Crossing the Rubicon 4/4

The final part of the fifth tale from Heroes of History

Among the letters of Caesar that remain to the present day, there is one written about this time to one of his friends, in which he speaks of this subject.

I am glad that you approve of my conduct at Corfinium. I am satisfied that such a course is the best one for us to pursue, as by so doing we shall gain the goodwill of all parties and thus secure a permanent victory. Most conquerors have incurred the hatred of mankind by their cruelties and have all, in consequence of the enmity they have thus awakened, been prevented from long enjoying their power. Sulla was an exception, but his example of successful cruelty I have no disposition to imitate. I will conquer after a new fashion and fortify myself in the possession of the power I acquire by generosity and mercy.

Domitius had the ingratitude, after this release, to take up arms again and wage a new war against Caesar. When Caesar heard of it, he said it was all right. “I will act out the principles of my nature,” said he, “and he may act out his.”

Another instance of Caesar’s generosity occurred which is even more remarkable than this. It seems that among the officers of his army there were some whom he had appointed at the recommendation of Pompey at the time when he and Pompey were friends. These men would, of course, feel under obligations of gratitude to Pompey as they owed their military rank to his friendly interposition in their behalf. As soon as the war broke out, Caesar gave them all his free permission to go over to Pompey’s side if they chose to do so.

Caesar acted thus very liberally in all respects. He surpassed Pompey very much in the spirit of generosity and mercy with which he entered upon the great contest before them. Pompey ordered every citizen to join his standard, declaring that he should consider all neutrals as his enemies. Caesar, on the other hand, gave free permission to every one to decline, if he chose, taking any part in the contest, saying that he should consider all who did not act against him as his friends.

In the political contests of our day it is to be observed that the combatants are much more prone to imitate the bigotry of Pompey than the generosity of Caesar, condemning, as they often do, those who choose to stand aloof from electioneering struggles more than they do their most determined opponents and enemies.

When Caesar at length arrived at Brundusium, he found that Pompey had sent a part of his army across the Adriatic into Greece and was waiting for the transports to return so that he might go over himself with the remainder. In the meantime, he had fortified himself strongly in the city. Caesar immediately laid siege to the place, and he commenced some works to block up the mouth of the harbor.

He built piers on each side, extending out as far into the sea as the depth of the water would allow them to be built. He then constructed a series of rafts, which he anchored in the deep water in a line extending from one pier to the other. He built towers upon these rafts and garrisoned them with soldiers, in hopes by this means to prevent all egress from the fort. He thought that when this work was completed Pompey would be entirely shut in, beyond all possibility of escape.

The transports, however, returned before the work was completed. Its progress was, of course, slow, as the constructions were the scene of a continued conflict; for Pompey sent out rafts and galleys against them every day, and the workmen had thus to build in the midst of continual interruptions, sometimes from showers of darts, arrows, and javelins, sometimes from the conflagrations of fireships, and sometimes from the terrible concussions of great vessels of war, impelled with prodigious force against them.

The transports returned, therefore, before the defenses were complete, and they contrived to get into the harbor. Pompey immediately formed his plan for embarking the remainder of his army.

He filled the streets of the city with barricades and pitfalls, excepting two streets which led to the place of embarkation. The object of these obstructions was to embarrass Caesar’s progress through the city in case he should force an entrance while his men were getting on board the ships. He then, in order to divert Caesar’s attention from his design, doubled the guards stationed upon the walls on the evening of his intended embarkation and ordered them to make vigorous attacks upon all Caesar’s forces outside.

Then, when the darkness came on, he marched his troops through the two streets which had been left open to the landing-place and got them as fast as possible on board the transports. Some of the people of the town contrived to make known to Caesar’s army what was going on by means of signals from the walls; the army immediately brought scaling ladders in great numbers, and mounting the walls with great ardor and impetuosity, they drove all before them and soon broke open the gates and got possession of the city. But the barricades and pitfalls, together with the darkness, so embarrassed their movements that Pompey succeeded in completing his embarkation and sailing away.

Caesar had no ships in which to follow. He returned to Rome. He met, of course, with no opposition. He reestablished the government there, organized the Senate anew, and obtained supplies of corn from the public granaries and of money from the city treasury in the capital.

In going to the Capitoline Hill after this treasure, he found the officer who had charge of the money stationed there to defend it. He told Caesar that it was contrary to law for him to enter. Caesar said that for men with swords in their hands, there was no law. The officer still refused to admit him. Caesar then told him to open the doors, or he would kill him on the spot.

“And you must understand,” he added, “that it will be easier for me to do it than it has been to say it.”

The officer resisted no longer, and Caesar went in.

After this, Caesar spent some time in vigorous campaigns in Italy, Spain, Sicily, and Gaul, wherever there was manifested any opposition to his sway. When this work was accomplished, and all these countries were completely subjected to his dominion, he began to turn his thoughts to the plan of pursuing Pompey across the Adriatic Sea.

The End