Anthony Trollope
Published: 2013-09
Total Pages: 48
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER X. SECOND BOOK OP THE CIVIL WAR.--THE TAKING OP MABBEIIXES.--VARRO IN THE SOUTH OF SPAIN.--THE FATE OP CURIO BEFORE UTICA.--B.C. 49. In his chronicle of the Gallic war, Caesar in each book completed the narrative of a year's campaign. In treating of the civil war he devotes the first and second books to the doings of one year. There are three distinct episodes of the year's campaign narrated in the second;--the taking of Marseilles, the subjugation of the southern province of Spain, --if that can be said to be subjugated which gave itself up very readily, --and the destruction of a Eoman army in Africa under the hands of a barbarian king. But of all Caesar's writings it is perhaps the least interesting, as it tells us but little of what Caesar did himself, -- and in fact contains chiefly Caesar's records of the doings of his lieutenants by sea and land. He begins by telling us of the enormous exertions made both by the besiegers and by the besieged at Massilia, which town was now held by Domitius on the part of Pompey, --to supplement whom at sea a certain Nasidius was sent with a large fleet. Young Brutus, as will be remembered, was attacking the harbour on behalf of Caesar, and had already obtained a victory over the Massilians before Nasidius came up; and Trebonius, also on the part of Caesar, was besieging the town from the land. This Decimus Brutus was one of those conspirators who afterwards conspired against Caesar and slew him, -- and Trebonius was another of the number. The wise Greeks of the city, --more wise than fortunate, however, --had explained to Caesar when he first expressed his wish to have the town on his side, that really to them there was no difference between Pompey and Caesar, both of whom they love