ABSTRACT
3Cæsar having join’d Fabius, whom he had sent before him into Spain, encamps upon a rising Ground near Ilerda, and not far from the River Sicoris: There, the Waters being swollen by great Rains endanger his Camp; but the Weather turning fair, and the Floods abating, Pompey’s Lieutenants, Afranius and Petreius, who lay over-against him, decamp suddenly. Cæsar follows, and encamps so as to cut off their Passage, or any Use of the River Iberus. As both Armies lay now very near to each other, the Soldiers on both sides knew, and saluted one another; and forgetting the opposite Interest and Factions they were engag’d in, ran out from their several Camps, and embraced one another with great Tenderness. Many of Cæsar’s Soldiers were invited into the Enemy’s Camp, and feasted by their Friends and Relations. But Petreius apprehending this Familiarity might be of ill consequence to his Party, commanded ’em all (tho’ against the Rules of Humanity and Hospitality) to be kill’d. After this, he attempts in vain to march back towards Ilerda; but is prevented, and inclos’d by Cæsar; to whom, both himself and Afranius, after their Army had suffer’d extreamly for want of Water and other Necessaries, are compell’d to surrender, without asking any other Conditions than that they might not be compell’d to take on in his Army: This Cæsar, with great Generosity, grants, and dismisses ’em. In the meanwhile, C. Antonius, who commanded for Cæsar near Salonæ, on the Coast of Dalmatia, being shut up by Octavius, Pompey’s Admiral, and destitute of Provisions, had attempted by help of some Vessels, or floating Machines of a new Invention, to pass thro’ Pompey’s Fleet: Two of ’em by advantage of the Tide found means to escape, but the third, which carried a thousand Opitergians Commanded by Vulteius, was intercepted by a Boom laid under the Water. These when they found it impossible to get off, at the Persuasion, and by the Example of their Leader, ran upon one another’s Swords and dy’d. In Africa the Poet introduces Curio enquiring after the Story of Hercules and Antæus, which is recounted to him by one of the Natives, and afterwards relates the Particulars of his being circumvented, defeated, and kill’d by Juba.
