Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata

And he crossed the river Rubicon from his province in Gaul against Pompey, saying before all, Let the die be cast. [*](Ibid. chap. xxxii. (723 F); Life of Pompey, chap. lx. (651 D); Suetonius, Divus Iulius, 32 iacta alea est or esto. The expression seems to have been proverbial; Cf. Leutsch and Schneidewin, Paroemiographi Graeci, i. p. 383 and the references; Aristophanes, Frag. 673 Kock, Com. Att. Frag. i. p. 557 and Menander, Frag. 65, Ibid. iii. p. 22.)

When Pompey had fled to sea from Rome, Caesar wished to take money from the treasury, but Metellus, who was in charge, tried to stop him, and locked up the treasury, whereupon Caesar threatened

As the transportation of his soldiers from Brundusium to Dyrrachium proceeded slowly, he, without being seen by anybody, embarked in a small boat, and attempted the passage through the open sea. But as the boat was being swamped by the waves, he disclosed his identity to the pilot, crying out, Trust to Fortune, knowing it is Caesar you carry. [*](The story is often told. Cf. for example, Moralia, 319 B; Plutarch’s Life of Caesar, chap. xxxviii. (726 D); Appian, Roman History, the Civil Wars, ii. 57; Dio Cassius, xli. 46; Suetonius, Divus Iulius, 58; Lucan, Pharsalia, v. 580; Valerius Maximus, ix. 8. 2.)

At that time he was prevented from crossing, as the storm became violent, and his soldiers quickly gathered about him in a state of high emotion if it could be that he were waiting for other forces because he felt he could not rely on them. A battle was fought [*](At Dyrrhacium, 48 B.C.) and Pompey was victorious; he did not, however, follow up his success, but withdrew to his camp. Caesar said, To-day the victory was with the enemy, but they have not the man who knows how to be victorious. [*](Cf. Plutarch’s Life of Caesar, chap. xxxviii. (726 D) and xxxix. (727 B); Life of Pompey, chap. lxv. (654 A); Appian, Roman History, the Civil Wars, ii. 62; Dio Cassius, xli. 50; Suetonius, Divus Iulius, 36.)

At Pharsalus [*](In 48 B.C.) Pompey gave the word for his regiments after they had formed for battle to stand in their tracks and meet the onset of the enemy. In this Caesar said that he made a mistake, inasmuch as he lost the effect on his soldiers of the intensity and excitement which comes from rushing to the onset with enthusiasm. [*](Cf. Plutarch’s Life of Caesar, chap. xliv. (729 B); Life of Pompey, chap. lxix. (656 C); Caesar, Civil War, iii. 92. Appian (The Civil Wars, ii. 79) says that this statement was found in Caesar’s letters.)

After he had conquered Pharnaces of Pontus by a swift drive against him, he wrote to his friends, I came, saw, conquered. [*](In 47 B.C. Cf. Plutarch’s Life of Caesar, chap. 1. (731 F); Appian, The Civil Wars, ii. 91; Dio Cassius, xlii. 48. According to Suetonius, Divus Iulius, 37, these words (veni, vidi, vici) were borne aloft in Caesar’s triumph.)