In this signal act of clemency Cæsar acted both nobly and wisely. He had indeed every reason to be thankful to Domitius, who had done his best to give him the opportunity of finishing the war at a stroke, and who actually succeeded in disconcerting all Pompey's plans. In any modern army Domitius would have been shot by sentence of court-martial; but it is doubtful how far Pompey's power extended in matters of military discipline; and even if he had the power, after Cæsar had spared Domitius, Pompey could hardly help doing the same. In letting loose on him again so mutinous and incompetent a colleague, Cæsar was at once embarrassing his adversary, and gaining great credit for moderation himself. He had good cause to remark five weeks later in a letter to Cicero:[1] "I am quite indifferent to the fact that those whom I released are said to have gone away to make war with me again. All my wish is, that I should act like myself, and they like what they are." Cæsar little knew that Domitius Ahenobarbus was destined to play the part of Banquo to his Macbeth. The great-grandson in direct male line of this Domitius married Agrippina the great-granddaughter of Augustus, and became the father of Nero, the last Emperor of Cæsar's House.
It is possible that, if Domitius had obeyed orders, Pompey might have been able with the sea open behind him at Brundisium to make a stand within lines erected there, just as he did a year later at Dyrachium. As it was, there was nothing for him but to evacuate Italy. Cæsar pressed close upon him
- ↑ Ad Att., ix., 16, A.
