He sent to Calvinus to meet him with
the survivors of his lost battle; and when they arrived, he reviewed the
force which was at his disposition. It was not satisfactory. He had
brought a veteran legion with him from Egypt, but it was reduced to a
thousand strong. He had another which he had taken up in Syria; but even
this did not raise his army to a point which could assure him of success.
But time pressed, and skill might compensate for defective numbers.
Pharnaces, hearing that Caesar was at hand, promised submission. He sent
Caesar a golden crown, in anticipation perhaps that he was about to make
himself king. He pleaded his desertion of Pompey as a set-off against his
faults. Caesar answered that he would accept the submission, if it were
sincere; but Pharnaces must not suppose that good offices to himself could
atone for injuries to the Empire.[4] The provinces which he had invaded
must be instantly evacuated; his Roman prisoners must be released, and
their property must be restored to them.
Pharnaces was a politician, and knew enough of Caesar's circumstances to
mislead him. The state of Rome required Caesar's presence. A campaign in
Asia would occupy more time than he could afford, and Pharnaces calculated
that he must be gone in a few days or weeks. The victory over Calvinus had
strengthened his ambition of emulating his father.
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