he gently implored them to bring peace, and once more presented fair and reasonable peace proposals to make them accepted by Pompey. But as they undoubtedly knew that Pompey wanted all or nothing, they declined and made their apology to Caesar.<hr>
         Now, Lepidus, when this noble hero was appointed sovereign, did he show signs that he was going to practice tyranny? Not at all. He called back the exiles, acknowledged the children of those who had been proscribed in the time of Sylla, who was an oppressor, and eleven days later, he voluntarily abdicated sovereignty, settling for the consulate with Servilius Isauricus. But after this, Lepidus, would you say that Caesar was a tyrant and that Pompey was the defender of liberty? But let's quickly review his life to have more time to mourn his death. No doubt you remember all the tactics that Pompey used to avoid confronting Caesar and prolonging the situation. These manoeuvres were so obvious and his ambition so known that even his own soldiers openly said that he was extending the war solely to preserve his power. In reality, he knew that whether he won or lost, he would have to relinquish sovereign power or completely lift the mask under which he was hiding from some Romans. As for Caesar, who trusted in the justice of his cause and the gods', he sought out his enemy and was not afraid to attack him in combat. Nothing in his heart haunted him with guilt, for he knew that in taking revenge, he was avenging himself as a Roman, and in ridding himself of his adversary, he was freeing Rome from a tyrant. His hope in the gods was justified: he won the battle while Pompey lost. This man, who had been so favoured by fate when he was innocent, was abandoned as soon as he became guilty. He no longer knew how to fight or win, and he didn't even know how to be defeated bravely.<hr>
          As soon as his forces were overwhelmed at the Battle of Pharsalus, instead of rallying them by fighting alongside them, Pompey withdrew to his tent, barely knowing what he was telling himself. Seeing things deteriorating further for him, his entrenchments being breached and Caesar closing in, he exclaimed in fright: "What, even in our own camp!" After uttering these words, he fled for a second time, abandoning all who remained of his party. It would have been more honourable for him to die by Caesar's weapons than by the sword of the traitor Septimius, who had once served under his commands. But given that this man bore in his heart hatred, remorse, the shame of being beaten and a desire for power, it is not surprising that in the hope of reigning he eventually lost his mind. But having recognized that Caesar knew the art of victory, let us see, Lepidus, if he used victory wisely, whether he was inhuman or merciful, whether he was just or severe, whether he was a tyrant or a Roman citizen. As soon as the battlefield was gained and his ferocity in combat had softened, he looked around and saw the many soldiers who lay dead and shed as many tears as he had made them shed.
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