up the gates, and stopt the entrances of the streets
and passages, sunk ditches and trenches crosse
the waies, & therein stuck sharp piles and stakes,
and covering the same with slight hurdles, le∣velled
it with thin and light earth: leaving onely
two waies free, which went unto the Haven,
which he hedged in with a strong Palisado of
huge sharp Piles.
These things being thus prepared, he com∣manded
the souldiers to get a shipboard, with∣out
noise or tumult; and left upon the walles and
in the towers, here and there, some of the readiest
Slingers and Archers, to be called away upon
a warning-signe, when the rest of the souldiers
were all shipped; appointing Gallies to take
them in at an easie and safe place. The inhabi∣tants
of Brundusium, oppressed with the injuries
and contumelies of Pompey and his souldiers,
did favour Caesar's partie; and understanding of
this departure, whilst they were running up and
down, and busied about getting abroad, gave
notice thereof from the tops of their houses.
Which being perceived, Caesar (not to omit any
opportunitie of atchieving his purpose) com∣manded
ladders to be prepared, and the souldiers
to take Arms. Pompey a little before night
weighed Anchour: and the souldiers keeping
guard on the wall, upon the watch-word given,
were all called from their stations, and by known
passages repaired to the ships. Caesar's souldiers
with Ladders got upon the wall: but being ad∣monished
by them of Brundusium to take heed of
the blind d••tch, they stood still. At last, they were
brought a great compasse about, and so came to
the Haven; and with skiffes and boates, seized
two ships with souldiers, which stuck by chance
upon the Mounts which Caesar had made.
OBSERVATIONS.
FOrasmuch as this manner of Pompey's depar∣ture
from Brundusium, 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; 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.