The commentaries of C. Julius Cæsar of his warres in Gallia, and the civil warres betwixt him and Pompey / translated into English with many excellent and judicious observations thereupon ; as also The art of our modern training, or, Tactick practise, by Clement Edmonds Esquire, ... ; where unto is adjoyned the eighth commentary of the warres in Gallia, with some short observations upon it ; together with the life of Cæsar, and an account of his medalls ; revised, corrected, and enlarged.

CHAP. XV.

Caesar marcheth towards Pompey; offereth him battel; and cutteth him off from Dyrrachium.

AFter Caesar understood that Pom∣pey was at Asparagus he marched thitherward with his Army:* 1.1 and taking by the way the town of the Parthinians, wherein Pompey had put a Garrison, the third day he came to Pompey in Macedonia, and lodged himself fast by him. The next day he drew out his for∣ces; and putting them in order, presented him battel. But when he found that he would not accept thereof, he drew back his Army into the Camp, and bethought himself of some o∣ther course. For the next day, taking a difficult and narrow way, he set forward with all his forces towards Dyrrachium: hoping either to draw Pompey to fight, or to force the town, or at least ••o cut him off from all Convoys and Munition, which was there stored up for the whole provision of the war; as afterwards it came to passe. For Pompey being ignorant at first of his purpose, inasmuch as he took a contrary way, thought he had been driven thence through scarcity and want of Corn. But being afterwards advertised by the disco∣verers what course he took, he rose the next day, in hope to meet him a nearer way. Which Caesar suspecting, exhorted the souldiers to en∣dure a little labour with patience. And resting a small part of the night, in the morning he came before Dyrrachium, even as the first troup of Pompey's Army was discovered afar off; and there incamped himself.

Pompey being cut off from Dyrrachium, when he could not accomplish his purposes, fell to a second resolution, and fortified his Camp in an eminent place,* 1.2 called Petra: from whence there was an indifferent passage to the ships, and sheltered likewise the Haven from cer∣tain winds. Thither he commanded part of the ships to be brought; together with Corn and provision of victuall from Asia, and such other Countries as were in his obedience.

Caesar, doubting that the war would prove long and tedious, and despairing of any suc∣cour of victualls from the Coast of Italy, for that all the shore was (with great diligence) kept by Pompey's partie, and that the shipping which in W••nter he had made in Sicilia, Gallia, and Italia, were staied and came not to him; he dispatched L. Canuleius a Legate into Epirus, to make provision of Corn.

And forasmuch as those Regions were far off, he appointed storehouses and Magazines in certain places, and imposed carriage of Corn upon the Countrey bordering about them. In like manner, he commanded what grain soever should be found at Lissus, Parthenia) or any other place, to be brought unto him: which was very little, forasmuch as the Countrey thereabout was rough and mountainous, and afforded no Corn, but that which was brought in from other places; as also, that Pompey had taken order in that behalf, and a little before had ransacked the Parthinians, and caused his horsemen to carry away all the Grain, which was found amongst them.

OBSERVATIONS.

THe first thing that Caesar did, after their ap∣proch near one unto another; was to offer battel; as the best Arbitrator of the Cause in question, and most fitting the usance of the an∣cient Romans.* 1.3 But, forasmuch as the endeavours of such as are in action, are alwaies ordered by him that is the Sufferer; and that Pompey re∣fused to accept thereof, knowing himself to be much stronger in forces, better accommodated, having a far greater party in the Countrey, and the Sea wholly at his command (which advan∣tages were like to end the business, without ha∣zard of a battel;) Caesar bethought himself of some other project, which might take away the scorn of that refusall, by undertaking such things as much imported the state of his Adver∣sarie. For in such cases, when an Enemy will not fight, somewhat must be done to cast disho∣nour, or greater inconveniences, upon him; or at least, to make overtures of new opportuni∣ties. And therefore he took a course, either to draw Pompey to fight, or to force the Town wherein all his provisions of war were stored up, or otherwise to cut him off from the same. The least of which was a sufficient acquittance of any disgrace, which the neglect of this offer might seem to inferre; having thereby occasion to use that of the Poet, Jam sumus ergo pares, now we are even.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caesar.
• * 1.2

  〈…〉〈…〉 Petram. Lucan.
• * 1.3

  Actus acti∣vorum in patientis sunt disposi∣tione. Arist. Metaph.