Reinforcements began to come in. Mithridates had not
yet been heard of; but Domitius Calvinus, who had been left in charge of
Asia Minor, and to whom Caesar had also sent, had despatched two legions
to him. One arrived by sea at Alexandria, and was brought in with some
difficulty. The other was sent by land, and did not arrive in time to be
of service. There was a singular irony in Caesar being left to struggle
for months with a set of miscreants, but the trial came to an end at last.
Mithridates, skilful, active, and faithful, had raised a force with
extraordinary rapidity in Cilicia and on the Euphrates. He had marched
swiftly through Syria; and in the beginning of the new year Caesar heard
the welcome news that he had reached Pelusium, and had taken it by storm.
Not delaying for a day, Mithridates had gone up the bank of the Nile to
Cairo. A division of the Egyptian army lay opposite to him, in the face of
whom he did not think it prudent to attempt to cross, and from thence he
sent word of his position to Caesar. The news reached Caesar and the
Alexandrians at the same moment. The Alexandrians had the easiest access
to the scene. They had merely to ascend the river in their boats. Caesar
was obliged to go round by sea to Pelusium, and to follow the course which
Mithridates had taken himself. Rapidity of movement made up the
difference.
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