[Illustration:  Death of Pompey.]

18.  Pompey instanced the uncertainty of all human affairs, and endeavoured by every argument to give her comfort; then, taking her under his protection, he continued his course, stopping no longer than was necessary for a supply of provisions at the ports which occurred in his passage. 19.  He now determined upon applying to Ptol’emy, king of Egypt, to whose father he had been a considerable benefactor.  Ptol’emy was yet a minor, and had not the government in his own hands, but was under the direction of an administration. 20.  His council insidiously contrived that Pompey should be invited on shore, and murdered before he should come into the king’s presence.  Achil’las, commander of the forces, and Septim’ius, a Roman, who had formerly been a centurion in Pompey’s army, undertook to carry the treacherous design into execution.  Attended by three or four more, they put off in a little bark, and rowed to Pompey’s ship, that lay about a mile from the shore.

21.  Pompey now took leave of Corne’lia, repeating to her a verse of Soph’ocles, signifying, that “he who trusts his freedom to a tyrant, from that moment becomes a slave.”  He then gave his hand to Achil’las, and, with only two of his own attendants, stepped into the bark. 22.  The frantic Corne’lia hung over the side of the deck, weeping and exclaiming against his separation from her.  “Alas!” said she, “whither art thou going?”

  He spoke; but she, unmoved at his commands,
  Thus loud exclaiming, stretch’d her eager hands;
  “Whither, inhuman! whither art thou gone? 
  Still must I weep our common griefs alone?”
                                        ROWE’S LUCAN.

In wild astonishment she followed him with her eyes, and uttering to the winds her fruitless lamentations.

23.  The mariners, regardless of her sorrows, rowed towards land, without a word passing among them, till Pompey, by way of breaking silence, looking at Septim’ius, whose face he recollected.  “Methinks, friend,” said he, “you once served under me.”  Septim’ius noticing these words only by a contemptuous nod of the head, Pompey betook himself to a paper, on which he had minuted a speech intended to be made to the king, and began reading it.  In this manner they approached the shore; whilst Corne’lia, whose insufferable sorrow had never let her lose sight of her husband, began to conceive hopes, perceiving that the people on the strand crowded down along the coast as if eager to receive him. 24.  Alas! these hopes were soon destroyed.  At the instant that Pompey rose, supporting himself upon his freedman’s arm, Septim’ius stabbed him in the back, and Achil’las instantly seconded the blow. 25.  Pompey, perceiving his death inevitable, calmly disposed himself to meet it with decency; and covering his face with his robe, without a word resigned himself to his fate. 26.  At this horrid sight, Corne’lia and her attendants shrieked, so as