OESAR. 273 with joy and acclamation. But the soldier, much de- jected and in tears, threw himself down at Caesar's feet, and begged his pardon for having let go his buckler. Another time in Africa, Scipio having taken a ship of Caasar's in which Granius Petro, Jately appointed quaestor, was sailing, gave the other passengers as free prize to his soldiers, but thought fit to offer the quaestor his life. But he said it was not usual for Caasar's soldiers to take, but give mercy, and having said so, fell upon his sword and killed himself. This love of honor and passion for distinction were in- spired into them and cherished in them by Caasar him- self, who, by his unsparing distribution of money and honors, showed them that he did not heap up wealth from the wars for his own luxury, or the gratifying his private pleasures, but that all he received was but a pub- he fund laid by for the reward and encouragement of valor, and that he looked upon all he gave to deserving soldiers as so much increase to his own riches. Added to this, also, there was no danger to which he did not wil- lingly expose himself, no labor from which he pleaded an exemption. His contempt of clanger was not so much wondered at by his soldiers, because they knew how much he coveted honor. But his enduring so much hardship, which he did to all appearance beyond his natural strength, very much astonished them. For he was a spare man, had a soft and white skin, was distem- pered in the head, and subject to an epilepsy, which, it is said, first seized him at Corduba. But he did not make the weakness of his constitution a pretext for his ease, but rather used war as the best physic against his indis- positions; whilst by indefatigable journeys, coarse diet, frequent lodging in the field, and continual laborious ex- ercise, he struggled with his diseases, and fortified his body against all attacks. He slept generally in his char- VOL. iv. 18
