OBSERVATIONS.
FOrasmuch as this manner of Pompey's depar∣ture from Brundusium,* 1.1 and the sleight he used to imbark himself and his Armie without danger of Caesar's entering the town, is commended for one of the best stratagems of warre that ever he used; let us a little consider the parts thereof, which present themselves of two sorts: the one consisting of the works he made, to hinder and retard Cae∣sar's entrance, if happily he should have know∣ledge of his departure; and the other, in the clean∣ly conveighance of his men aboard, without noise or tumult, and the semblance he made of keeping the town, by continuing watch upon the walls, to the end there might be no knowledge taken thereof. The works were of three sorts. For first he ••ured and stopped up the ends and entrances of streets and lanes, which might give accesse to a pursuing enemy. And to that end also, he sunk ditches, or trenches, crosse the waies and passages: which he stuck full of sharp stakes and galthrops, and covered them with light and thin hurdles, that the Enemie might not espy them. And thirdly, hedged in the waies leading to the Port, with a strong Palisado of huge sharp piles. And so used both the Lions and the Foxes skin, to avoid the danger which might have fallen upon him, if Cae∣sar happily had found means to attach them, as they were incumbered in getting to their ships, and disposing themselves to flie away. Which being an occasion that might have given him great ad∣vantage, was in this manner carefully prevented by Pompey. Howbeit, this his quitting Brundu∣sium is censured but for a faultie resolution hand∣somely carried: for Cicero doth much blame him for abandoning Italie;* 1.2 calling it a Themisto∣clean policie, to perswade his partie to forsake their Countrey, and to leave the best of their pleasures, and the weakest of each sexe, to such miserie and desolation, as moved pittie in those that considered but the condition of the dogges and brute beasts; as it fell out at Athens, when Themistocles per∣swaded the Athenians to leave their town and Countrey, and betake themselves wholly to sea, to fight against Xerxes.