Julius Caesar and the foundation of the Roman imperial system . town, but a partof his force, under the two consuls, had alreadysailed for Epirus. Caesar instantly set to work withtwo objects: first, to blockade the port; secondly,to bring Pompeius to a personal interview. Moleswere constructed at the entrance of the harbour, andnegotiations were attempted through common friends,as well as through a certain IMagius whom Caesar hadcaptured. But Pompeius successfully counteractedthe moles, and steadily refused the interview, main-taining, according to Caesar, that in the absence ofthe consuls he
Julius Caesar and the foundation of the Roman imperial system . town, but a partof his force, under the two consuls, had alreadysailed for Epirus. Caesar instantly set to work withtwo objects: first, to blockade the port; secondly,to bring Pompeius to a personal interview. Moleswere constructed at the entrance of the harbour, andnegotiations were attempted through common friends,as well as through a certain IMagius whom Caesar hadcaptured. But Pompeius successfully counteractedthe moles, and steadily refused the interview, main-taining, according to Caesar, that in the absence ofthe consuls he had no authority to treat.* Such ananswer was under the circumstances absurd, and itis not hard to guess its real motive. I He dreadedCaesars personal address and persuasiveness as muchas Caesar himself trusted in it; he had perhaps begunto realise his opponents greatness as he had neverrealised it before, and felt that he must now fight orlose his old position as the first citizen of the *B. C.,1.,26. Lettersof CsesarinCic, Ad Att.,ix., 13 A and 14. MA ^m{. 49 ] Civil War in Italy and Spain. 265 state. I He exerted himself with unwonted alacrity,and by ^skilful dispositions he contrived to escape onMarch 17th, with the loss of only two ships, which ranagainst one of Caesars moles and were captured withall on board. Had his enemy not been delayed atCorfinium, it is quite possible that he might eitherhave been forced to surrender with all his troops, orat least have voluntarily come to terms and aban-doned the Senate. Pompeius had escaped ; and to follow him at oncewas impossible, for there were no transports at determined on a plan which, on a much smallerscale, Napoleon so often adopted with brilliant suecess. He stood in Italy between two hostile penin^sulas; between Pompeius in Epirus with one army,and the Icgati of Pompeius in Spain with allowed to concentrate strength, these two armieswould combine to crush him, and as commandingthe seas, they w
Size: 1268px × 1971px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, booksubjectcaesarjulius, booksubjectgenerals
