Caesar, Julius; Rome -- History -- Republic, 265-30 B.C.
Pompey commanded on his own left with the two legions which he had
taken from Caesar; outside him on the plain were his flying companies
of Greeks and islanders, with the cavalry covering them. Caesar, with
his favorite 10th, was opposite Pompey. His two faithful tribunes, Mark
Antony and Cassius Longinus, led the left and centre. Servilia's son,
Marcus Brutus, was in Pompey's army. Caesar had given special
directions that Brutus, if recognized, should not be injured. Before
the action began he spoke a few general words to such of his troops as
could hear him. They all knew, he said, how earnestly he had sought for
peace, how careful he had always been of his soldiers' lives, how
unwilling to deprive the State of the services of any of her citizens,
to whichever party they might belong. Crastinus, a centurion, of the
10th legion, already known to Caesar for his gallantry, called out,
"Follow me, my comrades, and strike, and strike home, for your general.
This one battle remains to be fought, and he will have his rights and
we our liberty. General," he said, looking to Caesar, "I shall earn
your thanks this day, dead or alive."
Pompey had ordered his first line to stand still to receive Caesar's
charge.[5] They would thus be fresh, while the enemy would reach them
exhausted--a mistake on Pompey's part, as Caesar thought; "for a fire
and alacrity," he observes, "is kindled in all men when they meet in
battle, and a wise general should rather encourage than repress their
fervor."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account