his passage. tinued his course, stopping no longer than was necessary for a supply of provisions at the ports that occurred in 19. He now determined upon applying to Ptolemy, king of Egypt, to whose father he had been a considerable benefactor. Ptolemy was yet a minor, and had not the government in his own hands, but was under the direction of an administration. 20. His council insidiously contrived that Pompey should be invited on shore, and murdered before he should come into the king's presence'. Achillas, commander of the forces, and Septim'ius, a Roman, who had formerly been a centurion in Pompey's army, undertook to carry the treacherous design into execution. Attended by three or four more, they put off in a little bark, and rowed to Pompey's ship, that lay about a mile from the shore. 21. Pompey now took leave of Cornelia, repeating to her a verse of Soph'ocles, signifying, that "he who trusts his freedom to a tyrant, from that moment becomes a slave." He then gave his hand to Achillas, and, with only two of his own attendants, stepped into the bark. 22. The frantic Cornelia hung over the side of the deck, weeping and exclaiming against his separation from her, "Alas!" said she, "whither art thou going?”— He spoke! but she, unmoved at his commands, ROWE'S LUCAN. in wild astonishment she followed him with her eyes, and uttering to the winds her fruitless lamentations. 23. The mariners, regardless of her sorrows, rowed towards land, without a word passing among them, till Pom 1 This was by the advice of Theod'otus, preceptor to the young king. "If we receive him," said he, "we shall make Cæsar our enemy, and Pompey our master: if we dismiss him, we render ourselves obnoxious to Pompey by our inhospitality, and to Cæsar for letting him escape." pey, by way of breaking silence, looking at Septim'ius, whose face he recollected. "Methinks, friend," said he, you once served under me." Septim'ius noticing these words only by a contemptuous nod of the head, Pompey betook himself to a paper, on which he had minuted a speech intended to be made to the king, and began reading it. In this manner they approached the shore; whilst Cornelia, whose insufferable sorrow had never let her lose sight of her husband, began to conceive hopes, perceiving that the people on the strand crowded down along the coast as if eager to receive him. 24. Alas! these hopes were soon destroyed. At the instant that Pompey rose, supporting himself upon his freedman's arm, Septim'ius stabbed him in the back, and Achillas instantly seconded the blow. 25. Pompey, perceiving his death inevitable, calmly disposed himself to meet it with decency; and covering his face with his robe, without a word resigned himself to his fate. 26. At this horrid sight, Cornelia and her attendants shrieked, so as to be heard to the very shore. But the danger they were in allowing nc time to look on, they immediately set sail, and, the wind proving favourable, fortunately escaped the pursuit of the Egyptian galleys. 27. In the mean time, Pompey's murderers, having taken off his head, embalmed it for a present to Cæsar, whilst the body was thrown naked on the strand, and exposed to the view of those whose curiosity was to be satisfied. 28. But his faithful freedman Philip still kept near it: and when the crowd dispersed, he washed it in the sea, and looking round for materials to burn it, perceived the wrecks of a fishing-boat, of which he composed a pile. 29. While he was thus piously employed, he was accosted by an old Roman soldier, who had served under Pompey in his youth. "Who art thou?" said he, "that art making these humble preparations for Pompey's funeral?"-" One of his freedmen," answered Philip." Alas!" replied the soldier, " permit me to share with you the honour of this sacred action. Among all the miseries of my exile, it will be my last sad comfort, that I have been able to assist at the funeral of my old commander, and to touch the body of the bravest general that ever Rome produced." 30. Thus were the last rites performed to Pompey. But his ashes (according to Plutarch) were carefully collected, and carried to Cornelia, who deposited them at his villa near Alba', in Italy. 31. We are told too that the Egyptians afterwards erected a monument to him, on the spot on which his funeral pile had been raised, with an inscription to this purpose:-" How poor a tomb covers the man who once had temples erected to his honour!" 32. From Pompey's death we may date the extinction of the republic. From this period the senate was dispossessed of its power; and Rome henceforward was never without a master. Questions for Examination. 1. How was Cæsar affected by the result of the battle? 2. What appearance did Pompey's camp present? 3. Did Cæsar's troops immediately begin to plunder ? 4. What became of the fugitives? 5. Did they succeed in the attempt? .6. Were the labours of Cæsar's soldiers now at an end? 7. What effect had this on the fugitives? 8. Was this victory of importance, and what was the loss on both sides? 9. In what manner did Cæsar behave to the vanquished ? 10. What followed? 11. What was the conduct of Pompey on this occasion? 12. Mention your reasons for this assertion. 13. Proceed in relating farther particulars. 14. Whither did he next steer his course? 15, 16. What effect had the tidings on Cornelia? 17. Relate what passed at their interview? 1 Generally called Alba Pom'peia. In the time of the Romans it was the chief city of Liguria. The town still retains the name of Alba; but the province in which it is situated is called Mont'ferrat. This town gave birth to the emperor Pertinax. There were several other towns of the name of Alba, 18. How did Pompey attempt to comfort her? 19. What determination did he now form? 20. What was his intended reception ? 21. Did Pompey fall into the snare? 22. Was his separation from his wife a painful one? 23. What passed in the boat? 24. Were Cornelia's hopes well founded? 25. Did Pompey resist this treacherous attack? 26. Was Cornelia a witness to this horrid transaction? 27. How was the body of Pompey treated? 28. Had he no friend to perform the last offices for him? 29. By whom was he assisted? 30. What became of his remains? 31. What respect did the Egyptians afterwards pay to his memory? 32. What was the face of affairs after Pompey's death? CHAPTER XXI. SECT. I. FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST EMPEROR, AUGUSTUS.— U.c. 706. Give me, ye gods! the harmony of war, The trumpet's clangour, and the clash of arms! FENTON. 3. Inconsid'erable, a. small, trifling. 4. Grate'ful, a. agreeable, acceptable. 16. Interp'reter, s. one who explains 17. Av'enues, s. entrances, ways. 22. Irreme'diable, a. not to be remedied. Com'mentaries, s. Cæsar's history of his wars in Gaul. 23. Ineffect'ual, a. unsuccessful, useless. 28. Reprehend'ed, v. blamed, censured. 29. Depo'sed, v. deprived of his crown. 31. Par'ricide, s. the murder or murderer of a father. 1. CESAR has been much celebrated for his good fortune, but his abilities seem equal to the highest success. He possessed shining qualities, tarnished by ambition only. His talents were such as would have rendered him victo rious at the head of any army; and he would have governed in any republic that had given him birth. 2. Having now gained a most complete victory, his success seemed only to increase his activity, and inspire him with fresh resolution to face new dangers. He determined, therefore, to pursue his last advantage, and follow Pompey to whatever country he had retired; convinced that, though he might gain new triumphs, he should never enjoy security until his rival was in his power. 3. Accordingly, losing no time, he set sail for Egypt, and arrived at Alexan'dria' with about four thousand men : a very inconsiderable force to keep so powerful a kingdom under subjection. 4. The first accounts he received were of Pompey's miserable end; and soon after one of the murderers came with his head and his ring, as a most grateful present to the conqueror. 5. But Cæsar had too much humanity to be pleased with so horrid a spectacle; with the sad remains of the man he once loved; his partner in power. He turned from it with disgust; and, after a short pause, gave vent to his pity in a flood of tears. ordered the head to be burned with the most costly perfumes, and placed the ashes in a temple, which he built and dedicated to the goddess Nem'esis, the avenger of cruel and inhuman deeds. He 6. It should seem that the Egyptians by this time had some hopes of breaking off all alliance with the Romans; which they considered, as in fact it was, only another name for subjection. They first took offence at Cæsar's carrying the ensigns of Roman power before him as he entered the city 2. Photi'nus also treated him with great dis 1 This is the usual pronunciation, though Walker accents the word Alexandri'a. The principal cause of quarrel was this. Ptol'emy Aule'tes had engaged Cæsar, during the first consulate, by a promise of ten thousand talents, to get him acknowledged as a friend and ally of the Roman republic; part only of this sum had been paid, and Cæsar now exacted the remainder with great rigour. |