But to suppose that such a person as Caesar, with the
concerns of the world upon his hands, would have allowed his public
action to be governed by a connection with a loose girl of sixteen is
to make too large a demand upon human credulity; nor is it likely
that, in a situation of so much danger and difficulty as that in which
he found himself, he would have added to his embarrassments by
indulging in an intrigue. The report proves nothing, for whether true
or false it was alike certain to arise. The _salons_ of Rome,
like the _salons_ of London and Paris, took their revenge on
greatness by soiling it with filth; and happily Suetonius, the chief
authority for the scandal, couples it with a story which is
demonstrably false. He says that Caesar made a long expedition with
Cleopatra in a barge upon the Nile; that he was so fascinated with her
that he wished to extend his voyage to Aethiopia, and was prevented
only by the refusal of his army to follow him. The details of Caesar's
stay at Alexandria, so minutely given by Hirtius, show that there was
not a moment when such an expedition could have been contemplated.
During the greater part of the time he was blockaded in the palace.
Immediately after the insurrection was put down, he was obliged to
hurry off on matters of instant and urgent moment.
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