Roman soldiers, whom Gabinius had left to guard Auletes, Cleopatra sent the murderers to Bibulus that he might punish them as he thought fit; but the proconsul sent them back with this message, that their punishment belonged not to him, but to the senate of Rome. As Ptolemy was a minor, under the tuition of Pothinas, a eunuch, and Achillas, general of his army, these two ministers, to engross the whole power to themselves, deprived Cleopatra of the share in the sovereignty left her by the will of Auletes. Cleopatra, thus injured, retired into Syria, and raised in that country, and in Palestine, a very considerable army, in order to assert her rights by force of arms. On the other hand, Ptolemy, having drawn together all the forces he could, took the field, and marched against his sister. Both armies encamped between Pelusium and Mount Casius, observing the motions of each other, neither of them being inclined to venture an engagement. ence. It was at this juncture that Pompey, after having lost the battle of Pharsalia, fled to Egypt, conceiving that he should find there an asylum in his misfortunes. He had been, as narrated, the protector of Auletes, the father of the reigning king; and it was solely to Pompey's influence, that he was indebted for his re-establishment and therefore it might have been expected that gratitude would have taught the king to receive him with open arms. But gratitude was a virtue unknown to most princes and ministers at this date, as Pompey found by experiThe unfortunate Roman, observing from the sea a great army encamped on the shore, concluded from thence, that the king was at war with his sister, and that, in such a conjuncture, he should find the young prince the more ready to protect him, since he might stand in need of his assistance; he therefore sent some of his friends to acquaint the king with his arrival, and to demand permission to land and enter his kingdom. Ptolemy himself returned no answer to Pompey's request; but Pothinas and Achillas, the two reigning ministers, with Theodotus the rhetorician, the young king's preceptor, and some others, consulted together what answer to return. This council differed in opinion; some were for receiving him, others for sending him word to seek a retreat elsewhere. Theodotus opposed both these propositions, and, displaying all his eloquence, undertook to demonstrate that there was no other choice to be made, than that of ridding themselves of him. His reasons were, because, if they protected him, Cesar would not fail to be revenged on them for abetting his enemy; and, if they refused to receive him, and affairs should take a turn in his favour, he would without doubt make them pay dear for their refusal; and therefore, the only safe way to guard against both these evils, was to put him to death, which, said he, will gain us the friendship of Cesar, and prevent the other from doing us mischief; for, according to the ancient proverb, "Dead men do not bite." Some writers tell us, that Theodotus maintained this cruel paradox only to display his eloquence and talents. But, be this as it may, it had a fatal effect. The advice prevailed, as being in their opinion the wisest and safest course to pursue; and Achillas Septimius, a Roman officer in the service of the king of Egypt, and some others, were charged with putting it into execution. They went to take Pompey on board a shallop, under the pretext that large vessels could not approach the shore without difficulty. The troops were drawn up at the seaside, as with design to do honour to Pompey, Ptolemy being at their head. The perfidious Septimius tendered his hand to Pompey in the name of his master, and bade him come to a king, his friend, whom he ought to regard as his ward and son. Pompey then embraced his wife Cornelia, who wept over him as one lost to her; and, after having repeated some lines of Sophocles, to the effect that " every man who enters the court of a tyrant becomes his slave, though free before," he went into the shallop. The tragedy soon followed. When they saw themselves near the shore, they stabbed Pompey before the king's eyes, cut off his head, and threw his body upon the strand, where it had no other funeral than one of his freed-men could give it, with the assistance of an old Roman, who was accidentally passing that way. They raised him a wretched funeral pile, and for that purpose made use of some fragments of an old wreck that had been driven ashore. Lucan, in his Pharsalia, relates, that the freedman, whom he immortalizes under the name of Cordus, erected a stone over the spot where he buried him, with this inscription, BENEATH THIS STONE, THE ONCE GREAT than which nothing can be more emphatic, or better show the vanity of human greatness. The name of Pompey had filled the world with alarms; but beneath that stone he lay silently, not even striking terror into the worm that devoured his mortal frame. A Christian poet thus moralizes on his fall: "The dust of heroes cast abroad, That lately wars and crowns designed, Of smoking kingdoms and their kings, He, That living could not bear to see Than my whole library before."-DR. WATTS. Cornelia witnessed the death of Pompey; and it is easier to imagine the condition of a woman, in the height of her grief from so tragical an occurrence, than to describe it. Those who were in the galley with her, and in two other ships in company with it, made the coast resound with the cries they raised, and, weighing anchor immediately, set sail, and prevented the Egyptians, who were preparing to chase them, from pursuing this design. ASHMOLEAN OXFORD MUSEUM 1 2 In the mean time, Julius Cesar, being informed that Pompey had steered his course towards Egypt, pursued him thither; and he arrived at Alexandria just as the news of his death was brought to that city. Theodotus, or, as others say, Achillas, believing he should do him a pleasure, presented him the head of that illustrious fugitive. But Cesar, though the enemy of Pompey, was more merciful, and exhibited far more humanity, than those who ought to have befriended him. He wept at the sight, and, turning away his eyes with abhorrence, ordered the head to be buried with the usual solemnities. He For the greater expedition, Cesar had pursued Pompey with few forces, having with him, when he arrived at Alexandria, only 800 horse, and 3,200 foot. The rest of his army he had left behind him in Greece and Asia Minor, under the command of his lieutenants, with orders to pursue the advantages of his victory, and secure his interests in those parts. was very nigh paying dear for this temerity. The few forces he had with him not being sufficient to defend him against the populace of Alexandria, who were all in an uproar on account of Pompey's death, he, with much difficulty, gained an entrance into the king's palace, and there shut himself up with part of his men, the rest having been driven back to their ships by the enraged multitude. As it was not in Cesar's power to leave Alexandria, by reason of the Etesian winds, which, in that country, blow without cessation during the dog-days, (in the beginning of which Cesar had entered that port,) and prevent any ships from sailing out, he sent orders to the legions he had left in Asia to join him with all possible expedition. The tumult, however, was appeased before the arrival of his troops; and he ventured out of the palace, and gained the affections of the common people by his affable behaviour. He spent his time in visiting the curiosities of that great and stately metropolis, and took pleasure in assisting at the public speeches and harangues made by the Alexandrian orators and rhetoricians. But, that he might not spend his whole time in diversions, he began to solicit the payment of the money due to him from Auletes, and to take cognizance of the difference between Ptolemy and Cleopatra. The reader has been informed, that, during Cesar's first consulship, Auletes had bribed him by the promise of 6,000 talents, by which he had gained his interest, and finally the friendship and alliance of Rome, with the crown of Egypt. The king had only paid him part of this sum, and had given him a bond for the remainder. Cesar now demanded what was unpaid; and, as he needed it for the subsistence of his troops, he urged his claims with rigour. Pothinas, the king's treasurer, made this rigour appear more severe than it really was; for he plundered their temples of all the gold and silver utensils, and persuaded the king and all the chief men of the kingdom, to eat out of earthen or wooden vessels. His motive for this was to stir up the people against Cesar; for he insinuated to them that he had seized all their gold and silver plate. This had the desired effect; for it effectually estranged the minds of the Alexandrians from Česar. But what most provoked their indignation, and at length drove them to take up arms against Cesar, was the haughtiness with which he acted, as judge between Ptolemy and Cleopatra. He not only cited them to appear before him for the decision of their difference, but issued a peremptory order, commanding them to disband their armies, and appear and plead their cause before him, to receive such sentence as he should please to pronounce. This was looked upon in Egypt as a violation of the royal dignity, and an open encroachment on the prerogative of their sovereign, who, being independent, acknowledged no superior, and therefore could not be judged by any tribunal. To complaints made to this effect, Cesar replied, that he did not take upon him to decide the matter as a superior, but as an arbitrator appointed by the will of Auletes; who having placed his children under the tuition of the Roman people, and all their power being now vested in him as their dictator, it belonged to him to arbitrate and determine this controversy, as guardian of Ptolemy and Cleopatra by virtue of this will: he added, that he claimed no other prerogative than to settle peace between the king and his sister. This explanation allayed the animosity of the Egyptians for a short time; and the cause was brought to Cesar's tribunal, and advocates were appointed on both sides to plead before him. Cleopatra, thinking that Cesar would regard such of her sex as had youth and beauty on their side, resolved to employ her own blandishments to attach him to her person and her cause. Accordingly, she sent a private messenger to Cesar, complaining that her cause was betrayed by those she employed, and demanding his permission to appear before him in person. Plutarch says, it was Cesar himself who pressed her to come and plead her own cause. Be this as it may, she no sooner knew that Cesar was inclined to see her, than, taking with her Apollodorus, the Sicilian, she embarked in a small vessel, and, in the dusk of the evening, arrived under the walls of Alexandria. She was afraid of being discovered by her brother, or those of his party who were masters of the city, as they would not have failed to prevent her going to Cesar's house. In order, therefore, to get thither without being discovered, she caused herself to be tied up in a mattress, and was thus carried by Apollodorus on his back through the streets to Cesar's apartment. Her blandishments prevailed. The next morning Cesar sent for Ptolemy, and pressed him to receive his sister again upon her own terms. By this proposal, Ptolemy found that Cesar was become his sister's advocate and his adversary; and, having learned that Cleopatra was then in Cesar's own apartment, he retired in the utmost fury, and, returning into the streets, took the diadem from his head, tore it to pieces, and threw it on the ground, complaining that he was betrayed, and relating the circumstances to the multitude who assembled around him. In a moment, the whole city was in an uproar. The king himself, at the head of the populace, led them tumultuously to charge Cesar, with all the fury of madness. The Roman soldiers, however, who guarded Cesar, by their prowess prevented their entrance into the palace. They even secured the person of Ptolemy, and delivered him up to Cesar. Nevertheless, as the rest of his forces were dispersed in the several quarters of the city, and knew nothing of what was passing, Cesar would inevitably have been overpowered and torn to pieces by the enraged multitude, had he not had the presence of mind to show himself from a balcony, which was out of their reach, and from thence assure them that he was ready to do whatever they should think fit to suggest to him. This specious promise allayed the tumult for the moment. The next day, having summoned a general assembly of the people, he brought out to them Ptolemy and Cleopatra; and then, causing the will of Auletes to be read, he decreed, as guardian and arbitrator, that Ptolemy and Cleopatra should reign jointly in Egypt, agreeably to the will; and that Ptolemy, the younger son, and Arsinoe, the younger daughter, should reign in Cyprus. This last article was added to appease the people; for it was an absolute gift that he made them, as the Romans were in actual possession of the island. Every one was satisfied with this decree, except Pothinas. As this minister had occasioned the breach between Cleopatra and her brother, and the expulsion of that princess from the throne, he had reason to apprehend that the consequences of this decree would prove fatal to him. To prevent the effect of it, therefore, he inspired the people with new jealousies and discontent. He gave out that the Roman dictator had, through fear alone, made this just decree, and that his true design was to place Cleopatra alone on the throne. When he had, by such reports as these, stirred up the populace anew against Cesar, he directed Achillas to advance at the head of the army from Pelusium, in order to drive Cesar out of Alexandria. Achillas approached Alexandria (B. c. 47) with 20,000 well disciplined troops; and confusion again prevailed throughout the city. Cesar, whose forces were few, persuaded the king to send out ambassadors to Achillas, ordering him to forbear using any violence, since he was well pleased with what Cesar had decreed. Dioscorides and Serapion, who had been ambassadors at Rome, and had great authority at court, were employed on this occasion. But Achillas was so far from complying with the king's orders, that he commanded the ambassadors to be seized and put to death; and accordingly, one was slain, and the other carried off for dead. Finding that Achillas would listen to no proposals, Cesar resolved to keep within the walls of the town, not being able to oppose his enemy in the field. He therefore posted his men so judiciously in the streets and avenues of that quarter of the town of which he had taken possession, that he defied the force of the Egyptian cours and convoys on that side. But Cesar again frustrated his designs, by causing the Egyptian fleet to be set on fire, and by possessing himself of the tower of Pharos, which he garrisoned. By this means, he preserved his communication with the sea, without which he must have been eventually ruined. Some of the ships, when on fire, driving to the shore, communicated their flames to the adjoining houses, which spreading into the quarter of the city called Bruchium, consumed the noble library, which the several Ptolemies had erected and enlarged, and which contained 400,000 volumes. This was a loss to literature that has never been repaired. In the mean time, Cesar, that he might not be compelled to meet the numerous troops of the enemy till his succours arrived, strengthened that quarter of the city where he lived with walls, towers, and other fortifications; including within them the palace, a theatre adjoining to it, and a passage to the harbour. From the beginning of the tumult, Cesar had taken care to keep the king in his power, that this war might seem to be undertaken only by a few malcontents, and not by his authority or approbation. While Ptolemy was thus detained, Pothinas, who attended him as his governor and minister, carried on a secret correspondence with Achillas, giving him advice of all that passed, and encouraging him to prosecute the siege with vigour. One of his letters was at length intercepted; and, his treason being thereby discovered, Cesar ordered him to be put to death. Ganymedes, another eunuch, who was charged with the education of Arsinoe, the younger of the king's sisters, was a party in this treason; and, fearing the same punishment, he fled secretly, carrying with him the young princess. He presented her to the Egyptian army, who, wanting one of the royal family to head them, were overjoyed at her arrival, and proclaimed her queen. After this, Ganymedes, who entertained thoughts of supplanting Achillas, caused an accusation to be formed against him, charging him with giving up the fleet which had been burned in the harbour to Cesar. By this device, he obtained the condemnation and execution of Achillas, whereupon he took on himself the command of the army, and the administration of all the affairs of that party. Ganymedes did not want capacity for the office of a prime minister, probity only excepted; for he contrived a thousand artful stratagems to distress Cesar during the course of this war, showing himself at the same time a discerning statesman and a crafty general. One of his devices is thus recorded. The Alexandrians possessed no fresh water but that of the Nile; to preserve which, the whole city was vaulted underneath the houses.* Once a year, on the great swell of the Nile, the water of that river came into the city by a canal, and by sluices was turned into the vaults, where it gradually became clear. The principal families Thevenot says, that the same kind of caves exist to this day at Alexandria, and that they are filled once a year, as in ancient times. More modern travellers also relate, that the cisterns for keeping the Nile water are still in a great measure preserved. See the article Alexandria. of the city drank of this water; but the poor were forced to drink the common water, which was muddy and unwholesome. These vaults were so constructed, that they all had communication with each other. The provision of water they contained after the supply from the Nile, served for the whole year. Every house had an opening, not unlike the mouth of a well, through which the water was drawn in buckets or pitchers. Ganymedes caused the communications with the quarters where Cesar lived to be stopped up, and then found means to turn the sea-water into the latter, and thereby spoiled all the fresh water. This raised a general uproar among Cesar's soldiers; and he would have been obliged to abandon his quarters, much to his disadvantage, had he not thought of ordering wells to be sunk, where springs of water were found, which made amends for that which was spoiled. After this, Cesar, receiving advice that a legion which Calvinus, his lieutenant in Asia, had sent him by sea, was arrived on the neighbouring coasts of Lybia, but was detained there by contrary winds, advanced with his whole fleet to convoy it safely to Alexandria. Ganymedes was apprised of this; and he immediately collected all the Egyptian ships that could be found, in order to attack him upon his return. A battle ensued between the two fleets, wherein Cesar gained a considerable advantage, and would have destroyed the Egyptian fleet, had he not been obliged, by the approaching night, to retire with his ships and legion into the harbour. their late loss, and were making active preparations to repair it, sent ambassadors to Cesar, demanding their king, and assuring him that his compliance with their request would allay all animosity, and put an end to the war. Cesar, though well acquainted with the subtle and deceitful character of the Alexandrians, readily complied with their request, knowing that he hazarded nothing in giving them up the person of their king; and that, if they failed in their promises, the continuation of the war, and its accompanying evils, would be laid to their charge. Before he dismissed the young prince, he exhorted him to take this opportunity of inspiring his subjects with sentiments of peace; to redress the evils which a war, very imprudently undertaken, had brought upon his dominions; to approve himself worthy of the confidence he reposed in him by granting him his liberty; and to show himself grateful for the services he had rendered his father. Ptolemy, early instructed in the art of dissimulation and deceit, begged Cesar, with tears in his eyes, that he would not oblige him to depart, assuring him, that he had rather live with him as a private person than reign without him. The sequel showed how little sincerity there was in his tears and professions of amity. He was no sooner placed at the head of his troops, than he renewed hostilities with more vigour than ever. The first thing Ptolemy, who was entirely governed by Ganymedes, attempted, was to intercept Cesar's provisions. This gave rise to another sea-fight near Canopus, in which Cesar was again victo In this engagement, Euphanor, the Rhodian admiral, lost his life and his ship, after having greatly signalized himself. To repair this loss, which was very consider-rious. able, Ganymedes drew together all the ships that were in the mouth of the Nile and the private arsenals, and, having formed with them another fleet, entered the port of Alexandria. This produced another fight at sea, in which Cesar gained a second victory, which is chiefly to be ascribed to the valour of the Rhodians, and their skill in naval tactics. It is said that the Alexandrians climbed in throngs to the tops of the houses next the port, to be spectators of the fight, and awaited the result with fear and trembling, lifting up their hands to heaven to implore the assistance of the gods. To make the best of his advantage, Cesar endeavoured to capture the isle of Pharos, and so possess himself of the mole, called the Heptastadion, by which it was joined to the continent; but, after he had landed his troops, he was repulsed, with the loss of above 800 of his forces. Cesar himself was very near perishing in his retreat; for, finding the ship in which he endeavoured to escape ready to sink, by reason of the numbers of those who crowded into it, he threw himself into the sea, and with great difficulty swam to the next ship. Dion Cassius, Plutarch, Suetonius, and Orosius tell us, that Cesar, while he thus made his escape, carried his Commentaries, which he had then with him, in one hand, holding up the papers the whole time, lest the water should reach them, and swam with the other. When he reached the other ship, he saw, to his great concern, the vessel which he had left sink, with all those on board. The Alexandrians, finding that the Romans were rather encouraged than disheartened by When this battle was fought, Mithridates of Pergamus was upon the point of arriving with the army which he was bringing to the aid of Cesar. Mithridates had been sent into Syria and Cilicia, to assemble all the troops he could obtain, and to march them into Egypt. He acquitted himself of his commission with such diligence, that he had soon formed a considerable army. Antipater, the Idumean, contributed very much towards it. He had not only joined him with 3,000 Jews, but engaged several neighbouring princes of Arabia and Colo-Syria, and the free cities of Phenicia and Syria also, to send him troops. With these troops, Mithridates, attended by Antipater in person, marched into Egypt; and, on his arrival at Pelusium, took that important place by storm. This advantage was chiefly owing to Antipater; for he was the first that mounted the breach, and thereby opened the way for those who followed him, to carry the town. From Pelusium, Mithridates advanced towards Alexandria; but, as they approached the borders of the province of Onion, they found all the passes seized by the Jews, who inhabited that part of Egypt, so that it was impossible for them to proceed any farther. This obstruction would have rendered their design abortive, had not Antipater, partly by his own authority, and partly by that of Hyrcanus, (who was then at the head of the Jewish nation, and from whom he brought letters to the Jews,) prevailed upon them to espouse the cause of Cesar. Their example was followed by the Jews of Memphis; and Mithridates was plentifully supplied by both with provisions for his army. As Mithridates drew near the Delta, Ptolemy detached a considerable body of troops to dispute with them the passage of the Nile. This led to a battle. Mithridates put himself at the head of a part of his army, and Antipater commanded the other part. The wing which Mithridates commanded was soon obliged to give way, being attacked by the Egyptians with great fury; but, Antipater, who had defeated the enemy on his side, hastening to his relief, the battle was renewed, and the Egyptians were totally routed. The two victorious generals pursued the advantage, drove the enemy out of the field with great slaughter, and, having taken their camp, obliged those who escaped the carnage to repass the Nile. Mithridates immediately acquainted Cesar with this victory, ascribing with great ingenuousness, according to Josephus, the whole glory of it to Antipater. Ptolemy, upon advice that the troops he had sent were defeated, advanced with his whole army against Mithridates and Antipater. At the same time, Cesar, leaving the city under the cover of the night, marched with all possible expedition to join Mithridates, before the Egyptians could fall upon him. Accordingly, he was the first who brought him intelligence of the king's design. The Egyptian army appeared soon after, and a decisive battle ensued, in which Cesar gained a complete victory. Ptolemy himself was drowned in the Nile, as he was attempting to make his escape in a boat. His body was afterwards thrown on the shore; it was known by the gold cuirass, which, Julius Capitolinus informs us, the Ptolemies of Egypt used to wear. He had reigned from the death of his father Auletes, three years and eight months. It is recorded, that 20,000 Egyptians were slain in this battle, and 12,000 taken prisoners. On Cesar's side, 500 only were killed, and about 1,000 wounded. Among the latter was Antipater, who fought with great bravery, and had a great share in the victory. In confidence of this victory, Cesar returned to Alexandria, and, entering that city without opposition, bestowed the crown of Egypt on Cleopatra, in conjunction with Ptolemy, her younger brother. This was in effect giving it to Cleopatra alone, the young prince being then but eleven years of age. The passion which Cesar had conceived for Cleopatra was the sole motive that prompted him to embark in this dangerous and infamous war; and therefore, the enterprise having been attended with success, it is no wonder that he should take care that she should reap the advantages of his victory. Cesar was, indeed, so captivated by the charms of Cleopatra, that he remained longer in Egypt than his affairs could well admit, and very nearly to their ruin. Appian relates, that, though he had settled all matters there in January, yet he did not leave that country till the latter end of April, and that he passed his time in revels and banquets with Cleopatra and her court. He took great pleasure in diverting himself with her on the Nile, in a large galley, called Thalamegos, being at tended by a fleet of 400 sail. Suetonius says, that he designed to sail with her as far as Ethiopia, but that his troops refused to follow him. He meditated the design of carrying her with him to Rome, and there marrying her, after having caused a law to be passed in the comitia, by which the Roman citizens should be allowed to marry foreigners, and as many as they pleased. Helvius Cinna, the tribune of the people, declared, after the death of Cesar, that he had prepared an harangue in order to propose that law to the people, he being unable to refuse the assistance required of him by the dictator. Before Cesar left Alexandria, in acknowledgment of the assistance he had received from the Jews, he confirmed all the privileges they enjoyed in that city, and commanded a column to be erected, on which all those privileges were engraved, with the decree confirming them. The cause of Cesar's quitting Egypt and Cleopatra (by whom he had a son called Cesarion) was, the war with Pharnaces, king of the Cimmerian Bosphorus, and son of Mithridates, the last king of Pontus. The success that attended that prince in the recovery of his father's dominions, roused Cesar out of the lethargy into which Cleopatra's charms had lulled him, and called his warlike powers again into action. He left part of his forces in Egypt, to protect Cleopatra, and with the rest marched into Syria. He fought a great battle with Pharnaces, near the city of Zela, in Cappadocia, defeated his whole army, and drove him out of the kingdom of Pontus. To denote the rapidity of his conquest, in writing to one of his friends, he made use of those three well-known words, Veni, vidi, vici: "I came, I saw, I conquered." In the war which Cesar waged in Egypt, he had taken Arsinoe prisoner. On his return to Rome, he carried her with him, and there caused her to walk before his chariot, bound with chains of gold. After this vain display, he gave her liberty, but would not allow her to return into Egypt, lest her presence should occasion new troubles in that kingdom. The banished princess took up her residence in Asia; at least, it was there that Antony found her after the battle of Philippi, and where, at the request of Cleopatra her sister, he caused her to be put to death. After Cesar had departed from Egypt, B. C. 47, Cleopatra enjoyed the crown without molestation, having all the power in her own hands during the minority of her brother. But this young prince no sooner attained the fourteenth year of his age, B. C. 43, when, according to the laws of his country, he was to share the royal authority, than she poisoned him, and remained sole queen of Egypt. Not long after, Julius Cesar being killed at Rome by conspirators, at the head of whom were Brutus and Cassius, and the celebrated triumvirate formed between Antony, Lepidus, and Octavius Cesar, Cleopatra declared for the triumvirs, and sent to Albienus the consul, Dolabella's lieutenant, four legions, which were the remains of the armies of Pompey and Crassus, and part of the troops which Cesar had left with her to guard Egypt. Cassius made himself master of these four legions, B. c. 42, and frequently solicited aid from Cleopatra, which she uniformly refused. |