the courage or the energy to attempt any open, manly, and effectual system of hostility, he contented himself with making all the difficulty in his power, by urging an incessant pressure of petty, vexatious, and provoking, but useless annoyances.  Caesar’s demands may have been unjust, but they were bold, manly, and undisguised.  The eunuch may have been right in resisting them; but the mode was so mean and contemptible, that mankind have always taken part with Caesar in the sentiments which they have formed as spectators of the contest.

With the very small force which Caesar had at his command, and shut up as he was in the midst of a very great and powerful city, in which both the garrison and the population were growing more and more hostile to him every day, he soon found his situation was beginning to be attended with very serious danger.  He could not retire from the scene.  He probably would not have retired if he could have done so.  He remained, therefore, in the city, conducting himself all the time with prudence and circumspection, but yet maintaining, as at first, the same air of confident self-possession and superiority which always characterized his demeanor.  He, however, dispatched a messenger forthwith into Syria, the nearest country under the Roman sway, with orders that several legions which were posted there should be embarked and forwarded to Alexandria with the utmost possible celerity.

CHAPTER VI.

CLEOPATRA AND Caesar.

Cleopatra’s perplexity.—­She resolves To go to Alexandria.—­Cleopatra’s message to Caesar.—­Caesar’s reply.—­Apollodorus’s stratagem.—­Cleopatra and Caesar—­First impressions.—­Caesar’s attachment.—­Caesar’s wife.—­His fondness for Cleopatra.—­Cleopatra’s foes.—­She commits her cause to Caesar.—­Caesar’s pretensions.—­He sends for Ptolemy.—­Ptolemy’s indignation.—­His complaints against Caesar.—­Great tumult in the city.—­Excitement of the populace.—­Caesar’s forces—­Ptolemy made prisoner.—­Caesar’s address to the people.—­Its effects.—­The mob dispersed.—­Caesar convenes an assembly.—­Caesar’s decision.  —­Satisfaction of the assembly.—­Festivals and rejoicings.  —­Pothinus and Achillas.—­Plot of Pothinus and Achillas.—­Escape of Achillas.—­March of the Egyptian army.—­Measures of Caesar.  —­Murder of the messengers.—­Intentions of Achillas—­Cold-blooded assassination.—­Advance of Achillas—­Caesar’s arrangements for defense.—­Cleopatra and Ptolemy.—­Double dealing of Pothinus.—­He is detected.—­Pothinus beheaded—­Arsinoe and Ganymede—­Flight of Arsinoe—­She is proclaimed queen by the army.—­Perplexity of the young Ptolemy.