past remedy, and numbers were drowned or put to the sword in attempting to escape. 22. Now, therefore, seeing the irremediable disorder of his troops, he fled to a ship, in order to get to the palace that was just opposite; but he was no sooner on board, than such crowds entered after him, that being apprehensive of the ship's sinking, he jumped into the sea, and swam two hundred vaces to the fleet which lay before the palace, all the time holding his Commentaries in his left hand above the water, and his coat of mail in his teeth. 23. The Alexandrians, finding their efforts to take the palace ineffectual, endeavoured at least to get their king out of Cæsar's power, as he had seized upon his person in the beginning of their disputes. For this purpose they made use of their customary arts of dissimulation, professing the utmost desire of peace, and only wanting the presence of their lawful prince to give a sanction to the treaty. 24. Caesar was sensible of their perfidy, but concealed his suspicions, and gave them their king, as he was under no apprehensions from the abilities of a boy. Ptolemy, however, the instant he was set at liberty, instead of promoting the peace, made every effort to give vigour to his hostilities. 25. In this manner was Cæsar hemmed in for some time by an artful and insidious enemy, and surrounded with almost insurmountable difficulties; but he was at last relieved from this mortifying situation by Mithrida'tes Pergame'nus, one of his most faithful partisans, who came with an army to his assistance. This general marched into Egypt, took the city of Pelu'sium', repulsed the Egyptian army with loss, and at last, joining with Cæsar, attacked their camp with a great slaughter of the Egyptians. Ptolemy himself, attempting to escape on board a vessel, was drowned by the ship's sinking. 26. Caesar thus became master of all Egypt without any farther opposition. He appointed Cleopa'tra, with her younger brother, who was then an infant, joint governors, according to the intent of their father's will, and drove out Arsin'oe, with Gan'ymede, to banishment. 27. Having thus given away kingdoms, he now, for a while, seemed to relax from the usual activity of his conduct, being captivated with the charms of Cleopa'tra. Instead of quitting Egypt to go and quell the remains of Pompey's party, he abandoned himself to his pleasures; passing whole nights in feasting, and in all the excesses of high-wrought luxury with the young queen. He even resolved on attending her up the Nile, into Ethiopia; but the brave veterans who had long followed 1 Pelu'sium, a noble and strong city, was considered the key to al Egypt; which being taken, the rest of Egypt lay quite open and ex posed. (Strabo.) It was situated among marshes, hence its name and strength. From its ruins arose Damiet'ta. his fortune, boldly reprehended his conduct, and refused to be partners in so infamous an expedition. 28. Thus, at length roused from his lethargy, he resolved to prefer the call of ambition to that of love: and to leave Cleo. pa'tra (by whom he had a son, whose name was Cæsario,) in order to oppose Pharna'ces, the king of Bosphorus 1, who had made some inroads upon the dominions of Rome in the East. 29. This prince, who had cruelly deposed his father, the great Mithrida'tes, being ambitious of reconquering those dominions, seized upon Armenia and Col'chis3, and overcame Domit'ius, who had been sent against him. 30. Upon Cæsar's march to oppose him, Pharna'ces, who was as much terrified at the name of the general as at the strength of his army, laboured, by all the arts of negotiation, to avert the impending danger. 31. Cæsar, exasperated at his crimes and ingratitude, at first dissembled with the ambassadors; and using all expedition, fell upon the enemy unexpectedly, and in a few hours obtained an easy and complete victory. Pharna'ces, attempting to take refuge in his capital, was slain by one of his own commanders-a just punishment for his former parricide. Cæsar achieved this conquest with so much ease, that in writing to a friend at Rome, he expressed the rapidity of his victory in three words, "VENI, VIDI, VICI *.' A man so accustomed to conquest might, perhaps, think a slight battle scarcely worth a long letter; though it is more probable that these memorable words were dictated rather by vanity than indifference. Questions for Examination. 1. What were the abilities and character of Cæsar? 2. Did he rest satisfied with his present successes? 3. Whither did he steer his course? 4 1 The territories of Bos'phorus were partly in Europe, but chiefly in Asia. This kingdom was so called from two narrow straits, situate at the confines of Europe and Asia, now known by the names of Caffa and Constantinople. The kingdom of Bosphorus is the same as Pontus. 2 Armenia, an extensive country in Asia, divided into two parts: namely, Major and Minor, (Greater and Less.) 3 Colchis (pron. Kol'kis), a province of Asia, on the east side of the Euxine Sea; remarkable in history for the fable of the Golden Fleece, for the Argonautic expedition on that account, and for giving birth to the enchantress Medea. 4 I came, I saw, I conquered. 4. What occurred on his arrival? 5. Was Cæsar pleased with this spectacle? 6. What was the conduct of the Egyptians towards Cæsar? 8. Did he continue this appearance of confidence? 14. How did Cæsar prevent the designs of the enemy? 16. What attractions did she possess? 17. What obstacles presented themselves, and how were they over come? 18. Was Cæsar captivated by her charms? 19. What measures did Arsinoe pursue? 20. What attempts did the enemy make to annoy Cæsar, and how were they frustrated? 21. What unlucky accident occasioned the miscarriage of Cæsar's design? 22. How did Cæsar escape? 23. What did the Alexandrians next attempt? 24. Did Cæsar comply with their wishes? 25. How was Cæsar delivered from this dangerous situation? 26. What was the consequence of this victory? 27. Did Cæsar pursue his career of victory? 28. What was the consequence of this boldness? 29. What farther cause of offence had Pharnaces given ? 30. Did Pharnaces boldly oppose the invader? 31. Did he succeed? www SECTION II. Whate'er the Roman virtue has subdued, The sun's whole course, the day and year are Cæsar's; For him the self-devoted Decii died, The Fabii fell, and the great Scipios conquer'd; The Roman empire fallen! Oh, cursed ambition! 5. Rally, v. to reassemble, to collect again. 7. Ela'te, v. render proud, puff up. Malig'nity, s. degrees of poison. 9. Peremp'tory, a. positive, resolute. 12. Abridg'ed, part. shortened, curtailed. 15. Adula'tion, s. flattery. 16. Ju'dicature, s. of judging, dispensing the laws. ADDISON'S CATO. Sump'tuary, a. regulating the ex- 18. Pro'tract, v. to lengthen. Isth'mus, s. a narrow neck of land. 25. Pon'dered, v. revolved in his mind. 1. CESAR, having settled affairs in this part of the empire, embarked for Italy, where he arrived sooner than his enemies could expect, but not before his presence there was absolutely required. 2. During his absence, he had been created consul for five years, dictator for one year, and tribune of the people for life. 3. But Antony, who in the mean time governed for him in Rome, had filled the city with riot and debauchery, and many commotions ensued which nothing but the arrival of Cæsar could appease. 4. By his moderation and humanity he soon restored tranquillity to the city, scarcely making any distinction between those of his own and the opposite party. 5. Having, by gentle means, restored his authority at home, he prepared to march into Africa, where Pompey's party had found time to rally under Scipio and Cato, assisted by Juba, king of Maurita'nia; and, with his usual diligence, landed with a small party in Africa, while the rest of his army followed him. 6. Scipio coming to a battle soon after, received a complete and final overthrow, with little or no loss on the side of the victor. Juba, and Petrei'us his general, killed each other in despair. Scipio, attempting to escape by sea into Spain, fell in among the enemy, and was slain; so that of all the generals of that undone party, Cato was now the only one that remained. 7. This extraordinary man, whom prosperity could not elate, nor misfortunes depress, having retired into Africa, after the battle of Pharsa'lia, had led the wretched remains of Pompey's army through burning deserts, and tracts infested with serpents of various malignity, and was now in the city of Utica', which he had been left to defend. 8. In love, however, with the show of Roman government, Cato had formed the principal citizens into a senate, and conceived a resolution for holding out the town. But the enthusiasm for liberty subsiding among his followers, he was resolved no longer to force men to be free, who seemed naturally prone to slavery. 9. He now, therefore, desired some of his friends to save themselves by sea, and bade others submit to Cæsar's clemency; observing, that, as to himself, he was at last victorious. After this, supping cheerfully among his friends, he retired to his apart 1 Ulica, a town of Africa Proper, now the kingdom of Tunis. After the destruction of Carthage, it became the capital and centre of all the Roman transactions in Africa. (Strabo.) It was situated on the same bay with Carthage, near the present Berserta. |