JULIUS CESAR. Julius Cæsar is by great writers called the "greatest man of antiquity." Certainly he was marvellously talented, and withal had a will and an ambition that would have won him distinction in any land and in any age. He was one of the greatest generals of his time. Setting out with his great army, he swept up from Rome, across Europe, across the channel even into the then unknown country of England, conquering tribe after tribe as he swept along. He seemed to know not what failure meant; and as for the people into whose countries he marched, they seemed to believe that it was as useless to contend againt "the great Cæsar" as to contend against the gods themselves. Cæsar was a man of few words; but those few words were apt to mean volumes. At one time, when he was carrying on war in Asia Minor, instead of writing out a long report of his successes for the Roman Senate at home, he sent just three words "Veni, vidi, vici; "—meaning, "I came, I saw, I conquered." So crisp and full of meaning was this message that it has passed down through the ages as one of the bril liant gems among historic sayings. While Cæsar was carrying on these wars in Gaul, Rome was governed by three men, a "triumvirate” as it was called, of which Cæsar himself was one. The other two men were Pompey and Cassius. These three men had each pledged themselves to stand loyally by the other, let come what might. But Cæsar was a fiercely ambitious man, and Pompey, I suspect, was equally a jealous man. At any rate, Pompey made good use of his power at home, while Cæsar was engaged in war, to stir up the people to overthrow Cæsar. Accordingly word was sent to the brave general that no longer did Rome need his services, and no longer would she support him as general in the Roman army. Well did Cæsar know the meaning of all this; and well did he know that the only course for him was to march with his forces straight to Rome and demand justice of the people. Outside the city was a little river known as the Rubicon. Now, it was one of the laws of Rome that a general returning from war should disband his army |