care and himself set out for Spain which distinctly chose to follow Pompey and caused him some uneasiness lest his rival should induce the Gallic countries to revolt.  Meantime Cicero and other senators did not appear in Caesar’s sight, but retired to join Pompey, who, they believed, had more justice on his side and would conquer in the war.  For the consuls before setting sail and Pompey using the authority of proconsul had ordered them all to accompany him to Thessalonica on the general ground that the capital was being held by certain enemies but that they themselves were the senate and would maintain the form of the government wherever they should be.  For this reason most of the senators and the knights, some of them immediately and others later, and all the cities that were not subdued by Caesar’s arms, embraced his cause.

[-19-]The Massilians, however, alone of the peoples who dwell in Gaul, refused to cooeperate with Caesar, and would not receive him into their city, but made a noteworthy answer to him.  They said they were allies of the Roman people and were favorably disposed toward both generals, and they could not go into details and were not competent to judge which of the two was in the wrong:  consequently, in case of friendly overtures being made they would receive them both, they said, without their arms, but on a war basis neither of them.  On being placed in a state of siege they repulsed Caesar himself and held out for a very long time against Trebonius and Decimus Brutus, who subsequently besieged them.  Caesar contended stoutly for some time, thinking to capture them easily, and regarding it as ridiculous that after vanquishing Rome without a battle he was not received by the Massilians; but later, when their resistance proved stubborn, he committed them to the care of others and himself hastened to Spain. [-20-] He had sent thither already Gaius Fabius, but fearing he would fail while contending by himself, he too began a campaign.  Afranius and Petreius at this time had charge of affairs in the vicinity of the Iber and had posted a guard over the pass in the mountains, but chiefly they had gathered their forces in Ilerda, and there awaited the attackers.  Fabius repulsed the hostile garrison at the Pyrenees but as he was crossing the river Sicoris they fell upon him suddenly and killed many of his men who were cut off.  The bridge assisted them materially by breaking before all had crossed.  When Caesar came up not much later, he crossed the river by another bridge and challenged them to battle; but they did not dare to try conclusions with him for a very considerable number of days, and remained quietly encamped opposite him.  Encouraged from this cause he undertook to seize the ground, a strong position, between their rampart and the city, with the intention of shutting them off from the walls.  Afranius and his followers on perceiving this occupied it first, repulsed their assailants, and pursued them when they fled.  Then