receiving him with the honors due, as they thought, to his rank and station.  The manner, too, in which the Egyptians seemed to expect him to land was ominous of evil.  Only a single insignificant boat for a potentate who recently had commanded half the world!  Then, besides, the friends of Pompey observed that several of the principal galleys of Ptolemy’s fleet were getting up their anchors, and preparing apparently to be ready to move at a sudden call These and other indications appeared much more like preparations for seizing an enemy than welcoming a friend.  Cornelia, who, with her little son, stood upon the deck of Pompey’s galley, watching the scene with a peculiar intensity of solicitude which the hardy soldiers around her could not have felt, became soon exceedingly alarm ad.  She begged her husband Dot to go on shore.  But Pompey decided that it was now too late to retreat.  He could not escape from the Egyptian galleys if they had received orders to intercept him, nor could he resist violence if violence were intended.  To do any thing like that would evince distrust, and to appear like putting himself upon his guard would be to take at once, himself, the position of an enemy, and invite and justify the hostility of the Egyptians in return.  As to flight, he could not hope to escape from the Egyptian galleys if they had received orders to prevent it; and, besides, if he were determined on attempting an escape, whither should he fly?  The world was against him.  His triumphant enemy was on his track in full pursuit, with all the vast powers and resources of the whole Roman empire at his command.  There remained for Pompey only the last forlorn hope of a refuge in Egypt, or else, as the sole alternative, a complete and unconditional submission to Caesar.  His pride would not consent to this, and he determined, therefore, dark as the indications were, to place himself, without any appearance of distrust, in Ptolemy’s hands, and abide the issue.

The boat of Achillas approached the galley.  When it touched the side, Achillas and the other officers on board of it hailed Pompey in the most respectful manner, giving him the title of Imperator, the highest title known in the Roman state.  Achillas addressed Pompey in Greek.  The Greek was the language of educated men in all the Eastern countries in those days.  He told him that the water was too shallow for his galley to approach nearer to the shore, and invited him to come on board of his boat, and he would take him to the beach, where, as he said, the king was waiting to receive him.

[Sidenote:  Preparations for landing.] [Sidenote:  Pompey takes leave of his wife.]

With many anxious forebodings, that were but ill concealed, Pompey made preparations to accept the invitation.  He bade his wife farewell, who clung to him as they were about to part with a gloomy presentiment that they should never meet again.  Two centurions who were to accompany Pompey, and two servants, descended into the boat.  Pompey himself followed, and then the boatmen pushed off from the galley and made toward the shore.  The decks of all the vessels in Pompey’s little squadron, as well as those of the Egyptian fleet, were crowded with spectators, and lines of soldiery and groups of men, all intently watching the operations of the landing, were scattered along the shore.