31．Crossing The Rubicon 越过卢比孔河

（单词翻译）

31．Crossing  The  Rubicon

　　The  march  to  Italy  was  begun.  The  soldiers  were  even  more  enthusiasticthan caesar (2) himself. They climb- ed mountains, waded¹ rivers, enduredfatigue,  faced  all  kinds  of  danger  for  the  sake  of  their  great  leader.
At last they came to a little river called the Rubicon. It was the boundaryline of caesar's province of Gaul; on the other side of it was Italy. caesarpaused a moment on the bank. He knew that to cross it would be to declarewar  against  Pompey  and  the  Roman  Senate;  it  would  involve  all  Rome  in  afearful  strife,  the  end  of  which  no  man  could  foresee.
But  he  did  not  hesitate  long.  He  gave  the  word,  and  rode  boldly  acrossthe  shallow  stream.
"We have crossed the Rubicon," he cried as he reached the farther² shore.
"There  is  now  no  turning  back."Soon  the  news  was  carried  to  Rome:  "caesar  has  cross-  ed  the  Rubicon;"and  there  was  great  dismay  among  those  who  had  plotted  to  destroy  him.
Pompey's  soldiers  desert-  ed  him  and  hastened  to  join  themselves  tocaesar's army. The Roman senators³ and their friends made ready(3) to fleefrom  the  city.
"caesar has crossed the Rubicon !" was shouted along the roads and bywaysleading  to  Rome;  and  the  country  people  turned  out(4)  to  meet  and  hailwith  joy  the  conquer-  hag  hero.
The  word  was  carried  a  second  time  to  the  city:  "caesar  has  crossed  theRubicon,"  and  the  wild  flight  began.  Senators  and  public  officers  lefteverything behind and hurried away to seek safety with Pompey. On foot,on  horseback,  in  litters,  in  carriages,  they  fled  for  their  lives  allbecause Caesar had crossed the Rubicon. Pompey was unable to protect them.
He hurried to the seacoast, and, with all who were able to accompany him,sailed  away  to  Greece.
caesar  was  the  master  of  Rome.