In any doubtful and dangerous service , Suotonius . So William the Conqueror at his arrival into England , burnt the ships which transported his Army . his manner was to send away the Horses , and his own with the first , to the end that when all means of flight were gone , they might of necessity be forced the rather to stand to it , and abide to the last .

He called not his Soldiers * * Augustus did much reprove this humour in his Uncle , saying , Dum affectat carior fieri , auctoritatem Principis emolliverat . Aurel. Vict. Milites , but Commilitones : not plain Soldiers , but by a more pleasing name , Fellow-soldiers . He maintained them so trim and brave , that he stuck not to set them out in polished Armour , damasked with silver and gold , as well for goodly shew , as because they should in * * Suetonius . Battel keep the same more surely for fear of damage and loss .

He loved them so affectionately , that when he heard of Tiberius his overthrow , It is reported of Alexander , that he infused such courage into his Souldiers . Vt illo praesente , nullius hostium arma vel inermes timuerint . Justin. l. 12. c. ult. Caesars eye made his Souldiers prodigal of their blood . Plutarchs Lives . and the Legions with him : he suffered the hair of his head and beard to grow long , and would not cut the same before he had revenged their death . By which means he both had his Soldiers most devoted unto him , and also made them truly valiant .

He was so entirely beloved of his Soldiers , that to do him service ( whereas otherwise they were but like other men in any other private quarrel ) if Caesars honour were touched , they were invincible , and would so desperately , and with such fury venture themselves , that no man was able to abide them .

A private Soldier of his fought so valiantly in Britain , that by his means he saved the Captains , which otherwise were in great danger to have been cast away ( being driven into a Bogg ; ) then marching with great pain through the mire and dirt , half swimming , and half a foot , in the end he got to the other side , but left his shield behind him : Plutarch . Caesar wondering at his noble courage , ran to him with joy to embrace him : but the poor Soldier hanging down his head , the water standing in his eyes , fell down at Caesars feet , and besought him to pardon him for leaving his Target behind him .

Petronius being taken by Scipio , he said he would give him his life ; but he answered him again , that Caesars Soldiers did not use to have their lives given them , but to give others their lives ; and with these words he drew his sword and thrust himself through .

Caesar at Alexandria being busie about the assault and winning of a Bridge , was driven by a sudden sally of the enemies to take a Boat , and many besides making hast to get into the same , Plutarchs Lives . he leapt into the sea , and by swimming almost a quarter of a mile recovered the next ship , bearing up his left hand all the while , for fear the writings he held therein should take wet , Paludamentum mordicus trahens , ne spolio potiretur hostis . Sueton. Milites erant sagati , Imperatores paludati . and drawing his rich coat-armour after him by the teeth , because the enemy should not have it as a spoil .

Beholding advisedly the Image or portraicture of Alexander the Great in the Temple of Hercules at Cales , at the sight thereof he fetched a deep sigh , Plutarch and Suetonius in C. Iulio . c. 7. i. e. 33. as being ashamed that he had yet performed no memorable act at those years , wherein Alexander had conquered the whole world . Saepe audivi Q. Maximum , P. Scipionem , praeterea civitatis nostrae praeclaros viros solitos ita dicere , cum majorum imagines intuerentur , vehementissimè sibi animum ad virtutem accendi ; scilicet non ceram illam , neque figuram , tantam vim in sese habere ; sed memoria rerum gestarum eam flammam egregiis viris in pectore crescere , neque prius sedari , quàm virtus eorum famam atque gloriam adaequaverit . Salust . in Bello Iugurthino .

He was very much disquieted and dismayed with a dream the very night before , ( for he imagined in his sleep that he had carnal company with his Mother : ) the Diviners and Wizards incited him to the hopes of most glorious achievements , Suetonius ubi supra . making this exposition of his dream , Ita visum interpretari vanissimae artis auctoribus vanissimis . that thereby was portended unto him the soveraignty of the whole World ; for his Mother whom he saw under him , betokened the subjection of the Earth , Casaubon . Animadvers . which is counted the mother of all things .

There were two Factions in Rome at that time , Sylla was the chief of the one , and Marius of the other ; Marius stood for the people , and Sylla defended the Nobles . Marius and all his Confederates were proclaimed Traitors , and enemies to the Common-wealth . Sylla determining to kill Caesar , Plutarch . Suetonius . some of his friends told him , that it was to no purpose to put so young a Boy as he was so death : but Sylla answered again , Caesari multos Marios inesse , that there were many Marii in that one Boy ; implying , that he would be a great enemy unto their State . When the day of Election for summus Pontifex came , he told his Mother ( kissing him ) that that day she should see her Son chief Bishop of Rome , or banished from Rome .

He said , he had rather be the chiefest man in a poor Village , than the second person in Rome .

He did extreamly affect the name of King , and some were set on , as he passed by , in popular acclamation to salute him King ; whereupon finding the cry weak and poor , he put it off thus in a kinde of jest , as if they had mistaken his sur-name , Non Rex sum , sed Caesar.

He often used these verses of Euripides , which he himself thus translated . Nam si violandum est jus , Imperii causa Violandum est , aliis rebus pietatem colas . He alone managed all the affairs of State : his Collegue or Fellow-Consul did nothing , in so much as divers Citizens pleasantly conceited , whensoever they signed , subscribed , or dated any writings to stand upon records , would merrily put it down thus ; Such a thing was done not when Caesar and Bibulus , but when Iulius and Caesar were Consuls ; setting down one & the same man twice by his name and surname ; yea , and soon after these verses were commonly currant .

He was such an excellent Rider of a Horse from his youth , Equitandi usus Caesari a pueritia facilis adeo extitit ut reflexis in tergum manibus , equum velocissimis concitare cursibus saepe consueverit . Plutarch . Solinus . Suetonius . that holding his hands behind him , he would gallop his Horse upon the spur . The Horse he used to ride upon was strangely marked , with feet resembling very near a mans , and the hoofs cloven like toes . * * Like to Alexanders Bucephalus . Plutarch . The Beast would abide no man else to ride him , and he himself was the first that backed him .

When one brought him his Horse to get upon , which he used in Battel , he said unto him ; Solinus . When I have overcome mine enemies I will get upon him to follow the chase , but now let us give them charge . He gloried in nothing so much ( saith Aust. 5. Ep. ) as in pardoning his enemies , and gratifying his friends .

Benignitate adeo praeditus , ut quos armis subegerat , clementia magis vicerit . He was of so good a nature , that such as he subdued by Battel , he more overcame with gentleness .