thousand good troops, despised Cæsar's small number, and believed he should overpower him immediately. But Cæsar posted his men so well in the streets, and upon the avenues of the quarter in his possession, that he found no difficulty in supporting their attack.* When they saw that they could not force him, they changed their measures, and marched toward the port, with design to make themselves masters of the fleet, to cut off his communication with the sea, and thereby prevent him from receiving succours and convoys on that side. But Cæsar again frustrated their design, 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 and secured his communication with the sea, without which he must have been entirely ruined. Some of the vessels on fire came so near the quay, that the flames extended to the neighbouring houses, from whence they spread throughout the whole quarter called Bruchion. It was at this time the famous library, which had been the work of so many kings, and in which there were four hundred thousand volumes, was consumed. What a loss was this to literature. Cæsar, seeing so dangerous a war upon his hands, sent into all the neighbouring countries for aid. He wrote, among others, to Domitius Calvinus, whom he had left to command in Asia Minor, and signified to him his danger. That general immediately detached two legions, the one by land, and the other by sea. That which went by sea arrived in time: the other, which marched by land, did not go thither at all, because the war was terminated before it could arrive. But Cæsar was best served by Mithridates the Pergamenian, whom he sent into Syria and Cilicia, for he brought him the troops which extricated him from danger, as we shall see in the sequel. While he waited the aids he had sent for, that he might not fight an army so superior in number till he thought fit, he caused the quarter in his possession to be fortified. He surrounded it with walls, and flanked it with towers and other works. Those lines included the palace, a theatre very near it, which he made use of as a citadel, and the way that led to the port. Ptolemy all this while was in Cæsar's hands; and Pothinus, his governor and first minister, who acted in concert with Achillas, gave him advice of all that passed, and encouraged him to push the siege with vigour. One of his letters was at last intercepted; and his treason being thereby discovered, Cæsar ordered him to be put to death. Ganymedes, another eunuch of the palace, who educated Arsinoe, the youngest of the king's sisters, apprehending the same fate, because he had shared in that treason, carried off the young princess, and escaped into the camp of the Egyptians, who not having, till then, any of the royal family at their head, were overjoyed at her presence, and proclaimed her queen. But Ganymedes, who entertained thoughts of supplanting Achillas, caused that general to be accused of having given up to Cæsar the fleet which had been set on fire by the Romans, which occasioned that general's being put to death, and the command of the army to be transferred to himself. He also took upon him the administration of all other affairs, and undoubtedly did not want capacity for the duties of a prime minister, probity only excepted, which is often accounted little or no qualification; he had all the necessary penetration and activity, and contrived a thousand stratagems to distress Cæsar during the continuance of this war: he found means to spoil all the fresh water in his quarter, and was very near destroying him by that means; for there was no other fresh water in Alexandria, but that of the Nile, In every house were vaulted reservoirs, where it was kept. Every year, upon the great rise of the Nile, the water of that river was let in by a canal, which had been cut for that use, and by a sluice made on purpose, was turned into the vaulted reservoirs, which were the cisterns of the city, where it became clear by degrees. The masters of houses and their families drank of this wa A. M. 3957. Ant. J. C. 47. There are to this day exactly the same kind of caves at Alexandria, which are filled once a year, as formerly.-Thevenot's Travels. ter; but the poorer sort of the people were forced to drink the running water, which was muddy and very unwholesome; for there were no springs in the city. Those caverns were made in such a manner, that they all communicated with each other. This provision of water served for the whole year. Every house had an opening, not unlike the mouth of a well, through which the water was taken up either in buckets or pitchers. Ganymedes caused all the communications with the caverns in the quarter of Cæsar to be stopped up; and then found means to turn the seawater into the latter, and thereby spoiled all his fresh water. As soon as they perceived that the water was spoiled, Cæsar's soldiers made such a noise, and raised such a tumult, that he would have been obliged to abandon his quarter, greatly to his disadvantage, if he had not immediately thought of ordering wells to be sunk, where, at last, springs were found, which supplied them with water enough to remedy the want of that which was spoiled. After that, upon Cæsar's receiving advice that the legion which Calvinus had sent by sea was arrived upon the coast of Libya, which was not very distant, he advanced with his whole fleet to convoy it safely to Alexandria. Ganymedes was apprized of this, and immediately assembled all the Egyptian ships he could get, in order to attack him upon his return. A battle actually ensued between the two fleets. Cæsar had the advantage, and brought his legion without danger into the port of Alexandria; and, if the night had not come on, the ships of the enemy would not have escaped. To repair that loss, Ganymedes drew together all the ships in the mouth of the Nile, and formed a new fleet, with which he entered the port of Alexandria. A second action was unavoidable. The Alexandrians climbed in throngs to the tops of the houses nearest to the port, to be spectators of the fight, and awaited the success with fear and trembling, lifting up their hands to heaven to implore the assistance of the gods. The safety of the Romans was at stake, to whom there was no resource left, if they lost this battle. Cæsar was again victorious. The Rhodians, by their valour and skill in naval affairs, contributed exceedingly to this victory. Cæsar, to make the best of it, endeavoured to seize the isle of Pharos, where he landed his troops after the battle, and to possess himself of the mole, called the heptastadion, by which it was joined to the continent. But, after having obtained several advantages, he was repulsed with the loss of more than eight hundred men, and was very near falling himself in his retreat; for the ship in which he had designed to get off, being ready to sink with the too great number of people who had entered it with him, he threw himself into the sea, and with great difficulty swam to the next ship. While he was in the sea, he swam with one hand and held the other above the water, in which were papers of consequence, so that they were not spoiled. The Alexandrians, seeing that ill success itself only served to give Cæsar's troops new courage, entertained thoughts of making peace, or at least dissembled such a disposition. They sent deputies to demand their king of him; assuring him, that his presence alone would put an end to all differences. Cæsar, who well knew their subtle and deceitful character, was not at a loss to comprehend their professions; but as he hazarded nothing in giving them up their king's person, and knew that if they failed in their promises, the fault would be entirely on their side, he thought it incumbent on him to grant their demand. He exhorted the young prince to take advantage of this opportunity to inspire his subjects with sentiments of peace and equity; to redress the evils with which a war, very imprudently undertaken, distressed his dominions; to show himself worthy of the confidence he reposed in him, by giving him his liberty; and to show his gratitude for the services he had rendered to his father. Ptolemy, early instructed by his masters in the art of dissimulation and deceit, begged of Cæsar, with tears in his eyes, not to deprive him of his presence, which was a much greater satisfaction to him than to reign over others.* The sequel soon explained how Regius animus disciplinis fallacissimis eruditas, ne a gentis sum moribus degeneraret, flens orare contra Cæsarem cœpit, ne se demitteret; non enim regnum ipsum sibi conspectu Cæsaris esse jucundius.—Hiero. de Bell. Alex. 394 much sincerity there was in those tears and professions of amity. He was no sooner at the head of his troops, than he renewed hostilities with more vigour than ever. The Egyptians endeavoured, by the means of their fleet, to cut off Cæsar's provisions entirely. This occasioned another fight at sea, near Canopus, in which Cæsar was again victorious. 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 Cæsar. He had been sent into Syria and Cilicia, to assemble all the troops he could, and to march them to Egypt. He acquitted himself of his commission with such diligence and prudence, that he had soon formed a considerable army. Antipater, the Idumæan, contributed very much toward it. He had not only joined him with three thousand Jews, but engaged several princes of Arabia and Cœlosyria to send him troops. Mithridates, with Antipater, who accompanied him in person, marched into Egypt, and upon arriving before Pelusium, they carried that place by storm. They were indebted principally to Antipater's bravery for the taking of this city; for he was the first who mounted the breach, and got upon the wall, and thereby opened the way for those who followed him to carry the town.* On their route from thence to Alexandria, it was necessary to pass through the country of Onion, all the passes of which were seized by the Jews who inhabited it. The army was there put to a stand, and their sole design was upon the point of miscarrying, if Antipater, by his influence, and that of Hyrcanus, from whom he brought letters, had not engaged them to espouse Cæsar's party. Upon the spreading of that news, the Jews of Memphis did the same, and Mithridates received from both, all the provisions his army required. When they were near Delta, Ptolemy detached a flying army to dispute the passage of the Nile with them. A battle was fought in consequence. Mithridates put himself at the head of part of his army, and gave the command of the other to Antipater. The wing under the command of Mithridates was soon broken and obliged to give way; but Antipater, who had defeated the enemy on his side, came to his relief. The battle was renewed, and the enemy were defeated. Mithridates and Antipater pursued them, made a great slaughter, and regained the field of battle. They took even the enemy's camp, and obliged those who remained, to escape by repassing the Nile. Ptolemy then advanced with his whole army in order to overpower the victors. Cæsar also marched to support them; and as soon as he had joined them came directly to a decisive battle, in which he gained a complete victory. Ptolemy, in endeavouring to escape in a boat, was drowned in the Nile. Alexandria, and all Egypt, submitted to the victor. Cæsar returned to Alexandria about the middle of January, and, not finding any farther opposition to his orders, gave the crown of Egypt to Cleopatra, in conjunction with Ptolemy her other brother. This was in fact giving it to Cleopatra alone; for that young prince was only eleven years old. The passion which Cæsar had conceived for that princess, was properly the sole cause of his embarking in so dangerous a war. He had by her one son, called Cæsario, whom Augustus caused to be put to death, when he became master of Alexandria. His affection for Cleopatra kept him much longer in Egypt than his affairs required: for, though every thing was settled in Egypt by the end of January, he did not leave it till the end of April, according to Appian, who says he staid there nine months. He arrived there only about the end of July the year before. Cæsar passed whole nights in feasting with Cleopatra. Having embarked with her upon the Nile, he carried her through the whole country with a numerous fleet, and would have penetrated into Ethiopia, if his army had not refused to follow him. He had resolved to have her brought to Rome, and to marry her; and intended to have caused a law to pass in the assembly of the people, by which the citizens of Rome should be permitted to marry such, and as many wives as they thought fit. Marius Cinna, the tribune of the people, declared, Joseph. Antiq. 1. xiv. e. 14, 15. after his death, that he had prepared a harangue, in order to propose that law to the people, not being able to refuse his offices to the earnest solicitation of Cæsar.* He carried Arsinoe, whom he had taken in this war, to Rome, and she walked in his triumph in chains of gold; but immediately after that solemnity, he set her at liberty. He did not permit her, however, to return into Egypt, lest her presence should occasion new troubles, and frustrate the regulations he had made in that kingdom. She chose the province of Asia for her residence; or rather it was there Antony found her after the battle of Philippi, and caused her to be put to death, at the instigation of her sister Cleopatra. Before he left Alexandria, Cæsar, in gratitude for the aid he had received from the Jews, caused all the privileges they enjoyed to be confirmed, and ordered a column to be erected, on which, by his command, all those privileges were engraven, with the decree confirming them. What at length induced him to quit Egypt, was the war with Pharnaces, king of the Cimmerian Bosphorus, and son of Mithridates, the last king of Pontus. He fought a great battle with him near Zela, a city of 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 only these three words, "Veni, vidi, vici;" that is to say, "I came, I saw, I conquered."t SECTION III.—CLEOPATRA REIGNS ALONE. DEATH OF JULIUS CÆSAR. TRAGICAL END OF ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. CESAR, after the war of Alexandria, had set Cleopatra upon the throne, and, for form only, had associated her brother with her, who at that time was only eleven years of age. During his minority all power was in her hands. When he attained his fifteenth year, which was the time when, according to the laws of the country, he was to govern for himself, and have a share in the royal authority, she poisoned him, and remained sole queen of Egypt.t In this interval, Cæsar had been killed at Rome by the conspirators, at the head of whom were Brutus and Cassius, and the triumvirate between Antony, Lepidus and Octavius Cæsar, had been formed, to avenge the death of Cæsar. Cleopatra declared herself, without hesitation, for the triumvirs. She gave Albienus, the consul Dolabella's lieutenant, four legions, which were the remains of the armies of Pompey and Crassus, and a part of the troops which Cæsar had left with her for the guard of Egypt. She had also a fleet in readiness for sailing, but prevented by storms from setting out.§ Cassius made himself master of these four legions, and frequently solicited Cleopatra for aid, which she as often refused. She sailed sometime after with a numerous fleet to join Antony and Octavius. A violent storm occasioned the loss of a great number of her ships, and falling sick, she was obliged to return into Egypt.ll Antony, after the defeat of Brutus and Cassius in the battle of Philippi, having passed over into Asia, in order to establish the authority of the triumvirate there, the kings, princes, and ambassadors of the east, came thither in throngs to make their court to him. He was informed that the governors of Phoenicia, which was dependent on the kingdom of Egypt, had sent Cassius aid against Dolabella. He cited Cleopatra before him, to answer for the conduct of her governors; and sent one of his lieutenants to oblige her to come to him in Cificia, whither he was going to assemble the states of that province. That step became very fatal to Antony in its effects, and occasioned his ruin. His love for Cleopatra having awakened passions in him, till then concealed or asleep, inflamed them even to madness, and finally deadened and extinguished the few sparks of honour and virtue which he might perhaps still retain. T *Sueton. in J. Cæs. c. 52. † Plut. in Cæs. p. 731. A. M 3961. Ant. J. C. 43. Joseph. Antiq. 1. xv. c. 4. Porphyr. p. 226. Appian. 1. 3. p. 576. 1. iv. p. 623. l. v. p. 675. T A. M. 3963. Civ. 1. v. p. 671. Ant. J. C. 41. Plut. in Anton. p. 926, 927. A. M. 3962. Ant. J. C. 42. Cleopatra, assured of her charms, by the proof she had already so successfully made of them upon Julius Cæsar, was in hopes that she could also very easily captivate Antony; and the more, because the former had known her only when she was very young, and had no experience of the world; whereas she was going to appear before Antony at an age wherein women, with the bloom of their beauty, unite the whole force of wit and address to treat and conduct the greatest affairs. Cleopatra was at that time five-and-twenty years old. She provided herself therefore with exceeding rich presents, great sums of money, and especially the most magnificent habits and ornaments; and with still higher hopes in her attractions and the graces of her person, more powerful than dress, or even gold, she began her voyage. Upon her way, she received several letters from Antony, who was at Tarsus, and from his friends, pressing her to hasten her journey; but she only laughed at their solicitations, and made no more haste on that account. After having crossed the sea of Pamphylia, she entered the Cydnus; and going up that river, landed at Tarsus. Never was equipage more splendid and magnificent than hers. The whole poop of her ship flamed with gold, the sails were purple, and the oars inlaid with silver. A pavilion of cloth of gold was raised upon the deck, under which appeared the queen, robed like Venus, and surrounded with the most beautiful virgins of her court, some of whom represented the Nereids, and others the Graces. Instead of trumpets, were heard flutes, hautboys, barps, and other such instruments of music, breathing the softest airs, to which the oars kept time, and rendered the harmony more agreeable. Perfumes burned on the deck, which spread their odours to a great distance on the river, and on each side of its banks, that were covered with a multitude of people, whom the novelty of the spectacle had drawn thither. As soon as her arrival was known, all the people of Tarsus went out to meet her; so that Antony, who at that time was giving audience, saw his tribunal abandoned by all the world, and not a single person with him but his lictors and domestics. A rumour was spread that it was the goddess Venus, who came in masquerade to make Bacchus a visit for the good of Asia. She was no sooner landed, than Antony sent to compliment and invite her to supper. But she answered his deputies, that she should be very glad to regale him herself, and that she would expect him in the tents she had caused to be got ready upon the banks of the river. He made no difficulty to go thither, and found the preparations of a magnificence not to be expressed. He admired particularly the beauty of the branches, which had been disposed with great art, and were so luminous, that they made midnight seem to be day. Antony invited her, in his turn, for the next day. But whatever endeavours he had used to exceed her in his entertainment, he confessed himself outdone, as well in the splendour as the disposition of the feast, and was the first to rally the parsimony and plainness of his own in comparison with the sumptuousness and elegance of Cleopatra's. The queen, finding nothing but what was gross in the pleasantries of Antony, and more expressive of the soldier than the courtier, repaid him in his own coin; but with so much wit and grace, that he was not in the least offended at it. For the beauties and charms of her conversation, attended with all possible sweetness and gayety had attractions in them still more irresistible than her form and features, and left such incentives in the heart as are not easily conceived. She charmed whenever she but spoke, such music and harmony were in her utterance, and the very sound of her voice. Little or no mention was made of the complaints against Cleopatra, which were, besides, without foundation. She made so deep an impression on Antony with her charms, and gained so absolute an ascendency over him, that he could refuse her nothing. It was at this time that he caused to be put to death her sister Arsinoe, who had taken refuge in the temple of Diana at Miletus, as in a secure asylum. Great feasts were made every day. Some new banquet still outdid that which preceded it, and she seemed to study to excel herself. Antony, in a feast which |