JULIUS CÆSAR

JULIUS CÆSAR
NEARLY two thousand years ago there lived in Rome a man whose name
was Julius Cæsar. He was the greatest of all the Romans.
Why was he so great?
He was a brave warrior, and had conquered many countries for Rome. He
was wise in planning and in doing. He knew how to make men both love
and fear him.
At last he made himself the ruler of Rome. Some said that he wished to
become its king. But the Romans at that time did not believe in kings.
Once when Cæsar was passing through a little country village, all the
men, women, and children of the place, came out to see him. There were
not more than fifty of them, all together, and they were led by their
mayor, who told each one what to do.
These simple people stood by the roadside and watched Cæsar pass. The
mayor looked very proud and happy; for was he not the ruler of this
village? He felt that he was almost as great a man as Cæsar himself.
Some of the fine officers who were with Cæsar laughed. They said, "See
how that fellow struts at the head of his little flock!"
"Laugh as you will," said Cæsar, "he has reason to be proud. I would
rather be the head man of a village than the second man in Rome!"
At another time, Cæsar was crossing a narrow sea in a boat. Before he
was halfway to the farther shore, a storm overtook him. The wind blew
hard; the waves clashed high; the lightning flashed; the thunder rolled.
It seemed every minute as though the boat would sink. The captain was
in great fright. He had crossed the sea many times, but never in such a
storm as this. He trembled with fear; he could not guide the boat; he fell
down upon his knees; he moaned, "All is lost! all is lost!"
But Cæsar was not afraid. He bade the man get up and take his oars
again.
"Why should you be afraid?" he said. "The boat will not be lost; for you
have Cæsar on board."