Eutropius: BREVIARIVM HISTORIAE ROMANAE

[1] M. Aemilio Lepido Q. Catulo consulibus, cum Sulla rem publicam conposuisset, bella nova exarserunt, unum in Hispania, aliud in Pamphylia et Cilicia, tertium in Macedonia, quartum in Dalmatia.Nam Sertorius, qui partium Marianarum fuerat, timens fortunam ceterorum, qui interempti erant, ad bellum commovit Hispanias. Missi sunt contra eum duces Q. Caecilius Metellus, filius eius, qui Iugurtham regem vicit, et L. Domitius praetor.

[1] In the consulship of M. Aemilius Lepidus and Q. Catulus, when Sulla had settled the republic, new wars flared up: one in Spain, another in Pamphylia and Cilicia, a third in Macedonia, a fourth in Dalmatia.For Sertorius, who had been of the Marian party, fearing the fate of the rest who had been slain, stirred the Spains to war. Against him were sent as leaders Q. Caecilius Metellus, the son of him who conquered King Jugurtha, and L. Domitius, praetor.

A Sertorii duce Hirtuleio Domitius occisus est. Metellus vario successu contra Sertorium dimicavit. Postea, cum inpar pugnae solus Metellus putaretur, Cn. Pompeius ad Hispanias missus est.

Domitius was slain by Hirtuleius, the leader of Sertorius. Metellus fought against Sertorius with varied success. Afterwards, when Metellus alone was considered unequal to the battle, Gnaeus Pompeius was sent to the Spains.

Ita duobus ducibus adversis Sertorius fortuna varia saepe pugnavit. Octavo demum anno per suos occisus est, et finis ei bello datus per Cn. Pompeium adulescentem et Q. Metellum Pium atque omnes prope Hispaniae in dicionem populi Romani redactae.

Thus, with two opposing generals, Sertorius often fought with varying fortune. At last, in the 8th year, he was killed by his own men, and an end was given to that war by Cn. Pompeius, a young man, and Q. Metellus Pius, and almost all the Spains were reduced into the dominion of the Roman people.

[2] Ad Macedoniam missus est Ap. Claudius post consulatum.Levia proelia habuit contra varias gentes, quae Rhodopam provinciam incolebant, atque ibi morbo mortuus est. Missus ei successor C. Scribonius Curio post consulatum.

[2] To Macedonia Ap. Claudius was sent after his consulship.He had light skirmishes against various nations who inhabited the province of Rhodope, and there he died of disease. A successor was sent to him, C. Scribonius Curio, after his consulship.

Is Dardanos vicit et usque ad Danubium penetravit triumphumque meruit et intra triennium bello finem dedit.

He defeated the Dardanians and penetrated as far as the Danube and merited a triumph and within three years brought the war to an end.

[3] Ad Ciliciam et Pamphyliam missus est P. Servilius ex consule, vir strenuus.Is Ciliciam subegit, Lyciae urbes clarissimas oppugnavit et cepit, in his Phaselida, Olympum, Corycum Ciliciae. Isauros quoque adgressus in dicionem redegit atque intra triennium bello finem dedit.

[3] To Cilicia and Pamphylia was sent Publius Servilius, ex-consul, a strenuous man.He subdued Cilicia, assaulted and took the most illustrious cities of Lycia, among these Phaselis, Olympus, and Corycus of Cilicia. Having also assailed the Isaurians, he brought them into dominion and within three years gave an end to the war.

Primus omnium Romanorum in Tauro iter fecit. Revertens triumphum accepit et nomen Isaurici meruit.

He was the first of all the Romans to make a journey in the Taurus. Returning, he received a triumph and merited the name Isauricus.

[4] Ad Illyricum missus est C. Cosconius pro consule.Multam partem Dalmatiae subegit, Salonas cepit et conposito bello Romam post biennium rediit.

[4] To Illyricum Gaius Cosconius was sent as proconsul.He subdued a great part of Dalmatia, took Salona, and, the war having been settled, returned to Rome after two years.

[5] Isdem temporibus consul M. Aemilius Lepidus, Catuli collega, bellum civile voluit commovere, intra unam tamen aestatem motus eius oppressus est.Ita uno tempore multi simul triumphi fuerunt, Metelli ex Hispania, Pompeii secundus ex Hispania, Curionis ex Macedonia, Servilii ex Isauria.

[5] In the same times the consul M. Aemilius Lepidus, colleague of Catulus, wished to stir up a civil war, yet within a single summer his movement was crushed.Thus at one time there were many triumphs together: of Metellus from Spain, of Pompey a second from Spain, of Curio from Macedonia, of Servilius from Isauria.

[6] Anno urbis conditae sexcentesimo septuagesimo sexto, L. Licinio Lucullo et M. Aurelio Cotta consulibus mortuus est Nicomedes, rex Bithyniae, et per testamentum populum Romanum fecit heredem.Mithridates pace rupta Bithyniam et Asiam rursus voluit invadere. Adversus eum ambo consules missi variam habuere fortunam.

[6] In the 676th year from the founding of the City, with Lucius Licinius Lucullus and Marcus Aurelius Cotta as consuls, Nicomedes, king of Bithynia, died, and by his testament made the Roman people heir.Mithridates, the peace having been broken, wished again to invade Bithynia and Asia. Against him both consuls were sent, and they had varied fortune.

Cotta apud Chalcedonem victus ab eo acie, etiam intra oppidum coactus est et obsessus. Sed cum se inde Mithridates Cyzicum transtulisset, ut Cyzico capta totam Asiam invaderet, Lucullus ei, alter consul, occurrit. Ac dum Mithridates in obsidione Cyzici commoratur, ipse eum a tergo obsedit fameque consumpsit et multis proeliis vicit, postremo Byzantium, quae nunc Constantinopolis est, fugavit.

Cotta at Chalcedon, having been defeated by him in pitched battle, was even forced within the town and besieged. But when Mithridates had transferred himself from there to Cyzicus, so that, with Cyzicus captured, he might invade all Asia, Lucullus, the other consul, met him. And while Mithridates lingered in the siege of Cyzicus, he himself besieged him from the rear and consumed him with famine and defeated him in many battles, and at last drove him in flight to Byzantium, which now is Constantinople.

Navali quoque proelio duces eius Lucullus oppressit. Ita una hieme et aestate a Lucullo ad centum fere milia regis extincta sunt.

In a naval battle as well, Lucullus crushed his commanders. Thus, in one winter and summer, nearly one hundred thousand of the king’s men were destroyed by Lucullus.

[7] Anno urbis Romae sexcentesimo septuagesimo octavo Macedoniam provinciam M. Licinius Lucullus accepit, consobrinus Luculli, qui contra Mithridatem bellum gerebat.Et in Italia novum bellum subito commotum est. Septuaginta enim et quattuor gladiatores ducibus Spartaco, Crixo et Oenomao effracto Capuae ludo fugerunt.

[7] In the 678th year of the city of Rome, Marcus Licinius Lucullus, cousin of Lucullus who was waging war against Mithridates, received Macedonia as his province.And in Italy a new war was suddenly stirred up. For seventy-four gladiators, with Spartacus, Crixus, and Oenomaus as leaders, escaped after the gladiatorial school at Capua was broken open.

Et per Italiam vagantes paene non levius bellum in ea, quam Hannibal moverat, paraverunt. Nam multis ducibus et duobus simul Romanorum consulibus victis sexaginta fere milium armatorum exercitum congregaverunt, victique sunt in Apulia a M. Licinio Crasso pro consule, et post multas calamitates Italiae tertio anno bello huic est finis inpositus.

And, wandering through Italy, they prepared in it a war scarcely less than the one Hannibal had set in motion. For, with many leaders and with the two Roman consuls simultaneously defeated, they gathered an army of nearly sixty thousand armed men, and they were beaten in Apulia by M. Licinius Crassus, proconsul; and after many calamities to Italy, in the 3rd year an end was imposed on this war.

[8] Sexcentesimo octogesimo primo anno urbis conditae, P. Cornelio Lentulo et Cn. Aufidio Oreste consulibus duo tantum gravia bella in imperio Romano erant, Mithridaticum et Macedonicum.Haec duo Luculli agebant, L. Lucullus et M. Lucullus. L. ergo Lucullus post pugnam Cyzicenam, qua vicerat Mithridatem, et navalem, qua duces eius oppresserat, persecutus est eum et recepta Paphlagonia atque Bithynia etiam regnum eius invasit, Sinopen et Amison, civitates Ponti nobilissimas, cepit.

[8] In the 681st year from the founding of the city, under the consuls P. Cornelius Lentulus and Cn. Aufidius Orestes, there were only two grave wars in the Roman imperium, the Mithridatic and the Macedonian.These two the Luculli were conducting, L. Lucullus and M. Lucullus. Accordingly L. Lucullus, after the Cyzicene battle, in which he had conquered Mithridates, and the naval one, by which he had crushed his generals, pursued him; and, Paphlagonia and Bithynia having been recovered, he even invaded his kingdom, and took Sinope and Amisus, most noble cities of Pontus.

Secundo proelio apud Caberam civitatem, quo ingentes copias ex omni regno adduxerat Mithridates, cum XXX milia lectissima regis a quinque milibus Romanorum vastata essent, Mithridates fugatus est, castra eius direpta. Armenia quoque minor, quam tenuerat, eidem sublata est. Susceptus tamen est Mithridates post fugam a Tigrane, Armeniae rege, qui tum ingenti gloria imperabat, Persas saepe vicerat, Mesopotamiam occupaverat et Syriam et Phoenices partem.

In the second battle near the city of Cabera, where Mithridates had brought enormous forces from his whole kingdom, when 30,000 of the king’s choicest were devastated by 5,000 Romans, Mithridates was put to flight, and his camp was plundered. Lesser Armenia also, which he had held, was taken from him. Yet after his flight Mithridates was received by Tigranes, king of Armenia, who then commanded with immense glory, had often conquered the Persians, and had occupied Mesopotamia and Syria and a part of Phoenicia.

[9] Ergo Lucullus repetens hostem fugatum etiam regnum Tigranis qui Armeniis imperabat ingressus est.Tigranocertam, civitatem Arzanenae, nobilissimam regni Armeniaci, cepit, ipsum regem cum septem milibus quingentis clibanariis et centum milibus sagittariorum et armatorum venientem decem et octo milia militum habens ita vicit, ut magnam partem Armeniorum deleverit. Inde Nisibin profectus eam quoque civitatem cum regis fratre cepit.

[9] Therefore Lucullus, pursuing the routed enemy, even entered the kingdom of Tigranes, who ruled the Armenians.He captured Tigranocerta, a city of Arzanene, most noble in the Armenian kingdom; and the king himself, coming with 7,500 clibanarii and 100,000 archers and armed men, he defeated, while having 18,000 soldiers, in such a way that he destroyed a great part of the Armenians. Thence setting out to Nisibis, he captured that city also, together with the king’s brother.

Sed hi, quos in Ponto Lucullus reliquerat cum exercitus parte, ut regiones victas et iam Romanorum tuerentur, neglegenter se et avare agentes occasionem iterum Mithridati in Pontum inrumpendi dederunt, atque ita bellum renovatum est. Lucullo paranti capta Nisibi contra Persas expeditionem successor est missus.

But those whom Lucullus had left in Pontus with a part of the army, so that they might protect the conquered regions now belonging to the Romans, by acting negligently and avariciously gave Mithridates an occasion to irrupt into Pontus again, and thus the war was renewed. For Lucullus, as he was preparing, with Nisibis having been taken, an expedition against the Persians, a successor was sent to him.

[10] Alter autem Lucullus, qui Macedoniam administrabat, Bessis primus Romanorum intulit bellum atque eos ingenti proelio in Haemo monte superavit.Oppidum Uscudamam, quod Bessi habitabant, eodem die, quo adgressus est, vicit, Cabylen cepit, usque ad Danubium penetravit. Inde multas supra Pontum positas civitates adgressus est.

[10] The other Lucullus, however, who was administering Macedonia, was the first of the Romans to bring war against the Bessi and he overcame them in a huge battle on Mount Haemus.The stronghold Uscudama, which the Bessi inhabited, he conquered on the same day on which he attacked it; he captured Cabyle, and he penetrated as far as the Danube. Thence he attacked many cities situated above the Pontus.

Illic Apolloniam evertit, Callatim, Parthenopolim, Tomos, Histrum, Burziaonem cepit belloque confecto Romam rediit. Ambo triumphaverunt, tamen Lucullus, qui contra Mithridatem pugnaverat, maiore gloria, cum tantorum regnorum victor redisset.

There he overthrew Apollonia, captured Callatis, Parthenopolis, Tomi, Histrum, and Burziaon, and with the war completed he returned to Rome. Both triumphed, yet Lucullus, who had fought against Mithridates, with greater glory, since he had returned as the victor of so many kingdoms.

[11] Confecto bello Macedonico, manente Mithridatico, quod recedente Lucullo rex collectis auxiliis reparaverat, bellum Creticum ortum est.Ad id missus Q. Caecilius Metellus ingentibus proeliis intra triennium omnem provinciam cepit appellatusque est Creticus atque ex insula triumphavit. Quo tempore Libya quoque Romano imperio per testamentum Appionis, qui rex eius fuerat, accessit, in qua inclutae urbes erant Berenice, Ptolomais, Cyrene.

[11] With the Macedonian war finished, the Mithridatic still remaining, which, with Lucullus withdrawing, the king had restored by gathering auxiliaries, the Cretan war arose.For this, Quintus Caecilius Metellus was sent; by huge battles, within three years he seized the whole province and was surnamed Creticus and triumphed from the island. At that time Libya too was added to the Roman imperium through the testament of Apion, who had been its king, in which were the renowned cities Berenice, Ptolemais, Cyrene.

[12] Dum haec geruntur, piratae omnia maria infestabant ita, ut Romanis toto orbe victoribus sola navigatio tuta non esset.Quare id bellum Cn. Pompeio decretum est. Quod intra paucos menses ingenti et felicitate et celeritate confecit.

[12] While these things were being carried on, pirates were infesting all the seas in such a way that for the Romans, victors through the whole world, navigation alone was not safe.Wherefore that war was decreed to Cn. Pompeius. Which he completed within a few months with immense felicity and celerity.

Mox ei delatum etiam bellum contra regem Mithridatem et Tigranem. Quo suscepto Mithridatem in Armenia minore nocturno proelio vicit, castra diripuit, quadraginta milia eius occidit, viginti tantum de exercitu suo perdidit et duos centuriones. Mithridates cum uxore fugit et duobus comitibus.

Soon there was also entrusted to him the war against King Mithridates and Tigranes. Upon this being undertaken, he defeated Mithridates in Lesser Armenia in a nocturnal battle, plundered the camp, killed forty thousand of his men, and lost only twenty from his own army and two centurions. Mithridates fled with his wife and two companions.

Neque multo post, cum in suos saeviret, Pharnacis, filii sui, apud milites seditione ad mortem coactus venenum hausit. Hunc finem habuit Mithridates. Periit autem apud Bosphorum, vir ingentis industriae consiliique.

Not long after, when he was raging against his own, compelled to death by a sedition among the soldiers stirred up by Pharnaces, his son, he drank poison. This end had Mithridates. He perished moreover at the Bosporus, a man of vast industry and counsel.

Regnavit annis sexaginta, vixit septuaginta duobus, contra Romanos bellum habuit annis quadraginta.

He reigned for 60 years, he lived for 72, he waged war against the Romans for 40 years.

[13] Tigrani deinde Pompeius bellum intulit.Ille se ei dedidit et in castra Pompeii sexto decimo miliario ab Artaxata venit ac diadema suum, cum procubuisset ad genua Pompeii, in manibus ipsius conlocavit. Quod ei Pompeius reposuit honorificeque eum habitum regni tamen parte multavit et grandi pecunia.

[13] Then Pompey brought war upon Tigranes.He surrendered himself to him and came into Pompey’s camp at the sixteenth milestone from Artaxata, and, when he had prostrated himself at Pompey’s knees, he placed his diadem in his very hands. Pompey restored it to him and, though he treated him honorably, nevertheless he mulcted him of part of his kingdom and of a great sum of money.

Adempta est ei Syria, Phoenice, Sophanene; sex milia praeterea talentorum argenti indicta, quae populo Romano daret, quia bellum sine causa Romanis commovisset.

Syria, Phoenicia, Sophanene were taken from him; moreover six thousand talents of silver were imposed, which he was to give to the Roman people, because he had stirred up war against the Romans without cause.

[14] Pompeius mox etiam Albanis bellum intulit et eorum regem Oroden ter vicit, postremo per epistulas ac munera rogatus veniam ei ac pacem dedit.Hiberiae quoque regem Artacen vicit acie et in deditionem accepit. Armeniam minorem Deiotaro, Galatiae regi, donavit, quia socius belli Mithridatici fuerat.

[14] Pompey soon also brought war upon the Albanians and thrice defeated their king Orodes; finally, having been entreated by letters and gifts, he granted him pardon and peace.He likewise defeated in pitched battle the king of Iberia, Artaces, and received him into surrender. Lesser Armenia he granted to Deiotarus, king of Galatia, because he had been an ally in the Mithridatic war.

Attalo et Pylaemeni Paphlagoniam reddidit. Aristarchum Colchis regem imposuit. Mox Ituraeos et Arabas vicit.

He restored Paphlagonia to Attalus and Pylaemenes. He set Aristarchus as king over the Colchians. Soon he defeated the Ituraeans and the Arabs.

Et cum venisset in Syriam, Seleuciam, vicinam Antiochiae civitatem, libertate donavit, quod regem Tigranen non recepisset. Antiochensibus obsides reddidit. Aliquantum agrorum Daphnensibus dedit, quo lucus ibi spatiosior fieret, delectatus loci amoenitate et aquarum abundantia.

And when he had come into Syria, he endowed Seleucia, a city neighboring Antioch, with liberty, because it had not received King Tigranes. He returned hostages to the Antiochenes. He gave some amount of land to the Daphnenes, so that the grove there might become more spacious, delighted by the amenity of the place and the abundance of waters.

Inde ad Iudaeam transgressus est, Hierosolyma, caput gentis, tertio mense cepit XII milibus Iudaeorum occisis, ceteris in fidem acceptis. His gestis in Asiam se recepit et finem antiquissimo bello dedit.

Thence he crossed over to Judea; Jerusalem, the head of the nation, he took in the third month, with 12 thousand Jews slain, the rest accepted into allegiance. These things done, he withdrew into Asia and gave an end to the most ancient war.

[15] M. Tullio Cicerone oratore et C. Antonio consulibus, anno ab urbe condita sexcentesimo octogesimo nono, L. Sergius Catilina, nobilissimi generis vir, sed ingenii pravissimi, ad delendam patriam coniuravit cum quibusdam claris quidem, sed audacibus viris.A Cicerone urbe expulsus est. Socii eius deprehensi in carcere strangulati sunt.

[15] With M. Tullius Cicero, the orator, and C. Antonius as consuls, in the 689th year from the founding of the city, L. Sergius Catiline, a man of most noble stock but of most depraved character, conspired to destroy the fatherland with certain men indeed distinguished, but audacious.He was driven out of the city by Cicero. His associates, having been apprehended, were strangled in prison.

Ab Antonio, altero consule, Catilina ipse victus proelio est et interfectus.

By Antonius, the other consul, Catiline himself was defeated in battle and killed.

[16] Sexcentesimo nonagesimo anno urbis conditae D. Iunio Silano et L. Murena consulibus Metellus de Creta triumphavit, Pompeius de bello piratico et Mithridatico.Nulla umquam pompa triumphi similis fuit. Ducti sunt ante eius currum filii Mithridatis, filius Tigranis et Aristobulus, rex Iudaeorum; praelata est ingens pecunia et auri atque argenti infinitum.

[16] In the 690th year from the founding of the City, with D. Junius Silanus and L. Murena as consuls, Metellus triumphed over Crete, and Pompey over the Piratic and the Mithridatic war.Never was any triumphal pomp like it. Led before his chariot were the sons of Mithridates, the son of Tigranes, and Aristobulus, king of the Jews; an immense sum of money was borne before, and an infinite amount of gold and silver.

Hoc tempore nullum per orbem terrarum grave bellum erat.

At this time there was no grave war throughout the whole world.

[17] Anno urbis conditae sexcentesimo nonagesimo tertio C. Iulius Caesar, qui postea imperavit, cum L. Bibulo consul est factus.Decreta est ei Gallia et Illyricum cum legionibus decem. Is primus vicit Helvetios, qui nunc Sequani appellantur, deinde vincendo per bella gravissima usque ad Oceanum Britannicum processit.

[17] In the 693rd year from the founding of the City, Gaius Julius Caesar, who afterward ruled, was made consul with Lucius Bibulus.To him were decreed Gaul and Illyricum with ten legions. He first defeated the Helvetians, who are now called the Sequani; then, by conquering through most grievous wars, he advanced as far as the British Ocean.

Domuit autem annis novem fere omnem Galliam, quae inter Alpes, flumen Rhodanum, Rhenum et Oceanum est et circuitu patet ad bis et tricies centena milia passuum. Britannis mox bellum intulit, quibus ante eum ne nomen quidem Romanorum cognitum erat, eosque victos obsidibus acceptis stipendiarios fecit. Galliae autem tributi nomine annuum imperavit stipendium quadringenties, Germanosque trans Rhenum adgressus inmanissimis proeliis vicit.

Moreover, in nearly nine years he subdued almost all Gaul, which is between the Alps, the river Rhone, the Rhine, and the Ocean, and in circumference extends to 3,200,000 paces. Straightway he brought war upon the Britons, to whom before him not even the name of the Romans had been known, and, once they were conquered and hostages received, he made them tributary. Upon Gaul, moreover, under the name of tribute, he imposed an annual stipend of forty million (sesterces), and, having attacked the Germans across the Rhine, he defeated them in the most monstrous battles.

Inter tot successus ter male pugnavit, apud Arvernos semel praesens et absens in Germania bis. Nam legati eius duo, Titurius et Aurunculeius, per insidias caesi sunt.

Amid so many successes he fought ill three times, once present among the Arverni, and absent twice in Germany. For his two legates, Titurius and Aurunculeius, were slain through ambush.

[18] Circa eadem tempora anno urbis conditae sexcentesimo nonagesimo septimo, M. Licinius Crassus, collega Cn. Pompeii Magni in consulatu secundo, contra Parthos missus est et cum circa Carras contra omen et auspicia dimicasset, a Surena, Orodis regis duce, victus ad postremum interfectus est cum filio, clarissimo et praestantissimo iuvene.Reliquiae exercitus per C. Cassium quaestorem servatae sunt, qui singulari animo perditas res tanta virtute restituit, ut Persas rediens trans Euphraten crebris proeliis vinceret.

[18] Around the same time, in the 697th year from the founding of the City, M. Licinius Crassus, colleague of Cn. Pompeius Magnus in his second consulship, was sent against the Parthians; and when near Carrhae he had fought contrary to omen and auspices, he was at last defeated by Surena, the general of King Orodes, and was killed together with his son, a most illustrious and outstanding young man.The remnants of the army were preserved by C. Cassius, the quaestor, who with singular spirit restored the ruined situation with such virtue that, on his return, he defeated the Persians across the Euphrates in frequent battles.

[19] Hinc iam bellum civile successit exsecrandum et lacrimabile, quo praeter calamitates, quae in proeliis acciderunt, etiam populi Romani fortuna mutata est.Caesar enim rediens ex Gallia victor coepit poscere alterum consulatum atque ita ut sine dubietate aliqua ei deferretur. Contradictum est a Marcello consule, a Bibulo, a Pompeio, a Catone, iussusque dimissis exercitibus ad urbem redire.

[19] From here onward a civil war succeeded, execrable and lamentable, whereby, besides the calamities that happened in the battles, even the fortune of the Roman people was changed.For Caesar, returning from Gaul a victor, began to demand a second consulship, and in such a way that it be conferred upon him without any doubt. It was opposed by Marcellus the consul, by Bibulus, by Pompey, by Cato, and he was ordered, with his armies dismissed, to return to the city.

Propter quam iniuriam ab Arimino, ubi milites congregatos habebat, adversum patriam cum exercitu venit. Consules cum Pompeio senatusque omnis atque universa nobilitas ex urbe fugit et in Graeciam transiit. Apud Epirum, Macedoniam, Achaiam Pompeio duce senatus contra Caesarem bellum paravit.

On account of this injustice, from Ariminum, where he had the soldiers assembled, he came against his fatherland with the army. The consuls with Pompey and all the senate and the entire nobility fled from the city and crossed into Greece. In Epirus, Macedonia, Achaia, with Pompey as leader, the senate prepared war against Caesar.

[20] Caesar vacuam urbem ingressus dictatorem se fecit.Inde Hispanias petiit. Ibi Pompeii exercitus validissimos et fortissimos cum tribus ducibus, L. Afranio, M. Petreio, M. Varrone, superavit.

[20] Caesar, having entered the empty city, made himself dictator.Thence he sought the Spains. There he overcame Pompey’s most robust and most brave armies under three generals, Lucius Afranius, Marcus Petreius, and Marcus Varro.

Inde regressus in Graeciam transiit, adversum Pompeium dimicavit. Primo proelio victus est et fugatus, evasit tamen, quia nocte interveniente Pompeius sequi noluit, dixitque Caesar nec Pompeium scire vincere et illo tantum die se potuisse superari. Deinde in Thessalia apud Palaeopharsalum productis utrimque ingentibus copiis dimicaverunt.

Thence, having returned, he crossed into Greece and fought against Pompey. In the first battle he was defeated and routed, yet he escaped, because, with night intervening, Pompey was unwilling to pursue; and Caesar said that Pompey did not know how to conquer, and that only on that day could he himself have been overcome. Then in Thessaly, near Palaeopharsalus, with enormous forces drawn up on both sides, they fought.

Pompei acies habuit XL milia peditum, equites in sinistro cornu sexcentos, in dextro quingentos, praeterea totius Orientis auxilia, totam nobilitatem, innumeros senatores, praetorios, consulares et qui magnorum iam bellorum victores fuissent. Caesar in acie sua habuit peditum non integra XXX milia, equites mille.

Pompey’s battle line had 40 thousand infantry, cavalry on the left wing 600, on the right 500, besides the auxiliaries of the whole Orient, all the nobility, innumerable senators, praetorians, consulars, and those who already had been victors of great wars. Caesar in his own battle line had not a full 30 thousand infantry, and 1,000 cavalry.

[21] Numquam adhuc Romanae copiae in unum neque maiores neque melioribus ducibus convenerant, totum terrarum orbem facile subacturae, si contra barbaros ducerentur.Pugnatum tamen est ingenti contentione victusque ad postremum Pompeius et castra eius direpta sunt. Ipse fugatus Alexandriam petiit, ut a rege Aegypti, cui tutor a senatu datus fuerat propter iuvenilem eius aetatem, acciperet auxilia.

[21] Never yet had Roman forces come together into one body either greater or under better commanders, ready easily to subdue the whole orb of lands, if they had been led against the barbarians.Nevertheless, the fight was waged with immense contention, and at last Pompey was defeated and his camp was plundered. He himself, put to flight, made for Alexandria, so that from the king of Egypt, to whom a guardian had been given by the senate on account of his youthful age, he might receive auxiliaries.

Qui fortunam magis quam amicitiam secutus occidit Pompeium, caput eius et anulum Caesari misit. Quo conspecto Caesar etiam lacrimas fudisse dicitur, tanti viri intuens caput et generi quondam sui.

He, following fortune more than friendship, killed Pompey, and sent his head and his ring to Caesar. On seeing this, Caesar is said even to have shed tears, gazing upon the head of so great a man and once his own son-in-law.

[22] Mox Caesar Alexandriam venit.Ipsi quoque Ptolomaeus parare voluit insidias, qua causa bellum regi inlatum est. Victus in Nilo periit inventumque est corpus eius cum lorica aurea.

[22] Soon Caesar came to Alexandria.Ptolemy too wished to prepare an ambush against him, for which cause war was inflicted upon the king. Defeated, he perished in the Nile, and his body was found with a golden cuirass.

Caesar Alexandria potitus regnum Cleopatrae dedit, Ptolomaei sorori, cum qua consuetudinem stupri habuerat. Rediens inde Caesar Pharnacen, Mithridatis Magni filium, qui Pompeio in auxilium apud Thessaliam fuerat, rebellantem in Ponto et multas populi Romani provincias occupantem vicit acie, postea ad mortem coegit.

Having gained possession of Alexandria, Caesar gave the kingdom to Cleopatra, Ptolemy’s sister, with whom he had had a habitual illicit intercourse. Returning thence, Caesar defeated in pitched battle Pharnaces, son of Mithridates the Great—who had been in aid to Pompey in Thessaly—rebelling in Pontus and occupying many provinces of the Roman people, and afterward compelled him to death.

[23] Inde Romam regressus tertio se consulem fecit cum M. Aemilio Lepido, qui ei magister equitum dictatori ante annum fuerat.Inde in Africam profectus est, ubi infinita nobilitas cum Iuba, Mauretaniae rege, bellum reparaverat. Duces autem Romani erant P. Cornelius Scipio ex genere antiquissimo Scipionis Africani (hic etiam socer Pompeii Magni fuerat), M. Petreius, Q. Varus, M. Porcius Cato, L. Cornelius Faustus, Sullae dictatoris filius.

[23] Thence, having returned to Rome, he made himself consul for the third time with M. Aemilius Lepidus, who had been his master of the horse when he was dictator a year before.Thence he set out into Africa, where an innumerable nobility, together with Juba, king of Mauretania, had renewed the war. The Roman leaders, however, were P. Cornelius Scipio from the most ancient stock of Scipio Africanus (he too had been the father-in-law of Pompey the Great), M. Petreius, Q. Varus, M. Porcius Cato, L. Cornelius Faustus, the son of the dictator Sulla.

Contra hos commisso proelio, post multas dimicationes victor fuit Caesar. Cato, Scipio, Petreius, Iuba ipsi se occiderunt. Faustus, Sullae quondam dictatoris filius, Pompeii gener, a Caesare interfectus est.

Against these, the battle having been joined, after many engagements Caesar was the victor. Cato, Scipio, Petreius, Juba killed themselves. Faustus, the son of Sulla, once dictator, Pompey’s son-in-law, was killed by Caesar.

[24] Post annum Caesar Romam regressus quarto se consulem fecit et statim ad Hispanias est profectus, ubi Pompeii filii, Cn. Pompeius et Sex. Pompeius, ingens bellum praeparaverant.Multa proelia fuerunt, ultimum apud Mundam civitatem, in quo adeo Caesar paene victus est, ut fugientibus suis se voluerit occidere, ne post tantam rei militaris gloriam in potestatem adulescentium, natus annos sex et quinquaginta, veniret.

[24] After a year Caesar, having returned to Rome, made himself consul for the fourth time and immediately set out for Spain, where Pompey’s sons, Gnaeus Pompeius and Sextus Pompeius, had prepared a vast war.There were many battles, the last near the city of Munda, in which Caesar was so nearly defeated that, as his men were fleeing, he wished to kill himself, lest after such great glory in military affairs he—being fifty-six years old—should come into the power of youths.

Denique reparatis suis vicit. Ex Pompeii filiis maior occisus est, minor fugit.

At last, after restoring his forces, he was victorious. Of Pompey’s sons, the elder was killed, the younger fled.

[25] Inde Caesar bellis civilibus toto orbe conpositis Romam rediit.Agere insolentius coepit et contra consuetudinem Romanae libertatis. Cum ergo et honores ex sua voluntate praestaret, qui a populo antea deferebantur, nec senatui ad se venienti adsurgeret aliaque regia et paene tyrannica faceret, coniuratum est in eum a sexaginta vel amplius senatoribus equitibusque Romanis.

[25] Thence Caesar, the civil wars settled throughout the whole world, returned to Rome.He began to act more insolently and against the custom of Roman liberty. Since therefore he both bestowed honors by his own will, which previously were conferred by the people, and did not rise to the senate when it came to him, and did other royal and almost tyrannical things, it was conspired against him by sixty or more senators and Roman equestrians.

Praecipui fuerunt inter coniuratos duo Bruti ex eo genere Bruti, qui primus Romae consul fuerat et reges expulerat, et C. Cassius et Servilius Casca. Ergo Caesar, cum senatus die inter ceteros venisset ad curiam, tribus et viginti vulneribus confossus est.

The foremost among the conspirators were the two Brutuses, from that line of Brutus who had been the first consul at Rome and had expelled the kings, and C. Cassius and Servilius Casca. Therefore Caesar, when on the senate’s meeting day he had come to the curia among the others, was stabbed with 23 wounds.