calling his army together。 These silly people did not know how good a
husband he was of his time： for he often repeats that it is the best part
of a captain to know how to make use of occasions； and his diligence in
his exploits is； in truth； unheard of and incredible。
If he was not very conscientious in taking advantage of an enemy under
colour of a treaty of agreement； he was as little so in this； that he
required no other virtue in a soldier but valour only； and seldom
punished any other faults but mutiny and disobedience。 He would often
after his victories turn them loose to all sorts of licence； dispensing
them for some time from the rules of military discipline； saying withal
that he had soldiers so well trained up that； powdered and perfumed； they
would run furiously to the fight。 In truth； he loved to have them richly
armed； and made them wear engraved； gilded； and damasked armour； to the
end that the care of saving it might engage them to a more obstinate
defence。 Speaking to them； he called them by the name of fellow…
soldiers； which we yet use； which his successor； Augustus； reformed；
supposing he had only done it upon necessity； and to cajole those who
merely followed him as volunteers：
〃Rheni mihi Caesar in undis
Dux erat； hic socius； facinus quos inquinat； aequat：〃
＇〃In the waters of the Rhine Caesar was my general； here at Rome he
is my fellow。 Crime levels those whom it polluted。〃
Lucan； v。 289。＇
but that this carriage was too mean and low for the dignity of an emperor
and general of an army； and therefore brought up the custom of calling
them soldiers only。
With this courtesy Caesar mixed great severity to keep them in awe； the
ninth legion having mutinied near Placentia； he ignominiously cashiered
them； though Pompey was then yet on foot； and received them not again to
grace till after many supplications； he quieted them more by authority
and boldness than by gentle ways。
In that place where he speaks of his； passage over the Rhine to Germany；
he says that； thinking it unworthy of the honour of the Roman people to
waft over his army in vessels； he built a bridge that they might pass
over dry…foot。 There it was that he built that wonderful bridge of which
he gives so particular a description； for he nowhere so willingly dwells
upon his actions as in representing to us the subtlety of his inventions
in such kind of handiwork。
I have also observed this； that he set a great value upon his
exhortations to the soldiers before the fight； for where he would show
that he was either surprised or reduced to a necessity of fighting； he
always brings in this； that he had not so much as leisure to harangue his
army。 Before that great battle with those of Tournay； 〃Caesar；〃 says he；
〃having given order for everything else； presently ran where fortune
carried him to encourage his people； and meeting with the tenth legion；
had no more time to say anything to them but this； that they should
remember their wonted valour； not to be astonished； but bravely sustain
the enemy's encounter； and seeing the enemy had already approached within
a dart's cast； he gave the signal for battle； and going suddenly thence
elsewhere； to encourage others； he found that they were already engaged。〃
Here is what he tells us in that place。 His tongue； indeed； did him
notable service upon several occasions； and his military eloquence was；
in his own time； so highly reputed； that many of his army wrote down his
harangues as he spoke them； by which means there were volumes of them
collected that existed a long time after him。 He had so particular a
grace in speaking； that his intimates； and Augustus amongst others；
hearing those orations read； could distinguish even to the phrases and
words that were not his。
The first time that he went out of Rome with any public command； he
arrived in eight days at the river Rhone； having with him in his coach a
secretary or two before him who were continually writing； and him who
carried his sword behind him。 And certainly； though a man did nothing
but go on； he could hardly attain that promptitude with which； having
been everywhere victorious in Gaul； he left it； and； following Pompey to
Brundusium； in eighteen days' time he subdued all Italy； returned from
Brundusium to Rome； from Rome went into the very heart of Spain； where he
surmounted extreme difficulties in the war against Afranius and Petreius；
and in the long siege of Marseilles； thence he returned into Macedonia；
beat the Roman army at Pharsalia； passed thence in pursuit of Pompey into
Egypt； which he also subdued； from Egypt he went into Syria and the
territories of Pontus； where he fought Pharnaces； thence into Africa；
where he defeated Scipio and Juba； again returned through Italy； where he
defeated Pompey's sons：
〃Ocyor et coeli fiammis； et tigride foeta。〃
＇〃Swifter than lightning； or the cub…bearing tigress。〃
Lucan； v。 405＇
〃Ac veluti montis saxum de； vertice praeceps
Cum ruit avulsum vento； seu turbidus imber
Proluit； aut annis solvit sublapsa vetustas；
Fertur in abruptum magno mons improbus actu；
Exultatque solo； silvas； armenta； virosque；
Involvens secum。〃
＇〃And as a stone torn from the mountain's top by the wind or rain
torrents； or loosened by age； falls massive with mighty force；
bounds here and there； in its course sweeps from the earth with it
woods； herds； and men。〃AEneid； xii。 684。＇
Speaking of the siege of Avaricum； he says； that it； was his custom to be
night and day with the pioneers。＇Engineers。 D。W。＇ In all enterprises
of consequence he always reconnoitred in person； and never brought his
army into quarters till he had first viewed the place； and； if we may
believe Suetonius； when he resolved to pass over into England； he was the
first man that sounded the passage。
He was wont to say that he more valued a victory obtained by counsel than
by force； and in the war against Petreius and Afranius； fortune
presenting him with an occasion of manifest advantage； he declined it；
saying； that he hoped； with a little more time； but less hazard； to
overthrow his enemies。 He there also played a notable part in commanding
his whole army to pass the river by swimming； without any manner of
necessity：
〃Rapuitque ruens in praelia miles；
Quod fugiens timuisset； iter； mox uda receptis
Membra fovent armis； gelidosque a gurgite； cursu
Restituunt artus。〃
＇〃The soldier rushing through a way to fight which he would have
been afraid to have taken in flight： then with their armour they
cover wet limbs； and by running restore warmth to their numbed
joints。〃Lucan； iv。 151。＇
I find him a little more temperate and considerate in his enterprises
than Alexander； for this man seems to seek and run headlong upon dangers
like an impetuous torrent which attacks and rushes against everything it
meets； without choice or discretion；
〃Sic tauriformis volvitur Aufidus；
Qui regna Dauni perfluit Appuli；
Dum saevit； horrendamque cultis
Diluviem meditatur agris；〃
＇〃So the biforked Aufidus； which flows through the realm of the
Apulian Daunus； when raging； threatens a fearful deluge to the
tilled ground。〃Horat。； Od。； iv。 14； 25。＇
and； indeed； he was a general in the flower and first heat of his youth；
whereas Caesar took up the trade at a ripe and well advanced age； to
which may be added that Alexander was of a more sanguine； hot； and
choleric constitution； which he also inflamed with wine； from which
Caesar was very abstinent。
But where necessary occasion required； never did any man venture his
person more than he： so much so； that for my part； methinks I read in
many of his exploits a determinate resolution to throw himself away to
avoid the shame of being overcome。 In his great battle with those of
Tournay； he charged up to the head of the enemies without his shield；
just as he was seeing the van of his own army beginning to give ground'；
which also several other times befell him。 Hearing that his people were
besieged； he passed through the enemy's army in disguise to go and
encourage them with his presence。 Having crossed over to Dyrrachium with
very slender forces； and seeing the remainder of his army which he had
left to Antony's conduct slow in following him； he undertook alone to
repass the sea in a very great storms and privately stole away to fetch
the rest of his forces； the ports on the other side being seized by
Pompey； and the whole sea being in his possession。 And as to what he
performed by force of hand； there are many exploits that in hazard exceed
all the rules of war； for with how small means did he undertake to subdue
the kingdom of Egypt； and afterwards to attack the forces of Scipio and
Juba； ten times greater than his own？ These people had； I know not what；
more than human confidence in their fortune； and he was wont to say