other men,' who were tortured, named more accomplices, and Cassius ordered them to be put to death, with the exception of those who bought their lives; for the governor openly bargained with Calpurnius and Q. Sestius for large sums of money. If these men, who were fined, were really the most guilty, the transaction is a proof that the avarice of Cassius was as great as his cruelty, since he condoned for money the hazard to his life and the pain that he suffered from his wounds.

Some days later he received a letter from Caesar which informed him of the defeat and flight of Pompeius (c. 56). As the battle of Pharsalia was fought on the ninth of August B.C. 48 of the unreformed Calendar, Cassius may have received Caesar's letter not later than the end of the month, and so we are able to fix one date in the unfortunate administration of Spain by Caesar's governor. The news gave Cassius, as the author says, both pleasure and plain: he rejoiced at hearing of the victory, but the close of the war would be the termination of his arbitrary power. When his wounds were healed, he sent for all his creditors and ordered them to give receipts for their money as if it were paid; and from those on whom he thought that he had imposed too little, he made larger requisitions. He ordered also a levy of Roman citizens from all the circuits (conventus) and colonies, and as these men were frightened at the prospect of crossing the sea and serving in Africa, they purchased their release; and this bargain brought in a large sum of money, but it increased the hatred against Cassius. He now reviewed all his forces, and sent the legions which he was going to lead into Africa and the auxiliary troops to the Straits. He went to Hispalis (Sevilla) on the left bank of the Baetis to inspect the fleet which he was preparing, and he stayed there, because he had published an order all through the province, that those on whom he had laid money requisitions which were not paid, must come to him.

This summons caused general alarm. In the meantime L. Titius, who had been a tribune in the native legion, reported that these men had mutinied and killed some of their cen

1 Perhaps there is some error in the names.

? There may be some doubt about the numerals which express the amount.

turions who would not allow the standards to be moved.3

Q.

Cassius, a legatus of the governor, was in command of this legion and the thirtieth near the town Leptis; but the mutinous legion left him and went to join the second legion which was marching to the Straits by a different road. On receiving this news the governor set out by night with five cohorts of the twenty-first legion and arrived at Leptis in the morning. He stayed there that day and then went to Carmo.* The thirtieth and twenty-first legions and four cohorts of the fifth and all the cavalry being assembled at Carmo, he heard that four cohorts had been surprised at Obuculum by the native legion and had gone with it to the second legion, and that all these forces had chosen as their leader T. Thorius of Italica. After hasty deliberation the governor sent M. Marcellus to Corduba to secure that town, and his legatus Q. Cassius to Hispalis. In a few days news came to Cassius that Corduba had revolted, and that Marcellus either with his own consent or by compulsion, for both things were reported, had joined the people of Corduba: it was also reported that two cohorts of the fifth legion, which were in garrison at Corduba, had joined the rebels. Cassius irritated by the intelligence struck his camp and came the next day to Segovia and the river Sacilis, where he addressed his troops for the purpose of discovering their sentiments. He found that they were faithful, and would meet any danger for the purpose of recovering the province for Caesar; he also found that they were ready to do this not for his sake; but for the sake of Caesar.

3 The first part of this chapter is corrupt. Oudendorp's reading “nunciat famam legionem xxx . . . discessisse" is manifestly false, for the thirtieth legion, as we see shortly after, did not revolt. Nipperdey has "nuntiat eam a legione xxx," an emendation, but a good one.

There is no town Leptis in Spain, and the reading is corrupt. It has been suggested that "Leptim" should be "Laepam" (Mela, iii. 1); but this is impossible, for Q. Cassius marched from the place, indicated by the reading “Leptim" to Carmo, and Laepa is somewhere near the east side of the Guadiana on the coast.

4 Carmo or Carmona is now Carmona. (Vol. i. 19.) Obuculum or Obucula is said by some authorities to be represented by Monclova.

5 M. Marcellus Aeserninus, Quaestor as Dion says, 42. c. 15.

6 There is a Segovia in Hispania Tarraconensis still naned Segovia: but this place, if the name is right, is somewhere between Carmo and Corduba. The texts have "flumen Silicense" and "flumen Siciliense." It has been conjec

tured that it is the "Sacilis" of Ptolemaeus. (ii. 4. § 11.)

8

In the meantime Thorius brought both his legions to Corduba; and that the revolt might not be attributed to the mutinous disposition of the troops or to his own, and that he might support himself with the authority of a name against Q. Cassius, who had the advantage of acting in Caesar's name, he gave notice that he wished to recover the province for Pompeius. It is possible, says the author, that he acted through hatred of Caesar and affection for Pompeius, whose name was powerful with these legions, which M. Varro had once commanded. The soldiers, it is said, had the name of Cn. Pompeius marked on their shields." A great crowd came out of the city to meet the legions, both men, married women, and youths, and prayed the soldiers not to treat them as enemies nor to sack Corduba, for they shared the general feeling against Cassius, and begged that they might not be compelled to act against Caesar. Moved by the prayers and tears of so many suppliants, and seeing that the name of Pompeius was not wanted to aid them in their resistance to Cassius, who was equally hated by the partisans of Caesar and Pompeius, and that neither M. Marcellus nor Corduba could be induced to act against Caesar, they erased the name of Pompeius from their shields, and as Marcellus declared that he would defend Caesar's interests, they chose him as their commander, saluted him with the title of praetor, and associating the "conventus" of Corduba with their cause encamped near the city. In the course of the two days in which these events happened Cassius made his camp about four miles from Corduba, east of the Guadalquivir, in sight of the city and in a lofty position. He wrote to Bogud king of Mauritania and to M. Lepidus proconsul of Hispania Citerior," to come to his aid as soon as they could; and he ravaged the territory of Corduba and set fire to the houses. The legions, which had chosen Marcellus for their commander, being

7 Varro had two legions, one of which, named Vernacula, was raised in this province. (Chapter vi. p. 78.)

s It was the custom for soldiers to mark on their shields the name of the commander under whom they served. Lipsius, Anal. ad Militiam Romanam, iii. Dial. ii. p. 436, referred to by Davis. See the note of Reimarus, Dion Cassius, 42. c. 15.

indignant at the behaviour of Cassius, entreated Marcellus to lead them out to battle and to give them the opportunity of fighting that the lands of the citizens of Corduba might not be wasted and their property burnt before their eyes. Marcellus considered that a battle would be a most unfortunate thing, for whether he gained or lost it, the result would be a disadvantage to Caesar, and further that it was not within his authority to fight; however he led his troops across the river and made ready for battle. Seeing that Cassius placed his forces in front of his camp on the higher ground and would not come down into the plain, Marcellus persuaded his soldiers to retire to their camp. While they were retreating, Cassius, who was superior in cavalry, attacked with them the army of Marcellus and killed many on the banks of the river. Marcellus who had found out by experience the difficulty of crossing the river, removed his camp to the same side of the Guadalquivir where Cassius was, and both commanders freqently placed their armies in order of battle, but the nature of the ground prevented them from fighting. Marcellus was much stronger in infantry, for his legions were composed of veterans who had often fought. Cassius relied more on the fidelity than on the courage of his men. The two camps were near to one another, and Marcellus seized a good position for making a fort, which would enable him to prevent the enemy from getting water. Cassius fearing that he would be blockaded in a country which was hostile to him, left his camp silently by night and by a quick march reached Ulia, a town which he believed to be faithful to him. He placed his camp so near the town, that the nature of the ground, for Ulia was on a lofty hill, and the defences of the city, made him safe against any attack. Ulia was about six miles southeast of Corduba. It is supposed to be the place now called Monte Mayor. Marcellus followed, and placed his camp as near as he could to the camp of Cassius and the town of Ulia. Having examined the ground, he found that he was compelled to do exactly what he wished, to avoid a battle, for if there had been an opportunity of fighting, he could not have resisted the ardour of his men; and it was necessary also to prevent Cassius from moving about the country and doing the same

damage as he had caused in his former position. Marcellus made forts in proper positions, and connecting his works shut up Ulia and Cassius within his lines; but before they were completed, Cassius sent off all his cavalry for the purpose of preventing Marcellus from getting forage and corn, and to save himself from the necessity of feeding horses which would be of no use to him when he was blockaded. King Bogud arrived in a few days, having added to the legion which he brought several auxiliary Spanish cohorts; for, as it is usual in civil dissensions, some of the Spanish towns were in favour of Cassius, but the greater number declared for Marcellus. Bogud approached the exterior lines of Marcellus: the attack and defence were vigorously made, and both sides had sometimes the advantage; but Marcellus was never driven from his works.

In the meantime Lepidus arrived at Ulia from Hispania Citerior with thirty-five legionary cohorts and a great number of cavalry and auxiliaries. His intention was to settle the quarrel between Cassius and Marcellus without siding with either. Marcellus met Lepidus and submitted himself to his pleasure; but Cassius kept within his defences, either because he thought that more respect was due to himself than to Marcellus, or because he supposed that Lepidus was prejudiced against him by the ready submission of Marcellus. Lepidus made his camp near Ulia and acted in concert with Marcellus. He would not allow any fighting; and he invited Cassius to leave his camp under a promise of protection. Cassius hesitated a long time what he should do and how far he could trust Lepidus, but not seeing what would be the result of persisting in his resolution he asked that the works of Marcellus should be broken down and he should be allowed a free passage. The truce was made, and already men were employed in levelling the works, from which the troops had been withdrawn, when the king's auxiliaries made an attack on the fort of Marcellus which was nearest to Bogud's camp, and surprised many soldiers; for the attack was made contrary to the expectation of all persons, unless, says the author, Cassius must not be included among all, for there were suspicions about his privity to the treachery. If Lepidus had not indignantly