Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/320

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312 (LESAR. lection of whatever could be said in his derogation. The two compositions, like Cato and Csesar themselves, have each of them their several admirers. Caesar, upon his return to Eome, did not omit to pro- nounce before the people a magnificent account of his victory, telling them that he had subdued a country which would supply the public every year with two hun- dred thousand attic bushels of corn, and three million pounds weight of oil. He then led three triumphs for Egypt, Pont us, and Africa, the last for the victory over, not Scipio, but king Juba, as it was professed, whose little son was then carried in the triumph, the happiest captive that ever was, who of a barbarian Numidian, came by this means to obtain a place among the most learned his- torians of Greece. After the triumphs, he distributed rewards to his soldiers, and treated the people with feasting and shows. He entertained the whole people together at one feast, where twenty-two thousand dining couches were laid out ; and he made a display of gladia- tors, and of battles by sea, in honor, as he said, of his daughter Julia, though she had been long since dead. When these shows were over, an account was taken of the people, who from three hundred and twenty thou- sand, were now reduced to one hundred and fifty thou- sand. So great a waste had the civil war made in Rome alone, not to mention what the other parts of Italy and the provinces suffered. He was now chosen a fourth time consul, and went into Spain against Pompey's sons. They were but young, yet had gathered together a very numerous army, and showed they had courage and conduct to command it, so that Crcsar was in extreme clanger. The great battle was near the town of Munda, in which Caesar seeing his men hard pressed, and making but a weak resistance, ran through the ranks among the soldiers, and crying out,