41

41XLI.For these respects Pompey would in no case fight, and yet had he but Cato only of his mind in that, who stuck in it the rather, because he would avoid shedding of his countrymen's blood. For when Cato had viewed the dead bodies slain in the camp of his enemies at the last skirmish that was between them, the which were no less than a thousand persons, he covered his face, and went away weeping. All other but he, contrarily, fell out with him, and blamed him because he so long refrained from battle: and some pricks him forward, and

called him Agamemnon, and king of kings, saying that he delayed this war in this sort, because he would not leave his authority to command them all, and that he was glad always to see many captains round about him, which came to his lodging to honor him and wait upon him. And Faonius also, a hare-brained fellow, franticly counterfeiting the round and plain speech of Cato, made as though he was marvelous angry, and said: " Is it not great pity, that we shall not eat this year of Tusculum figs, and all for Pompey's ambitious mind to reign alone?" and Afranius, who not long before was but lately come out of Spain (where, because he had but ill success, he was accused of treason, that for money he had sold his army unto Caesar), he went busily asking, " why they fought not with that merchant, unto whom they said he had sold the province of Spain? " So that Pompey, with these kinds of speeches, against his will, was driven to follow Caesar to fight with him. Then was Caesar at the first marvelously perplexed and troubled by the way, because he found none that would give him any victuals, being despised of every man for the late loss and overthrow he had received. But after he had taken the

city of Gomphes in Thessaly, he did not only meet with plenty of victuals to relieve his army with, but he strangely also did rid them of their disease. For the soldiers meeting with plenty of wine, drinking hard, and making merry, crave away the infection of the pestilence. For they disposed themselves unto dancing, masking, and playing the Baccherians by the way, insomuch that drinking drunk they overcame their disease, and made their bodies new again.