The building was situated to the east of the large sea-port, near the city of Canopus, and became a prey to the flames when Julius Cæsar, who was besieged in that part of the town in which the museum stood, ordered the fleet to be set on fire. The wind unfortunately carried the flames to the neighbouring houses and to the locality of the _Bruchion_, close to the site of the valuable library. Lucan, in his _Pharsalia_, has described this conflagration with much spirit:[13] “On one proud side the lofty fabric stood Projected bold into the adjoining flood; There, fill’d with armed bands, their barks draw near, But find the same defending Cæsar there: To every part the ready warrior flies, And with new rage the fainting fight supplies; Headlong he drives them with his deadly blade, Nor seems to be invaded, but to invade. Against the ships _Phalaric_ darts he aims, Each dart with pitch and livid sulphur flames. The spreading fire o’erruns their unctuous sides, And nimbly mounting, on the topmast rides: Planks, yards and cordage feed the dreadful blaze; The drowning vessel hisses in the seas; While floating arms and men promiscuous strew’d, Hide the whole surface of the azure flood. Nor dwells destruction on their fleet alone, But driven by winds, invades the neighbouring town: On rapid wings the sheety flames they bear, In wavy lengths, along the reddening air. Not much unlike the shooting meteors fly, In gleamy trails athwart the midnight sky. Soon as the crowd behold their city burn, Thither all headlong from the siege they turn; But Cæsar, prone to vigilance and haste, To snatch the just occasion ere it pass’d, Hid in the friendly night’s involving shade, A safe retreat to Pharos timely made.” Orosius tells us that 400,000 volumes were destroyed by the fire: “So perished,” says he “this monument of the learning and labour of the ancients, who had amassed the works of so many illustrious men.” “_Monumentum studiique curæque majorum qui tot ac tanta illustrium ingeniorum opera congesserant._”[14]