Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/300

 292 CLESAR. quiet it ; it was all but suffering shipwreck by the vio- lence of its own tempestuous agitation. The most vehe- ment contrary passions and impulses were at work every where. Nor did those who rejoiced at the prospect of the change altogether conceal their feelings, but when they met. as in so great a city they frequently must, with the alarmed and dejected of the other party, they provoked quarrels by their bold expressions of confidence in the event. Pompey, sufficiently disturbed of himself, was yet more perplexed by the clamors of others; some telling him that he justly suffered for having armed Csesar against himself and the government ; others blam- ing him for permitting Caesar to be insolently used by Lentulus, when he made such ample concessions, and offered such reasonable proposals towards an accommoda- tion. Favonius bade him now stamp upon the ground ; for once talking big in the senate, he desired them not to trouble themselves about making any preparations for the war, for that he himself, with one stamp of his foot, would fill all Italy with soldiers. Yet still Pompey at that time had more forces than Caesar ; but he was not permitted to pursue his own thoughts, but being continu- ally disturbed with false reports and alarms, as if the enemy was close upon'him and carrying all before him, he gave way, and let himself be borne down by the gen- eral cry. He put forth an edict declaring the city to be in a state of anarchy, and left it with orders that the senate should follow him, and that no one should stay behind who did not prefer tyranny to their country and liberty. The consuls at once fled, without making even the usual sacrifices ; so did most of the senators, carrying off their own goods in as much haste as if they had been robbing their neighbors. Some, who had formerly much favored Csesar's cause, in the prevailing alarm, quitted their own