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. What occurred on his arrival? 5. Was Cæsar pleased with this spectacle? 6. What was the conduct of the Egyptians towards Cæsar? 7. Did Cæsar resent this conduct? 8. Did he continue this appearance of confidence? 9. Who were at this time the sovereigns of Egypt? 10. What rendered Cæsar's interference necessary? 11. Was his interference agreeable to the Egyptians? 12. How did Cæsar conduct himself on this occasion ? 13. Was the attack formidable? 14. How did Cæsar prevent the designs of the enemy? 15. What was the conduct of Cleopatra? 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? SECTION II. Whate'er the Roman virtue has subdued, The sun's whole course, the day and year are Cæsar's; The Fabii fell, and the great Scipios conquer'd; ADDISON'S CATO. 5. Rally, v. to re-assemble, to collect again. 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. Sump'tuary, a. regulating the ex- 18. Pro'tract, v. to lengthen. 23. Pi'racies, s. robberies at sea. 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 Mauritania; 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 apartment, where he behaved with unusual tenderness to his son, and to all his friends. When he came into his bed-chamber, laying himself down, he took up Plato's Dialogue on the Immortality of the Soul, and read for some time. Casting his eyes to the head of his bed, he wondered much not to see his sword there; which had been conveyed away by his son's order while they were at supper. Calling to one of his domestics, to know what was become of it, and receiving no answer, 1 Utica, 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. he resumed his studies; and some time after asked again for the sword. When he had done reading, and perceived that nobody obeyed him, he called for his domestics one after the other, and with a peremptory air again demanded his sword. 10. His son, with tears, besought him to change his resolution; but, receiving a stern reprimand, desisted from his persuasions. His sword being at length brought to him, he seemed satisfied, and cried out, "Now again I am master of myself." He took up the book again, which having perused, he fell into a sound sleep. Upon awaking, he called to one of his freedmen to know if his friends were embarked, or if any thing yet remained that could be done to serve them. The freedman, assuring him that all was quiet, was ordered to leave the room. Cato no sooner found himself alone, than, seizing his sword, he stabbed himself below his chest. The blow not dispatching him, he fell from his bed, and overturned a table, on which he had been drawing some geometrical figures. At the noise of the fall, his servants shrieked, and his son and friends immediately flew to the room. They found him weltering in his blood, with his bowels appearing through the wound. 11. The surgeon, perceiving that his intestines were not wounded, was replacing them: but Cato recovering himself, and understanding their intention was to preserve his life, forced the surgeon from him, and, with a fierce resolution, tore out his bowels, and expired1. 12. Upon the death of Cato, the war in Africa being completed, Cæsar returned in such triumph to Rome, as if he had abridged all his former triumphs only to increase 1 So great was the affection borne to this noble Roman by the inhabitants of Utica, that though Caesar was on the point of entering the city, they could not be diverted from burying his body with the greatest pomp, and paying all the funeral honours due to a person of his rank and merit. the splendour of this'. The citizens were astonished at the magnificence of the procession, and at the number of the countries he had subdued. 13. It lasted four days: the first was for Gaul', the second for Egypt2, the third for his victories in Asia1, and the fourth for that over Juba in Africa. His veteran soldiers, scarred with wounds, and now laid up for life, followed their triumphant general, crowned with laurels, and conducted him to the capitol. 14. To every one of those he gave a sum equivalent to about a hundred and fifty pounds sterling, double that sum to the centurions, and four times as much to the superior officers. The citizens also shared his bounty: to every one he distributed ten bushels of corn, ten pounds of oil, and a sum of money equal to about two pounds sterling. After this, he entertained the people at above twenty thousand tables, treated them with combats of gladiators, and filled Rome with a concourse of spectators from every part of Italy. 15. The people, intoxicated with pleasure, thought their freedom too small a return for such benefits. They seemed eager only to find out new modes of homage, and unusual epithets of adulation for their great enslaver. He was created, by a new title, Magis'ter Mo'rum, or Master of 1 Before his return, he gave orders for the rebuilding of Carthage and Corinth, so that those two famous cities were destroyed in the same year, and in the same year rose from their ruins, after having lain desolate about a century. 2 In this triumph were carried before his chariot the names of 300 nations and 800 cities, which he had reduced by the slaughter of a million of enemies. This triumph was adorned with the pictures of Ptol'emy, Photi'nus, and Achillas, with the representation of the cities of Pelu'sium, Alexan'dria, &c.; and Arsinoe, the sister of Cleopa'tra, with many other prisoners of distinction, walked before his chariot. 4 The third triumph was remarkable only for the words veni, vidi, vici, displayed in large characters in the procession. 5 This triumph was not so pleasing to the Romans as the former three, because the statues of Scipio, Petrei'us, and Cato, were carried among those of the kings and princes he had subdued; they expressed their concern at this sight by sighs and tears. |