CHAP. XIII.
Caesar leaveth the Citie, goeth into Gallia, and treateth with the Marseillians.
CAesar perceiving their resolution,* 1.1 after he had spent there in vain some few daies (that he might not lose any more time, and leave those things undone which he purposely intended) he left the Citie, and went into the further Gallia. Upon his arrivall there, he under∣stood that Pompey had sent into Spain Vibullius Rufus, whom Caesar had a little before taken at Corfinium and d••smissed him: and that Domi∣tius likewise was gone to take Marseilles, with eight Gallies, which he set out from Sicilia and Sardinia, and manned them with slaves, men in∣franchised, and his own husbandmen: sending as messengers before, certain young noble-men of Marseilles, with whom Pompey upon his depar∣ture from the City had earnestly dealt, that Caesar's new favours might not put out of their remembrance the old benefits which he had done unto them. Those of Marseilles having received this message, shut their gates against Caesar, called into the Citie the Albicans, barbarous and mountainous people (who of ancient time had held amitie with them, and dwelt upon the hills above Marseilles,) brought Corn from all the adjacent Regions and castles into the town, set up offices and forges to make Armes, repaired both their walls, their navie, and their gates.
Caesar called out unto him some fifteen of the chiefest men of Marseilles, & treated with them, that the beginning of the warre might not grow from that town; who should rather follow the example of all Italie, then apply themselves to the will of any one man: not omitting such other per∣swasions as he thought pertinent to a sound reso∣lution. These men reported at Marseilles what Caesar had delivered, and by the common consent of the town returned this answer; That they understood, that the people of Rome was divided into two parts; neither was it in them to judge, or could they discern which of the two was in the right. The Leaders of these two factions were Pompey and Caesar, both speciall Patrons and Benefactours to their Citie: of whom, one had augmented the publick revenues of the State, and endowed it with the lands and territories of the Volcae Arec••mici, and the Helvij; the other, having conquered and subdued* 1.2 Gallias, gave it unto them, whereby their tributarie In-comes were much augmented▪ and therefore, as they were equally bound to both for their favours, so would they carrie to both an equall respect, not ayding either of them against the other, or recei∣ving them within their gates.
Whilest these things were in handling, Do∣mitius arrived at Marseilles with his shipping; and being received in, was made Governour of the City, and had the whole direction of the warre committed unto him. By his appointment the ••leet was sent out into all Coasts; and such ships of burthen as they found, they brought in: the nails, timber, and tackling whereof, they took to mend and rigge out other ships. What Corn soever was found in the City, was brought in publick keeping; reserving the surplus of victuall and provision for a siege, as occasion should require.
Ca••sar, provoked with these injuries, brought three legions to Marseilles, determined to make towers and mantelets ready for an assault, and to build twelve new Gallies at Arles; which were armed, rigged, finished, and brought to Mar∣seilles, within thirty dayes after the timber was cut down. Of these he made D. Brutus Admirall, and left C. Trebonius to follow the siege.
OBSERVATIONS.
FRom the Marseillians we may learn, that it is farre easier to say well then to do well: for howsoever they were able to discern the truth, and to give an answer to Caesar, well-beseeming the fame and opinion of their literature and knowledge,* 1.3 (being an Academie little inferiour to the best, and in later times more frequented by the Romans, for the studie of Oratorie and Philo∣sophy, then Athens, or any other such chief seat of the Muses;) yet in their actions they disavow∣ed all: taking upon them most unseasonably to arbitrate those differences, and to shew their opi∣nion of the quarrell,* 1.4 by taking part with one faction. Wherein their errour the more appeared, in that the party grieved was not liable to their award, but rather had occasion to gain thereby a double honour to himself; first, by forcing them, and then by pardoning their rashness. And yet some Writers do think, they did no more then they were tied unto by former treaties, and leagues with the Empire (which they took to consist in Pompey's partie) whereof they were loyall and zealous confederates; as appeareth by their love, when Rome was taken by the Galles: for having news thereof, and understanding of the composi∣tion