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 that
men must embark； and not deliberate； upon high enterprises。 After the
battle of Pharsalia； when he had sent his army away before him into Asia；
and was passing in one single vessel the strait of the Hellespont； he met
Lucius Cassius at sea with ten tall men…of…war； when he had the courage
not only to stay his coming； but to sail up to him and summon him to
yield； which he did。
Having undertaken that furious siege of Alexia； where there were
fourscore thousand men in garrison； all Gaul being in arms to raise the
siege and having set an army on foot of a hundred and nine thousand
horse； and of two hundred and forty thousand foot； what a boldness and
vehement confidence was it in him that he would not give over his
attempt； but resolved upon two so great difficultieswhich nevertheless
he overcame； and； after having won that great battle against those
without； soon reduced those within to his mercy。 The same happened to
Lucullus at the siege of Tigranocerta against King Tigranes； but the
condition of the enemy was not the same； considering the effeminacy of
those with whom Lucullus had to deal。 I will here set down two rare and
extraordinary events concerning this siege of Alexia； one； that the Gauls
having drawn their powers together to encounter Caesar； after they had
made a general muster of all their forces； resolved in their council of
war to dismiss a good part of this great multitude； that they might not
fall into confusion。 This example of fearing to be too many is new； but；
to take it right； it stands to reason that the body of an army should be
of a moderate greatness； and regulated to certain bounds； both out of
respect to the difficulty of providing for them； and the difficulty of
governing and keeping them in order。 At least it is very easy to make it
appear by example that armies monstrous in number have seldom done
anything to purpose。 According to the saying of Cyrus in Xenophon；
〃'Tis not the number of men； but the number of good men； that gives the
advantage〃： the remainder serving rather to trouble than assist。 And
Bajazet principally grounded his resolution of giving Tamerlane battle；
contrary to the opinion of all his captains； upon this； that his enemies
numberless number of men gave him assured hopes of confusion。
Scanderbeg； a very good and expert judge in such matters； was wont to say
that ten or twelve thousand reliable fighting men were sufficient to a
good leader to secure his regulation in all sorts of military occasions。
The other thing I will here record； which seems to be contrary both to
the custom and rules of war； is； that Vercingetorix； who was made general
of all the parts of the revolted Gaul； should go shut up himself in
Alexia： for he who has the command of a whole country ought never to shut
himself up but in case of such last extremity that the only place he has
left is in concern； and that the only hope he has left is in the defence
of that city； otherwise he ought to keep himself always at liberty； that
he may have the means to provide； in general； for all parts of his
government。
To return to Caesar。 He grew； in time； more slow and more considerate；
as his friend Oppius witnesses： conceiving that he ought not lightly to
hazard the glory of so many victories； which one blow of fortune might
deprive him of。 'Tis what the Italians say； when they would reproach the
rashness and foolhardiness of young people； calling them Bisognosi
d'onore； 〃necessitous of honour；〃 and that being in so great a want and
dearth of reputation； they have reason to seek it at what price soever；
which they ought not to do who have acquired enough already。 There may
reasonably be some moderation； some satiety； in this thirst and appetite
of glory； as well as in other things： and there are enough people who
practise it。
He was far remote from the religious scruples of the ancient Romans； who
would never prevail in their wars but by dint of pure and simple valour；
and yet he was more conscientious than we should be in these days； and
did not approve all sorts of means to obtain a victory。 In the war
against Ariovistus； whilst he was parleying with him； there happened some
commotion between the horsemen； which was occasioned by the fault of
Ariovistus' light horse； wherein； though Caesar saw he had a very great
advantage of the enemy； he would make no use on't； lest he should have
been reproached with a treacherous proceeding。
He was always wont to wear rich garments； and of a shining colour in
battle； that he might be the more remarkable and better observed。
He always carried a stricter and tighter hand over his soldiers when near
an enemy。 When the ancient Greeks would accuse any one of extreme
insufficiency； they would say； in common proverb； that he could neither
read nor swim； he was of the same opinion； that swimming was of great use
in war； and himself found it so； for when he had to use diligence； he
commonly swam over the rivers in his way； for he loved to march on foot；
as also did Alexander the Great。 Being in Egypt forced； to save himself；
to go into a little boat； and so many people leaping in with him that it
was in danger of sinking； he chose rather to commit himself to the sea；
and swam to his fleet； which lay two hundred paces off； holding in his
left hand his tablets； and drawing his coatarmour in his teeth； that it
might not fall into the enemy's hand； and at this time he was of a pretty
advanced age。
Never had any general so much credit with his soldiers： in the beginning
of the civil wars； his centurions offered him to find every one a man…at…
arms at his own charge； and the foot soldiers to serve him at their own
expense； those who were most at their ease； moreover； undertaking to
defray the more necessitous。 The late Admiral Chastillon
＇Gaspard de Coligny； assassinated in the St。 Bartholomew
massacre； 24th August 1572。＇
showed us the like example in our civil wars； for the French of his army
provided money out of their own purses to pay the foreigners that were
with him。 There are but rarely found examples of so ardent and so ready
an affection amongst the soldiers of elder times； who kept themselves
strictly to their rules of war： passion has a more absolute command over
us than reason； and yet it happened in the war against Hannibal； that by
the example of the people of Rome in the city； the soldiers and captains
refused their pay in the army； and in Marcellus' camp those were branded
with the name of Mercenaries who would receive any。 Having got the worst
of it near Dyrrachium； his soldiers came and offered themselves to be
chastised and punished； so that there was more need to comfort than
reprove them。 One single cohort of his withstood four of Pompey's
legions above four hours together； till they were almost all killed with
arrows； so that there were a hundred and thirty thousand shafts found in
the trenches。 A soldier called Scaeva； who commanded at one of the
avenues； invincibly maintained his ground； having lost an eye； with one
shoulder and one thigh shot through； and his shield hit in two hundred
and thirty places。 It happened that many of his soldiers being taken
prisoners； rather chose to die than promise to join the contrary side。
Granius Petronius was taken by Scipio in Africa： Scipio having put the
rest to death； sent him word that he gave him his life； for he was a man
of quality and quaestor； to whom Petronius sent answer back； that
Caesar's soldiers were wont to give others their life； and not to receive
it； and immediately with his own hand killed himself。
Of their fidelity there are infinite examples amongst them； that which
was done by those who were besieged in Salona； a city that stood for
Caesar against Pompey； is not； for the rarity of an accident that there
happened； to be forgotten。 Marcus Octavius kept them close besieged；
they within being reduced to the extremest necessity of all things； so
that to supply the want of men； most of them being either slain or
wounded； they had manumitted all their slaves； and had been constrained
to cut off all the women's hair to make ropes for their war engines；
besides a wonderful dearth of victuals； and yet continuing resolute never
to yield。 After having drawn the siege to a great length； by which
Octavius was grown more negligent and less attentive to his enterprise；
they made choice of one day about noon； and having first placed the women
and children upon the walls to make a show； sallied upon the besiegers
with such fury； that having routed the first； second； and third body； and
afterwards the fourth； and the rest； and beaten them all out of their
trenches； they pursued them even to their ships； and Octavius himself was
fain to fly to Dyrrachium； where Pompey lay。 I do not at present
remember that I have met with any other example where the besieged ever
gave the besieger a total defeat and won the field； nor that a sortie
ever achieved the result of a pure and entire victory。
CHAPTER XXXV
OF THREE GOOD