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majority withdrew。 But when it was ordered again for those to withdraw
whose vote was that both should lay down their arms； and neither
command； there were but twenty…two for Pompey； all the rest remained
on Curio's side。 Whereupon he； as one proud of his conquest； leaped
out in triumph among the people； who received him with as great tokens
of joy； clapping their hands and crowning him with garlands and
flowers。 Pompey was not then present in the senate； because it is
not lawful for generals in command of an army to come into the city。
But Marcellus rising up； said； that he would not sit there hearing
speeches； when he saw ten legions already passing the Alps on their
march toward the city； but on his own authority would send some one to
oppose them in defence of the country。
Upon this the city went into mourning； as in a public calamity；
and Marcellus； accompanied by the senate； went solemnly through the
forum to meet Pompey； and made him this address： 〃I hereby give you
orders； O Pompey； to defend your country； to employ the troops you now
command； and to levy more。〃 Lentulus； consul elect for the year
following； spoke to the same purpose。 Antony； however； contrary to the
will of the senate； having in a public assembly read a letter of
Caesar's； containing various plausible overtures such as were likely
to gain the common people； proposing； namely； that both Pompey and he；
quitting their governments and dismissing their armies； should
submit to the judgment of the people； and give an account of their
actions before them； the consequence was that when Pompey began to
make his levies； he found himself disappointed in his expectations。
Some few； indeed； came in； but those very unwillingly； others would
not answer to their names； and the generality cried out for peace。
Lentulus； notwithstanding he was now entered upon his consulship；
would not assemble the senate； but Cicero； who was lately returned
from Cilicia； laboured for a reconciliation； proposing that Caesar
should leave his province of Gaul and army； reserving two legions
only； together with the government of Illyricum； and should thus be
put in nomination for a second consulship。 Pompey disliking this
motion； Caesar's friends were contented that he should surrender one
of the two； but Lentulus still opposing； and Cato crying out that
Pompey did ill to be deceived again； the reconciliation did not take
effect。
In the meantime； news was brought that Caesar had occupied Ariminum；
a great city in Italy； and was marching directly towards Rome with all
his forces。 But this latter was altogether false； for he had no more
with him at that time than three hundred horse and five thousand foot；
and he did not mean to tarry for the body of his army； which lay
beyond the Alps； choosing rather to fall in on a sudden upon his
enemies； while they were in confusion； and did not expect him； than to
give them time； and fight them after they had made preparations。 For
when he came to the banks of the Rubicon； a river that made the bounds
of his province； there he made a halt； pausing a little； and
considering； we may suppose； with himself the greatness of the
enterprise which he had undertaken； then； at last； like men that are
throwing themselves headlong from some precipice into a vast abyss；
having shut； as it were； his mind's eyes and put away from his sight
the idea of danger； he merely uttered to those near him in Greek the
words； 〃Anerriphtho kubos〃 （let the die be cast）； and led his army
through it。 No sooner was the news arrived； but there was an uproar
throughout all the city； and a consternation in the people even to
astonishment； such as never was known in Rome before； all the senate
ran immediately to Pompey； and the magistrates followed。 And when
Tullus made inquiry about his legions and forces； Pompey seemed to
pause a little； and answered with some hesitation that he had those
two legions ready that Caesar sent back； and that out of the men who
had been previously enrolled he believed he could shortly make up a
body of thirty thousand men。 On which Tullus crying out aloud； 〃O
Pompey； you have deceived us；〃 gave his advice to send off a
deputation to Caesar。 Favonius； a man of fair character； except that
he used to suppose his own petulance and abusive talking a copy of
Cato's straightforwardness； bade Pompey stamp upon the ground； and
call forth the forces he had promised。 But Pompey bore patiently
with this unseasonable raillery； and on Cato putting him in mind of
what he had foretold from the very beginning about Caesar； made this
answer only； that Cato indeed had spoken more like a prophet； but he
had acted more like a friend。 Cato then advised them to choose
Pompey general with absolute power and authority； saying that the same
men who do great evils know best how to cure them。 He himself went his
way forthwith into Sicily； the province that was allotted him； and all
the rest of the senators likewise departed every one to his respective
government。
Thus all Italy in a manner being up in arms； no one could say what
was best to be done。 For those that were without came from all parts
flocking into the city； and they who were within； seeing the confusion
and disorder so great there； all good things impotent； and
disobedience and insubordination grown too strong to be controlled
by the magistrates； were quitting it as fast as the other came in。
Nay； it was so far from being possible to allay their fears； that they
would not suffer Pompey to follow out his own judgment； but every
man pressed and urged him according to his particular fancy； whether
it proceeded from doubt； fear； grief； or any meaner passion； so that
even in the same day quite contrary counsels were acted upon。 Then；
again； it was as impossible to have any good intelligence of the
enemy； for what each man heard by chance upon a flying rumour he would
report for truth； and exclaim against Pompey if he did not believe it。
Pompey； at length； seeing such a confusion in Rome； determined with
himself to put an end to their clamours by his departure； and
therefore commanding all the senate to follow him； and declaring
that whosoever tarried behind should be judged a confederate of
Caesar's； about the dusk of the evening he went out and left the city。
The consuls also followed after in a hurry； without offering the
sacrifices to the gods usual before a war。 But in all this； Pompey
himself had the glory that； in the midst of such calamities； he had so
much of men's love and good…will。 For though many found fault with the
conduct of the war； yet no man hated the general； and there were
more to be found of those that went out of Rome； because that they
could not forsake Pompey； than of those that fled for love of liberty。
Some few days after Pompey was gone out Caesar came into the city；
and made himself master of it； treating every one with a great deal of
courtesy； and appeasing their fears； except only Metellus； one of
the tribunes； on whose refusing to let him take any money out of the
treasury； Caesar threatened him with death； adding words yet harsher
than the threat； that it was far easier for him to do i