第41章

thewelllivingofScipiohasathousandfashions，thatofDiogenesbutone;thisasmuchexcelstheordinarylivesininnocenceasthemostaccomplishedexceltheminutilityandforce。

CHAPTERXXXIV

OBSERVATIONONTHEMEANSTOCARRYONAWARACCORDINGTOJULIUSCAESAR

’Tisrelatedofmanygreatleadersthattheyhavehadcertainbooksinparticularesteem，asAlexandertheGreat，Homer;ScipioAfricanus，Xenophon;MarcusBrutus，Polybius;CharlesV。，Philip’deComines;and’tissaidthat，inourtimes，Machiavelliiselsewherestillinrepute;

butthelateMarshalStrozzi，whohadtakenCaesarforhisman，doubtlessmadethebestchoice，seeingthatitindeedoughttobethebreviaryofeverysoldier，asbeingthetrueandsovereignpatternofthemilitaryart。And，moreover，Godknowswiththatgraceandbeautyhehasembellishedthatrichmatter，withsopure，delicate，andperfectexpression，that，inmyopinion，therearenowritingsintheworldcomparabletohis，astothatbusiness。

Iwillsetdownsomerareandparticularpassagesofhiswarsthatremaininmymemory。

Hisarmy，beinginsomeconsternationupontherumourthatwasspreadofthegreatforcesthatkingJubawasleadingagainsthim，insteadofabatingtheapprehensionwhichhissoldiershadconceivedatthenewsandoflesseningtothemtheforcesoftheenemy，havingcalledthemalltogethertoencourageandreassurethem，hetookaquitecontrarywaytowhatweareusedtodo，forhetoldthemthattheyneednomoretroublethemselveswithinquiringaftertheenemy’sforces，forthathewascertainlyinformedthereof，andthentoldthemofanumbermuchsurpassingboththetruthandthereportthatwascurrentinhisarmy;

followingtheadviceofCyrusinXenophon，forasmuchasthedeceptionisnotofsogreatimportancetofindanenemyweakerthanweexpected，thantofindhimreallyverystrong，afterhavingbeenmadetobelievethathewasweak。

Itwasalwayshisusetoaccustomhissoldierssimplytoobey，withouttakinguponthemtocontrol，orsomuchastospeakoftheircaptain’sdesigns，whichhenevercommunicatedtothembutuponthepointofexecution;andhetookadelight，iftheydiscoveredanythingofwhatheintended，immediatelytochangehisorderstodeceivethem;andtothatpurpose，wouldoften，whenhehadassignedhisquartersinaplace，passforwardandlengthenhisday’smarch，especiallyifitwasfoulandrainyweather。

TheSwiss，inthebeginningofhiswarsinGaul，havingsenttohimtodemandafreepassageovertheRomanterritories，thoughresolvedtohinderthembyforce，heneverthelessspokekindlytothemessengers，andtooksomerespitetoreturnananswer，tomakeuseofthattimeforthecallinghisarmytogether。Thesesillypeopledidnotknowhowgoodahusbandhewasofhistime:forheoftenrepeatsthatitisthebestpartofacaptaintoknowhowtomakeuseofoccasions，andhisdiligenceinhisexploitsis，intruth，unheardofandincredible。

Ifhewasnotveryconscientiousintakingadvantageofanenemyundercolourofatreatyofagreement，hewasaslittlesointhis，thatherequirednoothervirtueinasoldierbutvalouronly，andseldompunishedanyotherfaultsbutmutinyanddisobedience。Hewouldoftenafterhisvictoriesturnthemloosetoallsortsoflicence，dispensingthemforsometimefromtherulesofmilitarydiscipline，sayingwithalthathehadsoldierssowelltrainedupthat，powderedandperfumed，theywouldrunfuriouslytothefight。Intruth，helovedtohavethemrichlyarmed，andmadethemwearengraved，gilded，anddamaskedarmour，totheendthatthecareofsavingitmightengagethemtoamoreobstinatedefence。Speakingtothem，hecalledthembythenameoffellow—

soldiers，whichweyetuse;whichhissuccessor，Augustus，reformed，supposinghehadonlydoneituponnecessity，andtocajolethosewhomerelyfollowedhimasvolunteers:

"RhenimihiCaesarinundisDuxerat;hicsocius;facinusquosinquinat，aequat:"

["InthewatersoftheRhineCaesarwasmygeneral;hereatRomeheismyfellow。Crimelevelsthosewhomitpolluted。"

——Lucan，v。289。]

butthatthiscarriagewastoomeanandlowforthedignityofanemperorandgeneralofanarmy，andthereforebroughtupthecustomofcallingthemsoldiersonly。

WiththiscourtesyCaesarmixedgreatseveritytokeeptheminawe;theninthlegionhavingmutiniednearPlacentia，heignominiouslycashieredthem，thoughPompeywasthenyetonfoot，andreceivedthemnotagaintogracetillaftermanysupplications;hequietedthemmorebyauthorityandboldnessthanbygentleways。

Inthatplacewherehespeaksofhis，passageovertheRhinetoGermany，hesaysthat，thinkingitunworthyofthehonouroftheRomanpeopletowaftoverhisarmyinvessels，hebuiltabridgethattheymightpassoverdry—foot。Thereitwasthathebuiltthatwonderfulbridgeofwhichhegivessoparticularadescription;forhenowheresowillinglydwellsuponhisactionsasinrepresentingtousthesubtletyofhisinventionsinsuchkindofhandiwork。

Ihavealsoobservedthis，thathesetagreatvalueuponhisexhortationstothesoldiersbeforethefight;forwherehewouldshowthathewaseithersurprisedorreducedtoanecessityoffighting，healwaysbringsinthis，thathehadnotsomuchasleisuretoharanguehisarmy。BeforethatgreatbattlewiththoseofTournay，"Caesar，"sayshe，"havinggivenorderforeverythingelse，presentlyranwherefortunecarriedhimtoencouragehispeople，andmeetingwiththetenthlegion，hadnomoretimetosayanythingtothembutthis，thattheyshouldremembertheirwontedvalour;nottobeastonished，butbravelysustaintheenemy’sencounter;andseeingtheenemyhadalreadyapproachedwithinadart’scast，hegavethesignalforbattle;andgoingsuddenlythenceelsewhere，toencourageothers，hefoundthattheywerealreadyengaged。"

Hereiswhathetellsusinthatplace。Histongue，indeed，didhimnotableserviceuponseveraloccasions，andhismilitaryeloquencewas，inhisowntime，sohighlyreputed，thatmanyofhisarmywrotedownhisharanguesashespokethem，bywhichmeanstherewerevolumesofthemcollectedthatexistedalongtimeafterhim。Hehadsoparticularagraceinspeaking，thathisintimates，andAugustusamongstothers，hearingthoseorationsread，coulddistinguisheventothephrasesandwordsthatwerenothis。

ThefirsttimethathewentoutofRomewithanypubliccommand，hearrivedineightdaysattheriverRhone，havingwithhiminhiscoachasecretaryortwobeforehimwhowerecontinuallywriting，andhimwhocarriedhisswordbehindhim。Andcertainly，thoughamandidnothingbutgoon，hecouldhardlyattainthatpromptitudewithwhich，havingbeeneverywherevictoriousinGaul，heleftit，and，followingPompeytoBrundusium，ineighteendays’timehesubduedallItaly;returnedfromBrundusiumtoRome;fromRomewentintotheveryheartofSpain，wherehesurmountedextremedifficultiesinthewaragainstAfraniusandPetreius，andinthelongsiegeofMarseilles;thencehereturnedintoMacedonia，beattheRomanarmyatPharsalia，passedthenceinpursuitofPompeyintoEgypt，whichhealsosubdued;fromEgypthewentintoSyriaandtheterritoriesofPontus，wherehefoughtPharnaces;thenceintoAfrica，wherehedefeatedScipioandJuba;againreturnedthroughItaly，wherehedefeatedPompey’ssons:

"Ocyoretcoelifiammis，ettigridefoeta。"

["Swifterthanlightning，orthecub—bearingtigress。"

——Lucan，v。405]

"Acvelutimontissaxumde，verticepraecepsCumruitavulsumvento，seuturbidusimberProluit，autannissolvitsublapsavetustas，Ferturinabruptummagnomonsimprobusactu，Exultatquesolo，silvas，armenta，virosque，Involvenssecum。"

["Andasastonetornfromthemountain’stopbythewindorraintorrents，orloosenedbyage，fallsmassivewithmightyforce，boundshereandthere，initscoursesweepsfromtheearthwithitwoods，herds，andmen。"——AEneid，xii。684。]

SpeakingofthesiegeofAvaricum，hesays，thatit，washiscustomtobenightanddaywiththepioneers。——[Engineers。D。W。]——Inallenterprisesofconsequencehealwaysreconnoitredinperson，andneverbroughthisarmyintoquarterstillhehadfirstviewedtheplace，and，ifwemaybelieveSuetonius，whenheresolvedtopassoverintoEngland，hewasthefirstmanthatsoundedthepassage。

Hewaswonttosaythathemorevaluedavictoryobtainedbycounselthanbyforce，andinthewaragainstPetreiusandAfranius，fortunepresentinghimwithanoccasionofmanifestadvantage，hedeclinedit，saying，thathehoped，withalittlemoretime，butlesshazard，tooverthrowhisenemies。Hetherealsoplayedanotablepartincommandinghiswholearmytopasstheriverbyswimming，withoutanymannerofnecessity:

"Rapuitqueruensinpraeliamiles，Quodfugienstimuisset，iter;moxudareceptisMembrafoventarmis，gelidosqueagurgite，cursuRestituuntartus。"

["Thesoldierrushingthroughawaytofightwhichhewouldhavebeenafraidtohavetakeninflight:thenwiththeirarmourtheycoverwetlimbs，andbyrunningrestorewarmthtotheirnumbedjoints。"——Lucan，iv。151。]

IfindhimalittlemoretemperateandconsiderateinhisenterprisesthanAlexander，forthismanseemstoseekandrunheadlongupondangerslikeanimpetuoustorrentwhichattacksandrushesagainsteverythingitmeets，withoutchoiceordiscretion;

"SictauriformisvolviturAufidus;

QuiregnaDauniperfluitAppuli，Dumsaevit，horrendamquecultisDiluviemmeditaturagris;"

["SothebiforkedAufidus，whichflowsthroughtherealmoftheApulianDaunus，whenraging，threatensafearfuldelugetothetilledground。"——Horat。，Od。，iv。14，25。]

and，indeed，hewasageneralintheflowerandfirstheatofhisyouth，whereasCaesartookupthetradeataripeandwelladvancedage;towhichmaybeaddedthatAlexanderwasofamoresanguine，hot，andcholericconstitution，whichhealsoinflamedwithwine，fromwhichCaesarwasveryabstinent。

Butwherenecessaryoccasionrequired，neverdidanymanventurehispersonmorethanhe:somuchso，thatformypart，methinksIreadinmanyofhisexploitsadeterminateresolutiontothrowhimselfawaytoavoidtheshameofbeingovercome。InhisgreatbattlewiththoseofTournay，hechargeduptotheheadoftheenemieswithouthisshield，justashewasseeingthevanofhisownarmybeginningtogiveground’;

whichalsoseveralothertimesbefellhim。Hearingthathispeoplewerebesieged，hepassedthroughtheenemy’sarmyindisguisetogoandencouragethemwithhispresence。HavingcrossedovertoDyrrachiumwithveryslenderforces，andseeingtheremainderofhisarmywhichhehadlefttoAntony’sconductslowinfollowinghim，heundertookalonetorepasstheseainaverygreatstormsandprivatelystoleawaytofetchtherestofhisforces，theportsontheothersidebeingseizedbyPompey，andthewholeseabeinginhispossession。Andastowhatheperformedbyforceofhand，therearemanyexploitsthatinhazardexceedalltherulesofwar;forwithhowsmallmeansdidheundertaketosubduethekingdomofEgypt，andafterwardstoattacktheforcesofScipioandJuba，tentimesgreaterthanhisown？Thesepeoplehad，Iknownotwhat，morethanhumanconfidenceintheirfortune;andhewaswonttosaythatmenmustembark，andnotdeliberate，uponhighenterprises。AfterthebattleofPharsalia，whenhehadsenthisarmyawaybeforehimintoAsia，andwaspassinginonesinglevesselthestraitoftheHellespont，hemetLuciusCassiusatseawithtentallmen—of—war，whenhehadthecouragenotonlytostayhiscoming，buttosailuptohimandsummonhimtoyield，whichhedid。

HavingundertakenthatfurioussiegeofAlexia，wheretherewerefourscorethousandmeningarrison，allGaulbeinginarmstoraisethesiegeandhavingsetanarmyonfootofahundredandninethousandhorse，andoftwohundredandfortythousandfoot，whataboldnessandvehementconfidencewasitinhimthathewouldnotgiveoverhisattempt，butresolvedupontwosogreatdifficulties——whichneverthelessheovercame;and，afterhavingwonthatgreatbattleagainstthosewithout，soonreducedthosewithintohismercy。ThesamehappenedtoLucullusatthesiegeofTigranocertaagainstKingTigranes，buttheconditionoftheenemywasnotthesame，consideringtheeffeminacyofthosewithwhomLucullushadtodeal。IwillheresetdowntworareandextraordinaryeventsconcerningthissiegeofAlexia;one，thattheGaulshavingdrawntheirpowerstogethertoencounterCaesar，aftertheyhadmadeageneralmusterofalltheirforces，resolvedintheircouncilofwartodismissagoodpartofthisgreatmultitude，thattheymightnotfallintoconfusion。Thisexampleoffearingtobetoomanyisnew;but，totakeitright，itstandstoreasonthatthebodyofanarmyshouldbeofamoderategreatness，andregulatedtocertainbounds，bothoutofrespecttothedifficultyofprovidingforthem，andthedifficultyofgoverningandkeepingtheminorder。Atleastitisveryeasytomakeitappearbyexamplethatarmiesmonstrousinnumberhaveseldomdoneanythingtopurpose。AccordingtothesayingofCyrusinXenophon，"’Tisnotthenumberofmen，butthenumberofgoodmen，thatgivestheadvantage":theremainderservingrathertotroublethanassist。AndBajazetprincipallygrounde