Caesar's hardest won battle was with Belgae folk, in the thick forests of Belgium.
The Romans were fixing there camp in the wood, digging trenches and stabling the horses when sixty thousand Belgians, their long hair streaming, raised a shout and attacked. Many Roman officers were killed. Caesar snatched a shield from one of his soldiers, and sprang forward to encourage his troops. At one moment it looked as if the whole Roman force would be crushed. The Tenth Legion was on a hill. Seeing the extreme danger, they hurried down, and turned the tide of battle.
Across the broad River Rhine, Caesar built a large wooden bridge, in spite of the strong current off the water. Over this bridge the Romans marched, and from there made their way into the land of the Germans. The most savage region could not discourage them.
Beyond the sea lay the British Islands. The Romans had often talked about this far-off country.
"We don't believe there is such place, " said some.
"Oh yes, " others would answer; "but it is so enormous a continent that it is hopeless to try and conquer it."
Julius Caesar did not talk about it. He acted.
With a large fleet he crossed the water now called the English Channel. Soon Roman soldiers were seen carrying their eagles along the chalk cliffs of Kent, along the banks of old River Thames, and in the forests beyond.
At length the time was come to return to Italy. The citizens of Rome were in very frequent uproar and fear. Pompey could not keep the love of the people. The noblemen of Rome -- the patricians -- had not the great hearts and great minds that were needed to sway so wide an empire.
"Oh, that Caesar would come!" the folk whispered.
Caesar led his splendid army through Gaul to the border of Italy, and halted at River Rubicon. Should he cross over to Italian soil? Should he declare war against his old friend Pompey, who married Caesar's daughter? Should he spill Roman blood? Dare he take such a great chance, which might end unfavorably, and thus be his ruin?
He looked at the water; he looked at his friends. At last he plunged his horse into the stream, crying:
"The decision is made!"
Caesar marched toward Rome -- stern, calm, strong, like the rise of a tide which no man can stay.
In and out of the gates of Rome rushed people, on foot, on horseback, or carried in wagons.
"We are for Caesar!" cried some.
"We are for Pompey!" cried others.
"We are for the patricians!" cried some.
"We are for the plebs!" cried others.
Thus the city is divided.
A Roman gentlemen went to Pompey and said scornfully:
"Stamp with your foot, sir! You said once that, if you only did that, an army will spring up!"
Pompey did not stamp. He fled to the coast, and crossed the sea, and prepared the troops who gathered about him for the last stand against Caesar. Now that he was master of Rome, Caesar went over to Spain, and put down all men who sided with Pompey.
This post belongs to Column 「Caesar and His Fortune」 .