But, quick as lightning, Cæsar’s armour-bearer struck off the soldier’s arm, and his sword fell harmlessly to the ground. Cæsar had narrowly escaped with his life. Had Pompey followed up his attack, he might have captured the camp and won a decisive victory, as Cæsar himself was aware. But Pompey sounded a retreat, and the decisive battle had still to be fought. Cæsar wasted no time in bemoaning the losses of the day, although he must have felt that evening that his fortunes were at their lowest ebb. He determined to march without delay into Thessaly, and so to entice Pompey away from the sea. For then he would not be able to get provisions for his army and would be forced to fight. And Cæsar was eager to meet his enemy fairly on the battlefield. When Pompey’s officers saw that Cæsar was retreating, they could scarcely believe their eyes, but their confidence in their own prowess was confirmed. They begged Pompey to follow, and he reluctantly yielded, but for that day alone. Knowing well the strength of Cæsar’s veterans, he had no wish to fight a regular battle, and so he ordered his soldiers to set up their camp again. The patrician officers were exasperated with the indecision of their general. They did not cease to taunt him for not fighting, or to urge him still to follow Cæsar, until at length Pompey made up his mind that they should have their way and pit themselves against Cæsar’s well-disciplined officers and troops. Both armies accordingly reached Thessaly, although by different routes, and soon they were encamped on the plain of Pharsalia, where, in August 48 B.C., a great and decisive battle was fought. Pompey’s confidence was placed chiefly on his splendid cavalry, and he believed that his 7000 horsemen would speedily scatter the 1000 which was all that Cæsar had to oppose to his great force. But if his body of cavalry was small, Cæsar had supported it well by his infantry and archers. His horsemen were, it is true, driven back before the brilliant charge of the enemy, but the infantry and archers attacked Pompey’s cavalry so furiously, that soon it was forced from the field in utter confusion. Cæsar’s infantry then advanced against the main body of Pompey’s army. The soldiers first hurled their javelins at the enemy and then closed in upon them, doing deadly havoc with their swords. Before long Cæsar sent a reserve troop of soldiers to their aid, and soon the army of Pompey was put to flight. For the patrician officers had not proved skilful on the battlefield, nor had they now any control over their undisciplined followers. When Pompey saw that his cavalry was scattered at the beginning of the day, he lost hope and hastened to his tent, where he sat, amid the confused noise of battle, bewildered and dismayed. Only when the victorious army began to attack the camp did he seem to realise that he must bestir himself, unless he would be captured by the enemy.