Quote From the Twelve Caesars (2)

The year was 49 BC. Caesar had a choice to make. Start a civil war in the Roman Republic or obey the orders of the Senate to give up his armies.

Caesar was apparently conflicted on what to do. Then, as Suetonius recounts, this happened.

As he stood, in two minds, an apparition of superhuman size and beauty was seen sitting on the river bank playing a reed pipe. A party of shepherds gathered around to listen and, when some of Caesar’s men broke ranks to do the same, the apparition snatched a trumpet from one of them, ran down to the river, blew a thunderous blast, and crossed over. Caesar exclaimed: ‘Let us accept this as a sign from the Gods, and follow where they beckon, in vengeance on our double-dealing enemies. The die is cast.’

Magical times back in the ol’ Roman days!

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