4.  Notwithstanding these preparations, Caesar shipped off five of his twelve legions at Brundu’sium, and fortunately steered through the midst of his enemies, timing it so well that he made his passage in one day.

[Illustration:  Caesar embarking in a fishing boat.]

5.  Still, however, convinced that the proper time for making proposals for a peace was after gaining advantage, he sent one Ru’fus, whom he had taken prisoner, to effect an accommodation with Pompey, offering to refer all to the senate and people of Rome; but Pompey once more rejected the overture, considering the people of Rome too much in Caesar’s interest to be relied on.

6.  Pompey had been raising supplies in Macedo’nia when he was first informed of Caesar’s landing upon the coast of Epi’rus:  he now resolved immediately to march to Dyrrach’ium, in order to cover that place from Caesar’s attempts, as all his ammunition and provisions were deposited there. 7.  The first place where both armies came in sight of each other was on the opposite banks of the river Ap’sus; and as both were commanded by the two greatest generals then in the world; the one renowned for his conquests in the East, and the other celebrated for his victories over the western parts of the empire, a battle was eagerly desired by the soldiers on either side. 8.  But neither of the generals was willing to hazard it upon this occasion:  Pompey could not rely upon his new levies; and Caesar would not venture an engagement till he was joined by the rest of his forces.

9.  Caesar had waited some time with extreme impatience for the coming up of the remainder of his army, and even ventured alone in an open fishing-boat to hasten its arrival; but he was driven back by a storm.[9] 10.  However, his disappointment was soon relieved by an information of the landing of the troops at Apollo’nia; he, therefore, decamped in order to meet them; and to prevent Pompey, with his army, from engaging them on their march, as he lay on that side of the river where the succours had been obliged to come on shore.

11.  Pompey, being compelled to retreat, led his forces to Aspara’gium, where he was sure of being supplied with every thing necessary for his army, by the numerous fleets which he employed along the coasts of Epi’rus:  there he pitched his camp upon a tongue of land (as mariner’s express it) that jutted into the sea, where also was a small shelter for his ships. 12.  In this place, being most advantageously situated, he began immediately to intrench his camp; which Caesar perceiving, and finding that he was not likely soon to quit so advantageous a post, began also to intrench behind him. 13.  As all beyond Pompey’s camp towards the land side was hilly and steep, Caesar built redoubts upon the hills, stretching from shore to shore, and then caused lines of communication to be drawn from hill to hill, by which he blocked up the camp of the enemy. 14.  He hoped by this blockade to force his opponent