LXII. Caesar’s Conquests.
In the mean while, Caesar had gone to govern Gaul, and was forcing all the different tribes to recognize the authority of Rome. He fought very bravely, and wrote an account of these Gallic wars, which is so simple and interesting that it is given to boys and girls to read as soon as they have studied a little Latin.
Caesar not only subdued all the country of Gaul, which we now know as France, but also conquered the barbarians living in Swit'zer-land and in Bel'gi-um
Although he was one of the greatest generals who ever lived, he soon saw that he could not complete these conquests before his time as governor would expire. He therefore arranged with his friends Crassus and Pompey, that he should remain master of Gaul for another term, while they had charge of Spain and Syria.
The senate, which was a mere tool in the hands of these three men, confirmed this decision, and Caesar remained in Gaul to finish the work he had begun. But Pompey sent out an officer to take his place in Spain, for he wished to remain in Rome to keep his hold on the people’s affections.
As Crassus liked gold more than anything else, he joyfully hastened off to Syria, where he stole money wherever he could, and even went to Jerusalem to rob the Temple. Shortly after this, he began an unjust war against the Par'thi-ans. They defeated him, killed his son before his eyes, and then slew him too.
We are told that a Parthian soldier cut off the Roman general’s head and carried it to his king. The latter, who knew how anxious Crassus had always been for gold, stuffed some into his dead mouth, saying:
“There, sate thyself now with that metal of which in life thou wert so greedy.”
You see that even a barbarian has no respect whatever for a man who is so base as to love gold more than honor.
While Crassus was thus disgracing himself in Asia, Caesar was daily winning new laurels in Gaul. He had also invaded Britain, whose shores could be seen from Gaul on very clear days.
Although this island was inhabited by a rude and warlike people, it had already been visited by the Phoe-ni'cians, who went there to get tin from the mines in Corn'wall.
Caesar crossed the Channel, in small ships, at its narrowest part, between the cities of Cal'ais and Deal. When the Britons saw the Romans approaching in battle array, they rushed down to the shore, clad in the skins of the beasts they had slain. Their own skins were painted blue, and they made threatening motions with their weapons as they uttered their fierce war cry.
But in spite of a brave resistance, Caesar managed to land, and won a few victories; however, the season was already so far advanced that he soon returned to Gaul. The next year he again visited Britain, and defeated Cas-si-ve-lau'nus, a noted Briton chief.
This victory ended the war. The Britons pretended to submit to the Roman general, and agreed to pay a yearly tribute. So Caesar departed to finish the conquest of Gaul; but he carried off with him a number of hostages, to make sure the people would keep the promises they had made.
As the news of one victory after another came to Rome, Caesar’s influence with the people grew greater every day. Pompey heard all about this, and he soon became very jealous of his friend’s fame. As his wife, Julia, had died, he no longer felt bound to Caesar by any tie, so he began to do all he could to harm his absent colleague.
As to the soldiers, they were all devoted to their general, because he spoke kindly to them, knew them by name, and always encouraged them by word and example, in camp and on the march.
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